Chair's Welcome

A degree from MTSU Physics and Astronomy is the perfect beginning point for careers in science, teaching, and even graduate study in physics and engineering. Our program is demanding, yet rewarding, and gets you ready to win. Our graduates have obtained jobs in medical physics, space science, college teaching, engineering, computer systems design and stock market analysis. Others have continued their studies in medical and graduate programs at Georgia Tech, the University of Virginia, the University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt University and Harvard.

The Physics and Astronomy Department is extremely proud of our faculty who are passionate about their teaching, as well as being capable research mentors. Whether you are interested in stars and planets or nanotubes and nanocrystals, DNA detectors or optical tweezers - we have a place for you. A hallmark of our department is the extent to which we engage our students in research, with many having publications in prestigious journals to add to their resumes by the time they graduate.

We know how to work hard, but we also know how to have fun; you can feel free to ask any of our majors how electromagnetic waves travel, but also how to get Half-life personality Gordon Freeman out of the alien home world Xen. We may spend an evening considering how gravity works or playing music in a jam session at a faculty member's house. We have much to offer students with inquiring minds and especially those who are not afraid of hard work and self discipline. I invite you to check us out!

Dr. Ron Henderson