B.S. in Physics with astrophysics electives

The B.S. in Physics with astrophysics electives at the University of Texas at Dallas gives you the opportunity to learn from world-renowned faculty and participate in research using advanced facilities and resources. The Department of Physics is housed in a modern 190,000-square-foot Sciences Building and maintains close ties with major research organisations, including Texas Instruments and national labs.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of specific facilities and experiential learning:

• Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory (NSERL): A 192,000-square-foot facility designed in cooperation with Texas Instruments, supporting advanced research in space science, cosmology, astrophysics, and more.

• William B. Hanson Centre for Space Sciences: Home to the development of major instruments, including the mass spectrometer that discovered water on Mars, and a hub for research in space science and astrophysics.

• State-of-the-Art Core Facilities: Includes a research cleanroom for fabrication and testing of scientific instruments and devices, supporting experimental work in physics and astrophysics.

• Access to Texas Advanced Computing Centre (TACC): Provides high-performance computing resources for astrophysics simulations, big data analysis, and scientific programming.

• Faculty Research Collaborations: Active involvement in major international projects such as the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), giving students opportunities to work with real astronomical data and participate in forefront research.

• Student Research Opportunities: Undergraduates are encouraged to participate in research alongside faculty and graduate students, gaining hands-on experience in laboratory and computational astrophysics.

Graduates of the University of Texas at Dallas’s B.S. in Physics with astrophysics electives are well-prepared for careers in research science, technical analysis, aerospace, and education. You’ll find alumni working as physicists, data analysts, research technicians, and science educators. Here’s how UTD supports your career launch:

• Career Services: UTD’s Career Centre offers personalised advising, resume workshops, and employer networking events tailored to physics and STEM students, helping you secure internships and job placements in research labs, aerospace companies, and education.

• Employment Outcomes: Physics graduates with astrophysics electives gain strong analytical and computational skills, making them competitive for roles in national laboratories, aerospace firms, and academic research. Median starting salaries for physics graduates at UTD are competitive within STEM fields.

• University–Industry Partnerships: UTD’s Physics Department collaborates with leading research institutions and industries in atomic, molecular, optical physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, providing students access to cutting-edge research projects and internship opportunities.

• Accreditation and Value: UTD is regionally accredited, and its physics program is nationally recognised for research excellence, ensuring your degree is respected by employers and graduate schools worldwide.

• Graduation Outcomes: Graduates develop expertise in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and astrophysics topics such as extragalactic astrophysics and astronomy, preparing them for graduate study or technical careers.

Further Academic Progression: After earning your B.S. in Physics with astrophysics electives at UTD, you’ll be well-prepared to pursue master’s programs in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or related fields, leading to advanced research, university teaching, or technical leadership roles in observatories, research institutions, and space agencies.