At Cal Poly Humboldt, you’ll get hands-on use of modern equipment and opportunities for original research. Whether participating in our gravitational research group, or taking advantage of our off-campus observatory, you can undertake experiments, help prepare results for presentation at conferences, and possibly co-author a scientific paper.
Physics and astronomy are crowded fields at many universities. But at Cal Poly Humboldt, small class sizes mean you’ll always get the major classes you need and close attention from your professors.
When you're ready to consider graduate study—which is required for many careers in the field—our faculty will guide you through the decision based on your strengths and Cal Poly Humboldt's excellent reputation among graduate programs.
A physics degree is good preparation for a very broad range of occupations. In general, a physics student with additional skills or a highly specialized emphasis has a greater advantage in the job market. Students also have a strong chance of increasing employability by strengthening their skills with additional course work from related disciplines, such as geology, oceanography, statistics, computer technology and mathematics.
The physics student should develop: a basic interest in natural phenomena; a good memory, imagination and physical intuition, an inquisitive nature; high-level mathematical skills; the ability to concentrate for sustained periods and the patience to repeat an experiment; the ability to observe facts and draw logical conclusions using logic and critical thinking skills; and a mild skepticism of conventional assumptions.
The Department of Physics & Astronomy also offers two minors:
For more information about programs visit:
I'm a researcher studying galaxy evolution by way of how galaxies form their stellar mass. I work with data from telescopes such as Hubble Space Telescope (HST), GALEX, Sloan Foundation 2.5m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory, and many others.
Related disciplines, such as geology, oceanography, statistics, computer technology, and mathematics, allow our graduates to excel in a wide variety of career files.
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Submitted: October 28, 2024
Department of Physics & Astronomy
1 Harpst St.
Arcata, CA 95521
Phone: (707) 826-3277
physics@humboldt.edu
