New program offers practical physics

IU's new program in applied physics has recently been put into motion, and undergraduates gunning for their bachelor's degree in science now have the option of taking either the standard physics track or one in applied physics. \nThe new program incorporates "a solid background in physics with an extensive introduction to the applied aspects of physics," according to its Web site. The program is designed to cater to students who plan to use their degree right after graduation, as opposed to continuing onto graduate school. \n"We initiated the Applied Physics program in response to needs of students who want to move on to jobs in industry or labs after getting an undergraduate degree rather than go on to graduate studies -- the more traditional path," he said. "Currently, the programs we offer are catered to undergrads who plan to go on to grad school."\nIU alumnus Ray Lepore, who is currently the dean at Edison College in Ohio, assisted with the development of the program. After working with a company that specialized in producing electronics for nuclear and high energy physics research, Lepore left to run an undergraduate program at Edison that prepares students who plan to work in high-tech industries. Partnering with the industries themselves is a central component to Edison's program.\n"Together, we designed a curriculum (for IU) that looks similar to our standard physics track but differs in a number of important ways," Physics Professor Alex Dzierba said in a press release. A three-month paid internship sets this program apart from the standard physics track. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by IU physicists and both Cook Inc. of Bloomington and the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, one of the U.S. military's leading weapons and munitions facilities. Farther from home, students will have the option of interning at national laboratories such as Oak Ridge in Tennessee, Fermilab in Illinois, Los Alamos in New Mexico and Jefferson Lab in Virginia.\nAlthough the program will not be available to undergraduates until next fall, four students have already received internship offers from Crane. Junior Andrew Davis is one of these students.\n"I want real-world, practical experience in the field," he said. "I also think it will be a really great opportunity to get my name out there and do some networking."\nThe new program benefits more than just the students involved, though. \n"We hope to attract more majors to the physics department," Dzierba said. "There's been a lot of student interest regarding the Applied Physics track."\nEven though the program has just barely begun, speculation is already being made regarding its future. \n"As the program grows, additional upper-level courses in medical physics, neutron instrumentation, biocomplexity, etc., are planned to be added as driven by student interest," according to the Physics Department's Web site.