North Dakota State University

Physics

The Department of Physics has growing undergraduate and graduate programs. Yet, its size remains comparatively small, allowing personalized interactions between students with all of its 11 faculty members. Not only do students participate in research projects early on, they often become authors in peer-reviewed publications and present their results in the regional and national conferences and workshops. In addition, our students are highly engaged; they regularly participate successfully in the University Physics Competition and contribute actively to various outreach activities. 

The Department of Physics has a strong research focus on three fields: materials (especially soft materials), computational physics, and physics education research. While this represents only a small subset of all existing physics fields, our focus makes us competitive and successful on the national level and beyond. Students can choose among a number of curricular options that prepare them for industrial, governmental, and academic careers. The Fargo/Moorhead urban area contains three colleges with a physics program. Courses can be taken in each college through the Tri-College University. This increases the number of available courses to a level typical for large universities only. 

A prospective physics major is generally expected to have taken physics, chemistry, and mathematics courses. Computer courses can also be useful. Incoming students should normally be ready to start learning calculus. Some of our incoming students have already taken AP courses in physics or mathematics. Note, however, that deficiencies in any of these subjects may be remedied in the freshman or later years at the University. 

A great variety of employment opportunities exist for physics majors who wish to pursue careers after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Some find positions in industry or government. Many technical industries seek physics graduates for work in software development, engineering, science and lab technician positions, management and sales. According to the results of the National Association of Colleges and Employers Winter 2016 Salary Survey, physics majors were expected to receive an average starting salary of $65,250. 

As technology continues to develop, there will be a need for skilled people to make new discoveries in the basic sciences. Because of this, talented physics majors are encouraged to pursue a doctoral degree. Outstanding doctoral graduates in physics find research and teaching positions in universities or employment in government laboratories and research-oriented industries. 

An education in physics is so fundamental that it provides excellent preparation for graduate education in nearly every technical field, including engineering. Additionally, North Dakota State University graduates in physics have entered medical schools and have studied law. One past graduate received a doctorate in biophysics and now works at the University of Minnesota Medical School; another is at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Some of our recent graduates worked on advanced degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical physics, electrical engineering, solid-state physics, meteorology and radiological science. A number of recent graduates have pursued graduate studies at schools such as Cornell University, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, Carnegie Mellon University, Ohio State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, State University of New York Stony Brook, Rutgers University and Northwestern University. 

Financial aid at NDSU is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study. Students who qualify for federal college work-study may be paid for work on department research projects. Highly qualified students may be hired through the Department of Physics or the College of Science and Mathematics as undergraduate Research Assistants (RA) or Learning Assistants (LA). 

The Cooperative Education Program provides students the opportunity to earn money and gain valuable experience by spending one or more semesters working in industrial or government laboratories. Internship opportunities include Sanford Medical Center in Fargo and NASA. Students may also apply to participate in research projects through the Department of Physics or Research Experience for Undergraduates program at NDSU or other institutions. 

Physics
NDSU Dept 2755,
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
DEPT PHONE: (701) 231-8974
DEPT WEBSITE: www.ndsu.edu/physics

or

Office of Admission
North Dakota State University
Ceres 114
Dept #5230, PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Tel: (701) 231-8643 / Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/admission/

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