Physics and Engineering (PHEN)

Babu, Quainoo (chair)

(Physics will be discontinued as an academic major for students starting after the 2021 academic year.)

The mission of the physics and engineering department is to imbue all students with:

(1) an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics;

(2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors;

(3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;

(4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;

(5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives;

(6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions, and

(7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Our educational philosophy is based on the following values:

(1) excellence – we expect excellence from our faculty and students in all classes;

(2) hard work – the pursuit of truth through engineering requires diligence, determination and perseverance;

(3) empowerment – students who succeed at engineering will know they can succeed at anything;

(4) responsibility – with knowledge comes the responsibility to assure that knowledge is applied ethically and carefully;

(5) teamwork – no matter what background one comes from, engineering students are united by the common goals; and

(6) passion – the path to true understanding can only be pursued by a passionate learner.