OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
J.E. and L.E. Mabee Welcome Center
800.826.2281 x 8113
785.227.3380 x 8113
admissions@bethanylb.edu
The Path to Your Purpose
Majors And Minors
The Math/Physics major at Bethany College helps our students develop a strong analytical mind, conceptual thinking ability, and technical readiness for systematic real-world problem solving. It is one of the most far-reaching majors, which finds itself effectively employed almost in all aspects of human productivity and creativity, and thus empowers each student with a flexible career choice.
Majors
Minors
For information about specific courses related to these majors, check the
College Catalog.
Mathematics & Physics Faculty
Pari Ford, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Chair of Mathematics & Physics
Faculty Athletics Representative
Swedes in STEM
Swedes in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) was created by the Bethany College Newtonian Society (Math and Science Club) to spotlight Bethany Alumni with a Math/Science Degree. Our goal is to recognize our Alumni’s achievements post-graduation, as well as provide a valuable resource to students currently pursuing a degree in STEM. A display is also located outside of Nelson Lecture Hall.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
Jamie Wollenberg, a 2011 graduate of Bethany College, majored in Mathematics, minored in Physics, and participated in the 3+2 Engineering program. While at Bethany, Jamie maintained an impressive 4.0 GPA and was among only 25 students to receive the international Seaborg Award, which earned him a trip to Stockholm, Sweden, to attend the 2011 Nobel Prize ceremonies and tour premiere Swedish research labs. Jamie was also a recipient of the Bethanian Presidential Scholarship, served as President of the Von Neumann Society for Math and Physical Science, was President of the Class of 2012, and was a Student Council Representative. After graduating from Bethany, Jamie earned his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University in 2013, where he specialized in mechanical systems design and computational analysis. He began his career as a Senior Manager of Research and Development at Bradbury Company in Moundridge, KS, where he was responsible for developing novel industrial equipment for customers worldwide in industries ranging from residential buildings to solar panel farms and water storage systems. Throughout his time at Bethany, Jamie developed valuable skills and knowledge, including combining logical problem-solving and clear communication to improve team coordination and performance on large, complex projects. His proudest experience at Bethany was building lasting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and interests who continue to add value to his personal and professional life today. Jamie advises current and future Bethany students pursuing STEM degrees to concentrate less on the technical information they're learning in class and focus more on themselves. He encourages them to ask themselves why they enjoy or struggle with specific topics, how they overcome barriers and grow when facing new challenges, and which professors they enjoy learning from. Jamie believes that if students can develop their passion and learning capacity, they can quickly become a leader in any profession. Swedes in STEM, created by the Bethany College Newtonian Society (Math and Science Club), spotlights Bethany alums with degrees in Math and Science. We aim to recognize our alums' achievements post-graduation and provide a valuable resource to current STEM students. A display is also located outside of Nelson Lecture Hall.
Mackenzie Callison, an alum of Bethany College from the Class of 2020, graduated with a degree in Biology. During her tenure, Mackenzie played on the soccer team and was a Key Club and FCA member. After graduating, Mackenzie became a lab technician in a forensic toxicology lab doing fetal and infant drug testing. After several months of lab experience, she obtained her dream position as a histotechnologist for Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Ill. In this role, Mackenzie works with pathologists to help diagnose diseases at the tissue and cellular levels. Mackenzie is also considering graduate school to become a pathology assistant and further her involvement in the field. As Mackenzie explains, the skills she developed at Bethany College, such as organization and prioritization, helped set her up for success in her professional career. In addition to mastering subject-specific knowledge, exposure to invaluable life lessons learned from her professors and other members of the Bethany College community was a big part of her education. The foundations that Mackenzie had the opportunity to build at Bethany and the connections she made have been beneficial beyond her time as a student. Whether it's a classmate for networking, a professor for advice, or local people for support, Mackenzie advises current and future Bethany Science and Math majors to take advantage of the college's resources. Mackenzie emphasizes the importance of gaining as much experience and exposure to the field you are interested in as possible, which will give you a better understanding of the job and be beneficial during interviews. Ultimately, Mackenzie encourages current and future science and math students to use Bethany College's resources and create long-lasting relationships with students and professors that will benefit their professional lives. Swedes in STEM was created by the Bethany College Newtonian Society (Math and Science Club) to spotlight Bethany Alumni with a Math/Science Degree. Our goal is to recognize our Alumni's achievements post-graduation, as well as provide a valuable resource to students currently pursuing a degree in STEM. A display is also located outside of Nelson Lecture Hall.
Marcy Erb graduated from Bethany College in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in psychology. During her time at Bethany, she played clarinet in the symphonic band for four years, helped start Nelson 116 (Nelson Study Room), was involved in student government, and played basketball for one year. Erb said the most valuable skills and knowledge she learned during her time at Bethany were how to research and problem-solving. She was able to practice these skills through the college's classes and activities in preparation for her future career. One of the proudest moments from her time at Bethany was the renovation of Nelson 116. Through the club now known as the Newtonian Society, Nelson 116 changed from a rarely used science lab to a popular study space with whiteboards, couches, and desks for all Bethany students. Erb advises current and future Bethany Science and Math majors to keep options open and find a mentor. "Pay attention to the experiences and roles taken on by those individuals you would like to become," she said. Currently, Erb is a senior research associate for a clinical research organization. In this position, she is working on a Covid-19 booster trial. Swedes in STEM was created by the Bethany College Newtonian Society (Math and Science Club) to spotlight Bethany alumni with a math/science degree. The goal of Swedes in STEM is to recognize the achievements of Bethany alumni post-graduation and provide a valuable resource to students currently pursuing a degree in STEM. A display is also located outside of Nelson Lecture Hall.
Begin the journey down your path.