Physics majors enjoy discovering how things happen and speculating about why things happen. They learn to approach new problems confidently?to identify general features of these problems, apply appropriate methods to their solutions, and communicate the consequences of such solutions effectively. Many of our students may not become professional physicists, but they will be able to apply their problem-solving skills in any career.

The physics major at Bowdoin includes a rigorous introduction to the mathematics and physics common to all subfields of physics within the framework of a strong liberal arts education. Students should include upper-level courses in the humanities as well as upper-level courses in mathematics and physics in their studies. A strong preparation for advanced work, coupled with general intellectual growth and good scholarship, is our goal.