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JHU Department of 410-516-7347 phone |
Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins What makes Hopkins the right choice for physics and astronomy? The Henry A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy combines strong research programs, renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities to give students a solid foundation in physics. Our flexible curriculum, with separate B.A. and B.S. degree programs, will accommodate the needs of students with post-graduation aspirations as diverse as graduate study, medical or law school, teaching, or employment in a wide variety of fields at the technological cutting edge. Students meet regularly with their faculty advisors to fine tune their course of study. Nearly all undergraduate physics majors participate in research projects in astronomy, condensed matter physics, and high energy particle physics, and many write a publishable senior thesis. The atmosphere is enhanced by the presence, across the street, of NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute, the scientific home of the Hubble Space Telescope. Research is the foundation of everything you do We believe that physics and astronomy are best learned and understood through a combination of class work and hands-on research. From the day you walk in the door and begin our integrated curriculum, you’ll find yourself in small classes designed specifically for physics majors. As you learn more about the field, you’ll have a chance to participate in research, either experimental, computational or theoretical, in a variety of areas of physics and astrophysics. Work with an outstanding faculty If you choose to do research, it will be in close collaboration with a faculty advisor. Our department is strong and diverse, which affords you the opportunity to work with experts in a wide range of fields. Unlike some larger universities, most of our faculty members work with undergraduates. Studying with people with this level of expertise and commitment to the field gives you a challenging environment in which to build your skills. Be at the cutting edge Our research laboratories are well equipped with state-of-the-art tools. What’s more, the research of our faculty is truly global: some of us work at Fermilab, the site of the world’s highest energy particle accelerator, at the Advanced Photon Source, the world’s brightest source of light, and with instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope, the world’s premier space observatory. Closer to home, a special undergraduate laboratory sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts allows students to perform their own research under the guidance of faculty mentors. There is also a modern computer laboratory for the exclusive use of undergraduate physics majors. Be part of a close knit community Our undergraduate majors are integrated into all activities of the department. Our chapter of the Society of Physics Students is extremely active, with monthly scheduled meetings and many informal gatherings. Particularly popular is the annual department-sponsored visit to an important national laboratory; recent groups have gone to Fermilab, Brookhaven, and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
What you’ll study You will begin your studies with an integrated four semester sequence of courses designed for physics majors: Introduction to Classical Physics I and II, Special Relativity and Waves, and Modern Physics. In your first two years you will also develop your foundation in mathematics with courses in that department. With the help of your advisor, you will then put together an individual program from a wide variety of upper division classes, including:
Upper level courses in other science departments, or in engineering, can also be used to satisfy some of the requirements for a physics degree. You’ll also take courses in the social sciences and humanities, to help you develop your thinking skills, to expand your frame of reference, and to strengthen your writing and communication abilities. Want to be an astronomer or an astrophysicist? We are often asked whether we offer an undergraduate major in astronomy. We don’t, and for a good reason. The best way to become an astronomer or an astrophysicist is to start with a solid foundation in physics, and that means being a physics major. We do offer a variety of upper level courses on astronomical subjects, and of course there are many opportunities for undergraduates to involve themselves in research. About half of our students who go on to graduate school enroll in physics programs, and the other half in astronomy and astrophysics. Where do you go from here? Hopkins physics majors take many different roads after graduation:
Find out more (much, much more) We’ve got a lot more to tell you. Write or call us for more information. Or check out the department’s website. The Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes prospective undergraduates to contact us directly to make an appointment to meet with a faculty member or sit in on a class. Come pay us a visit!
Office of Undergraduate Admissions Call us: Phone: 410-516-8171
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