Engineering Physics

Why study engineering physics?

The engineering physics curriculum equips its graduates with a flexible background in science and the engineering viewpoint that’s needed to solve practical industrial issues.

  • Students gain a liberal arts understanding of the relationships of their technology to economic, social and political forces — leaving them best prepared to meet the challenges of ever-changing modern engineering research and development.
  • This degree provides a solid foundation for advanced degrees in either physics or engineering, as well as appropriate background for positions in industry.
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Dual-Degree Engineering
Engineering the Future: Augustana University Launches New Hybrid Program to Meet Demands of Rapidly-Evolving Field

Augustana University is offering a new 5-year dual-degree engineering program — set to launch in Fall 2025. As part of the new program, students will take foundational courses at Augustana, earning a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in chemistry, physics or mathematics at the university. Students will begin taking online engineering courses in their second year — offered through the University of North Dakota (UND).

This is in addition to Augustana's other dual-degree engineering options. Currently, students can earn a B.A. in a major of their choice from Augustana and then apply to get their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in engineering from Columbia University in New York, New York; Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri; or South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. With these options, students take courses at Augustana for three years and then finish out their degrees in-person at other universities.

Patrick SD DOT
Beyond the Books: Engineering Physics and Dual-Degree Engineering Major Bridges Concept and Application With SD-DOT Internship

Augustana University student Patrick Adah ‘26, who hails from Lagos, Nigeria, is an engineering physics and dual-degree engineering double major. He is interning at the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD-DOT) in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he reviews construction plans, conducts field tests and collaborates directly with contractors on highway and bridge projects.

Eric Wells Physics
National Science Foundation Awards Augustana Faculty More Than $595K for Physics Research Through 2026

The university is excited to announce that the Augustana Physics Department has secured more than $595,000 in grant renewals from the Mathematics and Physical Science Division of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for undergraduate research. The funding will help sustain excellence, facilitate growth and cultivate innovative and impactful teaching, learning and research.

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Highlights

Amy Engebretson

Careers

Most Augustana physics and engineering physics students go on to graduate school, professional school or the dual-degree engineering program. The remainder find occupations in a wide variety of settings, spanning education, finance, programming and entrepreneurship among other fields. Augustana physics alumni have found employment with many companies, both large and small.

Outside of science and engineering, physicists secure careers in medicine, law, finance, journalism, education and public policy.

Hands-On Learning

Undergraduate research is an essential part of a physics education. Augustana excels at providing these experiences for its students through Augustana-based research and finding internship and research experiences off-campus.

Courses & Organizations

Following four semesters of introductory courses, students may select from the following electives:

  • Analytical Mechanics
  • Biological Physics
  • Electromagnetic Theory
  • Electronics
  • Optics
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Statistical and Thermal Physics

Engineering physics students are advised to take courses that emphasize hands-on coursework, such as Electronics and Optics, and useful supportive courses in mathematics and programming.

Engineering physics students often participate in:

  • Society of Physics Students
  • Sigma Pi Sigma - The Physics and Astronomy Honor Society | Sigma Pi Sigma chapters are restricted to colleges and universities of recognized standing that offer a strong physics major. Students elected to membership must attain high standards of general scholarship and outstanding achievement in physics. Undergraduate candidates must be in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship. The Augustana chapter was founded with an inaugural class in 2011.