About the photo...
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| Physics major Amalie Donius `08 presents her research at the 2008 SBU Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exposition. Amalie's work was completed during a Research Experience for Undergraduates in the summer of 2007. For more about REUs and Amalie's research, see our REUs & Summer Internships page. |
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The program in physics is designed to provide opportunities for the undergraduate to develop the skills essential for graduate school, industry, government service and teaching. The Department offers four B.S. degree programs–traditional physics, engineering physics, computational physics, and biophysics–as well as a pre-engineering program. In addition, the Department realizes its role in relation to other departments and gives the undergraduate the broad fundamentals of physics so that they may serve as a foundation for the other sciences. A broad range of physical science courses are offered as electives. |
Graduates of the Physics Department at SBU have gone on to graduate study and/or employment in a variety of scientific and engineering fields. These include physics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electro-optics, systems engineering, biophysics, medicine, computer programming, oceanography, and financial engineering. A sampling may be seen on the Physics Alumni page. More general information about pursuing a career in physics or a related field may be found at the American Institute of Physics Web site.
All courses offered by the Physics Department are normally taught by full-time faculty members possessing a Ph.D. Physics and pre-engineering classes are small. In addition, departmental majors each may receive individualized attention from the faculty on academic matters outside of the classroom.
Faculty have conducted research in computational physics, nuclear structure, solid-state physics and theoretical physics. Qualified students may be invited, at times, to participate actively in the research projects.
Physics majors are encouraged to participate in the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program or in a summer internship. One such REU or internship experience can serve as a physics elective course. Often, during an REU or internship a student makes contacts which lead directly to employment or to admission to a graduate program. For more information, see our REUs & Summer Internships page.
Advanced physics majors have the opportunity to serve the Department as teaching aides in the Introductory Physics Laboratory and Astronomy Laboratory classes. Undergraduate teaching aides receive a small amount of monetary compensation. This service provides the students with valuable professional experience and helps reinforce their own mastery of the subject.
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Physics and pre-engineering majors have available to them a study room and several networked microcomputers. In addition, the SBU Observatory (pictured to the left and below) is available for use by any interested student. |
| A chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) is maintained with membership open to all interested students. A chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, National Physics Honor Society, has been established to give recognition to outstanding students. |
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Entering freshmen are invited to apply for the Physics Department Scholars Program. Department scholars receive a stipend which is awarded over and above any other financial aid or other awards received by the student. Contact the Chair of the Physics Department, Dr. Jerry Kiefer, for more information.