Why this Program? | Department of Physics & Astronomy

Physics and astronomy aren’t disciplines you learn by simply reading a textbook. At Cal Poly Humboldt you learn through hands-on experience, original research, dedicated faculty, and high tech facilities.

Hands-on Research

Cal Poly Humboldt is all about hands-on experiences. From the beginning of your undergraduate career to graduation, you’ll have access to cutting edge facilities and equipment like our Fickle Hill Observatory.

Students also have opportunities for original research, and can participate in our gravitational research group, undertake experiments, help prepare results for presentation at conferences, and even co-author a scientific paper.

Many of our students also engage in summer study as part of National Science Foundation research at other institutions nationwide—a great way to gain applicable skills and experiences. Students in research projects have discovered a galaxy, tested fundamental gravitational physics through our facilities on-site as well as with collaborations in Seattle and Indianapolis, spent the summer at CERN in Europe to work on the ATLAS particle detector, participated in research programs in Optics at the University of Paris and more.

Small Class Sizes

At Cal Poly Humboldt, small class sizes mean you’ll get the classes and attention you need to succeed. Physics and astronomy programs are in high demand around the nation, and studying at Humboldt offers unparalleled support.

Our faculty have research interests including astronomy, cosmology, superconductivity, small-scale gravity, quantum mechanics, electronics and more, and they actively involve students in their efforts.

Your close working relationships with professors and peers will improve your education and college experience, enhance your ability to succeed in your career and graduate school, and make memories for a lifetime.

Ready for the Next Step

Our faculty work closely with graduating students to set them up for the next step of their life. Humboldt's excellent reputation among graduate programs means our students have excelled at some of the nation's top institutions, such as the University of Colorado, Rutgers, and the University of Washington. When our students decide that graduate school is their next step—which is required for many careers in the field—nearly all of them go on to attend one of their top choices.

In addition, we have a strong track record with the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program at the University of Oregon. Several of our graduates have completed this Masters program and have been immediately successful in landing high-paying industrial careers in the areas of Semiconductors, Optics, and Precision Sensors.

And job opportunities for science and math graduates, as well as teachers in those subjects, have never been greater.

First Year Learning Community

Imagine being on a hilltop observatory peering up at the stars, searching for clues about the nature of gravity, analyzing river water samples, or taking a field trip to study the Mendocino triple junction atop the Cascadia subduction zone and San Andreas fault. These are some of the activities offered in Stars to Rocks, a cross-disciplinary learning community for Chemistry, Geology, and Physics & Astronomy majors.

Program Website