Physics and Astronomy Department

Chair: Colette Salyk;

Professors: Brian Daly, Jenny Magnes^ab, Cindy Schwarz;

Associate Professors: Juan Merlo^ab, José Perillán, Colette Salyk;

Assistant Professors: Ed Buie II, Emily Nardoni^b;

Senior Lecturer: David R. Rishell;

Visiting Assistant Professors: Carlos Alvarado, Ulrich Faul, Peter Weck;

^bOn leave 2026/27, second semester

^abOn leave 2026/27

Astronomy Major Advisers: Ed Buie II, Colette Salyk.

Physics Major Advisers: Brian Daly, Jenny Magnes, Juan Merlo, José Perillán, David R. Rishell, Cindy Schwarz.

Programs

Major

• •  Astronomy Major
• •  Physics Major

Correlate Sequences in Physics and Astronomy

• •  Astronomy Correlate Sequence
• •  Physics Correlate Sequence

Courses

Astronomy: I. Introductory

• •  ASTR 101 - Solar System Astronomy
• •  ASTR 105 - Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology
• •  ASTR 150 - Life in the Universe

Astronomy: II. Intermediate

• •  ASTR 220 - Stellar Astrophysics
• •  ASTR 230 - Planetary and Space Science
• •  ASTR 240 - Observational Astronomy
• •  ASTR 290 - Community-Engaged Learning
• •  ASTR 298 - Independent Work

Astronomy: III. Advanced

• •  ASTR 300 - Senior Thesis
• •  ASTR 301 - Senior Thesis
• •  ASTR 302 - Senior Thesis
• •  ASTR 320 - Astrophysics of the Interstellar Medium
• •  ASTR 322 - Galaxies and Galactic Structure
• •  ASTR 330 - Extrasolar planets and planet formation
• •  ASTR 399 - Senior Independent Work

Physics: I. Introductory

• •  PHYS 105 - 20th Century Revolutions in Physics
• •  PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I/Lab
• •  PHYS 112 - Introducton to Physics II/Lab
• •  PHYS 113 - Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab
• •  PHYS 114 - Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab
• •  PHYS 168 - A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo
• •  PHYS 270 - Communicating Physics to the General Public

Physics: II. Intermediate

• •  PHYS 200 - Modern Physics/Lab
• •  PHYS 210 - Classical Mechanics
• •  PHYS 240 - Electromagnetism I
• •  PHYS 245 - Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
• •  PHYS 261 - Intensive Topics in Physics
• •  PHYS 262 - Intensive Topics in Physics
• •  PHYS 290 - Community-Engaged Learning
• •  PHYS 298 - Independent Work

Physics: III. Advanced

• •  PHYS 300 - Independent Project or Thesis
• •  PHYS 301 - Senior Thesis
• •  PHYS 302 - Senior Thesis
• •  PHYS 320 - Quantum Mechanics I
• •  PHYS 330 - Advanced Experimental Physics
• •  PHYS 341 - Electromagnetism II
• •  PHYS 375 - Advanced Topics in Physics
• •  PHYS 399 - Senior Independent Work