Physics

The Department of Physics at Grove City College prepares students to enter employment in a wide variety of professional sectors, to excel in top graduate and professional school programs, and to teach physics using the latest research-informed methods.

The department is a member of the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) and has been studied as an example of a successful physics department by the national SPIN-UP task force.

Community and professional development are fostered within the department and through the Grove City College Physics Club, a chapter of the national Society of Physics Students (SPS).

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Department Overview

Through meaningful research opportunities, innovative teaching, and state-of-the-art facilities, students at Grove City College become physicists in the fullest sense. Their search for truth and knowledge extends from the largest cosmos of stars to the smallest sub-atomic particles. Students are given the academic freedom to choose coursework and conduct research in a broad range of fields, approaching problems from experimental, theoretical, computational, and educational frameworks.

Mercedes Mansfield, '18

B.S. in Physics, B.S. in Chemistry

Ian McAllister, '16

B.S. in Physics, Minor in Mathematics

Randon Hoselton, '17

B.S. in Physics and General Science Secondary Education

Ashley Cetnar, '11

B.S. in Physics, B.S. in Chemistry

Mission Statement

The mission of Grove City College's Department of Physics is to glorify God through educating and mentoring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and scientifically-literate citizens.

Physics provides the foundation for all scientific and technical disciplines. Through undergraduate research and the use of modern, research-informed teaching methods, students untangle the mysteries of God’s universe by increasing their understanding of the laws of physics that govern it. The department fosters the development of critical thinking, problem solving, laboratory, investigative, and communication skills, providing a sound foundation for the diverse callings students pursue.

Facilities & Equipment

Physics faculty and students at Grove City College use cutting-edge equipment inside and outside of the classroom and the lab to conduct research and publish their findings in leading science and education journals.

Lab spaces are located in Rockwell Hall and house a spectroscope, an ultra-fast high-power infrared laser, a sputtering chamber, and a scanning tunneling microscope. In addition, Grove City College has two observatories: an on-campus observatory and an observatory near Edinboro, Pa.