Having been the Head of Studies for Physical Science at Yale-NUS for a couple of years now, I think Physical Science is one of the most misunderstood majors. The Physical Science curriculum has its origins in Plato’s quadrivium and Newton’s natural philosophy. As a major it prepares its students broadly in empirical observation, mathematical modeling and computational simulation, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate these ideas orally, visually and in writing. The Physical Science experience is the quintessential liberal arts training giving graduates technical problem solving skills that can be applied to societal challenges both in the scientific and non-scientific domains. In the United States, roughly half of the physical science graduates go on graduate studies not only in physics, astronomy and chemistry, but also in engineering, law and medicine. The other half enters the workforce immediately after completion of the BS degree (with one of the highest starting salaries of any major), mostly employed in research and development, engineering or computer and information systems. Notable physical scientists are all around us from technologists like Elon Musk (founder of SpaceX) to entrepreneurs like Indra Nooyi (CEO of Pepsi), as well as politicians like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Singapore president Tony Tan Keng Yam. People in the news like former FBI director James Comey and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un also majored in Physical Science. Closer to home, both our inaugural Dean of faculty Charles Bailyn and his successor Steven Bernasek were both physical scientists, and several members of the Yale-NUS College faculty including Jan Gruber and Vinod Saranathan, (biologists) and Michael Gastner (mathematician) all had their first degrees in physical science. So come join our major for a world of opportunities. ”