BS Physics and Astronomy

From Day One, you’ll engage directly in cutting-edge research—fully supported by the intimate size of the department, yet connected to facilities comparable to national labs. Roughly 50% of physics & astronomy majors are involved in research groups at any given time, making it a core part of student life. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors, gain computational and instrumentation skills, and present your findings through seminars and symposiums.

Then, core experiential learning features include:

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities: About half of majors participate in ongoing faculty-led projects across astronomy, cosmology, particle physics, instrumentation, and more. You can reach out directly to professors or explore openings via the CURF (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships) directory.

• Departmental Seminars & Informal Curriculum: Weekly astronomy and physics colloquia introduce current research in formats accessible to advanced undergraduates. The Physics Club also hosts field trips and talks to build community and exposure to real science.

• David Rittenhouse Laboratory (DRL): The central hub for Physics & Astronomy, DRL houses labs, classrooms, offices, and the rooftop Rittenhouse Observatory, where students conduct observational sessions and public astronomy events.

• Research Institutes & Collaboration Centers: Through Penn you can connect with centers like the Center for Particle Cosmology, Kavli Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, and groups working on experiments such as the Dark Energy Survey and cosmic microwave background research.

• Instrumentation & Theory Projects: Opportunities to contribute to instrumentation development, cosmic-ray and astrophysical observational studies, and theoretical modeling—working with faculty in areas like high‑energy physics, dark energy, and extrasolar planet modeling.

• Community Outreach & Observational Programs: Participate in initiatives like “Night Skies at the Franklin Institute” and outreach efforts that bring telescopes and astronomy to public events in the Philadelphia area.

• Research Funding & Support through CURF: The CURF directory lets you identify faculty openings. Penn also offers summer fellowships (e.g. PURM, SHIP, GRIP) that provide funding, academic credit, and mentorship. Cold‑emailing professors often leads to early lab placements—even as early as freshman year.

• Skill Development: You’ll gain experience with scientific software such as Python for data analysis, along with hands-on instrumentation techniques—from telescope operations to detector design—as part of research and coursework.

Graduates of Penn’s BS in Physics and Astronomy emerge with strong analytical, computational, and research skills—making them ideal candidates for a wide range of careers in science, technology, engineering, and quantitative industries. Popular roles include research physicist, data analyst, telescope operations specialist, and aerospace systems engineer. This dual-discipline degree opens both academic and industry pathways through exceptional resources:

• Career Services: Penn’s Career Services offers tailored advising for STEM students, connects students to internships through Handshake, and hosts employer events with science and tech firms throughout the year.

• Employment Stats & Salary Data: Within six months of graduation, over 94% of Penn undergraduates are employed or in graduate programs. Physics graduates typically report starting salaries between $70,000–$95,000, depending on the field.

• University–Industry Partnerships: Penn collaborates with institutions like the Perelman School of Medicine and the Penn Center for Particle Cosmology, as well as tech employers like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and IBM—offering research and internship opportunities for undergraduates.

• Accreditation & Reputation: The University of Pennsylvania is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is an Ivy League institution globally recognized for academic excellence.

• Graduation Outcomes: Alumni from the Physics and Astronomy program have pursued advanced research positions, roles in aerospace and finance, and graduate studies at MIT, Stanford, and Penn itself.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates are highly prepared to pursue a Master’s or PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Engineering. Many also choose interdisciplinary fields such as Computational Science, Quantum Computing, or Biophysics—leveraging Penn’s strong research focus and academic network.