Physics Department

Professors: Charles Blatchley*, Chairperson; Robert J. Backes*, David M. Kuehn*

Professorial Lecturers: T. Bruce Daniel*

Associate Professor: Thomas Shoberg*

Assistant Professors: Rebecca Butler*, Serif Uran*

Instructor: Kyla Scarborough

* Graduate Faculty

Room: 307 Yates Hall
Telephone: 620-235-4391
Fax: 620-235-4050
Web site: http://www.pittstate.edu/phys
email: cblatchl@pittstate.edu

Description of Courses

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Science, Major in Physics
• Emphasis in Computational Physics
• Emphasis in Polymer Physics
• Emphasis in Pre-Medical Studies
• Emphasis in Solid State Electronic Devices

Customized Emphasis

• Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physics
• Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Science
• Minors
  

Graduate

• Master of Science

Pre-Engineering Programs

The Department of Physics offers pre-professional work in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, agricultural engineering, aeronautical engineering, general engineering, and industrial engineering. Details concerning these programs can be obtained from the Department of Physics.

Special Facilities for Undergraduate and Graduate Research

The department's primary research focus continues to be in areas related to condensed matter and materials science, particularly in support of related activities at the Business Technology Institute and in other departments. Funded research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate projects within the department include medical physics, Thermo Photo Voltaics (TPV) power development, accelerator applications in Tribology, Computational and Imaging Applications in Geophysics and Planetary Science (Sparc-10 workstation, networked PC's), X-ray diffraction, and nano-technology exemplified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In addition to a dedicated computer laboratory, the department offers an internet equipped office area to graduate students.

The department continues to operate the PSU-Greenbush Astrophysical Observatory located at the S.E. Kansas Educational Service Center in Greenbush, Kansas. The observatory's location and imaging instrumentation package make it ideal for spectroscopic or observational studies of planets, comets, and asteroids. This telescope and a collection of smaller Celestron telescopes are available for majors in physical science, physics, or science education and for graduate student projects.