For many of us, the secrets of the universe are the most compelling of all. Join our faculty as they take the world's first X-ray of a single atom, map 11 billion years of cosmic history, develop a new carbon solid, and much more. With a physics degree or astronomy degree from Ohio University, you can explore everything from astrophysics to particle physics.
You'll have multiple opportunities for internships and research projects, including in our very own Edwards Accelerator Lab. By the time you graduate from our physics and astronomy program, you'll have the laboratory experience and confidence you need to succeed in graduate school or high-tech careers. Read on to learn about:
The Bachelor of Science in Physics is an excellent choice for future physicists, graduate students and researchers. It incorporates a variety of exciting classes covering modern and classical physics, and students get to use OHIO laboratories and advanced equipment. The B.S. degree is the standard preparation for graduate degrees in physics.
You can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Physics to prepare yourself for a well-rounded and fulfilling career in areas like science writing, politics, medicine, education, and law. It’s also an excellent degree if you wish to double major with chemistry, biological sciences, or geological sciences. This degree is a more interdisciplinary option compared to our B.S. in Physics.
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics is an entry-level degree perfect for students who want to head into the workforce right after graduating. It emphasizes topics like engineering physics and quantitative finance to prepare you for jobs in government, industry, and more — all while serving as a good stepping stone to a graduate degree.
OHIO’s Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics is the go-to choice for future astrophysicists, including students who want to work for organizations like NASA, SpaceX, and more. It includes advanced courses on observational and theoretical astronomy, giving you the tools you need to understand what the secrets of the universe can reveal about the world around us.
The Honors Tutorial College offers several programs through the Physics & Astronomy Department that provide unique opportunities for exceptional students. At the heart of the program is the tutorial, in which the student studies selected material under the guidance of a faculty member acting as tutor.
Non-physics majors who want to study astronomy or physics can pursue a minor as a special interest. These minors are particularly well-suited for students from mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering as they will have the necessary mathematical background.
Students can pursue OHIO’s physics and astronomy degrees at our residential campus in Athens — home to world-class faculty, researchers at the top of their fields, and exciting technologies like lasers, an observatory, and more!
Take general education classes or select physics and astronomy courses to get a head start on your physics degree at our regional campuses.
Students studying physics and astronomy at OHIO get the experience they need to succeed in science and technology, business and industry, government and public affairs—and even careers of the future that don't exist yet.
Imagine getting experience with nuclear physics experiments in the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. Or working with faculty on quark-gluon plasma interactions. Or experimenting with lasers and spectrometry as fast as femtoseconds. Or working in a nanotechnology lab designing the machines and materials of the future.
Careers for physics majors include:
"The rise of nanotechnology is suggesting that the 21th century will be dedicated to much smaller machines that can travel inside the smallest spaces including human cells."
—Professor Saw-Wai Hla in Nature Communications
Meanwhile, students can pursue many different careers with an astrophysics or astronomy degree, including astronomer or planetarium director, for example.
Some degrees, like our applied physics degree, prepare you for a job right out of the gate! With OHIO’s student resources and the support of your professors, finding an internship or job opportunity in your senior year will be more than possible.
Find more career information and links on our Career & Internships page.
After earning their bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy, many students proceed to grad school at Ohio University or elsewhere. Our undergrad programs will fully prepare you for the rigors and rewards of graduate school. At OHIO, we offer master’s degrees in physics and a Ph.D. in physics.
Our physics and astronomy programs provide important experiential learning opportunities. Most students enjoy several opportunities, some on campus and others at national labs or around the world.
Physics students drove the Bobcat Nanowagon, a "monster truck" made with just a few molecules, in the world's first two nanocar races in France. The on-going experiment is a collaboration between OHIO chemists and physicists and a first step toward quantum mechanical engineering.
At Ohio University, you’ll get the chance to get involved with dozens research facilities and laboratory environments, including a lab for single atom manipulation, our low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, the Kitt Peak and MDM Observatory, the Laser Tweezers Lab, and more.
Many students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy qualify for paid internships, perfect chances to explore what you might do after graduating. Students have helped with projects like deep learning galaxy surveys, simulating nuclear explosions from neutron stars, and investigating atomic forces.
Many astronomy and physics majors want to enter academia after graduating, which is why OHIO prioritizes undergraduate research experiences. More than 75% of graduating students complete research internships with faculty during their undergraduate education, and many enjoy paid summer internships with stipends.
College is about forming lifelong personal and professional friendships, which is why many students pursuing physics and astronomy degrees join clubs and student organizations. Popular clubs include Women in Physics & Astronomy and the Society of Physics Students.
Explore our physics and astronomy institutes and research centers to begin committing yourself to your field of study and meeting future peers or employers. Examples include the Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), the Astrophysical Institute, and the the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics.
At its heart, physics is the study of the universe and how it works. Astronomy, meanwhile, is the study of the heavens and all the secrets that they hold. Physics and astronomy are some of the most fascinating and profound scientific subjects, and there are plenty of future discoveries to be made — plus practical applications for these sciences in various industries.
If you want to learn more about why our universe operates the way it does, consider studying physics and astronomy. The majors described above are gratifying gateways to answers you might have wondered about for your entire life – and good ways to earn marketable skills for your future career.
Those skills could qualify you for any number of high-paying positions, and studying physics and astronomy could position you to make a difference in the world around you. Physicists and astronomers uncover revelations about the universe, contribute to industrial development, invent new technologies, and so much more.
Physics & Astronomy faculty are highly research-active, with grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and more. It’s easy for undergraduates to get involved with research and find one-on-one mentorship, not only by faculty but also by their graduate student lab mates. At the Department of Physics and Astronomy, undergrad students have what they need to thrive.
In fact, you’ll find yourself in close proximity to graduate students and postdocs working in the physics and astronomy arenas, offering you opportunities to both broaden your social network and see what you can expect from a career in research in your major of choice. Faculty members, meanwhile, will offer mentorship where you need it and can help you jump into research projects to boost your resume and use your new skills in real-world applications.
Of course, Ohio University gives you tools to ensure you succeed, ranging from success advisors and department mentors who help you graduate on time to undergraduate-specific scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
The college experience for physics and astronomy majors and minors at Ohio University is characterized by practical learning — you’ll have ample opportunities to research, use advanced equipment, and explore laboratory environments, so you are more than prepared the first time you take a job or lead your first research project in grad school.
Ohio University offers more than just stellar professors and amazing labs. Attending school at this tight-knit institution gives you the personal attention you need to achieve your best results.
In short, earning your undergrad degree in physics and astronomy at OHIO is an excellent first step in your future career, wherever your path may lead!
