Welcome

Physics / Astrophysics / Pre-Engineering

From subatomic particles to galaxies, physicists and astronomers study an enormous range of phenomena, continually examining the laws of nature and searching for those exceptions to the known laws that may lead to new understanding. Few areas of inquiry have advanced as rapidly as physics has in the last century. Astronomy, too, is undergoing a rapid pace of development with the aid of orbiting observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio Wesleyan offers a flexible and exciting program designed to prepare students for graduate study in physics, astronomy or engineering and for professional programs in medicine, dentistry, or law. We also offer 3-2 engineering opportunities, wherein a student spends three years at OWU and two in an engineering program at another school, earning bachelor’s degrees from both schools. We offer a wide variety of courses, with small classes which enable us to give each student our personal attention.

In the last few years OWU students have been accepted for graduate study at Caltech, MIT, Cornell University, the University of Chicago, Cambridge University, the Ohio State University, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Our students have taken advantage of 3-2 engineering opportunities at Caltech, Washington University in St. Louis, Case Western Reserve University, and Columbia University.

However, graduate school, engineering and professional school are not the only paths our majors have followed. Many of them have used their scientific training as a springboard into a career in industry or business or in secondary education. Whatever path you follow, you’ll be working closely with expert teachers who can steer you toward research and internship opportunities both on and off campus. You’ll also benefit from Ohio Wesleyan’s liberal arts curriculum, which offers a broad range of inquiry in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, helping you raise and answer questions about values, about society and about yourself.

To learn more about our people and programs, follow the links on the left.