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Physics significantly contributes to everything around us, ensuring our health, convenience, safety, and well-being. It is the cornerstone of scientific knowledge that drives improvements in our lives.
This branch of science is also responsible for producing and consuming energy. Through the principles of electricity, magnetism, and thermodynamics, we can distribute energy resources and design renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and power grids, nurturing the planet’s sustainability.
Aside from those mentioned above, Physics is also used to produce various modes of transportation, including high-speed trains, cars, airplanes, and motorcycles. Physics governs the design and operation of such vehicles to make daily commutes faster and safer. Also, it plays a pivotal role in medical advancements, including medical diagnostics and treatment, imaging technologies, and more!
Quick Summarization
Online Physics degree programs help people better understand Physics and its inner workings. Through a degree program in Physics, students acquire a deeper understanding of the universe’s fundamental laws and gain critical thinking skills to analyze complex scenarios and develop creative solutions.
Methodology
We compiled the top online Physics degrees! Each bachelor program stands out with these features.
- Delivered as an online or blended Physics undergraduate program with synchronous or asynchronous options,
- Teaches the essential concepts of classical physics, data science, modern physics, and other principles relevant to the discipline,
- Offers relatively affordable per-credit tuition rates, generous transfer credit programs, and financial assistance to qualified distance learners,
- Taught by Physics experts and terminal degree holders,
- Offers internship opportunities to provide students with hands-on experience in real-world situations,
- Earned accreditation from reputable organizations/associations, such as the ABET or Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, to prove that it provides excellent education and meets the highest standards established by governing bodies.
Read our Methodology to see the details of our ranking process.
5 Best Bachelor’s in Physics Online
Arizona State University
Arizona State University has ranked number one for innovation in the US from 2016 to 2023. This university is dedicated to empowering students to help them achieve their goals by practicing innovation at scale. At ASU Online, students will be guided in discovering their passions, earning higher salaries, and transitioning into more fulfilling careers.
At ASU Online, individuals passionate about Physics can pursue its online Bachelor of Arts in Physics degree. This program offers a science-oriented liberal arts education on various physical phenomena.
Through this Physics degree, students will learn the fundamental concepts of energy and matter, which are the foundation of most branches of science. This program is also ideal for teachers looking to teach advanced Physics in secondary school and students who want to pursue careers in engineering, IT, and physical sciences.
At ASU Online, Physics students get to emulate experimental conditions on their computer screens in an advanced lab course using the same limitations and protocols as their on-campus counterparts. They can also access an online version of the electronics lab to purchase less expensive kits to perform sophisticated electronics experiments through their PCs. Aside from that, this program tackles modern physics and covers a broad overview of quantum mechanics and special relativity.
Here are some of the course requirements for ASU’s Physics online bachelor’s degree:
- Programming for Physicists
- Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter
- Quantum Physics
- Calculus for Engineers
- University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism
According to its website, 94% of ASU Online’s alumni reported that their degrees have led to successful jobs or promotions. Moreover, 87% of its graduates were said to have received salary increases or have been promoted after earning a degree from this university. This is all because ASU Online is committed to continuously improving academic quality and accessibility and helping students of diverse backgrounds and previous educational attainments earn a degree and succeed in life.
One factor that has driven ASU Online’s success is its belief in making education accessible for anyone who wishes to change the course of their lives. They are committed to molding master learners who can be anything they set their minds to.
To prove this, ASU Online focuses on use-inspired research and scholarship that deeply impact its students and the community. On top of that, it offers an exceptional learning experience with top-tier faculty and superior support services to ensure students can advance their education.
Liberty University
Rev. Jerry Falwell had a vision of world change in 1971. His dream was to have a generation of professionals in various fields who loved God, served others, and were great at whatever they were called to do. He also saw a university on top of a mountain where it would all happen, so he started to build it.
Fifty years later, Liberty University has become an accredited institution that provides evangelical liberal arts education to over 100,000 students through over 700 programs of study from its 15 colleges and schools. Nowadays, it offers over 600 programs that are available online, including certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Liberty University is one of the pioneers in distance education, paving the way since 1985. Today, it is recognized for its academic quality, accessibility, and affordability, putting it in the top 3 online schools in the United States. Being a highly recognized nonprofit institution sets Liberty University students apart from the rest in their chosen fields.
One of the top online degrees offered by Liberty University is the Bachelor of Science in Physics program. This degree is for individuals interested in tinkering with machines to know how they work, analyze different situations, or experiment with new ideas.
Liberty University’s online Physics degree prepares students to be data analysts, mechanical engineers, particle accelerator operators, physicists, and more.
After completing the Physics program, students can use mathematical techniques to solve problems. They will be able to understand how the laws and cosmos of physics support a creator and Christian worldview. Physics majors can explore physical phenomena through experiments, data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation. Moreover, they will be able to fully understand fundamental physics principles within its branches of electromagnetism, mechanics, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics.
This university is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SASCOC)-recognized school. Its Physics degree program is the first to be offered fully online. Its curriculum features courses taught from a Christian viewpoint to ensure graduates can incorporate biblical principles into their line of work.
Liberty University’s BS in Physics degree completion plan includes these courses below:
- Introduction to Modern Physics
- Wave Optics
- Quantum Physics
- Calculus & Analytic Geometry
- Numerical Methods in Physics
University of North Dakota
Founded in 1883, the University of North Dakota was built after the former Dakota territories were divided into two distinct states. Today, this institution is the state’s largest campus, built on 521 acres. On top of that, it has emerged as a leader in aviation, engineering, medicine, space, and unmanned aircraft systems.
UND continues to maintain its record of producing leaders and offering nationally recognized academic programs. It also has the largest number of exclusively online students in all nonprofit universities in the eight-state region. Today, UND is considered one of the country’s top institutions for its affordability, academic excellence, and positive career outcomes. UND has ranked number 178 in the National Science Foundation in 2021.
UND currently offers 3889 academic programs. It is the only institution with law and medical schools and the top graduate school in the state. Its contribution to educating some top doctors, business professionals, engineers, lawyers, and scientists provided North Dakota with around $1.7 billion in overall economic impact.
The University of North Dakota offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics and a Master of Science (MS) in Physics program. With a Master’s in Physics, graduates can qualify for exciting careers in STEM research. Through this accelerated program, students can start their thesis research as early as junior year and complete their master’s in five years.
At UND, Physics classes are small and have a collaborative approach. They will work with world-class faculty on cutting-edge research on various topics, such as astrophysics, health physics, materials science, and solid-state physics. They get access to a team of faculty members dedicated to guiding them toward achieving their academic goals.
UND students get to have access to state-of-the-art research facilities on campus, as well as national and international facilities. They conduct thorough research in various areas, including dark energy, nanoscience, and superconductivity. Plus, they get opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, including rocket competitions that NASA sponsors.
Trevecca Nazarene University
Trevecca Nazarene University was established in 1901 and has since been home to thousands of students who sought quality higher education. Through its accreditations and top-tier faculty, this university has been developing students’ minds from various parts of the world for over 120 years.
Located in the heart of Nashville, this university has staff and faculty focused on ensuring students are more than prepared for leadership and service roles. Today, it continues to provide holistic education to encourage students to grow emotionally, intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually.
Trevecca has a main campus and two satellite campuses in Middle Tennessee. On top of that, it holds online classes worldwide, catering to students from 47 states and 39 countries. It offers 20 associate degrees, 81 bachelor’s, 25 master’s, three doctoral programs, and a few specialist and certificate programs.
This school is a Christ-centered institution committed to helping its students succeed and, at the same time, strengthening their faith and worldview. It has multi-dimensional Christian faculty and staff that help students understand other’s perspectives while they grow. This university is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)-approved institution.
Through Trevecca Nazarene University’s online Bachelor of Science in Physics degree, students will be equipped to take on various roles through strong laboratory experience, hands-on research involvement, and classroom learning.
They can also take advantage of faculty collaborations and special grant funding to have the chance to participate in robust research opportunities, including digital electronics, electron microscopy, near-space research, and solar telescope engagement.
Some of the course requirements are:
- General Physics
- Electromagnetics
- Thermodynamics
- Engineering Programming
- Linear & Matrix Algebra
Trevecca’s BS in Physics degree has a small professor-to-student ratio to ensure tailored and interactive instructions from professors with high degrees in their fields and valuable real-world experience. Students can also have incredible job and internship opportunities in the Nashville market.
Physics students can participate in unique research opportunities using cutting-edge equipment and technology. For one, students can participate in a federally funded imaging research program. This collaboration of Trevecca, Neocera, and the University of Maryland provides an opportunity for students to work with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) for developing circuit analysis tools.
Illinois Institute of Technology
The only tech-focused university in the Chicago metropolis, the Illinois Institute of Technology helps learners from all backgrounds meet the new demands of the ever-changing marketplace. Thirty years later, Illinois Tech continues to fulfill its mission based on the rankings on the United States Department of Education College Scorecard.
Illinois Tech is one of 22 institutions making up the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), an organization of leading private technological colleges and universities in America whose mission is to secure the future of the country’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. Its undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture, applied technology, business, design, engineering, human sciences, law, and science prepare students for professions that require an innovative mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and technological sophistication.
Illinois Tech offers numerous degrees today, including 627 bachelor’s, 916 master’s, 231 juris doctor’s, 88 doctorate, and four certificate degrees. This school is Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited.
Illinois Tech offers an accelerated program combining bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Physics/Master of Applied Science in Health Physics prepares individuals for a rewarding career as a radiation health physicist. It is designed for those who seek fulfilling roles in the government, military, and environmental and health-related fields where radiation protection and planning are needed.
Illinois Tech’s BS/MAS program in Health Physics offers two specializations. The first option is Radiological Security and Emergency Response, which will qualify graduates for the Department of Homeland Security’s Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS) Program. The second option is the Radiochemistry track, which prepares students for environmental protection, homeland security, and nuclear medicine careers.
This accelerated master’s program is one of the few available online and on campus. This allows students to earn a master’s degree in just five years. Through Illinois Tech’s professional connections, students can have plenty of opportunities for health physics internships.
These are some of the program requirements for Illinois Tech’s accelerated BS in Physics/MAS in Health Physics degree:
- Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- Fundamentals of Quantum Theory
- Computational Physics
- Introduction to Differential Equations
- Introduction to Computer Programming
Top Branches of Physics for Students Interested in Research
Physics is inarguably the most essential domain of science as it contributes to the technological infrastructure and trains people to lead scientific advances and discoveries.
The following are five of the core branches of physics specifically for those who want to participate in STEM research:
Classical Physics
This branch of physics recognizes two principal forms of energy: kinetic and potential. It deals with various laws of gravitation and motion. It is related to physics that dates back before 1900.
Classical physics does not use quantum mechanics or the theory of relativity. This branch of physics includes Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism, Newtonian mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Modern Physics
Relativity and quantum theory are considered modern Physics related to major breakthroughs of the 20th century.
In modern physics, students will conduct laboratory and field investigations using scientific methods to investigate various relativity and quantum mechanics topics. Advances in this field have aided human endeavors, including economic development, telecommunications, and space exploration, to name a few.
Nuclear Physics
This is the study of the behavior and properties of atomic nuclei. It defines how the sun generates the energy needed for life on Earth, what happens to stars when they die, and how all atoms in the body are made of stars. This branch of physics also tries to answer fundamental questions, such as where people come from, what humans are, and where people are going.
Frequently Asked Questions
What potential career paths are there for Bachelor’s in Physics degree holders?
Bachelor’s in Physics graduates can go on to work in engineering, information technology, healthcare, and other industries.
Here are some of the top roles that Physics graduates can apply for:
- Data Scientists – $103,500
- Nuclear Engineers – $122,480
- Research Associates – $65,917
- Systems Analysts – $102,240
- Materials Scientists – $110,690
- Industrial Engineers – $96,350
- Geoscientists – $87,480
- Operations Research Analysts – $85,720
With an advanced degree, a Physics major can become a Physics teacher and snag leadership positions, and conduct or publish scientific research.
How long does it take to complete an online Bachelor in Physics?
Generally, students enrolled in Bachelor’s in Physics online programs must complete at least 120 credit hours. Finishing the degree will take at least four years for those who attend the program full-time and follow the traditional 16-week semester. Enrolling in summer classes or taking extra courses every semester can significantly reduce the time needed to graduate.
Is it possible for students to do Physics lab work online?
Laboratories are crucial components of any Physics degree online for hands-on learning purposes. Online students can apply their theoretical knowledge and enhance their research skills by visiting the school’s physical location several times a semester or working in laboratories in a local school or institution that conducts experiments.
Key Points to Ponder
- Online Physics programs at the bachelor’s degree level prepare students for various career opportunities, including nuclear engineers, materials scientists, mechanical engineers, data analysts, and web developers, to name a few.
- An online Physics degree teaches students to examine the nature of energy and matter and study how the universe operates, covering topics like astronomy, cosmology, geophysics, electromagnetics, quantum mechanics, and more.
- Coursework and hands-on learning opportunities in this degree allow students to learn about experimental analysis, principles of scientific inquiry, and scientific methods.
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