Physics at North Park University

All of a sudden the lights go out. Elevators stop. Subways stall. Traffic lights go dark. The world comes to a halt. Twentieth-first century civilization stopped by a storm. Moments later power companies spring into action—problem areas are identified, crews are dispatched. The power comes back on. Physics is undeniably a part of our daily lives, in far more ways than we can acknowledge. With a major in physics, you will come to a basic understanding of the physical world around you and gain the basic skills necessary to succeed in science and in life. In your own life and in a broader society, our dedicated professors will equip you with the basic knowledge and reasoning ability to make ethical decisions on the use of science and technology. With their help, you will develop a sense of responsibility for the path that science will take in the 21st century and an appreciation of the wonders of God’s world as revealed through the study of physics.

The pursuit of truth through physics requires diligence, determination and perseverance. With hard work, you will become empowered―students who succeed at physics know they can succeed at anything. They do not, however, succeed alone. Physics students are united by the common goals, no matter what background they come from, and so teamwork is a strengthening tool. With the help of your classmates and professors, you come to understand a vital truth: the path to true understanding can only be pursued by the passionate learner.  In the end you will have honed your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving techniques. You will be ready to go wherever your passion leads. For those of us who are a part of North Park's nationally recognized physics program (the National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics included our department in its study on best-practices in physics undergraduate programs), this is our mission.