Undergraduate
Physics — Engineering
Join the 100% Club — Students with this degree go on to obtain their fully accredited engineering degree.
Physics — Engineering
This major is only available to dual-degree students who transfer to an accredited engineering school. A maximum of 32 credits from the engineering school may transfer back to ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ.
Interested in a career in engineering, technology, or another STEM field? At ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ, our Physics-Engineering program combines a strong foundation in physics and engineering with hands-on experience and personalized support to help you achieve your goals. Explore research across science and engineering, from high-altitude balloon experiments near the edge of space to paid industry projects developing AI tools.
Learning goes beyond the classroom. You’ll work closely with faculty while gaining hands-on experience through research, engineering design projects, computational modeling, internships, and makerspace projects. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills while applying what you learn to real-world challenges.
Whether you plan to become an engineer, pursue graduate school, work in research and technology, or enter another STEM career, the Physics-Engineering program will help you develop the confidence, experience, and technical foundation to succeed. You’ll graduate prepared to apply scientific knowledge and engineering principles to create practical solutions.
Why ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ for Physics—Engineering?
What Will I Learn?
You’ll learn how to apply physics and engineering principles to real-world challenges while developing strong analytical, mathematical, computational, and problem-solving skills. Through hands-on labs, research, design projects, and computational modeling, you’ll learn to develop practical solutions, work with technology, and approach complex problems from both scientific and engineering perspectives.
Graduate School Ready
Our faculty will prepare you for every step of applying to and getting accepted into high-quality graduate schools after graduation. Here are a few examples of schools where ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ alumni have studied:
- Wake Forest University
- University of Houston
- University of Michigan
- University of Iowa
- Iowa State University
Career Ready
Our graduates are prepared to launch successful careers and make an immediate impact in the workforce. Here are a few examples of where ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ alumni are building their careers:
- 3M Company
- John Deere
- Ames Research Laboratory
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Dee Zee. Inc.
- Air Force Research Laboratory
Take Learning to New Heights
Explore cutting-edge research through projects like Thunderoon P1, ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æâ€™s high-altitude balloon experiment, which collects atmospheric and magnetic-field data near the edge of space. Students can also work with NASA’s EZIE mission through ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æâ€™s ground magnetometer, analyzing real-world data to study how the Sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
Why ¶¹°ü³ÉÈ˰æ for Physics-Engineering?
Median annual national pay
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025
Anticipated job growth between 2025-2035
- Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025
Highest starting salary among all job positions at the bachelor’s degree level
- NACE 2026 Winter Salary Report
Need assistance? Contact us!
- lindsay.ditzler@simpson.edu
- 515-961-1821
- Carver Science Center
- Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Meet Our Faculty
Aaron Santos
- Visiting Professor of Physics
Tony Rogers
- Assistant Professor of Physics & Chemistry
Adam Brustkern
- Professor, Department of Chemistry and Physics
- Division Head
Lindsay Ditzler
- Co-Department Chair of Chemistry/Physics
- Associate Professor of Chemistry/Physics
Derek Lyons '07
- Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics