National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship winner Jocienne Nelson examines a research sample in one of Oberlin’s physics laboratories. Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97
Program Type: Major, Minor
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Physics at Oberlin is a diverse academic program. We offer a rich selection of physics, astrophysics, and astronomy courses and ample opportunities for active student research involvement.
Why Study Physics at Oberlin?
3
tracks through the major
80%
majors conducting research
1
whole universe to study, from atoms to galaxies
Upcoming Physics Events
The dome atop Peters Hall. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay
Observatory and Planetarium
Oberlin College Observatory is atop Peters Hall at the center of campus. Peters was built in the 1880s and the dome was installed in 1929, along with a Gaertner 6-inch f:15 refractor telescope. The current telescope is a 14″ Meade LX200. The observatory is actively used for introductory astronomy classes, for individual student projects, by the Oberlin Astronomy Club, and for public viewing.
- PHYS 111 – Electricity, Magnetism and Thermodynamics 4 credits
- ASTR 100 – Introductory Astronomy 4 credits
- PHYS 316 – Waves and Optics 4 credits
- PHYS 411 – Electrodynamics 2 credits
Physics Faculty
Physics and astronomy faculty are both scholars and teachers who devote their careers to making important contributions to their disciplines through writing and research. Their academic and research areas include radio astronomy, optics, materials physics, gravitational physics, pulsars, and theoretical physics.
Explore Faculty within Physics
Physics Faculty
Physics News
This Week in Photos: January 22
January 22, 2020
In this photo series, we explore the art of cinema storytelling; go to an entrepreneurial boot camp; get intense with strings and Greek; go back to high school in Berkeley; stop by the freezer section in Kim’s Grocery & Carryout; get involved with dark matter; learn R for SPSS; join a dance class; design an archeological exhibit; get cozy with a wild beast; and much more.
“Searching for Dark Matter (From Oberlin)”
July 3, 2019
This episode of An Oberlin Minute highlights the work of two student researchers in Associate Professor of Physics Jason Stalnaker’s lab over winter term.
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