Department of Physics and Astronomy
Chair: Joel W. Walker, Ph.D. (936) 294-4803
Website: Department of Physics and Astronomy
Program Summary
Physics, Astronomy, and Pre-Engineering are for creative and curiously-minded students who want a shot at cracking Nature's secret source code — people who are excited by questions like “What happened right after the Big Bang?”, “How does time warp near a black hole?”, or “Can atomic systems coexist in multiple realities at once?”
Physics, Astronomy, and Pre-Engineering are for inventive and enterprising students who want to design humanity's future — people who are motivated by questions like "Can clean fusion energy propel equitable access to technology and resources?", "How will quantum computing revolutionize our link with information?", or "When will self-sustaining communities be established on Mars?"
Physicists work to understand the most basic laws of nature in the most simple and general way possible. Engineers (and physicists) apply this understanding to creatively solve design problems in every facet of modern life. Our faculty specialize in Materials Science (exploring properties of dense atomic systems computationally and with x-ray / atomic-force imaging, and designing superior molecular compounds for engineering applications like batteries and superconductors) and Particle Physics (theory and high-performance computer simulation involving elementary constituents of matter and their interactions, the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, the search for dark matter, gravitational waves, axions, and mysterious properties of the neutrino).
Astronomers seek to understand our place in the Universe, and to unravel clues about its history from light reaching us across the expanse of space. Our faculty take a special interest in the data-based improvement of approaches to science education, and have research expertise in the topics of stellar spectroscopy and ionized gas in spiral galaxies. The new Dominey Observatory is home to an amazing 27" telescope, and the entire facility is fully wheelchair accessible. There are also several smaller telescopes for individual stargazing, and our indoor planetarium provides immersive simulations of the night sky as viewed from any location and date.
Academic Programs
The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a Minor in Astronomy, and several options for Pre-Engineering. Physics and Engineering go together very well, because so much of Engineering is built upon the underlying foundation of Physics.
For students considering Pre-Engineering vs. Engineering Technology, it is very important to understand the similarities and differences between these programs. Engineering tracks include significantly more Math (especially Calculus) than Technology tracks do, leading to very different careers. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) says that Engineering programs often focus on theory and conceptual design, while Technology programs usually focus on application and implementation. Engineers often do work involving original research and development, and many continue on to Masters or Doctoral programs in Engineering. Technologists are most likely to work in construction, manufacturing, product design, testing, or technical services and sales. Students interested in Engineering are supervised by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students interested in Technology are supervised by the Department of Engineering Technology.
In our Dual Degree (3/2) program, students earn two degrees, one in Physics and one in Engineering. This starts with three years at SHSU, completing the Core Curriculum, the Calculus and Physics introductory sequence, and a portion of the upper division Physics Curriculum. Students then transfer to an accredited Engineering program (such as UT Tyler) for the last two years of degree work. After completion of the Engineering Degree, credits are retroactively transferred back to SHSU so that the Physics Degree can be awarded simultaneously.
For our Pre-Engineering (2/2) tracks in Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, students earn a single degree in Engineering. Students transfer to an accredited Engineering Program (such as UT Tyler) after completing two years at SHSU.
Our transfer articulation agreement with the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) makes matching credits a seamless process and guarantees acceptance for students meeting GPA requirements. This agreement holds for the main campus in Tyler and also for the new Houston Engineering Center branch campus. However, students are also free to continue their study at any institution with an accredited Engineering program.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science with Secondary Certification is available to students seeking careers in secondary education.
The Minor in Physics pairs well with other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. It also complements a number of cross-over careers such as Science Journalism, and K-12 Science Education.
Career Opportunities
A degree in Physics or Pre-Engineering leads to many profitable career options because it develops marketable attributes and skills that employers are greatly interested in. This includes mental flexibility, capacity for critical though, abstraction and generalization, training in creative problem solving, intuition for mechanical and electrical systems, and proficiency in advanced mathematics, data analysis, and computer applications (including programming).
According to the American Institute of Physics (AIP), across the country, 95% of Physics Bachelors are either employed or enrolled in graduate school one year after graduation. PhD students in physics and astronomy usually receive a full tuition waiver plus a substantial wage or stipend. In the private sector, about 35% of graduates do engineering, 25% do computing or information, and 15% take other STEM-related jobs, all with competitive starting salaries. A shortage of high-school physics instructors means that plenty of attractive and well-paid teaching positions are currently accepting applications across the state.
Program Specific Information
Sam Houston State University is a wonderful place to study Physics, Astronomy, and Pre-Engineering. We provide an outstanding educational environment, with small class sizes, extensive personalized attention, and expert instruction. Our students build strong resumes with hands-on faculty-directed research experiences (in topics such as Particle Physics, Materials Science, and Astronomy Education), and have the option to work as paid assistants for introductory laboratory sessions. Most of our students receive scholarship assistance directly from the department and its donors, in amounts up to $5,000 per year for outstanding candidates.
All students interested in Physics or Pre-Engineering enroll in the Physics Bootcamp (PHYS 1401) during their first semester on campus. This ensures that students master the math skills required during the next two years and helps them understand what those skills are good for in Physics and Engineering. It develops confidence, teamwork, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging in the department. A weekly group-based problem-solving practice session is integrated. The Bootcamp is offered each Fall and Spring term.
Vision & Mission
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Sam Houston State University will be a preferred source of technically equipped employees and scholars, and a vital participant in the global pursuit of fundamental scientific knowledge.
- Faculty will make meaningful professional contributions to their respective research disciplines and actively mentor their students in the practice of scientific investigation.
- Students majoring in physics and pre-engineering, and minoring in astronomy, will be effectively prepared to confront the quantitative, conceptual, and analytical challenges associated with a related career or continuing education.
- All students, including those from other degree programs, will be exposed to the sciences in a manner which nurtures curiosity and develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills that may be usefully projected onto their various professional endeavors and roles in society.
Curriculum
Required Courses For Major
The Bachelor of Science degree requires at least 38 hours in Physics as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| PHYS 1401 | Physics Boot Camp | 4 |
| PHYS 1411 | Introduction To Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 1422 | Introduction To Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 3370 & PHYS 4110 | Introduction to Theoretical Physics and Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory I | 4 |
| PHYS 3391 & PHYS 3111 | Modern Physics I and Modern Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| PHYS 4366 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4368 | Electricity And Magnetism | 3 |
| PHYS 4370 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4371 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4395 | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| Select 1 or more advanced electives: | 3-12 | |
| Electronics & Circuit Analysis and Electronics and Circuit Analysis Lab | ||
| Light And Optics and Light And Optics | ||
| Introduction to Solid State Physics | ||
| Selected Topics In Physics | ||
| Life in the Universe | ||
| Cosmic Catastrophes | ||
| Total Hours | 38-47 | |
All Physics majors meet the requirements for a minor in mathematics.
