BS in Applied Physics: Data Science
The new BS in Applied Physics: Data Science major provides students experience with the fundamentals of scientific modeling and data science from an underlying foundation in physics. Students gain an understanding of physical laws and how models provide predictive and explanatory descriptions of complex physical and astronomical processes. Complementing this model building perspective for students, experimental lab courses give hands-on experience with designing physical experiments, collecting data, and determining measurement uncertainty. All courses help students build intuition about uncertainty and bias in measurements that inform physics-based approaches to data science.
Students complete mentored research projects in data science on campus or through external internships. Each student completes sufficient research to write a senior thesis or capstone report. This experiential learning is the culminating experience for majors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and is a crucial part of their preparation for graduate studies or to successfully begin their careers on graduation.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Physics Theory and Application:
Apply principles to model and solve representative problems analytically and computationally at an introductory level from the primary physical theories (classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special relativity, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and optics) and at an advanced level in classical mechanics, electrostatics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and optics/electrodynamics.
Data Science Theory and Application:
Apply principles of data science to model physical and astronomical systems, address physical problems, and evaluate the uncertainty, sensitivity, and fidelity of the models.
Experiment and Computational Skills:
Design and conduct experiments, build scientific equipment, write scientific programs to simulate physical systems, and analyze data.
Effective Communication:
Communicate professionally to a technical audience both orally and in writing. Be able to understand scientific ideas by reading books and journal articles.
Professional Ethics:
Understand scientific ethical practices and demonstrate them in the conduct of scientific research.
Research and Professional Preparation:
Conduct experimental, theoretical, or computational research related to data science under the direction of a mentor to contribute to the generation of new knowledge or technologies and prepare to do this professionally.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Department of Physics and Astronomy
N283 ESC
Provo, UT 84602
physics_office@byu.edu
801-422-4361
Program details:
https://catalog25byu.catalog.prod.coursedog.com/programs/ycqlYlXfYC0FzhUQ6ojv
Advising:
https://physics.byu.edu/undergraduate/advising#faculty-academic-advisors