Newton. Einstein. Oppenheimer. Are these the names that excite your imagination? Are you fascinated by quantum theory and the biggest, most puzzling questions about the nature of the universe? Then you should consider a major in Physics.
Physics majors examine the nature of matter and energy both on the smallest scale (atoms, electrons, etc.) and the largest (planets, black holes, stars, etc.). Common courses include particle and nuclear physics, classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, gravity, history of physics, and advanced mathematics.
Useful classes in high school include advanced calculus, advanced physics, computer science, chemistry, and advanced biology.
Physics majors seek employment in science research and development, academia, public health and medicine, and computer science and programming. Some Physics majors seek work with the government, working for the Department of Defense, the military, and NASA.
Famous figures with Physics majors include Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge, President Jimmy Carter and author Jorge Luis Borges.
North America's oldest college, founded in 1636 and located in Cambridge across the Charles River from Boston, Harvard is a remarkable place that considers itself a remarkable place. Crimson undergraduate life begs a bullet-proof ego to help ensure success, because ... learn more
Something of a fantasy camp for world's top geeks, where elaborate practical jokes known as "hacks" are an art form, MIT sits proudly on the Cambridge side of the Charles River. Tour guides explain how many Smoots it takes to ... learn more
Founded in 1701 by those who felt Harvard had lost its way, Yale took as its Latin motto Lux et Veritas, Light and Truth, to suggest that those in Cambridge could no longer see the Veritas. Thus was the Harvard-Yale ... learn more
Situated in an affluent New Jersey college town rather than a city, Princeton is bright, beautiful, and sometimes a little smug. It is no accident that F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise about his years here. Those who ... learn more
Younger than the Ivies and sunnier, too, Stanford has become the nation's most selective institution by providing a world-class education to those dreaming of Silicon Valley riches, as well as those with Olympic medals on their minds. In fact, given ... learn more
Founded in 1754 as Kings College, Columbia needed a new name when students like Alexander Hamilton won the American Revolution. Benefitting from the Manhattan Renaissance of the past 20 years, Columbia now has single-digit selectivity. Its long commitment to the ... learn more
Engineering,Computer Science and Mathematics are among the most popular majors at California Institute of Technology, located in sunny Pasadena, CA. Often compared to other well-known tech schools like MIT, Caltech stands out due to its small size and favorable student-to-faculty ... learn more
On a collegiate gothic campus built with Rockefeller money in a setting like the East Coast urban Ivies but in the Midwest on the Windy City's South Side, the University of Chicago is sometimes called "the place where fun goes ... learn more
The only Ivy with the feel of a college rather than a university, Dartmouth is a haven for undergraduates. Its idyllic setting in a classic New Hampshire town comes complete with Dartmouth’s own skiway. Famous for traditions like the Homecoming ... learn more
The bookstore apparently does not sell a t-shirt that reads, "Vanderbilt…It Even Sounds Expensive," but it could, because the campus, a registered arboretum, looks like it costs plenty. Great academics, southern charm, SEC football, and the bright lights of Music ... learn more
By contrast to Columbia's curriculum that includes courses required of all students, Brown has long offered the most open-ended Ivy program, with self-designed study leading to concentrations rather than traditional majors. The "choose your own adventure" ethos may contribute to ... learn more
Founded by practical polymath Benjamin Franklin in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania comprises the Wharton School of Business, Engineering, Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences. Greek life and chants of "Let's Go, Quakers!" at spirited athletic contests contribute ... learn more
