ABOUT THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Degree Programs

Physics (major and minor)
Physics Adolescence Education (Secondary Certification)
Mathematics-Physics
Geophysics
Physics Degrees through Cooperative Engineering

Program Requirements

What's Different about Fredonia?

Fredonia has an unusually strong physics program for an undergraduate college. A 1995 comparative study of physics departments shows Fredonia as sixth in the nation among non-Ph.D. granting institutions in the number of graduating majors. This "critical mass" of students, combined with a highly dedicated and accessible faculty provides a winning combination for student success. Unlike large research institutions, there are no large lecture courses at Fredonia. Introductory courses are in the range of 25-35 students (halved for recitation sections). Upper level courses range from 8-20 students. All courses in the physics major, including labs, are taught by professors, not TA's. Professors know each student individually and there is a lot of opportunity for one-on-one interaction, ranging from extra help in office hours, advising for courses and careers, independent study, and student research. The Fredonia program provides a lot of options in addition to the traditional BS program in physics. Students can combine physics and engineering through 3-2 and 4-2 cooperative engineering programs, through which students receive a physics degree from Fredonia and an engineering degree (either bachelors or masters) from one of 14 affiliated institutions. Other popular options are Mathematics-Physics and Geophysics. It is also possible to combine physics with a computer science minor or major. Fredonia graduates have traditionally done very well in finding good jobs and succeeded in graduate school in a variety of disciplines, including medicine and law as well as physics and engineering.

Faculty

The Department of Physics has a faculty of six, all holding the doctorate. Specialties include Mathematical Physics, Computational Physics, Quantum Theory, Particle Physics, Cosmology, Theoretical and Experimental Solid State Physics, Positron Physics, and Electronics. The department is actively engaged in significant research: since 1984, 56 manuscripts have been published in major international refereed journals and over 70 papers have been presented at conferences. Scholarly activities are enhanced by liaisons with Argonne National Laboratory (IL), Los Alamos National Laboratory(NM), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (TN), SUNY at Buffalo (NY), the University of Florence (Italy), the University of Salamanca (Spain), the Lebedev Physical Institute (Russia) and the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (India).

Lecture Series

The physics department participates in the Visiting Scientist Program in Physics sponsored by the American Institute of Physics. In addition. the physics department and the geosciences department jointly participate in the Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship Program of the American Astronomical Society. Distinguished speakers are brought to campus under these two programs, as well as through other arrangements. In the last few years, visiting scientists have included Dr Julia Phillips (AT&T Labs), Dr Esther Conwell (Xerox Research Center), Dr. Thomas Balonek (Colgate University), Dr. Norman Ramsey -1989 Nobel Laureate in Physics (Harvard University), Dr. David Park (Williams College), Dr. Igor Dremin (Lebedev Physical Institute) and Dr. E.S. Fradkin (Lebedev Physical Institute). There is also a local lecture series featuring Fredonia faculty and students.

Student Activities

Each student is treated as an individual at Fredonia. Programs can be tailored to emphasize theoretical, experimental, or computational aspects of the discipline, or to prepare students for further study in diverse areas including engineering, law, and medicine. Significant numbers of students are engaged in research or independent study projects with professors. An active physics club engages in research projects such as holography, magnetic levitation, and robotics, as well as going on field trips and attending conferences.

Information on Graduates

• Over 400 Graduates
• Over 16 Received Doctorates
• Over 60 Received Master's Degrees
• At Least Ten Hold Academic Positions at the College Level
• Over 20 are High School Instructors
• Over 20 are Attending Graduate Institutions Full-Time
• Over 37 Graduates are Women
• Over 6 are Officers in the U.S. Armed Forces

• Some institutions where Fredonia graduates received their doctoral degrees are University of California at Berkeley, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, Clarkson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Purdue University, Rochester, SUNY at Buffalo, Virginia and Wyoming.
• Some institutions where Fredonia graduates received the master's degree are Renssalear Polytechnic Institute, Penn State, SUNY at Buffalo, Cornell University, North Carolina State, Rutgers, Columbia, Chicago, Arizona State, Alaska, Syracuse, and Texas at Austin.
• Some companies employing Fredonia graduates are Lucent, Exxon, Grumman, Eastman Kodak, General Electric, 3M Labs, Raytheon, IBM, Westinghouse, Unisys, Xerox, Moog, Lockheed-Martin and Boeing
• Some governmental agencies employing Fredonia graduates are the Naval Avionics Center, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Goddard Space Center, NASA, Los Alamos National laboratory, Indian Head Naval Ordnance Station, Naval Air Development Center, and Naval Air Propulsion Center.
• Three graduates operate their own companies.

In conclusion, physics graduates are participating in creative ventures with tremendous rewards. The Department of Physics is proud of these achievements. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Recent trip of Physics Club to SUNY Potsdam for an American Physical Society conference on Acoustics.

For further information, contact:

Dr. Michael Grady, Chair
Department of Physics
State University of New York College at Fredonia
Fredonia. N.Y 14063
Tel: 716-673-3301
Fax: 716-673-3347
E-mail: grady@fredonia.edu