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Physicists and astronomers investigate the fundamental properties of our physical world and develop a quantitative understanding of its phenomena. Especially over the last 100 years, this enterprise has led to a vast expansion of our knowledge base, which now forms a secure foundation for rapid and continuing technological development. At the same time, with the scale of investigations ranging from the sub-atomic to the transgalactic, physics and astronomy have had a profound impact on how we perceive the universe and our position in it. From the birth of "http://www" in 1989 at the CERN physics laboratory, the microwave oven invented in 1967, medical x-ray and CAT scans (1896 and 1972), to the revolution in digital imaging for cameras and video recorders that began in 1969, physics now plays an integral role in our modern lives. Discoveries and technologies that shape the 20th and 21st centuries are highlighted in the timeline of this guide.

AREA OF EMPHASIS AT DELAWARE

Physics and astronomy have experimental, theoretical and observational aspects. We provide a complete undergraduate program through course and laboratory work and through participation of students in the many research programs within the department. Because physics and astronomy attract people with a wide variety of career ambitions, we offer a flexible degree program. For those interested in careers in research and development, in astronomy, meteorology, the marine sciences, biophysics, geophysics, or the health sciences, the B.S. degree provides a good starting point. Students who desire a general background in physics as a foundation for careers in medicine, law, or business may pursue the B.A. degree, which allows for the study of courses in other disciplines. A separate B.A. in Physics Education is offered for those who want to teach at the high school level.