Undergraduate Programs

Students in the Department of Physics are encouraged to pursue a broad scientific background and to master theory as well as experiment. The fundamental courses are offered in the principal areas of physics—atomic and nuclear physics, classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and thermodynamics. The department also offers several laboratory classes. There is the opportunity for students to participate in research projects during the semesters and the summertime, over and above the class and lab work. Many undergraduate students become involved in faculty research and often co‐author published papers.

A general degree in physics prepares students for additional graduate work in physics, engineering, medicine and other sciences.

Please visit the Course Catalog for the latest information on program requirements.

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Research in astrophysics includes pulsar radio emission, the dynamics and kinematics of nearby galaxies, radio galaxies, plasma astrophysics, stellar evolution and mass loss, and star formation.

The Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio telescopes, operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), are headquartered on campus and offer unique opportunities for research in radio astronomy for faculty and undergraduate and graduate students alike.

In addition, the 2.4‐meter optical telescope at New Mexico Tech’s Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) is now in operation, and the MRO optical/infrared interferometer is under construction. This last facility is already involving students in research and development activities, especially related to instrumentation.

A degree in physics with astrophysics option prepares students for additional graduate work in astrophysics, engineering, astronomy, or to work in a number of different astronomy-focused organizations.

Please visit the Course Catalog for the latest information on program requirements.

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Atmospheric physicists at New Mexico Tech study convection and dynamics (on Earth and other solar system planets), lightning, atmospheric electricity, and the middle and upper atmosphere (including ozone and space weather).

Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Physics is a facility unique in the world, providing an instrumented mountaintop specializing in lightning research. Langmuir also includes balloon‐launch facilities and a capability in compact instrumentation appropriate for remote and airborne deployments.

The convection and dynamics group has its own Beowulf cluster, while the upper atmospheric group supports extremely sensitive spectrographs. Students in our graduate program can acquire deep, hands‐on experience with custom scientific instrumentation and electronics, computer modeling and automated data analysis and theoretical and mathematical methods of physics.

A degree in physics with atmospheric physics option prepares students for additional graduate work in atmospheric physics, engineering, meteorology, or other sciences.

Please visit the Course Catalog for the latest information on program requirements.

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New Mexico Tech offers exceptional physics students the option to complete a focused five-year BS/MS program.

The student must complete all the requirements for an MS in Physics. The candidate for the program should apply for admission no later than the end of their fifth semester of study. The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, as well as an average minimum GPA of 3.0 in all physics and mathematics courses to be eligible to apply for the program.

Please visit the Course Catalog for the latest information on program requirements.

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Please visit the Course Catalog for the latest information on minor requirements.