Goals:

• Make majors in physics and engineering physics aware of and prepare them not just for traditional careers in physics but for a wider array of post-graduate and job options.
• Present physics to non-majors, who are fulfilling core competency requirements in the department, in a suitably contextualized setting and create awareness of skills necessary to assume leadership roles in our increasingly technological world.
• Develop undergraduate courses that reflect advances in physics teaching pedagogies, and are designed to increase retention of students and enhance learning outcomes.
• Have a program design which, specifically at the graduate level, allows students from non-physics backgrounds to become trained in physics. This provides the dual mechanism for going outside the traditional physics pipeline.
• Ensure productive research programs, supported by significant outside funding, designed to involve student participation at multiple levels (especially from under-represented groups), and which take advantage of interdisciplinary and institutional initiatives and collaborations.
• Offer vigorous and effective teaching programs, at both graduate and undergraduate levels, involving opportunities for outreach to area teachers and schools.