Courses
Our courses include research opportunities with our faculty, experiments in one of our state-of-the-art labs and classroom learning.
As a student of physics at Hope, you’re offered the chance to work closely with our small team of professors, both in our research labs and the classroom. We take cues from you our electives are determined by asking our students what they want to learn. These electives can include courses in anything from optics to cosmology to the physics of sustainable energy, among many others.
I came to Hope to learn how to use research instrumentation. My experience as an accelerator operator has helped me connect the classroom to the laboratory.
—Elizabeth Lindquist ’18
View full course information in the catalog
Possible Course Plans
- Physics Major – Industry and Research interests
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The list below will help students get a rough idea of the type of courses physics majors will take during a typical four-year program at Hope College. However, since each student has a different background and different goals for the future, the exact details are different for each student. Please contact a physics faculty member to discuss the possibilities and plan a program that best meets your needs while also satisfying the degree requirements at Hope.
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall
Spring
YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall
Spring
Declare your major as soon as appropriate, continue general education electives, explore research, internship and off-campus options in physics.
YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS
Consider if you want to pursue graduate school in physics or another field or pursue employment immediately after college. Select upper-level elective coursework from the options below based on your post-graduate possibilities.
Fall
- PHYS 361, Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS 490, Research
- PHYS 382, Advanced Laboratory
- PHYS 372, Quantum Theory
- PHYS 380, Mathematical Methods in Physics II
Spring
- Physics Major - Health and Medicine Interests
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Students interested in careers in medical physics or health physics should follow the suggestions for a physics major, but should consult with physics faculty when selecting electives in order to choose courses most relevant to their interests.
Students interested in careers as medical researchers or medical doctors should work with the following course plan, adapting it in consultation with physics faculty and the health professions advisor.
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall
- PHYS 121, General Physics I
- PHYS 141, General Physics Laboratory I
- MATH 131, Calculus I
- CHEM 125, General Chemistry I
- CHEM 127, General Chemistry Lab I
Spring
- PHYS 122, General Physics II
- PHYS 142, General Physics Laboratory II
- MATH 132, Calculus II
- CHEM 126, General Chemistry II
- CHEM 128, General Chemistry Laboratory II
YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR
There are two common timelines for those interested in attending medical school to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Some students take it after their third year at Hope while others take it after their fourth year at Hope. Consult with the health professions advisor to determine which option works best for you. This will define help you decide among the course options listed below.
Fall
Choose 1 from:
Spring
- PHYS 280, Mathematical Methods in Physics I
- MATH 232, Multivariable II
- CHEM 231, Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 256a, Organic Chemistry Lab II
Choose 1 from:
- PHYS 281, Intermediate Lab
- BIO 106, Introductory Biology II/BIO 108, Introductory Biology Laboratory II
YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS
Select upper-level elective coursework from the options below based on your prior coursework and when you plan to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
Fall
- PHYS 270, Modern Physics
- CHEM 311, Biochemistry
- BIO 105, Introductory Biology I/BIO 107, Introductory Biology Laboratory I
- PHYS 382, Advanced Laboratory
- PHYS 361, Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS 372, Quantum Theory
- Pre-health program electives
Spring
- Physics Education Major - high school education interests
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Secondary physics educators are in high demand, second only to secondary mathematics educators. All physics education majors complete a physics major and a minor in a different discipline that prepare them to teach in both fields. They also complete coursework that leads to either a secondary education teaching certificate.
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall
Spring
YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall
Spring
- PHYS 281, Intermediate Lab
- PHYS 280, Mathematical Methods in Physics I
- MATH 232, Multivariable II
- EDUC 270, Foundations of Education
Declare your major as soon as appropriate, continue general education electives, explore research, internship and off-campus options in physics. In addition, get engaged with Explore Hope, our K–12 experiential learning program.
YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS
Select upper-level physics elective coursework from the options below based on your interests. The education courses listed are required.
Fall
- GEMS 151, Science and Technology for Everyday Life OR GEMS 206, The Night Sky
- PHYS 361, Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS 372, Quantum Theory
- PHYS 382, Advanced Laboratory
- EDUC 225/226, Exceptional Child
- EDUC 287, Instructional Design/Classroom Management
- EDUC 360/361, Secondary Principles
Spring
- GEMS 151, Science and Technology for Everyday Life OR GEMS 206, The Night Sky
- PHYS 342, Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 352, Physics of the Optical Domain
- PHYS 362, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- EDUC 285/286, Secondary Reading/Language Arts Across Disciplines
- EDUC 331/332, Science Methods
- EDUC 455, Student Teaching Seminar
- EDUC 480, Student Teaching Secondary
- EDUC 500, Perspectives in Education
- Physics Education Minor - high school education interests
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Secondary physics educators are in high demand, second only to secondary mathematics educators. All physics education minors also complete a major in a different discipline (frequently mathematics or chemistry) that prepare them to teach in both fields. They also complete coursework that leads to either a secondary education teaching certificate.
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall
Spring
YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall
Spring
- PHYS 281, Intermediate Lab
- PHYS 280, Mathematical Methods in Physics I
- MATH 232, Multivariable II
- EDUC 270, Foundations of Education
Declare your major as soon as appropriate, continue general education electives, explore research, internship and off-campus options in physics. In addition, get engaged with Explore Hope, our K–12 experiential learning program.
YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS
Select upper-level physics elective coursework from the options below based on your interests. The education courses listed are required.
Fall
- GEMS 151, Science and Technology for Everyday Life OR GEMS 206, The Night Sky
- PHYS 361, Analytical Mechanics
- PHYS 372, Quantum Theory
- PHYS 382, Advanced Laboratory
- EDUC 225/226, Exceptional Child
- EDUC 287, Instructional Design/Classroom Management
- EDUC 360/361, Secondary Principles
Spring
- GEMS 151, Science and Technology for Everyday Life OR GEMS 206, The Night Sky
- PHYS 342, Electricity and Magnetism
- PHYS 352, Physics of the Optical Domain
- PHYS 362, States of Matter (Thermodynamics)
- EDUC 285/286, Secondary Reading/Language Arts Across Disciplines
- EDUC 331/332, Science Methods
- EDUC 455, Student Teaching Seminar
- EDUC 480, Student Teaching Secondary
- EDUC 500, Perspectives in Education
Research
We recommend getting involved in collaborative research as soon as you can. We’ll help pair you with our faculty to conduct original research. You’ll not only learn something new, but be part of contributing new knowledge to the field of physics. Our research courses are elective-based (0–2 credits).