2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Physics
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section in this catalog.
Website: gvsu.edu/physics
Physicists are explorers of the physical universe. They seek to know and understand the fundamental behavior of nature, from elementary particles to the galaxies. Physicists must develop both experimental and analytical skills to carry out their search for a detailed description of the behavior of matter and energy.
The Physics Department offers a bachelor's degree with a major in physics. This is a well-defined program of observation, experimentation, and theoretical study of the various phenomena of nature. A highlight of our program is the senior project, which requires each student to perform an independent research project in collaboration with a faculty mentor.
The department also offers a minor in physics and the option for secondary teacher certification with the major or minor.
The undergraduate physics curriculum requires careful planning because most courses in physics and the required cognates can be taken only in sequence. Students who expect to major or minor in physics should consult a faculty member of the Physics Department to plan their programs at the earliest opportunity, preferably before registration for their first term. It is especially important that transfer students meet with a department faculty advisor to evaluate previous work and plan an appropriate program of study.
Honors Organization
Sigma Pi Sigma is the national honor society of the SPS. Students who have 80 credits (with a minimum of one year of study at GVSU) may be elected to become Sigma Pi Sigma members based on academic achievement and service. An annual induction ceremony is held in April.
Program Requirements
The following programs are available: