The Department of Physics offers a full set of courses, labor opportunities, and other activities designed to (a) prepare students to enter graduate schools or research laboratories en route to careers as professional physicists, (b) provide a liberal arts major for students who will not become physicists but are interested in careers in astronomy, engineering, medicine, computer science, secondary teaching etc., where a background in physics is essential, and (c) provide service courses for majors in other sciences such as pre-medicine, mathematics, industrial arts and technology, and agriculture.

We are committed to providing quality education. The physics curriculum at Berea College is flexible and comprehensive. Our courses are grounded in problem solving using both practical and quantitative reasoning skills. We also are committed to the idea that students should conduct research as part of their undergraduate curriculum. All of our Faculty direct undergraduate research with our students as well as send some of our students to undergraduate research programs at other institutions.

A strong background in physics is essential in any field in Engineering. So for those inclined toward engineering, we have a dual Degree program (3-2 Engineering). In this program, a student attend Berea College for three years, then completes the engineering requirements at either the University of Washington in Saint Louis, Missouri, or at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.