A proton and an anti-proton collide to form a top quark (credit: ATLAS project)

Physics deals with the fundamental properties of space, time, energy, and matter, and how they relate and interact to provide the amazing richness of our universe. It has its roots in profound questions about the cosmos, which, in one form or another, have been around since ancient times. Its path is one of the most fascinating and courageous explorations of all time, an intellectual adventure that has transformed our most intuitive notions about nature. And the best is yet to come. This adventure of the mind has opened our eyes from the everyday world of our senses to the distant worlds of the unimaginably small and large. It has led to increasingly deeper levels of beauty and simplicity, through unifying principles that have revealed that nature is indeed intelligible.

The mission of the Physics Department at the University of San Francisco is to provide students with a solid foundation in the fundamental concepts of classical and modern physics, preparing them for further study in graduate or medical school, and for careers as professional physicists or engineers, who will create the science and technology of the future. We provide a comprehensive coverage of experimental, theoretical, and computational physics, combining coursework together with on- and off-campus research and exposure to cutting-edge equipment and laboratory techniques, both in the classroom and in industrial settings.

As an integral part of a Jesuit Institution of liberal learning, the Physics Department seeks to provide students, both science and non-science majors, with an appreciation for science and its relation with and responsibility toward society, educating the leaders of tomorrow and fostering the understanding that a college degree is not an end in and of itself, but only the beginning of a person’s journey through a life of learning and service.

We invite you to take a look around our web site and explore what we have to offer.