Physics
About Our Program
Physicists are creative, imaginative, innovative, and determined to answer the universal question, ‘How?’ If you like to build things, want to learn how devices work, are fascinated by astronomy, and enjoy solving math problems, then our physics program is for you.
You’ll investigate the fundamental principles of the natural world from elementary particles to the farthest dimensions of the universe and the search for dark energy. You’ll build relationships with professors who inspire you to answer burning questions through experimentation, collaboration, and thinking outside of the box.
Science in Action
No matter where you are conducting research, our hands-on program will prepare you for a variety of science-related careers.Research
You can examine physics topics or pressing issues further through research during the semester or as part of a paid summer fellowship. You may even get to present your findings in a research paper about sound waves on an electric bass guitar like Matthew Bitzer ’19. He measured the signal produced by an electric bass guitar and resynthesized the waveforms to reproduce the sound.
Senior Year Experience (SYE)
During his senior year at St. Lawrence, Austin Riesenberger ’24 worked with Associate Professor of Physics Munir Pirbhai to design a new kind of air purifier. Together, they built and tested a smaller, more efficient, and affordable energy-recovery ventilator called SWERV. What started as Austin’s senior project has now grown into a real business where he’s created working prototypes, shared them with early users, and continues to develop his ideas beyond campus.
3+2 Columbia University Program
St. Lawrence offers a combined engineering program with Columbia University. You will start your journey at St. Lawrence and complete it Columbia, earning degrees from both institutions.
Short-Term Off-Campus Research Fellowships
In addition to on-campus research opportunities, you’ll have the chance to pursue short-term summer research fellowships at other colleges and universities.
Students have explored their interests in physics, astronomical sciences, atmospheric and geospace sciences, computer and information science and engineering, earth sciences, engineering, and materials research.
Short-Term Trips & Field Experiences
In addition to semester- and year-long programs, you’ll also have the chance to participate in short-term travel study trips with faculty members. For example, St. Lawrence students visit the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia to use the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world, attend workshops, take tours, and present research findings.
Study Abroad
Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs offered in more than 20 international locations, including Australia and New Zealand.
Internships
Learn by doing in a real-world environment. Our majors intern with a wide range of organizations, including:
- Corning Incorporated
- Cornell University
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Tioga Construction Co.
- Acorn Science & Innovation, Inc.
Get Involved
Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that involve your passion for the sciences, including:
- Environmental Action Organization
- Geology Club
- American Chemical Organization
- Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honor Society
Why St. Lawrence for Physics
of St. Lawrence graduates majoring in physics are employed or continuing their education within a year
St. Lawrence students who studied physics have worked with:
- Tesla
- OnPoint - A Koch Engineered Solutions Company
- SpaceX
- T.R. Fellows Engineering
- Henkel
- General Electric Appliances
- The U.S. Naval Academy
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Experimental Pathology Laboratories
- Quidel
The number of times St. Lawrence students and astronomers have traveled to Puerto Rico and West Virginia to operate the world’s largest telescopes, attend workshops, and present research
The number of miles to the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory where you can put your astronomy knowledge into action
of St. Lawrence students majoring in physics conduct independent research
St. Lawrence students who studied physics pursued graduate programs at:
- Cornell University
- Syracuse University
- University of West Virginia
- Columbia University
- Boston University
- Wake Forest University
- University of Colorado
- Clarkson University
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Oregon
The number of scholarships offered to high achieving, Pell grant eligible, first-year underrepresented students interested in pursuing a STEM major
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Explore physics major requirements, as well as electives and combined study options.
Complementary and Related Programs
If you’re interested in physics, you might also like these programs.
Physics Faculty
Our faculty are physics experimentalists, historians of science, cosmologists, astronomers, and astrophysicists. They’re enthusiastic educators-- willing to lay on a bed of nails to demonstrate Newton’s First Law. They’re also philanthropists, social butterflies, and innovative creators.
Cristian Armendariz-Picon
Karen Johnson
Daniel Koon
Aileen O'Donoghue
Massooma Pirbhai
"Physics courses constantly challenged me to think differently and be comfortable not knowing exactly where a problem was going."
Donatella DeFazio
The Science Shop
If you can imagine it, you can build it. With the help of our on-campus workshop, you’ll have the machinery you need at your disposal to bring innovative lab tools, gadgets, and experiments to life.
Arecibo & Greenbank Observatory Trip
Take your physics knowledge on the road! During this multi-day trip to West Virginia, you’ll collaborate with scientists from other academic institutions, attend workshops, and tour the world’s largest fully steerable single aperture antenna.
Liberal Arts Scholarship
This program offers scholarships to domestic high-achieving, Pell-grant eligible students interested in pursuing STEM majors, outside of a pre-med track, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, engineering, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience, and geology.
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.