Mission Statement:
The mission of the Physics Program is to prepare students to pursue degrees in physics, engineering, science, or other areas of intellectual endeavor as well as for employment in various physics or engineering related areas by educating them in the fundamental concepts, knowledge, techniques, and skills of physics.
Physics Program Overview
MSU is a member institution of the Texas Physics Consortium, which offers a joint degree in physics. Students take all of their core and lower division physics courses from MSU faculty. Upper-level physics courses are offered through the consortium. Most of the upper level courses will be taken remotely via video conference. The upper level physics electives offered vary by semester, depending on which campus is offering the course. A physics research seminar in the student's last year involves collaboration with MSU faculty on an independent research project.
With the physics consortium students will receive the benefits of a wide range of courses. MSU physics faculty are always available for help with the courses taken remotely and are academic and research advisors for the majors.
Research in Physics
The faculty in physics conduct research from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest level of the universe. On the more micro end our faculty study non-equilibrium physics as part of the Non-Linear Sciences Research Group. At the larger end they study astrophysics and dwarf galaxy evolution through our partnership with the National Undergraduate Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University and Lowell Observatory.
Advising and Scholarships
The engineering and physics academic counselor advises students in their first semesters as they navigate the prerequisites for upper-level physics.
Several scholarships are available for physics majors, including the Spencer and McCoy Scholarships. Please contact the Chemistry and Physics Department for details or email Dr. Jacqueline Dunn.