Physics provides the fundamental foundation for science and technology. Many undergraduate fields of study require one or more courses in physics. The physics major at UWM consists of a variety of physics and astronomy courses that cover both classical and modern (quantum) physics. Besides learning physical principles, students will develop analytic and modeling skills that are prized in the overall job market.

Astronomy provides a window to the formation of the universe; to open it requires a fundamental knowledge of physics. An astronomy major will take, in addition to all of the required physics major courses, both introductory and advanced courses. The specialized astronomy courses cover both observational astronomy and modern astrophysics, including topics as varied as planetary formation and black holes.