Pre-engineering students should take one to two years of physics and chemistry, in addition to two years of mathematics, following the recommendations of the university from which they intend to complete their engineering program. Physics is a unifying story line that describes the physical universe. Physics is the most basic discipline of the natural sciences, and its language is mathematics. The universe is composed of particles with well-defined properties and the interactions among the particles. Fundamental interactions are distinct but few, and are described by fields.
Fields are generally time dependent and propagate as waves with finite velocities.
Students who study physics gain insight into the world around them. The deepest understanding and the most elegant expressions of physics are communicated symbolically through mathematics. But the concepts and ideas of physics have a beauty that even those who don't have advanced preparation in math can appreciate. Huntington College is located in delightful Huntington, Indiana . E-mail John Paff , director of public relations Copyright 1999 Huntington College.