Engineering Physics program

Gain a broad and deep understanding of various engineering fields

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the lines between traditional engineering disciplines—such as civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering—are becoming increasingly blurred. Industries need engineers who are not only adaptable but also possess a broad and deep understanding of various fields.

The Engineering Physics program at UW-La Crosse combines the rigor of science, mathematics, and engineering to equip graduates with a unique skill set capable of addressing complex, interdisciplinary challenges. This program is designed to produce career-ready professionals who can thrive in diverse sectors, including industry, government research labs, and academia.

This new major is open to students beginning in fall 2025.

Undergrad major

A program within the Physics Department

What is Engineering Physics?

Engineering Physics is a multidisciplinary field that integrates the fundamental principles of physics with core engineering concepts. Students will build a solid foundation in areas like mechanical, electrical, optical, and materials engineering, while also mastering key subjects such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, and electronics. The program emphasizes the practical application of these concepts to solve real-world problems.

The Physics Department at UWL is a true gem. The warmth and support offered by the professors remains unmatched. The opportunity to perform research independently as an undergraduate was so valuable. It really helped me flourish in graduate school where I continued researching.

Elizabeth (Beth) Tennyson

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Careers in Engineering Physics

The Engineering Physics program helps fill a growing demand for skilled engineers and scientists in Wisconsin and across the nation. Engineering careers, in general, are expanding at a rate faster than the average for all occupations. About 195,000 openings are projected each year, on average, in engineering and architecture occupations due to employment growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Professionals in this field typically enjoy competitive salaries and strong job security. The median annual wage for architecture and engineering jobs was $97,310 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Career examples

Product engineer
Quality control engineer
Process engineer
Laboratory scientist
Instrumentation specialist
Data analyst
Engineering consultant

What distinguishes UWL's Engineering Physics program?

Nationally-recognized leader in undergraduate physics education

Earned the American Physical Society Award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education.
Highlighted by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) as one of the most outstanding revitalized physics programs in the nation.
Selected for a site visit from the American Institute of Physics to learn and promote the Physics Department’s effective practices for the preparation of physics undergraduates for STEM careers as part of the AIP Career Pathways Project in 2012.

Curriculum includes research and design experiences

The Engineering Physics program culminates with a sequence of two capstone courses, where students work in teams to develop a solution to a technical design problem. In addition, students can gain credit towards the Engineering Physics degree by taking part in student/faculty collaborative research in a variety of areas including optoelectronic devices, nanotechnology, photovoltaics, and materials growth and characterization.

Interchangeable degree options in engineering

The Engineering Physics major offers flexibility by complementing the Physics Department's dual-degree tracks in physics and engineering. Through these tracks, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Physics alongside a degree in a specific engineering discipline from one of our partner institutions, such as UW-Madison. The Engineering Physics curriculum is structured to allow students to transition smoothly between different engineering degree options, ensuring minimal delays in their graduation timeline.

State-of-the-art equipment, facility

The Physics Department has all of its experimental facilities in UWL's modern science labs building, the Prairie Springs Science Center. The use of high-tech research equipment and laboratories prepare students for the skills required in the modern world. All faculty research labs are available for student involvement.

Scholarship opportunities

There are several scholarship opportunities specifically available for students majoring in physics or physics/engineering.

Sample courses

PHY 308 Optics This course covers the mathematical treatment and modern applications of electromagnetic theory; propagation of light; geometrical optics, with emphasis on fiber optics and the formation of images in cameras, microscopes, and telescopes; physical optics, with emphasis on spectroscopy and the resolution limits of optical systems; and lasers. Topics in modern optics may also include holography. Prerequisite: PHY 305. Offered Occasionally.

PHY 335 Electronics This course expands upon the topics covered in PHY 334. Analog circuits are treated in greater detail, including circuit analysis, follower circuits, and operational and transistor amplifiers. Additional analog topics include transistor limitations, comparators, and oscillators. Lectures and laboratories are expanded to include digital electronics, electronic devices and applications. Digital topics include digital circuits, digital logic, flip flops, counter, memory, A/D and D/A conversion. Additional topics may include arithmetic units and microprocessors. Lect. 3, Lab 3. Prerequisite: PHY 334. Offered Fall.

PHY 343 Thermodynamics This course emphasizes basic concepts of thermodynamics, beginning with fundamentals such as temperature, thermal expansion, heat flow, and calorimetry. State equations, tables, and diagrams are used to describe the properties of pure substances. The First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics are investigated, with applications to energy, enthalpy and entropy. Gas, vapor, and combined power cycles are studied, along with refrigeration cycles. Gas mixtures and gas-vapor mixtures, with applications to air conditioning and psychrometrics also are studied. Additional topics may include the thermodynamics of chemical reactions, and statistical thermodynamics. Prerequisite: PHY 306. Offered Spring.