Why Study Physics?

Physics is the science that studies the structure and properties of matter and transformations of energy. With math as the language and experimental verification as a guide, physical study has established the fundamental laws of nature that are the foundation of all natural science and technology. The study of physics includes learning the general principles and the phenomena that have been discovered and developing the skills that enable such knowledge to be advanced through research. An undergraduate degree in physics will give you a deep understanding of the most fundamental forces in the Universe, and give you problem-solving skills that are valued in both academia and industry.

Astronomy is the study of all phenomena outside the limits of our planet. It involves the application of physics to interpretation of observable phenomena from the near-space environment surrounding the earth to the distant limits of the universe. Astronomical science is a smaller field than physical science, but employment opportunities at the bachelor’s level exist in federal laboratories (NASA), at other institutions where there are telescope and planetarium operations and in some industrial laboratories. More direct involvement in astronomical research or employment at the university level or at a major research laboratory requires a graduate degree.