Research programs that span from very applied to very fundamental problems in experimental and theoretical physics. Students regularly present results at University, regional, and national student research conferences. All faculty hold doctoral degrees from distinguished universities around the world and are dedicated to involving students in their active research programs, which results in joint presentations and publications. Accelerated five-year program: students can complete both the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science degrees in Physics through an integrated curriculum. If you enjoy helping others learn and you find learning about how the physical world works fascinating, then teaching science just might be for you. Physics plays a basic role in science, engineering, and technology. It deals with the physical world all around us at the most fundamental level, seeking to understand the energy transformations of physical processes and the forces that bind the most basic constituents of matter into more complex systems. Given the technological nature of our world today, the job of the high school physics teacher has become increasingly critical. Students combine a study of physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth and space sciences with a study of teaching foundations and various field and clinical experiences as they complete the major. Successful completion of this program leads toward a Bachelor of Science in Physics, as well as an Illinois teaching license for grades 9-12 science. The culminating experience for this program is a 16-week student teaching experience. Students considering a physics major should take four years of mathematics, four years of English, and at least one year of physics in high school as preparation for college. If available, a year of chemistry is also recommended. Enriched or advanced courses in physics and/or mathematics are also highly recommended.