The Departmental of Physics curriculum combines fundamental physics courses with hands-on laboratory training and research projects.

We have a dedicated faculty and staff that support such student participation with state-of-the-art research laboratories, observatories and other educational programs that will enhance the students' future professional prospects.

The flexibility of the curriculum permits interdisciplinary exploration, not only among the physics and astronomy disciplines, but also the other STEM fields such as biology, chemistry, geology, environmental sciences, mathematics and computer science.

We expect our curriculum to result in physics graduates who are capable of applying and adapting their undergraduate education in a variety of scientific, teaching or engineering professions, as well as future educational endeavors.

News

App State College of Arts and Sciences Physics and Astronomy graphic, featuring bold white text over a dark navy field and blue abstract streaks.

Enjoy a Night Under the Stars at the Dark Sky Observatory

Appalachian State University’s Dark Sky Observatory will host Night Under the Stars on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8–10 p.m. This special evening inv...

Dr. Madeline Hinckle

Dr. Madeline Hinckle completes first phase of NSF‑funded EMERGai program

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Madeline Hinckle, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has completed the first phase of the Expanding t...

Dr. Rakkiyappan Chandran

Startup led by App State's Dr. Rakkiyappan Chandran selected for Cox Cleantech Residency

BOONE, N.C. — R‑Fusion, a sustainable textiles startup founded and led by Dr. Rakkiyappan Chandran, lecturer in Appalachian State University'...

Dr. Rachel Smith

Dr. Rachel Smith co‑authors new article in Astrobiology special issue

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Rachel Smith, professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, is the co-author of a new peer-re...

Dark Sky Observatory

10 North Carolina Stargazing Escapes Where Mountain Skies And Giant Telescopes Make The Night Unforgettable [facility featured]

North Carolina doesn’t just do mountains and beaches. It does nighttime drama on a cosmic scale....