Students from other majors take advantage of the physics department for just this reason. As a physics student at Hampden-Sydney, you will have opportunities to work as an associate with faculty members on advanced research. That research includes a NASA grant for participation in studies involving the recently launched Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. A broad selection of course work is available. To major in physics you should study general physics, classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, optics, electronics, modern physics, quantum mechanics, and mathematical methods in physics.
Astrophysics is also available as an elective.
A sound background in mathematics is necessary. With the help of a faculty member, you may adjust your schedule to emphasize theoretical, experimental, or pre-engineering. Talented students may also work on independent study projects possibly resulting in publication in a national journal. These opportunities will be open to you in all four years of your college work. The department contains modern lecture rooms of various sizes, each with full provisions for optimum use of a broad spectrum of audiovisual aids including ethernet connections to bring the world wide web to the classroom.