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California State University, Chico
College of Natural Sciences

Physics BS

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  • Program Type

    Undergraduate Major

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

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Our physics program is a doorway to infinite possibilities. Your curiosity about the forces and elements that govern everything from microscopic particles to galaxies light years away will be nurtured, and you’ll be given the scientific skills and research experience to forge a career in this exciting field—as a scientist, educator, academic researcher, and more.

With small discussion-based classes, fascinating research opportunities, and a community of faculty that puts students first, you’ll be welcomed into a department that is passionate about our discipline. In addition to the technical skills and theories behind physics, you’ll gain the critical thinking and exploratory qualities needed to be a change maker.

A student wears googles and works on a machine.

Discover Your Potential

Your core classes will give you a solid foundation in chemistry, analytic geometry, and electronics, setting you up to analyze and solve complex problems using math and experiments.

Specializations and Options

Within the department of physics, you’ll have the choice of two options that provide alternate career advancement opportunities.

  • A student works on a magnet to optical trap,

    Professional Physics

    If you’re interested in pursuing graduate studies or a career in government, industry, and technical fields such as optics, electronics, data science, or materials science, this is a great option for you.

  • A student reads a diagram on a glass whiteboard.

    General Physics

    If you’re called to be a life-changing high-school physics teacher, this option provides a streamlined path through the California teacher accreditation process and will give you a broad science-teaching foundation.

“
The faculty and teachers care a lot about students. They are always there when you have questions or need help. I’ve learned so much about myself in this program.
Giovanni Paz-Silva (Physics, ’24)
Read Giovanni’s story.

Dare to Dream

  • two people smiling toward the camera

    Studying a Solar Eclipse Across the World

    Senior Danielle Casillas traveled to Western Australia on a NASA-funded trip to the site of a total solar eclipse, looking for clues to the "biggest mystery in the solar system."

  • Three students wearing safety glasses working on a project.

    Physics Research Institute Examines Space and Time

    Undergraduate researchers and physics majors Cynthia Perez and Forrest Bullard used highly detailed 3D supercomputer models of stars during the Physics Summer Research Institute (PSRI), a summer institute that pays students a stipend for their focused research.

  • person sitting on stage holding a microphone

    Bringing Astronomy to the Classroom

    Astronomer and physics professor Kendall Hall believes two things: physics is not scary, and that astronomy is the gateway to embracing it.

A World of Opportunity

  • A student controls the remote of a planetarium.

    The Society of Physics Students

    Join our very own student-run club dedicated to all things physics, offering you a welcoming community to build your knowledge-base, attend workshops and social gatherings, and network with faculty offering research opportunities.

  • A crowd of children watch the annual pumpkin drop outside of the Science Building.

    A Smashing Good Time

    Every year, the Society of Physics Students brings hundreds of people together to enjoy the simple and satisfying act of smashing pumpkins—all in the name of celebrating the science of gravity. The annual pumpkin drop is the club’s most renowned event, but there’s a lot more on offer for students in any major.

Live in a State of Wonder

  • View of campus looking toward the science building

    Science Building

    Science is woven into our building’s design. Opened in 2021, our state-of-the-art facility puts science on display. It features collaborative spaces, research opportunities inside and outside, and interdisciplinary labs.

  • A group inside the roth planetarium

    Roth Planetarium

    Explore the universe during class, club events, or socially at Roth Planetarium, a short walk away from the Natural Sciences Building, this on-campus jewel has a Spitz 373 projector which projects 1,000 stellar images onto the 14-foot-8-inch dome.

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