When people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, you never knew whether to say doctor or scientist. Astronaut or surgeon. You’re fascinated with the universe and all its questions, and you have a passion for studying medicine or saving lives. Loyno’s Pre-Health Physics program is designed for you. It’s for students who want to apply to medical school, but who want to complete foundational study and research in physics, and develop a deep understanding of methods, diagnostic and therapeutic, that modern medicine uses. You’ll work with faculty members studying fields like cellular biophysics and biomechanics. You’ll apply sophisticated experimental techniques such as patch-clamping and advanced computational methods to biomedical problems. And above all, you’ll leave Loyno with the experience you need to stand out on a med-school application.
Courses
In addition to the required 33 hours of core physics and 13 hours of math, students in this program will take a year of: biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry.
- Introduction to Electromagnetism and Relativity
This first-year course discusses electric and magnetic phenomena. It culminates in an elementary treatment of Maxwell’s equations. The course also discusses Einstein’s special theory of relativity and its consequences to near-speed-of-light travel. - Introduction to Waves and Quantum Physics
This sophomore course introduces students to the wonderfully weird world of quantum particles. After some preliminary treatment of wave phenomena, the course focuses on experimental foundations of quantum physics. Finally, it discusses the Schrödinger equation and the different interpretations of quantum mechanics. - Cellular Biophysics
This course focuses on selected physiological processes occurring in biological cells, such as cell homeostasis or action potential in neurons. Although these are biological phenomena, their analysis is inherently multidisciplinary, involving both physical and chemical principles. The course also introduces students to basic mathematical modeling of biophysical phenomena. - Advanced Laboratory Physics
This course trains students to be self-reliant in planning and performing experiments not ordinarily done at the elementary level. Experiments are performed in such areas as electronics, mechanics, atomic physics, and spectroscopy.
Curriculum
- PHYS A101 Introduction to Mechanics
- PHYS A103 Mechanics Lab
- PHYS A102 Introduction to Electromagnetism
- PHYS A104 Electricity and Magnetism Lab
- PHYS A240 Introduction to Waves and Quantum Physics
- PHYS A241 Introduction to Thermal Physics
- PHYS A340 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS A350 Electromagnetism
- PHYS A445 Advanced Laboratory Physics
- PHYS A450 Quantum Mechanics
- Plus 29 credit hours of math, biology, and chemistry