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Engineering Physics Program

Undergraduate Director : Giovanni P. Galdi
Phone number: 412-624-9789
Average number of BS degrees awarded per year: 5
Percentage of students that co-op: 20%
Average percent placement: 100%
Percent of students that go on to graduate school: 50%

What do you think is the biggest misconception about your program and why is it a misconception?

Biggest misconception – Engineering physics is difficult because you study three fields; electrical engineering, materials science, and physics. However, if you apply yourself the program is not harder than any other engineering discipline.  

What sorts of interests would a freshman possess in order to find course work in your program exciting?

Freshman interested in the underlying physical basis for how things work will find an exciting course study in the engineering physics program. This program is designed for those students who have a strong interest in physics combined with a desire to acquire the skills and perspective of engineering. The engineering physics program is highly interdisciplinary, combining study in electrical engineering, materials science, and physics.

What types of employment would a student find upon graduation with a degree in your program? What are some major companies that hire students from your program?

Engineering physics graduates are well prepared for graduate study in any of these areas: electrical engineering, materials science, or applied physics. Career opportunities exist in many areas of technology such as: semiconductors and integrated circuits, magnetic data storage, photonics, and other areas of information technology.

Which courses are stressed in your program, which are expanded upon, and how much is theory, practical lab application, design, computers (in what way do you use them), etc.?

The Engineering Physics program is highly interdisciplinary. A strong understanding of fundamental physics is a must; you will constantly return to it, and expand upon your knowledge. Analysis of electric circuits and computer languages aid laboratory courses enormously. The engineering physics program is less computer-intensive than other disciplines but computer applications and modeling are increasing in importance.

Both theory and practice are emphasized. Lectures are strongly complemented by laboratory demonstrations and exercises.

Benedum Hall

Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.

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