Bachelor of Science in Physics

Take a closer look at the forces that keep the world running.

If you’re curious about the inner workings of life, the universe and everything, physics may be just the field for you. Frostburg State University’s bachelor of Physics program opens doors into the exciting study of how and why things happen. Physicists have revolutionized our world so much, many of them became household names – Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Galileo, Schrödinger, Tesla. An education in physics can put you on the road to new technologies and a better understanding of the world around you.

Frostburg’s program features a hands-on, experiential approach to give you both the information you need to know and the confidence to put it into action. With research opportunities, creative projects and state-of-the-art facilities, the physics program can prepare you for graduate school, a research career or whatever you take on next!

Choose your physics track in Traditional Physics, recommended for students who plan to attend graduate school, or Engineering Physics.

Physics Highlights

Explore a field that underlies all the basic sciences – biology, chemistry, geology – and all applied sciences and engineering. Your knowledge will be valued wherever you go!
Gain skills with the technology you’ll use in your professional career. The Compton Science Center is full of specialized, modern labs, including data-acquisition equipment and software that stores and analyzes your data so you can focus on finding the bigger picture.
Join in fun projects and adventures with the Physics & Engineering Club!
Get the most out of the resources available to you. FSU offers small classes and a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, meaning you’ll receive not just personalized attention but also more hands-on time in experiential lab projects.
Take part in undergraduate research, an invaluable experience and a great way to set your knowledge in stone with practice. Examples of previous research areas include renewable energy, astrophysics, wireless sensors, acoustics, CCD astronomy, and computational physics.
Prepare for the future with an up-to-date program that is constantly adapting to give you the skills you’ll need in the modern work world.

About Our Physics Faculty:

Flourish with passionate, caring faculty whose first priority is providing you with a quality education.
Delve into any of a number of topics in faculty-led research projects.

Sample Physics Courses:

Classical Mechanics: Development of particle and rigid body mechanics from Newton’s Laws using the notation and methods of vector calculus. Particle motion, central forces, conservation principles, rigid body dynamics, and introduction to Lagrange’s equations.

Quantum Physics: The breakdown of classical mechanics and the development of quantum theory, the foundations of the Schroedinger Equation, the uncertainty principle, quantum systems in one dimension, angular momentum, spin, and atomic physics.

Astrophysics: Application of physics and mathematics to astronomy. Celestial mechanics, stellar structure, and stellar evolution.

Capstone Senior Research and Seminar: Under the direction of a faculty member, students engage in independent research. Research culminates in a paper and formal public seminar.

Find out more about Frostburg State University’s Physics program

Career Outlook for Physicists

The most common field of employment for a physics major after graduation is in engineering, followed by computer science or information systems. Physics majors entering the workforce receive some of the highest starting salaries, and have one of the lowest unemployment rates. Almost half of all physics graduates go to graduate school, but just 60 percent of those continue in physics or astronomy. About twenty percent of the rest go to graduate school in engineering. For more information, visit the American Institute of Physics (https://www.aip.org/career-resources), or the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ page on Physicists (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/physicists-and-astronomers.htm).