A.B. in Biological Physics

Students in Georgetown’s A.B. in Biological Physics gain practical experience by combining physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and computational methods with faculty-led research. The Department of Physics encourages undergraduates to begin research as early as their first year, and students can work directly with faculty on projects involving biological systems, optical imaging, and biophysical technologies. The A.B. also gives students flexibility to pursue additional interests, including a second major or minor.

Research experience and facilities:

• Independent research: Students can enroll in PHYS 4998 – Independent Research and participate in faculty research during the academic year or summer; independent research can also contribute to departmental honors.
• Advanced imaging: Georgetown biological-physics researchers use high-speed confocal microscopy and optical tweezers to investigate cell motility, neurite migration in 3D biomatrices, and biopolymer rheology.
• Computational skills: The department recommends COSC 1010 – Introduction to Computer Science: Python for students without programming experience because programming is useful in physics laboratories; COSC 1020 – Computer Science I is another option for students interested in deeper computing study.
• Modern experimental training: PHYS 2104 – Modern Experimental Physics provides an important experimental component of the major, while PHYS 2105 – Mathematical and Computational Methods develops quantitative and computational skills.
• Research laboratories: Most of Georgetown Physics' research and teaching laboratories are located in Regents Hall, providing dedicated environments for experimental and interdisciplinary science.
• Soft-matter research: Students can benefit from the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, an interdisciplinary research institute located in Regents Hall.
• Nanotechnology facilities: The Georgetown Nanoscience and Microtechnology Laboratory provides access to a shared-use cleanroom facility for nanoscience and microtechnology research.
• External research resources: Through collaborations, Georgetown faculty and students have access to research resources at the Naval Research Laboratory, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
• Scientific communication: Students develop scientific writing through laboratory reports and research work, with the Georgetown curriculum emphasizing methods, data presentation, graphical analysis, interpretation of results, and scholarly citation.
• Faculty-led research: Georgetown reports that many undergraduate physics and biological physics majors work directly with internationally known faculty and some become authors on scientific papers or presenters at national and international meetings.

Facilities: Regents Hall, Physics research and teaching laboratories, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown Nanoscience and Microtechnology Laboratory, Basic Science laboratories, and collaborative research resources at NIH, NIST, and the Naval Research Laboratory.

The A.B. in Biological Physics prepares students to apply physics, mathematics, and biological science to complex questions in areas such as biophysics, biomedical science, and biotechnology. Georgetown specifically notes that the A.B. is suited to students who may pursue careers or further study in areas including medicine, law, finance, business, journalism, government service, and teaching, while its flexible structure allows students to develop additional academic interests.

Typical job roles: Research Assistant, Scientific Laboratory Professional, Biophysics Researcher, Science/Technology Consultant. Georgetown also reports physics graduates moving into finance, software companies, consulting firms, scientific laboratories, policy institutes, and teaching.

Career support and opportunities:

• Career services: Georgetown’s Cawley Career Education Center provides career guidance and resources for students exploring employment, internships, and graduate or professional education. The Physics Department also provides academic advising to help students plan their major and future pathways.
• Research experience: Students can become involved in faculty research as early as their freshman year, and Georgetown reports that many physics and biological physics students work directly with faculty on research, with some becoming authors on scientific papers or presenting at national and international meetings.
• Scientific facilities and collaborations: Biological physics research at Georgetown uses high-speed confocal microscopy and optical tweezers, while departmental research facilities include the Georgetown Nanoscience and Microtechnology Laboratory and the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology. Faculty and students can also access resources through collaborations with the NIH, Naval Research Laboratory, and NIST.
• Employment statistics: Georgetown's Class of 2025 reported a 94% career outcomes rate, covering graduates employed, in internships, military or volunteer service, or continuing education within six months. This is a university-wide figure, not specific to Biological Physics.
• Salary figures: A program-specific salary figure for the A.B. in Biological Physics is not stated on Georgetown's official program or career pages. Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce reports that prime-age workers with bachelor's degrees in STEM fields have median earnings of $98,000, but this is an external outcome analysis published by Georgetown and is not specific to this degree.
• University–research partnerships: Georgetown's Physics Department has research collaborations that give students and faculty access to facilities and expertise at NIH, NIST, and the Naval Research Laboratory, strengthening exposure to government and biomedical research environments.
• Professional value: The A.B. provides a flexible foundation for students pursuing medicine, law, business, finance, government, journalism, teaching, or science-related employment, while students targeting graduate study specifically in physics, biophysics, or engineering are advised by Georgetown to consider the B.S. pathway.
• Long-term accreditation: Georgetown University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Georgetown's next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2029–2030, providing continuing institutional accreditation oversight.
• Graduation outcomes: Georgetown's Physics Department reports that graduates have progressed to graduate and professional schools in physics, engineering, computer science, law, and medicine, as well as careers in finance, software, consulting, scientific laboratories, policy institutes, and teaching.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the A.B., students can pursue graduate or professional education in fields such as biological physics, biophysics, physics, engineering, medicine, law, or business. Georgetown also notes that students interested specifically in graduate study in physics, biological physics, biophysics, or engineering generally benefit from the more research-intensive B.S. pathway, while the A.B.'s flexibility can support preparation for professional schools and other disciplines.