Also available is a major in applied physics, which includes a substantial selection of courses from engineering to provide a challenging and highly versatile degree. Applied physics can lead to research or advanced study in such areas as robotics?with application in space exploration or joint and limb prosthetics, growth of single-crystal metals, which would be thousands of times stronger than the best steels now available, mechanics of material failure, such as metal fatigue and fracture, turbulence in fluid flow, photovoltaic cell research for solar energy development, or applications of fluid flow and thermodynamics to the study of planetary atmospheres and ocean currents. While many applied physics graduates pursue professional careers in industry immediately after graduation from PLU, the program also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in nearly all fields of engineering.<br>70 semester hours.