Program Details
Program Details
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Bachelor of Science
Randolph-Macon College
Program Details
Engineering Physics (BS)
Bachelor of ScienceEngineering Physics (BS)
Randolph-Macon College
Engineering Physics is a multidisciplinary field of study with a curriculum that has the essential core coursework in engineering, coupled with elective courses in physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, or geology that will complement your intended engineering field of interest. You will be able to explore the various fields of engineering through one-on-one interactions with faculty and practicing engineers.
The department strongly encourages students to participate in research opportunities outside of their normal course work. Examples of unique research experiences include Randolph-Macon College's SURF Program, The National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program, and PHYS 271-PHYS 274. Additionally, it is highly recommended that engineering physics students participate in the Basset Internship program to gain further perspectives of engineering that cannot be obtained from classroom or research opportunities.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Engineering Physics is a great choice for students who want to study Engineering but who retain an interest in the fundamentals of Physics as well as other sciences. The focus is Engineering Mechanics – the foundation of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, but students also take a Physics elective and a two-course sequence in another science such as computer science, environmental studies, chemistry, or biology. It is a particularly flexible option for students who wish to double major or who do not start Engineering until the sophomore year. Roughly 50% of the EPHY majors have been student athletes – this is greater than the Randolph-Macon number of about 33% Roughly 30% of the EPHY majors have been women – above the average for a program focused on Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Macon Women Engineers is a student group comprised primarily of women engineering students. Many EPHY students join the Society of Physics Students. EPHY students are eligible for Sigma Pi Sigma – the Physics Honor Society. Employers often state that they need engineers who can communicate effectively with non-engineers and who behave ethically. In 2006, Charles Vest, President Emeritus of MIT, wrote that, “…the humanities, arts, and social sciences are essential to the creative, explorative, open-minded environment and spirit necessary to educate the engineer of 2020.â€1 Similarly, Warren Buffett has stated that integrity (aka ethics) is the most important hiring trait he seeks in an employee.2 These outcomes are core components of the Randolph-Macon liberal arts education. Graduate schools are looking for students who “know how to learnâ€. Approximately 25% of the Engineering Physics graduates (from among 59 since 2015), have gone to graduate school. Their advisors often reach out to the Randolph-Macon faculty asking for “more like Emma†or “more like Victorâ€. Students learn to be “life-long learners†who can research and learn on their own – qualities highly sought after by graduate schools. [1]CM Vest, “Educating Engineers for 2020 and Beyond†in Reforming Engineering Education, National Academy of Engineering, 36(2), 2006. 2M Schwantes, “Warren Buffett Says Look for This 1 Trait if You WANT to HIRE the BEST People,†Inc., www.inc.com, Accessed June 13, 2022. Please note: Students enrolled at Randolph-Macon College attend classes primarily Monday-Friday between 8 am - 5 pm with very few evening courses. The large majority of RMC coursework is offered in-person and on campus. A very limited selection of online courses is offered in summer sessions. No more than one half of the courses on a major or minor can be transferred; at least one-half of the semester hours of the major or minor must be taken at Randolph-Macon. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Math – simple minor to add, some choose to double major. Computer Science – many EPHY students choose to double major or minor in CSCI Chemistry – multiple EPHY/CHEM double-majors Environmental Studies - multiple EPHY/EVST double-majors Other students have chosen minors or double-majors in: Asian Studies, Economics, Communication Studies, Political Science,
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | One form of hands-on learning occurs in virtually every course: R-MC’s small classes offer the opportunity for students receive personalized attention from our faculty. The students do not simply listen to lectures but also actively learn by collaboratively problem-solving in small groups during class. In addition, the EPHY major includes a minimum of seven courses which include a laboratory component. In each of these lab courses, students conduct experiments in which the material learned in lecture is brought to life. |
| Doing More With Your Degree | While in the program, students have opportunities to conduct research in collaboration with a faculty member. Some examples of previous studies are: Dr. McLeskey Mary O’Sullivan ’23, SURF student, Topic: Desalination; “Fabrication and Characterization of Melt Electrospun Membranes for Use in Membrane Distillation Systemsâ€, Funding: SURF. Presented at the Women in Physical Sciences Conference at the University of Nebraska, October 2021. Megan Gunn ‘23, Guided Research student, Topic: Solar Energy; “Perovskite solar cells from Tin Iodide without a gloveboxâ€; Funding: Internal Dr. Cullingsworth Matt Gunn ‘24, Guided Research student, Topic: Medical Device Design; “Valuable Time Saved: Comparison of Novel Bladder Irrigation procedure using Prototype Device to Existing Bladder Irrigation Procedureâ€; Funding: Internal. Poster won the Engineering Poster Category at the 2022 Physics Congress (PhysCon) in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Society of Physics Students. Jaden Ellis ‘24, SURF student, Topic: 3D Printing, “Characterizing Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Materials by Variation of Printing Parametersâ€, Funding: SURF. Presented at the Women in Physical Sciences Conference at the University of Nebraska, October 2021. Students also have the opportunity to travel through courses such as: EPHY 140 Engineering for Developing Areas. In January 2018, the class traveled to Guatemala where we designed a solution to a water erosion problem. A soccer field built at 11,000 feet was washing away due to the nature of the soil (volcanic ash). The students surveyed the field, determined the direction of the water flow, and developed a solution including a series of Graduates from our program are employed with companies such as: NASA – Wallops Island Flight Facility (Rocket Launch) Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Currency Technology Office, (money counting machines) Schnabel Geotechnical Engineering (Civil Engineering firm) Dominion Energy Naval Research Lab Other graduates have continued their studies in programs such as: University of Virginia, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Emma Tiernan ‘19; PhD Student; University of Virginia, Materials Science and Engineering, Victor Kontopanos ‘21; PhD Student Virginia Tech, Engineering Mechanics, Greg Beale ‘18, MS student Virginia Tech, Civil Engineering, Erin Lee ‘22, MS student University of Vermont, Grad Certificate in Sustainable Enterprises, Derek Marsilio ‘22 |
| Program Successes & Highlights | 3D printer Wind tunnel Very few liberal arts colleges offer Engineering or Engineering Physics majors. These majors make R-MC somewhat unique amongst our direct competitors. Obviously, compared to the larger state schools that offer Engineering (VT, UVA, VCU, ODU, George Mason), R-MC’s small classes offer the opportunity for students receive personalized attention from our faculty. The students do not simply listen to lectures but also actively learn by collaboratively problem-solving in small groups during class. Our program is built to allow time for extracurricular activities, including D3 athletics and the faculty work closely with the coaches to ensure that athletes who wish to major in Engineering are able to do so. Approximately 50% of the EPHY majors are student athletes. The SURF program allows students to work directly with a faculty member to conduct research. |
Program Credit Requirements
Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Randolph-Macon College and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students admitted under our guaranteed admissions agreement are guaranteed completion of most general education requirements. Students may need to complete additional foreign language coursework to complete the Effective Communication requirements and must complete the college's Cross-Area Requirements, most of which can be fulfilled through major programs and should not significantly increase the time to completion of degree.
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Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | We accept AP (4 or 5 on the exam) and IB (5, 6, or 7 on higher level exams). |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
Transfer Center
Transfer Admissions : Randolph-Macon College (rmc.edu)
Visit our transfer site for more information
Number of Transfer Students
120
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
71
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | At Randolph-Macon, we recognize the breadth of knowledge and experience you bring as a transfer student. Our personalized, hands-on approach to learning lets you build on that foundation, honing the skills you'll need to excel. No matter what your future goals, we'll set you on a path to success that’s uniquely yours. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at RMC. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | GAA students must complete the RMC transfer application and submit all required materials by June 1 (for fall term) or December 1 (for spring term). GAA students will submit an Intent to Transfer form through their current community college contact to RMC. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Physics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Science in Physics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph College | Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9041.00 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9041.01 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9121.01 | Clinical Research Coordinators | Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data. | Management Occupations |
| 17-2199.03 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 25-1032.00 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 17-2199.00 | Engineers, All Other | All engineers not listed separately. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 17-2199.05 | Mechatronics Engineers | Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 17-2199.06 | Microsystems Engineers | Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 17-2199.09 | Nanosystems Engineers | Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 11-9121.00 | Natural Sciences Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields. | Management Occupations |
| 17-2199.07 | Photonics Engineers | Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 19-2012.00 | Physicists | Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 17-2199.08 | Robotics Engineers | Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 17-2199.11 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 11-9121.02 | Water Resource Specialists | Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues. | Management Occupations |
| 17-2199.10 | Wind Energy Engineers | Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and prepare and develop site specifications. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
Cost To Complete