See It Our Way
(Electron Diffraction Pattern ~ Hologram of Ringing Bell ~ Radio Telescope)
The Physics Department from our students' perspective...
This page is meant to help you, the prospective student, get a better feel of our Department. It's been written with input from our current students and recent grads. It answers common questions we hear from prospective students, but if it doesn't answer all of yours, please don't hesitate to contact us! And of course, if there is anything we can do to help you as you decide where to attend college, please ask!
Physicists see many things as they explore nature. Above we've pictured our new radio telescope used for "seeing" into the universe, a picture of a bell ringing as seen by vibrational holography, and a picture of an electron diffraction pattern caused by the atoms on the surface of a silicon crystal. All of these views can be seen in the Physics Department today!
Note: The quotes we have used throughout this page were taken primarily from course evaluation surveys and senior exit interviews, and students don't generally take the time to polish their grammar on these surveys...
Contents:
- Where do I find the Physics Department?
- What are the professors like?
- Will my professor mind if I stop by if I have questions?
- What if I need help with something not related to Physics?
- Where can I study?
- Tell me about research opportunities...
- Well, what I really want to study is engineering...
- But I think I want to be pre-health (pre-med)...
- Can I ever work for the physics department?
- Is there anything (besides physics) happening in the department?
- Is there life after Stetson?
- ...One more quote we just couldn't resist sharing...
- Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Where can I find the Physics Department?
We are located on the DeLand campus in the science building, Sage Hall, which we share with Chemistry and Biology. Our office is room 211/212. You can call the office at (386) 822-8910; our e-mail address is physics@stetson.edu.
(Sage Hall as seen from campus)
People often get lost in Sage Hall, which has six corridors (three on each floor) running from the campus side of the building to the parking lot side as well as a north to south corridor on the campus side of the building. Additionally, there is a hall on the west side (the side seen in the above picture), running from the north end to the south end of the building. We are located in the two north corridors. If you're on the campus side of the building with your back to the center of campus, the Physics corridors are on the left; the office is on the second floor.
We can think of several adjectives- friendly, supportive, helpful, interested in a student's success, striving for high standards But we'd prefer to have our students tell you what they think:
"This course is neat, because you get to apply your knowledge to questions you might run into in reality out of the classroom and [my professor] was always available when I needed help."
"The instructor was very effective in teaching the material and was helpful whenever I had questions."
"Although the material is complicated, [my professor] did an effective job of making it easy to understand."
"This was a very good course. ...I felt like...I [am] better prepared if I wanted to continue in research physics past the undergraduate level."
"[My professor] is a very good teacher, and I really enjoyed my time in his class. He teaches clearly and it is clear what he expects of the students."
Will my professor mind if I stop by and ask for help?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! That's why they are teaching at Stetson.
(Dr. Glander assisting a physics major working on a research project.)
We ask our graduating seniors, "In the fullest sense of the word, do you feel you had adequate access to the faculty?" Their responses - always just like this one: "Oh, very much so. If the faculty wasn't so helpful I probably would have given up on physics a long time ago. They are always willing to help and explain things anytime." (Ashley)
Our faculty have chosen to teach at a small, undergraduate school because they want to interact with undergraduate students. In addition to regularly scheduled office hours, our faculty all maintain open office hours-students are welcome to stop by anytime they are not in class. All students are encouraged to come by to get help with homework, to discuss research projects, to talk about the future, for advising sessions, or to get input on anything which may be affecting their lives. Don't be a stranger!
What if I need help with something not related to physics?
At the risk of repeating ourselves, we'll say it again, Drop by anytime!
We ask our seniors, "What do you consider the strongest part of the physics program?" One response: "The secretary! The faculty and the accessibility..." (April)
Okay, okay, so we've already said this, but all of us really are here for you!
In addition to our faculty, shour administrative staff are a great resource for our students. Our admins work hard to make Sage and the Department a friendly place, plus, they're good at finding answers for you. So, whether you need to know where on campus to get help with a particular question or problem, help finding someone, the phone number for another campus office, info on the latest t-shirt contest or pizza lunch, or you're looking simply someone to listen to what's up, drop by the Science administrative staff office, Sage 124 (center floor on the first floor). Don't be shy!
Well, of course, there's always the library...
But we have lots of places you can study right here in the Department. And you'll feel right at home because many of our majors study around here.
First, our introductory laboratories are open whenever there are no classes scheduled in the room. Typically, that means most mornings and the occasional afternoon. This is a favorite spot of our majors-not only is it relatively quiet, but the computers are available for students to use with whatever homework assignment they might have (not just physics assignments!).
Second, there are study alcoves on second floor of the northwest and south west corner of the building which are very popular - equiped with wi-fi, a table and chairs (including a couple comfy armchairs!), a white board, and large windows.
Third, we have a reading room (student lounge) on the first floor. Equipped with comfy living room furniture, lab tables, chalk boards, a fridge and a microwave, it's the place most majors prefer when working with others on an assignment.
(Sage 114, The Reading Room)
Finally, we are able to give our upper-class majors after-hours access to the building. (But we do recommend you go home to sleep!)
Tell me about Research Opportunities. Do we get to play with fun stuff in the lab? Can I do real research? What if I like it and I want to do more and More and MORE research?
Student Research is definitely a primary focus in the Department. We pride ourselves on having state-of-the-art equipment (much of it quite new) that is in place for YOU, the undergraduate!
Your hands-on experience starts in the introductory courses, with a weekly lab that boasts brand new computers that interface with a variety of interesting equipment. It continues with the upper division courses, many of which have labs associated with them, and we also offer two courses designed specifically to teach lab skills.
(Two upper class physics majors in one of our advanced labs.)
Our senior research sequence is the capstone of your major; it will take you full circle (beginning with a research proposal, through the research process, and finishing with several ways research is ultimately presented). This sequence gives you a real taste of what professional physics research is like, in addition to giving you a competitive edge if you chose to apply for a grant to support an extra research project-on campus, Stetson offers the Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) grant, and off campus there are many Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs available, and our majors have a high acceptance rate into these programs.
(Hope working on her computational Senior Research Project)
(Edwynn pauses during his work with the Electron Diffraction apparatus)
(Jon shows us how to use the Scanning Tunneling Microscope)
(Todd makes adjustments to the holography apparatus)
Which brings us to doing more and More and MORE research, to which we say ABSOLUTELY, and GO FOR IT! Because we only have undergraduates in our department, all our equipment is dedicated to being available to you! Plus, we have a complete machine shop and professional machinist on staff to fully support whatever special equipment needs might arise. So, many of our students decide to do an expanded research project on something they find especially interesting or they get involved in the professional research of our faculty-projects falling into either of these categories may be supported by a SURE Grant, or they chose to participate in off-campus (REU) research opportunities available around the country. Our faculty are eager to support any student interested in any of these opportunities.
(Jon presents his work with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope at Posters on the Hill in Washington DC)
One of our students told us that "The strongest part [of the Physics program] would have to be the hands-on of the equipment I know by talking to people at other schools that they don't get that." (Yuri)
Well what I really want to do is study Engineering...
Then we're a great place to start! We offer several options-transferring after you get your foundation coursework in place, the dual-degree option, or solid preparation for graduate study in any engineering field.
The advantage of coming to Stetson and participating in our pre-engineering program is that you get solid, inclusive support from your professors at the introductory level (our introductory courses aren't designed to "weed out" anyone). The courses someone interested in engineering needs to take are the same here as at major engineering schools-except that our students report back to us that because of our smaller class sizes and attentive faculty, they felt they were better prepared than their peers who rose up through the ranks in the engineering environment. Do be sure to let us know about your interests early, so we can maximize your choices and get you heading in the right direction!
Well Chemistry and Biology are certainly reasonable choices. But majoring in Physics is also an excellent way to go! Let one of our "featured alums", a pediatrician, explain his experience:
"I was so challenged that first week of college that I both hated and loved it. By the end of my first semester I switched my major from biology to physics and then, later, registered for a full complement of physics courses for the next year . I found in my career, I have always drawn more respect and attention because I majored in the field others feared. It helped me stand out among the multitude of predictable biology majors trying to get into medical school. Also, if you think life will afford you time to one day indulge that interest in physics, you're mistaken. Enjoy it now while you can. Carpe Diem! Medical school was a real whirlwind, but I graduated with medical honors (Alpha Omega Alpha). I couldn't over-emphasize the important role that the physics department played in that. They taught me I should understand and not just memorize and helped me develop the mental calluses I would need to endure the hours upon hours of study required. I could go on about this but suffice it to say that my experience as a physics major has been an essential part of my success in my field."
Can I ever work for the Physics Department?
Absolutely!! The basic requirement is successful completion of the introductory (PHYS 141/142) sequence.
Our faculty who teach the courses designed for non-majors and our introductory course sequence have come to rely on the physics foundation that our majors have already begun to build. Our upper class majors provide support by grading labs and homework in the introductory classes, tutoring the students enrolled in these classes, and occasionally assisting the faculty with lab set-up. We REALLY appreciate all our student employees do to support the Department!
(Our student employees help out in a variety of ways -
with general support around the Department, grading, or tutoring.)
We've asked our students, "If you worked for the department (work-study or cash labor), what benefits were there beyond money?" The answer: "Being around the faculty more. Thus I was more comfortable around them and had more opportunity to ask questions. Helping lower classmen helps me remember the things I learned early on." (Travis)
Is there anything (besides physics) happening in the Department?
Oh yes! The first thing we usually do in the fall is have a pizza lunch, and we invite all our majors and everyone taking the introductory course (PHYS 141). At this informal lunch everyone can meet the new Society of Physics Students (SPS) president and discuss whatever activities SPS will be sponsoring for the year. We've had guest speakers come, field trips (the most popular was to see a night launch of the space shuttle), movie nights (where the only thing related to physics being the classroom where the movie is shown!), and every year we have star-gazing parties and a t-shirt contest (where students submit designs, vote on their favorite, and then we print them into shirts for anyone to purchase at cost).
We've asked, "Do you feel that the Society of Physics Students (SPS) was a worthwhile part of your physics experience?" And we've heard:
"Yes, cool movies, and I never turn down free pizza. Really, I liked the trip to see the night launch [of the space shuttle]....You get to see an example of what you're working towards." (April)
Is there life after Stetson?
To be sure! And you'll have lots of options from which to choose ranging from a wide array of graduate programs to heading directly into the workforce.
(Graduating Physics Majors)
Our final question to our graduating seniors is, "What are your future plans and do you feel that your Stetson education has prepared you adequately for your career goals?" Their responses have included:
"Wake Forest University - to get my Ph.D. in BioPhysics. I think it's the proper first step - I need further preparation and will get that in grad school." (David) "Ph.D. in applied physics at Yale University. Yes, Stetson has prepared me for that, especially since I'm continuing in a private school. My summer research opportunities have definitely prepared me for a career in research." (Ryan)
"I still don't know what I want to do, but Stetson has opened the doors to several options. I have learned so much, and that is exactly what I came here to do regardless of career options." (Hope)
Last but not least there is just one more quote that we couldn't resist sharing.
"In professional life, my Stetson origins serve sometimes as comic relief and sometimes as a trenchant critique of the most elite universities in academia. Certainly I enjoy wearing my Stetson sweatshirt and responding to the incredulous questions it elicits ("Stetson University? Where the hell is that? Do you study hats?"). I have also enjoyed giving seminars at prestigious institutions and referring to Harvard as "the Stetson of the north" or to Caltech as "the Stetson of the west." My professional colleagues enjoy this sort of verbal sparring, but they are frequently caught up short when I tell them in all seriousness that
I would rather one of my kids go to college at Stetson than at Harvard or Stanford-that the education is better at Stetson.
I go on to explain that at Stetson I was always, always taught by professors, that the professors actually cared about teaching, that I had never heard of a 'TA' until I went to graduate school at Caltech, that my largest class while at Stetson was 40 students and my largest class in my major was 21 students, and that one Stetson professor actually gave me a personal tutorial course throughout my entire senior year so that I would be properly prepared for graduate work in biological sciences.
This sort of devotion to undergraduate teaching is rarely seen at the elite universities because faculty are rewarded primarily for their prowess in research, not in teaching.
I hope that you who are still at Stetson appreciate what you have there, and that you take full advantage of the resources offered by the Stetson faculty."
--Bill Newsome, 1974
(...From his open letter to our majors as our first "Featured Alum")
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Any of us! And please don't hesitate to do so... you can find our contact information here.
