PHYSICS
PHYSICS | APPLIED PHYSICS ASTROPHYSICS | MATERIALS SCIENCE | PHYSICS TEACHER EDUCATION
LEAD WITH AN EDGE The St. Mary’s College of Maryland physics department offers the physics major and the applied physics major. Physics is the branch of science concerned with the nature and property of matter and energy. Applied physics uses the techniques of physics to develop technologies. The subject matter of applied physics includes ways to use mechanics, heat, light and other radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism and the structure of atoms. The SMCM physics department is recognized nationally. In 2013 and 2017, physics majors were finalists for the American Physical Society’s LeRoy Apker Award for outstanding undergraduate physics students — only six or seven students are chosen nationally as finalists. The department has also been featured in Physics Today for its culture of inclusiveness. The department was one of two to receive the APS’s Award for Undergraduate Education. Finally, the SMCM physics programs are featured in a case study in the national report, Phys21: Preparing Physics Students for 21st Century Careers. The case study features our career preparation efforts, but also other aspects such as recruiting, inclusiveness and equity initiatives, and partnerships with external institutions in the private and government sectors.
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SMCM.EDU/PHYSICS
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LEARN MORE: SMCM.EDU/PHYSICS
OUT THERE
PHYSICS AT SMCM
Recent graduates are working and studying in these areas:
LUKE QUINN ’20
WE GUARANTEE every student the opportunity to engage in authentic research, an internship, or international experience.
97% of physics majors do a paid science or
engineering internship (and many do more than one)
MARY KORENDYKE ’19
Luke integrated a sensitive magnetometer onto a drone for archaeological studies while a student. Now he works on electronic systems on the F/A-18 as a PHYSICIST for the Navy.
Mary is studying in the CLIMATE DYNAMICS doctoral program at George Mason University
100% of physics students complete a capstone
research project
Students can choose between the physics major and the applied physics major. In addition to research opportunities on campus, many students participate in research at the nearby Patuxent River Naval Air Station as part of an educational partnership agreement with the Navy. St. Mary’s College physics received the 2017 Award for Undergraduate Physics Education from the American Physical Society -- one of just two programs in the nation to receive the award.
NOAH WALSH ’19
JESSICA MARBOURG ’13
Noah is studying in the ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING doctoral program at Princeton University.
After double majoring in physics and biochemistry with a neuroscience minor, Jess is now pursuing her doctorate in NEUROSCIENCE at Ohio State University.
OUR ALUMNI ARVIND SRINIVASAN ’17 received a prestigious Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Dept. of Defense. He was a finalist for the American Physical Society’s LeRoy Apker Award for outstanding undergraduate work -- one of just seven nationwide. After working as a physicist for the Navy, he is now enrolled in the applied physics doctoral program at Harvard University. ELIZABETH NANCE ’16 did a summer internship with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) between her junior and senior year. She continued her work with NRAO in her capstone research project and worked there for two years after graduation. Now she is a program manager for the Space Telescope Institute and completing her master’s degree in space systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
9:1
student-to-faculty ratio is one of the lowest in the nation
TOP 25
Hidden Gems for Women in STEM by CollegeRaptor.com
“The physics professors are awesome. They are good at giving you all the tools to be successful. You have to learn how to think critically and think outside the box, which you might not necessarily get at a larger institution.”
BRIGID MORRIS ’18