The College of New Jersey

What you'll study

Students start with physics fundamentals and progress into discipline-specific topics according to their chosen specialization. The program highlights development of analytical and mathematical skills, problem-solving, conceptual thinking, and teamwork. Available specializations listed by the department are:

• Astrophysics
• Biomedical Physics
• Computational Physics
• Geophysics
• Materials Science
• Physics Secondary Education
• Pre-graduate Physics

Students may also pursue related minors (Astrophysics, Physics) and have the flexibility to combine the major with double majors, other minors, college core courses, or study abroad experiences. Hands-on learning opportunities include independent study, internships, on-campus employment, and faculty-mentored research in topics such as quasars and black holes, neuronal networks, lasers and plasmas, atmospheric ice crystals, and earthquakes and volcanoes.

Entry requirements

The source page describes this as an undergraduate program with first-year applicant options (including a Seven-Year Medical Program 3+4) and accelerated/dual-degree pathways, but it does not list specific admission criteria, course prerequisites, or application requirements on the provided text.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of paths: industry, teaching, journalism, graduate study in physics or interdisciplinary fields, and professional schools (medicine, law, education). The department reports that about half of its graduates enrol in graduate programs immediately or within two years, pursuing advanced study in physics, astrophysics, geophysics, engineering and related fields. Recent employers and placements cited include Edmund Optics, Lockheed Martin, New Jersey high schools, the State of New Jersey, and ThorLabs; recent graduate schools include Cornell, Lehigh, NYU, Penn State, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

While the page does not specify particular scholarships, the program highlights several funding-related opportunities that support experiential learning: faculty-mentored research (presenting/publishing opportunities), internships, independent study, on-campus employment, and access to a robust alumni network. Accelerated and dual-degree options are noted as cost- and time-efficient routes for earning advanced or multiple degrees.