undergraduate physics
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http://physics.illinois.edu/26-Feb-2011 2
Undergraduate Physics at the University of Illinois
Agenda:•Welcome Dale Van Harlingen•Parallel
• Parents: financial aid David Wilde• Students: university life Matt Feickert, Shannon Glavin
•university housing overview Mari Anne Brocker•physics curriculum Kevin Pitts•lunch – meet students and faculty•Roundtable with faculty Profs. Cooper/Gollin/Greene/Makins•physics careers, research Kevin Pitts•question and answer period •Parallel
• Tour PHYS 403 lab Prof. Eugene Colla• More Q&A
•adjourn
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Welcome! Physics at UIUC:
– Ranked #2 in the nation in undergraduate engineering physics
– Ranked #8 overall (two surveys)
– Other national rankings: #2 in condensed matter physics #8 in quantum information #10 in nuclear physics #12 in elementary particle physics
Tony Leggett receiving the Nobel Prize for Physics (2003)
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Undergraduate Physics at the University of Illinois
Toni PittsCoordinator of Recruiting, Advising, and Special Programs
and
Kevin PittsProfessor of PhysicsAssociate Head for Undergraduate Programs
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Outline
The Department Undergraduate Degree Programs
– Choices of Major– Courses
Extracurricular Activities– Physics Society– Physics Van
Undergraduate Research Opportunities– REU– Senior Thesis
Extracurricular Activities– Physics Society– Physics Van
What can I do with a Physics Degree?
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By the numbers
60 faculty 290 graduate students 315 undergraduate students $23M in grant support for research
We award– 60 Bachelor’s degrees/year– 40 Ph.D.’s per year
Average ACT score is 31
Charles Slichter receiving the National Medal of Science (2008)
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Areas of Research Astrophysics Atomic and Molecular Optics Biological Physics Complex Systems Condensed Matter Cosmology High-Energy Physics Nuclear Physics Physics Education Quantum Information
Campus centers:– Institute for Condensed Matter Theory – Center for the Physics of Living Cells
Close research ties with:– National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA)– Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory– Argonne National Laboratory
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Undergraduate Degree Programs
Engineering Physics– Offered through Engineering College
Science and Letters Physics– Virtually identical to Engineering Physics
Specialized Physics– Most flexible physics curriculum
Physics Teaching Option– Includes secondary education minor
(and teaching certification)
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Engineering Physics
Offered through College of Engineering 128 Hours required to graduate Curriculum features: “Elective Options”
– [more on this in a minute]
Graduate school or industry track 3 years HS foreign language or 3
semesters satisfies language requirement
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LAS Science and Letters Physics
Offered through College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Curriculum features: “Elective Options” – [more on this in a minute]
120 hours required to graduate Graduate school or industry track 4 years of HS foreign language or 4th-
semester college language satisfies language requirement
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LAS Specialized Physics
Offered through College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
126 hours required to graduate 4 years of HS foreign language or 4th-
semester college language satisfies language requirement
“Option-oriented” curriculum (ideal for pre-med, pre-law, and physics related fields)
Very flexible in upper-level courses
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LAS vs. Engineering
A: Nothing in the physics + math curriculum.– LAS physics majors must pay the college of
engineering college surcharge. (They utilize all of the same equipment/infrastructure.)
LAS/Engineering have slightly different general education requirements.
LAS requires 4th semester of foreign language. Engineering requires a few more hours. Is one “more prestigious” than another?
– Not for grad school…maybe in the job market?
Q : What’s the difference between LAS Science and Letters and Engineering Physics?
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Degree Requirements
“Core” Physics Courses “Core” Math courses
(+2 courses = math minor)
Supporting courses (Chem, CS) General Education requirements Elective Options Free electives
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Elective Options
Allows students to tailor curriculum to their needs and interests.
Examples:– Professional Physics (this is the grad school track)– Astrophysics– Biophysics– Bioengineering– Computational Physics– Materials Science– Physical Electronics– Earth Science– Science Writing– Pre-law– Pre-med– User defined
New options coming:•Nuclear physics•Energy/sustainability•Management•Atmospheric science•…
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Recent user defined options– Electrical Engineering Technical Option– Geology/Geophysics – Pre-Optometry – Mathematical Physics – Prep for Grad School in Library Science– Economics – Acoustic Engineering – Atmospheric Sciences– Acoustics – Biomedical Engineering – Nuclear Physics – Sustainable Technology Commercialization
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PHYSICS
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PHYSICS
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Teaching Option
Offered through Liberal Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the College of Education
Must complete a secondary education minor
Apply to Science and Letters Physics (then tell us you are interested in teaching option after admission)
Contact advisor Prof. Mats Selen (mats@illinois.edu)
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Introductory Courses Introductory sequence (3 semesters)
– PHYS 211 – Mechanics– PHYS 212 -- Electricity and Magnetism– PHYS 213 -- Thermal Physics (half-semester)– PHYS 214 -- Waves and Quantum Physics (half-semester)– PHYS 225 – Relativity and Math Methods
Notes:– Courses have calculus prerequisites– Take Phys 225 the same semester you take Phys 212– Phys 213 and 214 are two half-semester courses (for practical
purposes, it’s a single four hour course)
What if you change your mind?– Calculus and Phys 211-214 are required for most engineering
majors.
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Introductory Courses Introductory sequence (3 semesters)
– PHYS 211 – Mechanics– PHYS 212 -- Electricity and Magnetism– PHYS 213 -- Thermal Physics (half-semester)– PHYS 214 -- Waves and Quantum Physics (half-semester)
Course format:– Lecture, discussion (interactive problem-solving), labs– Lectures are highly interactive using iClickers
New for fall 2011:– Physics major-only discussion sections– Register for one of these if you can, it’s ok if you can’t– Help to build a sense of community with our majors– Cover additional material when appropriate
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More About Our CoursesGeneral information:
http://www.physics.illinois.edu/education/undergrad/
Details on programs: Engineering physics:
http://courses.illinois.edu/cis/2009/fall/programs/undergrad/engin/engin_physics.html
LAS Physicshttp://courses.illinois.edu/cis/2010/fall/programs/undergrad/las/physics.html
Course web pages:http://www.physics.illinois.edu/courses/
We will help you choose your courses during summer registration. It helps to review our sample schedule and look at the course material before you come.
Schedule summer registration date through registrar’s office. Their website will be open on March 15.
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Discovery Courses
Freshman-only courses
Enrollment limited to 19
Offered in many departments
Spring 2011– “Behavior of Complex Systems”– “Science and Pseudoscience”– “Physics of Electronic Musical Instruments”
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Academic Advising
Every major is assigned an advisor and a faculty mentor– Advisor is the expert on
courses/programs/graduation requirements– Mentor is the faculty member, expert on
research/areas of study/careers
Required to meet academic advisor and mentor until PHYS 325 is taken
We are working on some new programs to further aid the mentoring process.
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More on Advising
Each student is assigned a faculty “mentor”– Get to meet the mentor during first year– Degree to which you use the mentor is up to you
New for Fall 2011: we are going pair freshmen up with an upperclass student– They can help you learn the “things you need to
know”
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Extracurricular ActivitiesPhysics Van
Physics Society
Society of Women in Physics
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Physics Society
http://physoc.physics.illinois.edu/
Speaker meetings Faculty research talks Pizza meetings Informal dinner with faculty Engineering Open House Physics demos for kids and the public
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Society for Women in Physics Undergraduate research database Midwestern women in physics conference Social gatherings Seminars (“How to get into grad school”,
“Careers in Physics”)
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Physics Van
http://van.physics.uiuc.edu/
Traveling science show for kids Visit regional elementary schools Fun for everyone!
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Teaching Opportunities
Upper-class physics majors might have an opportunity to teach!
It’s a great learning experience It looks great on your resume/cv Teaching assistants receive stipend Typical teaching load is 2 laboratory sections per
semester (~8-10 hours/week) Our TA’s are good…75% are voted as “excellent”
by their students!
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Undergraduate Research
On campus:– Work in a research lab
can earn individual study credit– Summer research through senior thesis project
Off campus– Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)– 10 week summer research program– Offered at many schools
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Senior Thesis Sequence Co-taught by Professor Lance Cooper and technical writing expert Celia
Elliott, Director of External Affairs and Special Projects
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Intro to Physics Research
Explore research fields Presentations Journal Club Introduction to scientific communication Oral presentations Scientific writing Introduction to research basics Collaborations Ethics
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Senior Thesis
More emphasis on Communication Skills How to design a scientific poster More practice giving presentations Learn specifics on formatting your thesis Journal Club continues
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Other Research Opportunities
http://physics.illinois.edu/undergrad/research.asp
Can get credit for work (PHYS 199 or 497, Individual Study)
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We return to the big question….
What the heck can I do with a physics
degree???
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The Answer…
ANYTHING YOU WANT!
~50% of UIUC Physics graduates go to graduate school– Mostly in Physics– Some related fields (Astronomy, Engineering)
Others find employment in a variety of fields.
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Graduate School: Who/What/How?
Grad school may be for you if you want to…– do research and development– work at a national laboratory– teach/research at the college/university level.
Duration– 1-2 year Master’s, 5-6 year Ph.D.
Grad school– Typically get remitted tuition + ~$20k per year– Two years of course work (+ teach + research)– Three-four years of research + dissertation
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Graduate Schools
Where do UIUC students attend graduate school?
School Field
Berkeley PhysicsBoston University High Energy PhysicsCaltech PhysicsCornell Engineering, Physics, Harvard Applied PhysicsMichigan EngineeringNorthwestern Engineering (Quantum Information)Oxford (UK) PhysicsStanford Applied PhysicsUniversity of Chicago Physics, AstrophysicsUniversity of Illinois Physics, Engineering, Education….
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Post Graduate (Ph.D.) Employment 50% get postdocs
40% get permanent jobs 10% other
Overall employment rate for Ph.D.’s is *very* high.
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Jobs!
Fuji Machine America Corporation GMS / Vedior Greenlight Planet, Inc. Highland Engineerin, P.C. Imaje Leo Burnett Lockheed Martin Northrop Grumman Orchid Tree WEb Solutions Quantum Design S&C Electric Company Sargent & Lundy United Conveyor Corporation Val-Matic Valve & Manufacturing
Corporation Wellpoint, Inc. Zurich North America
Accenture Aerotek Scientific Aisin Electronics Illinois, LLC Analysts, Inc. Argonne National Lab Army Corps of Engineers Beckman Institute (University of
Illinois) Caterpillar, Inc. CONTAX, Inc. Creative Thermal Solutions CSG Systems Delcross Technologies, LLC Deloitte Consulting, LLP Exelon Fermi National Lab
This is only a portion of the employers who hired recent physics bachelors into technical positions. Source: AIP Statistical Research Center, Initial Employment Surveys, classes 2007 thru
2009.Incomplete list of employers and positions (2000-2003)
Employers in Illinois that recently hired new physics bachelor recipients
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Skills Knowledge and skills rated as important
by physics bachelors 5-8 years after graduation
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What WE are doing1. Working with industry to market our majors and
explain the value of physicists!
2. Working with our majors (and Engineering Career Services) to make sure they market themselves and seek out opportunity.
3. Seek out intership opportunities for our students. (separate from research opportunities discussed last week)
4. Surveying our alumni to find out what careers they are in and create ties for future graduates.
5. Getting input from students, parents…
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More Career Data
Illinois companies that hire physics bachelors:http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/states/state.html
Education and Employment Trends:http://www.aip.org/statistics/
American Institute of Physics collects the most data on Physics Trends
You can find the pot of gold with a physics degree!
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Summary
It’s all about opportunity! Opportunities for variety in your physics
curriculum Opportunities to supplement your
education (working on those “people skills” employers love) with extracurricular activities
Opportunities to do research as an undergraduate
Opportunities for your future!
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Contact InformationToni PittsCoordinator of Recruiting, Advising, and Special ProgramsEmail: tpitts@illinois.eduPhone: 217-244-2948
Professor Kevin PittsEmail: kpitts@illinois.edu
Department of PhysicsUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign1110 West Green StreetUrbana, Illinois 61801-3080
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