MCLA PhysicsThe MCLA Physics link, as well as links to all of the MCLA web site Alumni The alumni pages. News of our alumni and friends, photos, and links to where you can contact alums Contacts Contact the Department Offices, the Robotic Arts program and the 3-2 Engineering program Courses View a listing of our courses, and details of the four-year course sequence Faculty Here are our faculty and staff listings, what they do and how to contact them Links Find links to physics web sites such as AIP, APS, AAPT and SPS
(And find out what those initials stand for) ProgramsDetails about the BA, BS, Physics Minor, Robotic Arts and 3-2 Engineering programs GallerySee photos and clips of what we do, have done, and who we are Physics ShopGet MCLA Physics stuff here. Your purchases help support MCLA Physics.

MCLA Physics

Welcome to the MCLA Physics Department's web site. This introductory page should provide a general overview of the department and its programs. Use the links at the left to get a more detailed picture. The department offers the degrees Bachelor of Arts in physics and Bachelor of Science in physics. We also host the Robotic Arts program and the 3-2 Engineering program.

You may be browsing these pages looking for a physics program to enter. Here's some questions (and their answers) you should be asking yourself as you seek out the program best suited to your goals.

Why Study Physics?

Physics is the most fundamental of all the sciences. For many, joining in the search for the basic laws of Nature is reason enough to become a physicist. On a more pragmatic level, the opportunities for graduates holding physics degrees are many, not only in pure physics, but also in applied physics and engineering. Most of our graduates go on to graduate school in physics or engineering, but others directly enter the work force. Simply put, a degree in physics (or even a strong listing of physics courses on a transcript) carries significant weight in the job market.

Why at a Liberal Arts College?

A college education must involve more than a narrow study of your chosen field. After all, it is from the ranks of the research and engineering laboratories that the leaders of technical corporations come, and these leaders must be well versed in the arts as well as the sciences.

Our graduates have gone on to be senior managers, vice presidents and presidents of their companies. As corporate leaders they are required to have backgrounds that extend far beyond the narrow training of a single field of study. To be a successful leader in any field requires exposure to the diverse range of studies only found in an institution based in the liberal arts.

And Why at MCLA?

Well, there are many liberal arts colleges to choose from, but MCLA has some significant and unique opportunities. First, you should be a person looking for a small school with its implied small class sizes and ready access to faculty and staff. (Talk to some of our students to get their perspective on this important point.)

Degree Options

We offer both the BA and the BS degrees (you won't see that at many places). The BA is for those who want a degree in physics as a stepping stone to other disciplines (e.g. teaching, law, meteorology, business, technical sales and marketing, technical writing and a host of other fields). The course structure for the BA is typical of that found in most Liberal arts physics programs. The BS is for those with strong interest in becoming practicing scientists or engineers, either by going on to graduate school or directly into industry. Most of our graduates go on to graduate school (almost always with full financial support), some into the various engineering fields, others into pure or applied physics. The BS course requirements are demanding, on a par with university programs.

There is an ongoing and serious shortage of science teachers in the country. A career in teaching physics can be rewarding both professionally and financially. Taking a BA in physics along with teacher licensure and certification through the college's Education department will provide a path to a teaching career.

Engineering

The department hosts the college's 3-2 Engineering program. This program offers students with a strong interest in engineering, built on a liberal arts base, to obtain both a BA degree from MCLA and a BS degree in an engineering field from a partner university. As the name implies, typically three years of study at MCLA are followed by two years at a host institution, resulting in the dual degrees.

Robotic Arts

The physics department is also host to MCLA's Robotic Arts program. Students from Physics, Computer Science, FPA (Fine and Performing Arts) and other disciplines work together in the field of robotics in general, and in particular in the construction of large-scale autonomous robots for use in artistic presentations. We have built or are working on robots ranging in size from a few inches to as much as 20 feet. Courses in robotics are available for those wishing to concentrate in this field, but anyone with an interest is welcome to take part in our various projects.

Undergraduate Research

We take our primary responsibility to be teaching. Physics is a research intensive field, so a significant part of learning physics (and so of teaching it) is research. All of our faculty members are involved in various fields of research, and each involves interested students in their work. As you browse our faculty listings you can check out their research interests. Of course, being a small college, we sometimes find that students want to work in areas we cannot accommodate. We address this matter through student internships with agencies outside the college. Past examples include medical physics (through connections at a local hospital), solar energy (at a government research lab) and electronics (at nearby research facilities).

Credits