Engineering Physics
From the tiniest subatomic particles to the entire universe, the field of physics attempts to explain the basic laws of nature by examining the interactions of matter and energy. Harness your energy, sharpen your intellect, and blaze your own path!
Explore new ideas and opportunities through the many fields of physics such as mechanics, electricity and magnetism, atomic, nuclear, electronics, optics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and astrophysics. While large research institutions emphasize research conducted by post-doctorate and graduate students, our program is aimed at you, the undergraduate.
We design research opportunities with you in mind — or you can structure your own research project with a faculty mentor. All of our upper-level physics classes are small. Our faculty are regularly available to help. All of our laboratories are taught by faculty rather than graduate students.
3 years at Lock Haven for B.A. in Physics + 2 years at Penn State for B.S. in Engineering
Only new freshmen are eligible for the 3+2 program.
Students transferring from another college or university are encouraged to pursue other options at Lock Haven, such as Physics, Electronics Engineering Technology, or Radiation Science.
The 3+2 program is intended for academically advanced students. Ideally, you should start your first semester with Calculus 1 rather than Pre-Calculus. The ALEKS math placement test can be taken multiple times, and online tutorials are provided. An ALEKS score of 76 or greater is needed to place into Calculus 1.
In your first three years, you need to complete the B.A. Physics degree requirements, additional courses for Penn State, and general-education points (GEPs). It's a tight schedule that requires close consultation with your academic advisor. This consultation should begin before you start your first semester. Courses fill up quickly, so please secure your freshman schedule well in advance of the beginning of the semester.
Penn State offers numerous engineering majors as part of the 3+2 agreement, including civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.If you select a particular engineering major in your freshman year and communicate this choice to Penn State (via your advisor), that major will remain available to you, despite any enrollment limits subsequently placed by Penn State.
A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for entry into most Penn State engineering majors. Penn State calculates GPA slightly differently from Lock Haven University, so please consult with your advisor. Penn State will also check that you've completed the necessary coursework. To be transferable to Penn State, Lock Haven University courses must have a grade of C or better.
The day-to-day problem-solvers in the electronics manufacturing industry, technologists differ from technicians, who specialize in assembly, trouble-shooting and repair.
Engineering technologists identify and solve problems with a hands-on approach based on sound theoretical concepts. Commonwealth University's curriculum reflects that practical approach. To prepare students for real-world careers, the 4.5-year program is structured so students serve a six-month paid apprenticeship. This unique arrangement means students pay tuition for only four years.
A degree in Secondary Education Physics prepares you to teach Physics and Physical Science to students in grades 7-12. Along with your extensive coursework in Physics, you will also study the method and practice of teaching. Our unique dual-advisor program means that you will have two academic advisors—one in Science Education and one in the Physics content area so that you will be sure to have the skills you need to teach after graduation.
Possible Career Paths
After graduation, some physics majors (~20%) pursue graduate degrees in fields such as physics, health physics, astronomy, engineering, or other related fields at the interface between science and technology. Graduates use their skills to attain careers at government agencies or industry.
Recent Internships
- Geisinger Hospital (for Radiation Science and Health Physics)
- Brookhaven National Lab
- Oak Ridge National Lab
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab
Alumni Employment
- BASF
- BinOptics
- Coherent inc.
- Cyoptics
- Eclipse Resources
- GlobalFoundries
- IBM
- INTEL
- Metropolitan Acoustics
- Pfister Energy Inc.
Graduate School Placement
- University of Texas
- Penn State University
- University of Colorado
- Shawnee State University
- Boise State University
- Montana Tech
- SUNY Binghantaom
- University of Maryland
Clubs and Organizations
Physics Club
Facilities
- Teaching labs with wireless probeware and setups for every single topic of the Introductory Physics curriculum
- Digital instruments for the Electronics labs
- Teaching Cleanroom with research grade vacuum systems for thin film deposition and
treatment
- Thermal evaporation system
- Chemical vapor deposition
- Magnetron sputtering
- Microwave plasma treatment
- nert atmosphere glovebox with spin coater for solution processing of thin films
- Submicron Microscopy
- Scanning Electron Microscope with elemental analysis and cathodoluminescence
- Atomic Force Microscopes
- Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
- Optical and spectroscopic characterization
- Micro-Raman spectrometer
- Spectrofluorometer with cw and pulsed excitation
- Spectrophotometer
- Pulsed nitrogen laser with emission spectrometer
- Optical microscopes and stereomicroscope
- Electrical and photoelectric characterization
- Impedance spectroscopy
- Source-measure instrument with sub-nanoampere sensitivity
- Solar simulator
- External Quantum Efficiency system for solar cell characterization
- Electroabsorption spectroscopy setup
- Surface step profiler
- Four-point probe
- Instrumentation for cosmic ray investigations
Program Faculty
