A degree in applied physics provides the foundation for a wide range of career opportunities in high-technology industries, including research and development, product design and testing, sales, and quality control.

Iowa's Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a renowned faculty and challenging courses on a variety of subjects, with course work emphasizing problem-solving, logical thinking, and technical skills. Advanced classes usually have 15-20 students, allowing for a high level of individual attention.

Applied physics students gain a solid foundation in physics course work and can choose from four areas of concentration (optics, solid-state electronics, computer science, or medical physics).

Outside of class, students have opportunities to do research, apply for internships at national laboratories, and participate in the Society of Physics Students, which coordinates field trips and activities to foster student-faculty interaction and scientific learning. In addition, Iowa students are extraordinarily successful at competing for research opportunities at other top universities and at research laboratories.