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Physics and computer science are flexible majors. The computing, critical thinking, and mathematical skills developed by physics and computer science students make them highly sought after by businesses, banks, hospitals, the government, the military, and graduate schools. Graduates in physics and computer science can, and do, excel in a diverse range of situations and occupations.
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At Presbyterian College, physics majors are required to take 27 semester hours of physics beyond the introductory level, plus supporting courses in mathematics and computer science. Students interested in attending graduate school are encouraged to take eight hours of chemistry.
For students interested in engineering, the Dual-Degree Engineering Program is a popular option. A student enrolled in this program completes 92 hours of coursework in three years of study at PC, including all of PC’s general education requirements, as well as the necessary chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics needed to pursue further studies in engineering. Then, at the end of his or her junior year, the student transfers to one of the three universities with which PC has the dual-degree program agreement: Auburn University, Clemson University, and Vanderbilt University. While there, the student enrolls in the engineering discipline of his or her choice and pursues a course of study that generally takes about two full years to complete. Upon satisfactory completion of the university’s engineering curriculum, the student is awarded a bachelor of science degree in physics from PC and the appropriate bachelor of engineering degree from the partnering university. So far, our dual-degree students have had a 100% completion rate at the partner schools after finishing their work at PC.
Physics is a challenging major, and many students, after an academic year full of study, spend their summers in internships and summer research programs at nationally recognized universities and laboratories. Such a summer experience leads to further studies in a topic that interests the student and valuable new contacts with students and professors at the other institution. Summer programs have helped some students make decisions about graduate school and careers after graduation from PC. Challenges abound, but the rewards are evident in the careers taken by PC physics graduates.
Some PC physics graduates have gone on to enjoy successful teaching careers in secondary schools and at the college level. Other alumni have taken positions at government laboratories (e.g. Oak Ridge and the Savannah River Site), in industry (e.g. Lockheed Martin, Fuji Film, Duke Power, and Milliken), and in the military. Recent physics graduates have been successful in pursuing graduate studies in physics, chemical physics, environmental science, computer science, and civil engineering. These students have received graduate scholarships to such institutions as Clemson University, Cornell University, the University of Georgia, Princeton University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee, and Yale University.
The computer science major requires 34 semester hours of computer science, plus 10 hours of mathematics. It is designed so that students can start taking computer science courses in their sophomore year. The basic goal of the program is to produce graduates who not only can use computing tools well, but also can create them, as software developers or systems analysts. The major does not focus on extensive training in specific technologies, because the computing field is developing so rapidly that such knowledge quickly becomes obsolete. Instead, it aims to give students a firm background in basic principles of computer software and hardware, some experience in selected specific technologies, and the ability to learn other technologies quickly on their own as needed.
The department of physics and computer science occupies the entire first floor of the Richardson Hall of Science. There, classrooms and laboratories offer a wide variety of courses to meet the needs for students in either discipline — including one of the college’s microcomputer labs. Used by students for computer science classes, writing and research for other classes, or just checking e-mail and surfing the World Wide Web, this microcomputer laboratory is one of the busiest locations on campus.
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