Physics, Running, and Research: Redefining LVC Student Excellence
Engineering Physics
Engineering physics merges fundamental physics with the design of engineering systems, processes, and devices. Students will gain the ability to apply basic scientific ideas to real-world problems, acquiring the problem-solving, critical-thinking, and technical communication skills employers seek.
This major is ideal for a student who is strong in mathematics/physics, might be a tinkerer, and has an entrepreneurial spirit—someone curious about how electronics and engineered products work who also cares about the future of the world, improving society, and developing breakthrough solutions.
LVC engineering physics majors can participate in high-impact student-faculty research and internships as paid positions during the summer and/or during the academic year for credit as an independent study or senior capstone project. For example, Dr. Veenhuizen performs research in glass crystallization science in collaboration with colleagues at Corning and Lehigh University. Students have also been accepted into external summer research programs in nanotechnology, computer and electrical engineering, and systems and integration engineering.
You’ll learn from faculty that have built high-level research programs in quantum information science, laser modifications of glass, and computational nuclear physics. This student-faculty research has been published and presented in prestigious science journals and conferences and awarded external government funding. For example, Dr. Pitonyak’s computational nuclear physics research has received recent grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Learn More About the Program
You’ll learn how to apply the engineering design process to find the best solutions: define a problem, identify constraints and criteria for success, propose solutions, create prototypes, test them, and iterate to get there. You’ll take courses that provide you with fundamental physics knowledge, build your analytical, programming, and experimental capabilities, and allow you to work through self-designed hands-on projects.
$120,380
Bureau of Labor Statistics median salary for Nuclear Engineers in 2021
10%
Growth in job outlook 2021–31 for Industrial Engineers (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
$95,300
Bureau of Labor Statistics median salary for Mechanical Engineers in 2021
$95,300
Bureau of Labor Statistics median salary for Industrial Engineers in 2021
Career Opportunities
Our engineering physics degree will prepare graduates to work at an engineering firm or companies involved in researching, developing, and manufacturing technological devices. The American Institute of Physics notes that among physics bachelor’s hired in the private sector, 35% are employed in engineering fields and another 43% in physics, computer science, or other STEM fields. You’ll also be well prepared for graduate-level study in physics or engineering.
Note that some jobs may require an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) license. Students who are Engineering Physics majors do not qualify to sit for the EIT exam, which requires an ABET-accredited degree. Students can pursue an ABET-accredited degree through the 3+2 Engineering program with Case Western Reserve University or by attending graduate school for engineering.
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Aerospace Engineer
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Electronics Engineer
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Materials Engineer
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Physicist
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Product Engineer
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Research Scientist
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Electrical Engineer
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Industrial Engineer
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Nuclear Engineer
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Process Engineer
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Quality Assurance Engineer
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Systems Design Engineer
In Their Words
Strong, hard-working students can thrive and make great achievements here. We see excellent outcomes for them because of the rigor of our curriculum and the high-level research we conduct. We are a small college where students can excel and pursue their chosen careers successfully.
Dr. Dan Pitonyak
’08,
Co-Chair of Chemistry and Physics, Assistant Professor of Physics
It’s rare to have a robust research experience for undergraduate students like at LVC and even at large research institutions where student involvement is usually limited to graduate students. These experiences can be transformational in developing young scientists.
Dr. James M. MacLaren,
LVC President and award-winning physicist
