Physics

Researchers working at computers around the Cloud Chamber in the Cloud Chamber lab inside the Dow 15

Answering Big Questions

 

Where do the highest-energy cosmic rays come from? Can nanotubes of boron nitride be used to make new electronic devices? Why do some clouds rain while others do not? Michigan Technological University Physics students and faculty take on these questions and challenges. Work together in a close-knit, vibrant community to find answers to these and many other fundamental questions.

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  • 6:1
    student-to-faculty ratio
  • 100%
    of physics students conduct undergraduate research
  • 22
    average lab size

 

Study Physics at a Technological University

Gain foundational knowledge and understand the behavior of matter and energy. Develop analytical and quantitative skills required to succeed in graduate school or the job market.

  • Get personalized attention: With an average incoming class of 20 physics majors, your professors know you individually and understand your interests and needs. You receive the 1:1 guidance you need in a timely fashion.
  • Applied learning: Design your own application area and explore interdisciplinary connections. Recent application areas include computational mathematics, planetary science, aerospace engineering, and nanotechnology. Or apply your interest in physics to practical problems with the Enterprise Program—teams of undergraduate students working on real-world products and research for industry.
  • Customize your physics education: Make yourself more marketable in the eyes of prospective employers. Applied Physics pairs well with mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, and engineering majors. You can add one of two physics minors in astrophysics or nanoscale physics to further your specialization. Or diversify your degree with any of the other 80+ minors offered at Michigan Tech.
  • Get paid for summer research: A commitment to undergraduate research experience gives our students an edge. As soon as the summer after your first year, join one of manyresearch groups and turn your growing knowledge into practical experience under the guidance of a faculty member in our state-of-the-art labs.
  • Physics study abroad: Visit international research labs like CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built.

Tomorrow Needs You

Combine your creativity and curiosity to meet pressing societal challenges with innovative solutions. Graduate with the technical skills, critical thinking and tenacity to inspire, design and implement a sustainable future across social and natural sciences, humanities, and arts.

College of Sciences and Arts

The College of Sciences and Arts is a community of faculty, staff, and students committed to excellence and driven by our passion for education, outreach, research, and creativity across the social and natural sciences, humanities, and the arts. Uniquely situated in the heart of Michigan's R1 flagship technological university, we specialize in human-centered potential and discovery-based learning designed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Knowing that every student at Michigan Tech will pass through our doors, our college strives to be at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaborations that lead to breakthrough solutions.

Our students gain a profound understanding of social and cultural contexts through experiential learning and innovative research. We welcome you to be part of our caring, expansive college community, with 32 undergraduate and 24 graduate degrees to choose from.

The opportunities in Michigan Tech's College of Sciences and Arts are limitless. Transform into a civic leader ready to contribute to a sustainable future. Lead and participate in action-based experiences that are critical to the start of a fulfilling career. Job-shadow at a local hospital or veterinary clinic while preparing for a career in health. Design sound and lighting for a regional production. Conduct community forums on the implications of artificial intelligence. Work to purify vaccines. Study the impact of social media on society. Research the mysteries of space and galaxies beyond our universe. Explore transforming abandoned iron and copper mines into giant batteries. Understand freshwater ecosystem health. Document the nature of changes in cognitive function and motor behavior in aging and dementia.

At Michigan Tech, your academic growth is supported by a variety of learning centers, along with our Humanities Digital Media Zone and Writing Center. Model climate in the only cloud chamber of its kind. Take part in interdisciplinary health research in our state-of-the-art H-STEM Complex. Create amazing sights and sounds in our visual art, sound, and theatre performance spaces. 

Undergraduate Majors in Physics

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem. Browse the entire list of College of Sciences and Arts majors. Or, give yourself time and declare the General Sciences and Arts major, which lets you decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

"They get better every time. The depth of their knowledge is impressive."Tom Porter '68, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Close view of cloud chamber viewing area of cloud machine