Physics is the study of forces and matter, from the structure of atoms and nuclei to the vast architecture of the universe. It is the bedrock for the applied sciences and engineering that have propelled our world from the horse and buggy to interplanetary probes, from the candle to the laser, and from the abacus to supercomputers, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. Physics and astrophysics are fields of study full of excitement, where future discoveries will continue to reshape the world in ways beyond our wildest imagination.
Physicists and astrophysicists work in industry and government, in national laboratories and medical centers, and on university campuses. Our graduates serve in the military, teach the next generation, design state-of-the-art science museum exhibits, author scientific literature, advise governments at all levels, innovate on Wall Street, and launch tech enterprises.
Chair's Welcome & Departmental Vision
Old Dominion University offers an unmatched environment for studying physics and astrophysics. As a designated Carnegie R1 Doctoral University with “Very High Research Activity”, ODU stands among the nation's top-tier research institutions. This elite status allows our department to recruit nationally and internationally prominent faculty who are actively pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
We take full advantage of Old Dominion’s unique geographic position—just a half-hour drive from the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), a world-leading nuclear physics laboratory, and neighboring the NASA Langley Research Center.
Over the past 30 years, our department has experienced tremendous growth. We have doubled our faculty size, unveiled cutting-edge teaching facilities, and completely modernized our computer-based undergraduate laboratories. Our specialized on-campus infrastructure includes:
- High Bay: A large, four-story high-bay cleanroom lab for developing and constructing nuclear and particle physics detectors
- Unique learning environments
- The Center for Accelerator Science (CAS)
- The fully digital, state-of-the-art Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium
Physics Alumni
Physics majors are prepared for almost any career. Studying physics can teach how to use critical thninking skills to analyze and solve complex problems and builds a strong quantitative background that can be applied in any technical field. A background in physics is applicable across many diverse fields and can take your career just about anywhere. To see how wide a range of fields your degree can take you, please visit our Alumni Directory.