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Physics

Our Physics program will help you gain familiarity with the mathematical modeling of physical systems and testing those models with hands-on experiments

A student performs a physics experiment as a professor looks on

About Our Physics Program

  • Learn how to describe the world around you in the language of Physics, building mathematical models and testing them experimentally.
  • Pitzer’s Physics program offers you a highly versatile education thanks to its emphasis on computational and numerical modeling techniques. Physics majors are well-prepared to work in fields including finance, engineering, medicine, and mathematics.
  • As a Physics major, you’ll have a relatively light course load by design, allowing you to dig deeper by pursuing dual majors and minors.
  • You’ll take classes and conduct research with world-class faculty from Pitzer and Scripps Colleges through our Department of Natural Sciences.
  • Your academic home on campus will be the Nucleus, our new 65,000-square-foot science building. 

At a Glance

Degree Awarded

  • Bachelor of Arts

Field Group

Physics (Department of Natural Sciences)

Program Type

Area of Study

This program is offered through the Department of Natural Sciences

Physics and Our Values

Pitzer’s core values are woven throughout all of our academic programs. Learn how our Physics program addresses interdisciplinary learning.

Interdisciplinary Learning

Our Physics major is designed to work with dual majors, giving you the chance to apply your understanding of physical systems to a wide range of fields. From Management Engineering to Molecular Biology, a dual major gives you the chance to gain new insights in whatever field you choose.

12 Science Majors

The Department of Natural Sciences offers 12 different science majors to Pitzer students, giving you the chance to explore a wide variety of fields.

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Get Involved

Several students sit at an bench table with an umbrella and smile at the camera.

Awards

Samuel “Yoni” Rubin ’15, a Physics and Molecular Biology double major, received an NSF fellowship while pursuing his PhD at Stanford University. His research, which examines cell signaling mechanisms related to the prevention of autoimmune diseases, has helped researchers better understand the way certain inflammatory bowel diseases work.

Pitzer's brand-new science building, Nucleus West

Resources

Pitzer’s physics program is offered through the Department of Natural Sciences, a joint department that serves students from Pitzer and Scripps College. The department has more than 50 full-time faculty and places an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and research.

Department of Natural Sciences Website

Student Voices

a student stands in front of a NASA sign
“The physics department at Pitzer is small and extremely supportive. I don’t know if I would’ve been a physics major anywhere else. It’s been an enriching experience.”

Scotia Rollins '25

Physics major, Philosophy minor

Physics Program Details

View Course Catalog

What You'll Learn

Our Physics program aims to help you gain familiarity with the mathematical modeling of physical systems and the testing of those models through hands-on experiments.

Theoretical Physics

  1. How to develop conceptual frameworks for understanding unfamiliar physical systems and translate those frameworks into a mathematical model.
  2. How to investigate mathematical models using analytical and numerical methods.
  3. How to analyze, interpret, and assess the reasonableness of a mathematical model’s predictions.
  4. How to effectively communicate findings, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences.

Experimental Physics

  1. How to design experiments to investigate hypotheses.
  2. How to make order-of-magnitude estimates and identify and address sources of error in an experiment.
  3. How to use standard laboratory equipment (e.g. oscilloscopes, DMMs, signal generators) and standard methods of data analysis (e.g. graphing, curve-fitting, statistical analysis, Fourier analysis).
  4. How to analyze, interpret, and assess the reasonableness of experimental results.
  5. How to effectively communicate experimental findings to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Next:

A major in Physics requires a minimum of 13 courses plus a senior thesis.

Required Courses

  • PHYS 033L KS -Principles of Physics
  • PHYS 034L KS -Principles of Physics
  • PHYS 035 KS -Mdrn Physics Computational Appls
  • PHYS 100 KS -Computational Phys/Engineering
  • PHYS 101 KS -Classical Mechns Computal Appls
  • PHYS 102 KS -Electromagnetism  
  • PHYS 106L KS -Electronics Lab, or equivalent
  • PHYS 108 KS (or a computer science/programming course chosen in consultation with a physics faculty advisor)
  • PHYS 114 KS -Quantum Mechanics Computal Appls
  • PHYS 115 KS -Statistical Physics Computal App
  • A one- or two-semester thesis in Science (e.g. PHYS 188L KS -Sr Thesis Rsrch Project in Phys, etc.)
  • MATH 060 PZ -Linear Algebra or MATH 102 PZ -Differential Equations/Modeling (only one is required but both are strongly recommended)
  • MATH 031 PZ -Calculus II and MATH 032 PZ -Calculus III are prerequisites for several advanced physics courses
     

Note: Physics majors normally complete PHYS 033L KS -Principles of Physics , PHYS 034L KS -Principles of Physics , in their first year and PHYS 035 KS -Mdrn Physics Computational Appls in fall of sophomore year.  The calculus sequence (through Math 32) is normally completed in the fall of sophomore year or earlier.  Students can then take (in any order) PHYS 100 KS -Computational Phys/Engineering , PHYS 102 KS -Electromagnetism , PHYS 115 KS -Statistical Physics Computal App , PHYS 108 KS -Programming for Science+Engineer or equivalent, PHYS 106L KS -Electronics Lab , differential equations and/or linear algebra.  PHYS 101 KS -Classical Mechns Computal Appls  and PHYS 114 KS -Quantum Mechanics Computal Appls  should only be taken after completing differential equations and linear algebra.  Majors interested in potentially pursuing experimental work are encouraged to take an additional advanced physics laboratory course.

 

View the Course Catalog

For more information and resources, visit the Physics page in the Pitzer course catalog.

Visit the Course Catalog
View Course Catalog

Physics Program Faculty

No profile image for James Buchholz

James Buchholz

  • Visiting Professor of Physics
Tiziana Di Luccio

Tiziana DiLuccio

  • Physics Education Specialist
No profile image for Scot A.C. Gould

Scot A.C. Gould

  • Professor of Physics
No profile image for Adam Landsberg

Adam Landsberg

  • Professor of Physics
No profile image for Jia Gloria Lee

Jia Gloria Lee

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
No profile image for Sarah Marzen

Sarah Marzen

  • Associate Professor of Physics
No profile image for Kevin Setter

Kevin Setter

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
No profile image for Janet Sheung

Janet Sheung

  • Associate Professor of Physics

Contact Us

Office of Admission

(909) 621-8129

Pitzer Hall, 1st Floor

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