Program Learning Outcomes

Department Learning Goals

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has the goal that our graduates will:

  • Be able to model physical systems in ways that allow deeper understanding and useful predictions, while recognizing the limitations of these models.
  • Recognize and contribute to the productive contributions that Physics makes to technology, culture and society.
  • Be lifelong learners capable of developing new skills and learning new knowledge that will support their personal and professional development.

BS/BA Program Learning Outcomes

PLO #1

Students will be able to formulate specific research questions and design and/or interpret experiments that address these questions.

PLO #2

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of a breadth of physics concepts by solving physics problems related to these concepts.

PLO #3

Students will be able to demonstrate laboratory, modeling, computational, and/or data analysis skills relevant to physics research.

PLO #4

Students will be able to communicate scientific content and thinking as evidenced by productive collaboration with peers, well-reasoned professionally formatted written papers, and visual and oral presentations.

PLO #5

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how work in physics influences technology, society, and culture.

MS Program Learning Outcomes

PLO #1Students will be able to engage in experiential projects involving the formulation of research questions and the design and execution of empirical studies, computational simulations, and/or theoretical models aimed at addressing these questions.​
PLO #2

Students will demonstrate an ability in classroom environments and elsewhere to solve problems relevant to physics research.

PLO #3

Students will be able to construct meaningful conclusions from data sets relevant to research activities by applying laboratory, modeling, computational, and/or data analysis skills.

PLO #4

Students will be able to communicate scientific content and thinking
by generating a professionally formatted graduate thesis or project report and by orally presenting their work to an audience of professional physicists. Students will also demonstrate productive collaboration with peers in classroom and/or research contexts.

PLO #5

Students will be able to communicate to others a sophisticated understanding of how work in physics influences technology, society, and culture.