A student adjusts the scanning tunneling microscope. Maryland has the top physics department at a public university on the East Coast. Technology Breadth of Research Research is being conducted in superconductivity, astrometrology, condensed matter physics, elementary particles, gravitation, high energy physics with accelerators, particle astrophysics, plasma physics, nuclear physics, atomic physics and quantum electronics, physics education, space and cosmic ray physics, surface science, materials science and engineering, charged particle beams, and dynamical systems and accelerator theory. Indeed, it is probably the only place in the world where both theoretical and experimental surface physics research goes on in tandem. Furthermore, our majors get to know one another quickly, and often lasting friendships are formed.
All physics majors receive close student advising.
A faculty advisor is assigned to each physics major and a joint meeting is arranged each semester between the student, the coordinator for educational affairs, and the faculty adviser. Each faculty member advises only three of four students. All classes are taught by physics faculty members. For the first two years the physics curriculum provides and excellent entry into engineering. Class schedules allow for the possibility to pursue double majors and other desired activities.