AC students often present their own scientific research to the wider community.
Physics is the scientific study of how and why the natural world works. From the tiniest quark to the entire universe, physics uses a few fundamental principles to explain matter, energy, and their remarkable interactions. At Austin College, we believe that students learn physics best by DOING physics.
New Opportunities:
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What's Happening:
- RooProducts: 3D Design and Printing in Engineering Physics
- AC Physics Students Win Presentation Awards for Research on Variability in Massive Stars
- Watch David Baker’s Extreme TEDx Talk
- AC Students Help in Discovery of New Planet
- See the Previous Events
Did you Know?
AC students snorkeling where the Earth is ripping apart in Iceland. In this rift zone, the North American tectonic plate is on the left and the Eurasian plate on the right.
Cool Classes
- We’re big on nanotechnology! As part of Dr. Andra Petrean’s Advanced Laboratory course, students grow carbon nanotubes in a hot furnace, roughly 4,000 times smaller than the human hair.
- Stars that pulse in the night: in Observational Astronomy, Dr. David Whelan’s students detect variable stars that shrink and grow over a period of several days.
- Dr. Don Salisbury explores the intersection of science and culture in his course Global Science, Technology, and Society. He uses a great example in the atrium of the IDEA Center — our “ancient" solar observatory!
- Extreme Adventure in January: Our classroom is nature itself. Dr. David Baker’s international January Term courses take students to places they only dream of in their “wildest” imaginations: Patagonia, New Zealand, Peru’s Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, Mayan ruins, and Iceland.
Meet Our Physics Faculty & Staff
- David Baker, Adams Observatory Director, explores extreme stuff on Earth and other planets.
- Vince Gregoric, Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
- Andra Petrean, Physics Department Chair and Engineering Advisor, investigates high temperature superconductors and nanofilms.
- Donald Salisbury is an intellectual descendant of Albert Einstein and focuses on quantum cosmology.
- David Whelan studies massive stars and the remarkable circumstellar discs that surround them.
- Larry Robinson, Professor Emeritus, explores the physics of lasers.
- Doug Hotalen is the Instrumentation Manager for the Science Division
Physics Program Details
- Physics Major Checklist
- Physics Minor Checklist
- View the Physics Courses
- Read more in the Austin College Bulletin
- See the STEM Leadership Program
Engineering Program Details
Austin College offers students the opportunity to pursue a career in engineering by studying at Austin College for either three (3/2) or four years (4/2) and then studying at an engineering school for an additional two or three years.
A Future in Physics
Physics grads have gone on to Harvard, Michigan, Rice, Syracuse, Colorado State, LSU, Texas A&M, Stanford, Penn State, MIT, UTD, Northwestern, and Arizona!
They also work at prominent companies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, such as Texas Instruments, Apple, Dallas Semiconductor, Washington Safety Management Solutions, Halliburton, Lockheed Martin, Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Habitat for Humanity, Ft. Worth Independent School District, Austin Peay State University, LSU, and the University of Rochester.
Meet Our Alumni
