At Furman, physics majors work with teacher-scholars in an ongoing effort to understand the natural processes of the universe. A major in physics provides a natural cornerstone for a well-rounded education, since physics is the fundamental natural science - linking science and philosophy. Physics majors at Furman enjoy distinct advantages. The department emphasizes individualized instruction and close contact with professors. Students and professors together conduct independent study and research projects in such areas as field theory, electronics, computer interfacing, nuclear reactions, cosmology, astronomy, and astrophysics.

Through the university's work-study program, physics majors gain valuable experience as assistants in introductory-level classes and laboratories. The department encourages its students to conduct summer research internships. Some of these are done locally with Furman professors. Others have been conducted at such diverse places as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, General Atomics Corporation in San Diego, the Very Large Array in New Mexico, the University of Northern Ireland, and at Bonnenberg-Drescher in Aldenhoven, Germany. In addition, the department cooperates with Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State, University of Georgia and University of South Carolina to offer a dual-degree program in engineering. Students in the program receive a liberal arts degree from Furman with a major in pre-engineering or physics, then earn an engineering degree from one of the affiliated schools. Furman's chapter of the Society of Physics Students has been recognized as one of the outstanding chapters in the United States, and its chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honorary society, is the fifth oldest in the United States, having been chartered in 1927. Furman physics graduates stay in contact long after they have left Furman. Jeff PeQueen, a physics major who went on to study environmental engineering at the University of Florida, says of the Furman program, "The strongest part was the personal attention I received from all of the professors. And the emphasis was not on excessive memorization of detail but rather on underlying principles. This has been a great asset in my graduate work, where I feel I am a better problem solver than many of my peers because of this background." David Brown, a retired engineer, says that "my engineering studies at Furman, in conjunction with my degree in physics, made all the difference in my career as a mass properties engineer." Eric Thompson '89, a transportation engineer, says, "If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way." Edna Fuller '61, a bank vice-president, notes that her Furman experience "taught me to think … people always [notice] that I was a physics major."

The Major Curriculum Besides the basic courses in general physics, a physics major at Furman completes courses covering such subjects as classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. A senior seminar is also required. Students who plan to pursue graduate study in physics are advised to take more than the minimum number of courses, plus courses in related fields. The department's other offerings include classes in optics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, among others. Students interested in being certified to teach in secondary schools take several education courses plus courses in the philosophy of science and in teaching methods and materials for physics. All majors are required to take a comprehensive examination in physics before graduating.