Physics & Engineering

Colleges and Programs of Study

Why Wesleyan? Smaller classes, hands-on experiences, well equipped labs, readily available faculty, 94% of recent graduates work in engineering or physics.

Our Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree program involves WVU and Marshall University. Students study three years at Wesleyan and then two years of specialized engineering at the chosen university. Students earn two degrees—Wesleyan’s physics degree and the university’s engineering degree.

Employers: Bell Helicopters, Bechtel-Bettis Nuclear Lab, Cabell-Huntington Cancer Center, DuPont, Federal Highway Administration, General Dynamics, General Electric, General Motors, Lockheed-Martin, NASA, National Energy Technology Lab, Northrup- Grumman, Oak Ridge National Lab, Pratt & Whitney, Thrasher Engineering, Toyota, Vantage Oncology, WV Division of Highways.

Lab Instrumentation: Electron microscope, wind tunnel, 3-D printer, radio telescope, nuclear lab, laser lab, microwave lab, plasma physics lab, magnetic resonance lab, x-ray diffraction lab, heat pump lab, superconductor lab, ultrasonic lab.

Student research occurs year-round at Wesleyan and during the summer at places such as Columbia University, Cornell University, the Federal Highway Administration, Jefferson National Lab, NASA, NIST, the WV Division of Highways, and WVU.

Our NASA affiliation funds NASA Fellowships for students and summer research for students at NASA sites. NASA sponsors our SPACE Club, whose members design payloads that NASA launches on sounding rockets.

Can physics/engineering students participate in performing arts/sports? Yes! Join our 31 students who are presently doing so. Our labs end by 3:50 pm—practice starts at 4:00 pm. (Wesleyan has lots of scholarship opportunities in performing arts/sports.)

Program Learning Outcomes

  • SURE Grant

    SURE & Maier Summer Research Program- Application due March 14 (click for application)! 

    Do you want to be involved in a long-term research project that has the potential to transform the way you think about science and your future career as a researcher?

    West Virginia Wesleyan College is excited to host the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)  and Maier research programs during summer 2023 to offer extended research experiences in the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, and math). The SURE program will run for 8 weeks between May-July and is available to students from WVWC and other institutions around the state. Students will earn a stipend of $3,500 with free on-campus housing. Students will also be required to present their research at a state or regional scientific meeting (travel funds available).

    Interested? Apply!

    1. Consult the list of faculty involved below.
    2. Have a discussion with the faculty member of interest to see what projects they will be working on.
    3. Submit the application which will include a personal statement and unofficial transcripts.
    4. Application deadline is Tuesday, March 14. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of March.

    Participating Faculty

    Dr. Bruce Anthony

    Dr. Kim Bjorgo-Thorne

    Dr. Tracey Delaney

    Dr. Caleb Gibson

    Dr. Kathy Gregg

    Dr. Joseph Niederhauser

    Dr. Jesse Oldroyd

    Dr. Melanie Sal

    Dr. Joseph Wiest

     

  • SPACE Club
    The SPACE* club builds small rocket payloads in partnership with other colleges and universities in West Virginia.  For the last 10 years, we have launched payloads from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia as part of the RockSat-C and RockSat-X programs.  Our payloads typically consist of an Arduino Microprocessor, an SD card to store data, and an experiment such as a magnetometer or an inertial measurement unit. (*SPACE = Student Partnership for the Advancement of Cosmic Exploration)
    This year, NASA’s GHOST program has partnered with the Norwegian Space Agency to launch from Andoya Norway.  Our payload for this flight consists of two Langmuir probes to measure electron density and temperature of the ionosphere and a spectrometer to study the emission from the aurora borealis (northern lights).
    The SPACE club rocket payloads and launches are funded by the NASA-WV Space Grant Consortium.
  • The McCuskey Fellowship Program

    Transform your West Virginia Wesleyan Experience with the McCuskey Fellowship!

    Apply now for the McCuskey Family Fellowship in undergraduate research for a scholarship to work with a faculty on a primary research fellowship for three years of study!  You’ll be a part of an unparalleled high-impact practice in designing and creating your research project over three years!

    Learn More Here!

Front row l-r Dakota Carpenter, Jacob Dawson, Sneha Sundaraneedi, Sonya Carper, Second row l-r Ezekial Hall, Dr. Tracey DeLaney, Mao Nishi, Yosuke Takahashi, not pictured Caleb Hardy, Josiah Bradsher, Jannah Miller, Barrett McCain, Adam Cook

Physics and Engineering Department Overview Video

  • Faculty

    Albert Popson, Jr., Professor, Department Chair
    Adviser, Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honorary Society
    Ph.D., Clemson University
    Office: Christopher 101
    Email: popson@wvwc.edu
    Phone: 304-473-8070

    Teaches: General Physics, Electronics, Engineering Thermodynamics, Solid State Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Materials Lab, Advanced Engineering Lab

    Research: Cryogenics, superconductors, wind tunnels, x-ray crystallography, heat pumps, strength of materials, magnetic resonance

     Joseph Wiest, Professor, NASA Representative
    Medical Physics Adviser
    Ph.D., University of Kentucky
    Office: Christopher 122
    Email: wiest@wvwc.edu
    Phone: 304-473-8062

    Teaches: Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Light and Atomic Physics, Nuclear Physics, Laser Lab, Journey to the Moon and Mars

    Research: Cosmic rays, cloud chambers, structure of nuclei, proton beams, nitrogen lasers, muons

     Tracey DeLaney, Associate Professor
    Space Club Adviser, Planetarium Director
    Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Postdocs, Harvard, MIT
    Office: Christopher 124
    Email: delaney_t@wvwc.edu
    Phone: 304-473-8330
    Teaches: Engineering Design, Electromagnetism, The Solar System, Stars and Galaxies, Geology, Physical Science

    Research: Supernovas, high-speed photography, NASA payload design, radio telescopes

     Eric Reynolds, Assistant Professor
    Ph.D., Physics, West Virginia University
    Office: Christopher 123
    Email: reynolds_e@wvwc.edu
    Phone: 304-473-8333

    Teaches: General Physics, Engineering Mechanics, Analytical Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Materials Science
    Research: Plasma physics

    Tim Rollins, Lab Technician

  • Majors
    • Physics - B.S.
      • The student can apply broad knowledge of the branches of physics — mechanics, thermodynamics, sound, light, analog and digital electronics, materials science, solid state physics, electromagnetism, nuclear physics, and quantum mechanics.
      • The student can apply an evidence-based problem-solving method that identifies a physics problem, designs an appropriate experiment, analyzes the data, and communicates the result.
      • The student can use advanced tools and techniques of physics.
      • The student can examine the role of physics in contemporary societal issues.
    • Physics - B.A.
      • The student can apply foundational knowledge of the branches of physics — mechanics, thermodynamics, sound, light, electronics, electromagnetism, and nuclear physics.
      • The student can apply an evidence-based problem-solving method that identifies a physics problem, designs an appropriate experiment, analyzes the data, and communicates the result.
      • The student can use advanced tools and techniques of physics.
      • The student can examine the role of physics in contemporary societal issues.
    • Applied Physics - B.S.

      This program prepares students to use physics to meet the needs of society. Employers value our graduates because they are ready to work with lasers, electron microscopes, nuclear systems, radiation safety, energy efficiency, solar panels, robotics, computation, and airport security systems. In addition, our Applied Physics majors have been accepted to graduate studies in physics, medical physics, and most fields of engineering.

    • Engineering Dual Degree
      • The student can apply knowledge of physics and math to solve problems. (This outcome is related to ABET outcomes a and e.)
      • Teams of students can apply an evidence-based problem-solving method that identifies an applied-science problem, designs an appropriate experiment, analyzes the data, and communicates the result. (This outcome is related to ABET outcomes b, c, d, and g.)
      • The student can use the tools and techniques of applied physics and math. (This outcome is related to ABET outcome k.)
      • The student recognizes a responsibility for life-long learning to apply physics to contemporary ethical and societal issues. (This outcome is related to ABET outcomes f, h, i, and j.)
    • Programs of Study