Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics
The Department of Physics at The Citadel offers a comprehensive curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Physics, ideal for students seeking a less technical career or combining physics with another field. Compared to the B.S. in Applied Physics, the B.A. provides a more flexible curriculum while maintaining a strong foundation in physics.
Physics is a vast discipline which studies the entire realm of nature from the utmost minute particles, distances and times imaginable to the most massive stars and the outer limits of the universe. From a more applied perspective, physics is used to solve practical problems, often to advance technology to positively impact humanity. Physicists observe the phenomena of nature and try to find patterns that relate these phenomena. Physics is particularly concerned with those aspects of nature which can be formulated in terms of principles and laws expressed in an elegant and concise mathematical form.
The department mission is to support a thriving and engaged community of students and faculty who are using physics to solve applied and fundamental problems relevant to society, industry and the military.
Whom the Major Would Interest or Appeal To
Majoring in physics may appeal to students who desire to understand how things work from a fundamental perspective. They often:
- Get excited about being a part of scientific discovery
- Enjoy learning about the tangible and the very abstract
- Like using math to understand the world
- Don’t mind getting their hands dirty in the lab
- Enjoy a challenge and are interested in being at the forefront of technology
The B.A. in Physics is perfect for students who:
- Enjoy scientific discovery and problem-solving.
- Want a customizable degree that pairs physics with another discipline (e.g., pre-med, pre-law, entrepreneurship, fine arts, education).
- Seek flexibility in upper-level course selections, choosing between applied physics, theoretical studies or a mix.
What Can You Do with a Physics Degree?
Because of their skills in problem-solving, mathematical modeling, data analysis and experimentation, graduates from our department have a broad array of career options. For example, recent graduates work as engineers in industry, are in graduate school for physics and related fields, or enter the military. For those who enter the military, two common interests are the nuclear Navy and careers as pilots. The BA is more appropriate for a student that is seeking a less technical career or is seeking to combine physics with another focus area.