The minor provides students with a broad understanding of the technological, economic, social, and political aspects of energy issues. The department actively promotes close student-faculty contact, and faculty members personally know most upper division and graduate students. Program A notable strength of the upper division program in physics is the quality and quantity of the hands-on laboratory work. Another of the principal strengths of the undergraduate programs is the involvement of the students in active research programs, primarily through the senior thesis experience. Students receiving the B.S. in physics from SDSU are, in general, much better trained in laboratory skills than students from almost any other institution.
All students write a senior thesis.
In many cases, joint faculty-student publication in refereed journals is the result of the senior thesis. The Center encourages research and instruction. The career opportunities for physics graduates are as diverse as the field itself. Physics graduates may also enter a wide variety of graduate programs. For example, a radiological physics master's degree qualifies students for employment with the Environmental Protection Agency, nuclear power stations, government laboratories, and hospitals.