Everything starts with physics — literally. The laws of physics governed the creation of the universe itself. But, the science is about looking forward as much as back. Physicists are leading the way toward many advances that promise to shape society tomorrow, from better solar cells to quantum computers. With a BS in Physics from Clarkson, you can play a role in bringing these technologies to life.
Why Study Physics at Clarkson?
Physicists meld science and mathematics to understand the forces that shape the universe. At Clarkson, you'll learn about mechanics, quantum theory, thermodynamics, wave motion, astrophysics, biological physics and optics — the concepts at the heart of the field.
Our 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio means you'll have the chance to work closely with faculty members, both in class and in the lab. Teamwork is a crucial aspect of the program; in your first year, you can work on a challenging group project in our Physics Team Design Lab. Working in groups of four, you'll work to predict the motion of a toy car or train.
And while our department is small, our researchers think big: you'll have access to resources typically found at much larger universities. You might peer through the 12-inch telescope at our Reynolds Observatory in an astrophysics class. Or, you could use a high-performance computing cluster to solve problems in nanotechnology, biophysics and computational modeling and simulation.
We make sure every Clarkson undergraduate gets that kind of hands-on experience. Before you graduate, you'll complete a Professional Experience consisting of an internship, research project or senior thesis.
What You'll Learn
The core physics undergraduate curriculum is 35 credit hours — leaving room for you to declare a minor or even a second major. Nearly four out of five physics majors, in fact, pursue a double major. Our physics majors take courses such as:
Biophysics
Electromagnetic Theory
Experimental Physics
Fundamentals of Modern Physics
Intro to Astrophysics
Nuclear Physics
Optics
Physical Models of Living Systems
Quantum Physics
Solid State Physics
Relativity
Theoretical Mechanics
Thermal Physics
The physics program consists of 35 credit hours in physics, 18 credit hours in mathematics, 8 credit hours in chemistry, 3 credit hours in biology electives, and 18 credit hours in other electives. 19 credit hours are in free electives, which is enough to complete a minor or second major if you so choose.
All courses are 3 credits unless noted.
Clarkson Common Experience
The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)
Physics Core Requirements
Students are required to complete the following courses:
Physics/Chemistry
PH121 Physics Freshman Seminar (1 credits)
PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
PH132 (Physics II (4 credits)
PH221 Theoretical Mechanics
PH231 Fundamentals of Modern Physics
PH232 Modern Physics Laboratory (1 credits)
PH325 Thermal Physics
PH327 Experimental Physics I (1-3 credits)
PH331 Quantum Physics I
PH380 Electromagnetic Theory
PH435 Senior Seminar
CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
CM132 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
Professional Experience
Students are required to complete one of the following Professional Experiences:
PH445 Senior Thesis I
or PH478 Directed Research in Experimental Physics
or PH479 Directed Research in Theoretical Physics
or PH480 Internship/Co-op in Physics
Physics Core Electives
Physics Electives
Students must complete at least 12 credits from the following courses:
Physics (PH) electives 200-level and above
Students must complete one of the following courses:
PH445 Undergraduate Thesis I (3 credits)
PH446 Undergraduate Thesis II (3 credits)
PH470-473 Directed Study Experimental (3 credits)
PH474-477 Directed Study Theoretical (3 credits)
Biology Elective
Students must complete one of the following courses:
Biology (BY) 3-credit elective
Math Courses for Physics
Students must complete the following four courses:
MA131 Calculus I
MA132 Calculus II
MA231 Calculus III
MA232 Elementary Differential Equations
Mathematics
Students must complete one of the following courses:
MA331 Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems
MA313 Abstract Linear Algebra
MA339 Applied Linear Algebra
Statistics
Students must complete one of the following courses:
STAT381 Probability
STAT383 Probability and Statistics
Physics Electives
Students must complete 3 credits in information technology electives.
Students must complete 3 credits in technology electives.
Students must complete 9 credits of concentration electives. All of these must be in one area outside of physics; an area need not be a department. Concentration electives allow students to explore another field of interest outside physics.
Students will have at least 15 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.
Students will have approximately 19 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.
Experience, on campus and off, is a vital part of your physics education at Clarkson. Many of our students participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. REUs provide an opportunity to participate in National Science Foundation-funded research at universities across the U.S.
Software quality engineering (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)
By the end of your second year, you'll identify a research project in your area of interest and work on that until you graduate. Clarkson undergrads often publish their research in major journals and participate in regional and national conferences. In fact, Clarkson students have won three Goldwater Awards and two NSF Fellowships in the last six years.
You'll complete your research alongside a faculty member. Our faculty's research interests include:
Astrophysics
Biological physics
Computational physics
Nanomaterials
Optics
Photovoltaic devices
Physics education
Surface and interface physics
You may also earn the chance to spend a semester at a National Laboratory. In the past, physics majors have worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, CERN and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
With over 200 student-run clubs and organizations to choose from, you can dive even deeper into your academic interests — or just unwind. Join the Physics Club, find a club sport or intramural or participate in community service.
If you're majoring in another field but are interested in physics and wish this to be recognized on your transcript, the physics minor program is an excellent option. This 24-credit course of study develops your background in physics considerably beyond the level of first-year physics courses.
A minimum 2.0 average must be maintained in the courses taken for a physics minor, and none can be designated pass/no entry. The minor should be initiated by the beginning of the junior year to allow time to complete the necessary coursework.
All courses are 3 credits unless noted.
Physics Minor Core I
Students are required to complete the following courses:
PH131 Physics I (4 credits) PH132 Physics II (4 credits) PH231 Fundamentals of Modern Physics PH221 Theoretical Mechanics I or PH230 Physics III PH331 Quantum Physics I
Physics Minor Core II
Students must complete the following:
1 Credit Course
Students must complete one of the following courses:
Students must complete any two 300-400 level courses, such as:
PH371/CM371 Physical Chemistry I PH372/CM372 Physical Chemistry II
Mathematics
Math and physics go hand in hand. Become even more adept at understanding the formulas and models that help us describe the physical world with a minor in mathematics.
Learn the fundamentals of computer science while getting an introduction to programming. As a physicist, software engineering makes you a double threat: you'll be able to write the code behind some of the physics experiments you design.
Chances are, you'll find plenty of opportunities to put your skills to work analyzing data and solving problems with this minor. Statisticians work in government, healthcare, business and many other fields.
"The Team Design Lab challenged my way of thinking and my ability to take what I was learning in lectures and apply it to something I could use to make predictions. It broadened how I think about problems and has had a positive impact on my other classes."
Mikaela Morris '23, BS in Physics, BS in Mechanical Engineering
