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Why Major in Physics at Allegheny College

From spacecraft to polymers, physics requires the integration of other fields. While everyone has the same foundation, majors pick an interdisciplinary track to meet their interests and goals, making our curriculum as individual as our students.

Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Physics with:

Division

  • Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Program Type

  • Major
  • Minor

Number of Credits

60 for major20 for minor

Where Physics Alumni Work Today

Senior Manager

Space Exploration Technologies

Vincent Werner ’06

Graduate Researcher

University of Michigan

Ryan Cardman ’17

Bioinformatics Data Analyst

Stanford University School of Medicine

Erin Brown ’15

IT Engineer

24×7 IT Solution

Ariel Statman ’15

Sensor Integration Engineer

Meta

Mason Greer ’14

Chief Data Scientist

Senscio Systems

Keiron Stoddart ’13

Science Teacher

La Cañada High School

Sam Finder ’12

Senior Field Applications Engineer

Prophesee

Jacob Vingless ’13

Associate Director of Clinical Biomarkers, Oncology

Moderna

Hikmat Daghestani ’06

Sr. Specialist Optical Engineer

L3Harris Technologies

Samuel Knarr ’12

Associate Director Regulatory CMC

Legend Biotech

Mallory Scott ’11

Medical Physicist

MJS Medical Physics Inc.

Meredith Semon-Pomposelli ’10

Director of Operations, Digital & Innovation Operational Excellence

Westinghouse Electric Company

Brandon Momeyer ’09

Assistant Professor Of Chemistry

University of Miami

Katlyn Meier ’09

Your Four-Year Journey

Physics Overview

Year 1: Understanding

Take foundational courses in physics and mathematics. You’re also encouraged to take introductory courses in a different science area to start connecting physics to other academic fields.

Year 2: New Approaches

Familiarize yourself with theoretical, computational, and experimental physics. Take Communication in Physics, where you’ll learn error analysis, experimental techniques, writing, and speaking skills needed to complete the Senior Comp.

Year 3: Delving Deeper

Prepare a plan for advanced courses with the aid of their advisor and incorporate your current goals and future objectives after graduation.

Year 4: The Comp

Begin your Senior Comp, a significant piece of original work demonstrating your ability to work independently, synthesize information, and write or speak persuasively.

Research and Internships

Learn By Doing

Physics students gain hands-on experience through internships and research that takes place across all four years.

Research Facilities

Use state-of-the-art research facilities for your senior comp, independent study, or summer research project alongside faculty. Facilities include a:

  • Research-grade laser
  • Spectroscopy lab
  • Non-linear optics lab
  • Molecular biophysics lab
  • Wible planetarium

Recent Internships

  • Cornell National Supercomputer Facility
  • Air Force Radio-Biological Laboratory
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • Fermi National Laboratory
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • F.S. Seiler Research Lab (USAF)
  • Naval Research Laboratory

Recent Senior Comps

The Senior Comp is the culmination of four years of experience, imagination, and study. It is the moment when you demonstrate what you’ve learned by teaching us something new.

  • Tuning into the Milky Way Galaxy’s Frequency: Examining the 21 cm. Emission Line of Interstellar Neutral Hydrogen
  • Mass Bound and Mass Ejecta in Collisions Between Stars and Black Holes
  • Investigating the Feasibility of Recycled Thermoplastic Use for Luminescent Solar Concentrator Waveguides
  • Exploring the Milky Way Through 21 cm Radio Emission: What Can we Observe From Allegheny’s Own Carrden?
  • Instrumentation of the Gouy Balance Method: An Experimental Technique to Measure Magnetic Susceptibility

Faculty and Staff

James Lombardi

Professor

Ph.D., M.S., Cornell; B.A., Princeton

Doros Petasis

Professor

Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; B.S., Indiana University

Frequently Asked Questions About the Physics Program

What type of degree is an Physics major?

Students who major in Physics at Allegheny College will earn a Bachelor of Science degree.

Are there any clubs and activities available for Physics students?

Yes, there are multiple campus organizations that can benefit students in the Physics program, such as Society of Physics Students Club. Explore all Allegheny College clubs and organizations.

 

Program Contact

Adelé Poynor

Associate Professor

Email(814) 332-2911