Department of Physics Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Department of Physics is teaching of the highest quality at the undergraduate level. The department, through its various programs, continually strive to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for life long learning, an understanding of the physical aspects of the world in which we live and the ability to comprehend physical sciences and mathematical advancements and their benefits to our culture and future generations.
To assist in the accomplishments of this mission the Department of Physics encourages and supports scholarship and research of the highest quality among the faculty.
To provide outreach and service as an educational institution, the Department of Physics supports its faculty in utilizing their expertise to the benefits of the university community and regional, state, national and international communities.
History
The Department of Physics was founded in 1965 with Dr. Charlie Harper as department head. In 1969, the Department moved to its present location in Carver Hall Annex. In 1996, the Department of Physics established a Joint Faculty partnership with neighboring Louisiana Tech University’s Institute for Micro-manufacturing and Physics Program to share two faculty between the two institutions. In 1997, the Department’s curriculum was expanded to include a concentration in Material Science.
Department of Physics
The objective of the Department of Physics are (1) to provide a broad understanding of nature from the smallest domain of the atomic nucleus to the extent of the universe, (2) to provide the training necessary to compete in an increasingly technological society, and (3) to provide preparation for post-graduate study of physics or other highly technical fields.
The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in physics is offered for students who complete the outlined program of study and meet the requirements of the Department of Physics and the College of Arts and Sciences. The department offers two curriculum concentrations.
The general concentration is intended to give the student a foundation upon which to continue the study of physics in graduate school or to pursue a career as a professional in a highly technical field. Students must complete a minimum of:
58 semester hours of physics
12 semester hours of mathematics
8 semester hours of chemistry
8 semester hours of biology
3 semester hours of computer science
And 34 semester hours of general education and other elective requirements.
The material science concentration affords the student the opportunity for more intense study of materials using interdisciplinary strategy. In addition to enrolling in a rigorous core of courses in physics, the student pursuing the material science concentration will also enroll in select courses in chemistry and engineering technology. This course study will prepare the student for continued study materials in graduate school or pursue a career in the discipline upon completing the baccalaureate degree. Students must complete a minimum of:
45 semester hours of physics
12 semester hours of mathematics
25 semester hours of chemistry
6 semester hours of electronics engineering technology
4 semester hours of biology
3 semester hours of computer science
And 31 semester hours of general education and other elective requirements.
INSG Scholarships: The Physics Department has four scholarships available per year for incoming freshman that total $5000.00 each. These scholarships are for 2 years after which majors may apply for other scholarships under other University programs, examples are: CMAST, MARC, LS-LAMP to name a few.
Criteria for the Physics scholarships are: Must have declared Physics as a major, must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), must be a U.S. citizen, application for admission and official copy of ACT or SAT scores MUST be on file in the Grambling State University Admissions office, completion of an advanced mathematics or science course in high school. All information must be completed or the application will not be reviewed.
The MARC Fellowship is available to students majoring in physics. Criteria include US citizenship or permanent residence, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher, both cumulative and all mathematics and science courses taken. Fellowship includes tuition, up to $21,912 in stipend over 24 months, participation in Summer Research Internship (SRI), and a travel award to a national research conference. The purpose of the MARC program is to help students to become competitive for admission in PH.D. or M.D. /Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences.
