Our department offers individualized attention larger schools can't.

With the small class sizes and low student to faculty member ratio, our students have a one-on-one relationship with their academic advisor. Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy is a student-focused department with an emphasis on undergraduate research with Bachelors degrees in Physics and Engineering Physics and minors in Physics and Astronomy. There are 70 majors and 10 full-time faculty. Active research areas include Astronomy, Computational Science, Engineering, and Materials Science.

Full-time faculty

Research Experiences each year

Student conference presentations each year

Degree Programs

Physics, BS

Physics is the study of the underlying properties of nature from the mind-bogglingly huge, like galactic superclusters, to the unimaginably small, like the fundamental constituents of matter. It is the foundation of every science and is responsible for some of the greatest discoveries and inventions of our time, like lasers, solar cells and hybrid cars.

Physics, BS Objectives & Outcomes

Engineering Physics, BSE

Engineering Physics is the interdisciplinary study of physics, mathematics and engineering with particular emphasis on developing advanced techniques to solve complex, real-world problems. The engineering physics curriculum includes an emphasis on engineering design, much like a traditional engineering program, while also including more advanced physics than a typical engineering degree.

Engineering Physics, BSE Objectives & Outcomes

Astrophysics Concentration; Physics, BS

Astrophysics is the interdisciplinary study of stellar and galactic evolution and the origin of the universe. It brings together many separate physics disciplines as well as chemistry and mathematics.

Astrophysics Concentration of the Physics, BS Objectives & Outcomes

Astronomy Minor

The APSU Astronomy Minor is a versatile minor for students interested in the subject. It is suitable for students who desire a non-mathematical minor in the subject, but can also be combined with a Physics Major and more advanced astronomy electives for students wishing to pursue Astronomy or Astrophysics in graduate school.

Physics Minor

The APSU Physics Minor pairs well with physics sub-specialties in other STEM fields like Chemistry, Computer Science, Geoscience, and Mathematics.

Deborah Gulledge

Physics

I had more research opportunities through the APSU Physics Department than anyone I've met from any other schools. I had the chance to travel internationally and observe on some of the largest telescopes in the world, to join a research collaboration at a national laboratory, and to present my research all across America. APSU definitely prepared me well for grad school and I couldn't be happier with the education and research opportunities I was given.

Johnathan Bunton

Physics

After my freshman year, I already knew all the physics faculty at Austin Peay. The biggest class I’ve had was maybe 25 students, and when you’re talking about advanced quantum mechanics, that’s a really big deal to get face-to-face attention from faculty.

Joshua Allen

Physics

I had this fear students from bigger schools would be ahead of me, but what I quickly realized was we were covering things I had already learned because I had been prepared by Austin Peay.

Physics, Engineering,
and Astronomy

Our department offers individualized attention larger schools can't.

Degree Programs

Career options for Physics and Engineering Majors

Austin Peay sends dolls to stratosphere to celebrate women in STEM

Physics, Engineering,and Astronomy

Our department offers individualized attention larger schools can't.

Degree Programs

Career options for Physics and Engineering Majors

Austin Peay sends dolls to stratosphere to celebrate women in STEM

Physics, Engineering,
and Astronomy