The Physics Department has three main objectives in its program offerings: (1) to serve students interested in engineering as a profession; (2) to serve students from various colleges within the university who need a basic understanding of physics; and (3) to serve students with an interest in a professional future in physics. The department is composed of appropriate professional staff, facilities, and equipment to support these objectives.

The curriculum in Engineering Physics is built around a strong core of physics courses complemented by courses from engineering departments. Students can earn an Engineering Physics degree with an emphasis in either mechanical or electrical engineering by selecting appropriate courses from one of these two areas. This major is designed to give students the ability to apply new research developments to pressing problems of society and is most attractive for those students interested in industrial employment. Graduates with an engineering physics degree typically enter employment as an engineer or continue graduate work in a field such as nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering.

The curriculum in Physics is an option similar to the Engineering Physics curriculum that is not necessarily directed toward engineering. Not requiring the depth of engineering courses allows the Physics curriculum more flexibility to accommodate a wide range of student interests. Students interested in a professional physics career, graduate school, medical school, secondary physics education, meteorology, or a multitude of related areas can choose this option. This flexibility is achieved by building a curriculum around a core of 28 required semester credits in physics. Listings of elective courses for various technical careers are available in the Physics Department office.

The Department of Physics is now administratively located in the College of Arts and Sciences.