Physics Department Mission Statement and Student Learning Outcomes

Department Mission

The mission of the Physics Department at the University of San Francisco is to provide students with a solid foundation in the fundamental concepts of classical and modern physics, exposing them to the scientific methodology, using a variety of tools that includes abstract thought, experimentation, and mathematical and computer modeling. This foundation prepares students for further study in graduate and medical school, and for careers as professional physicists or engineers who will create the science and technology of the future. We provide a comprehensive coverage of experimental, theoretical, and computational physics, combining coursework together with on- and off-campus research and exposure to cutting-edge equipment and laboratory techniques, both in the classroom and in industrial settings.

As an integral part of a Jesuit Institution of liberal learning, the Physics Department seeks to provide students, both science and non-science majors, with an appreciation for science and its relation with and responsibility toward society, educating the leaders of tomorrow and fostering the understanding that a college degree is not an end in and of itself, but only the beginning of a person’s journey through a life of learning and service.

Learning Outcomes of the Physics Program

Students in the Physics Program at USF will:

	Demonstrate proficiency in the basic subfields of physics (classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics), as well as areas of application (e.g. solid state physics, optics, etc…).
Assessment: Students participate in class discussions and take quizzes and written examinations.
	Apply physical principles to novel situations, both in the classroom and in research settings, through critical thinking, problem solving, mathematical and computer modeling, and laboratory experimentation.
Assessment: Students participate in class discussions, solve problem sets, complete laboratory experiments, and work on computational assignments. Students engage in on- and off-campus research.
	Construct and assemble experimental apparatuses, conduct and analyze measurements of physical phenomena, assess experimental uncertainty, and make meaningful comparisons between experiment and theory.
Assessment: Students participate in laboratory experiences. Students engage in on- and off-campus research.