杜魯門州立大學

The mission of the Physics Department at Truman State University is to support the liberal learning of all students at Truman State University by teaching well and by broadly espousing the notion that the pursuit of understanding in physics is worthwhile, interesting, and deeply satisfying; to support students whose primary field of study overlaps with physics (e.g., chemistry, biology, medicine, and mathematics); and to provide Physics majors with the knowledge, skills, methods, and attitudes necessary to understand and engage professionally in inquiry into the nature and behavior of the physical world.

In order to serve this mission, the Physics program is designed to achieve the following general goals: 1) to help students appreciate and understand the process of science, in particular its ever-changing nature, the fact that it is a human endeavor, the back and forth between experiment and abstract reasoning, and the importance of internal consistency; 2) to stimulate lifelong, independent learning; 3) to awaken and nurture appreciation for the beauty of physics; and 4) to contribute to a realistic understanding of technology and its role in society.

Specifically, the Physics Department strives to provide an environment where all our students: 1) develop a broad and coherent knowledge of physics; 2) experience activities unique to scientific research; 3) develop positive work habits, including collaboration, self-discipline, high aspirations, responsibility and honesty; and 4) are prepared for success in graduate school, professional school, engineering school, or in the workforce.

The Physics Bachelor of Arts degree strikes a balance between breadth and depth in the study of physics, and provides flexibility for students planning a career other than physics such as medicine, education, law, or engineering. The Physics BA features a student-designed learning plan adding breadth to the physics education.

For all Physics majors, a strong emphasis is placed on close and frequent contact with individual faculty members. Upper-level classes are small, and one-on-one interactions between the faculty and students are common. Many Physics majors have strong ties to other disciplines such as mathematics, computer science, chemistry, music, philosophy, education, business, or political science which then become part of their research endeavors, minors, second majors, and post-graduate study.

Because physics is so fundamental a science and because it involves intense training in critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and creative problem solving, the physics graduate adapts easily to a large number of high-tech fields including biophysics, geophysics, engineering, systems analysis, information science, and medicine. Physics majors are also well-prepared to follow careers in the technology sectors of business and law.