Physics

Hastings College Physics majors experience four years in lab-directed study — double the lab time of other schools — and study with faculty who want you to succeed. You’ll find our Physics graduates excelling as engineers, astronomers, directors of laboratories, professors and project managers — or continuing their education in some of the top grad schools in the country.

Get in the lab and break new ground

We have some of the best-equipped labs in the region, and you’ll graduate having experienced four years in lab-directed study — double the lab time of undergrad programs you’ll find at other schools. What better way to learn and discover than designing and building projects, analyzing problems, making them work and judging the outcome!

In fact, during your senior year as a Physics major, you’ll tackle a year-long research project in an area of interest to you. After crafting a proposal, the department will fund the project — and you’ll present the research that you conduct at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. It’s a great resume- and career-building opportunity.

Some recent senior projects include:

HCEV: The Creation of an Electric Vehicle
Empirically Analyzing Washboard Roads
Thermodynamics of the Heart: Calculating Cardiac Output During Exercise
The Design and Testing of a Robotic Hand to Determine its Qualification as an Adequate Prosthetic Device
Investigating Orbital Trajectory

Create you future

See for yourself how we tailor your education to your talents and your goals. Schedule a visit and we’ll demonstrate how Hastings will inspire you to reach your potential, or if you’re a high school senior, apply today.

Go further with a Hastings education

Thanks to our small class sizes (most have fewer than 20 students!), and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, you’ll work closely with faculty and your advisor to complete your degree in four years. In fact, most students who graduate from Hastings do so in four years!

Our block-style semester structure means you’ll take just one or two classes at a time — which really lets you focus more intently on each class. It also lets faculty devote more time to every student because they’re only teaching one or two classes in a block!

Graduate with experience

Summer and time during the semester offers opportunities that Hastings College Physics majors can take advantage of. Opportunities for internships with businesses based right in Hastings, or across the country, from California-based Wellhead Electronics to Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit and more.

Summer and our eight-week blocks are also time to participate in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). REUs give you the chance to conduct research and learn alongside graduate students at major universities, including at Iowa State University, Kansas State University and the University of Chicago.

Helping you succeed

Hastings College Physics professors offer a broad program, which opens up numerous possible career paths, including multiple areas of engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil and others thanks to our pre-engineering program), research and teaching. Their focus on students and the community feel within the department helps you succeed in tough courses and prepares you for the road ahead.

At every step along your path, you’ll appreciate the stepping stones of teaching, counseling, inspiring, supporting and guiding from our engaged faculty. It’s an experience that’s true to Hastings College, and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Your experience matters

Maximize scholarships — Yes, you’ll get an academic scholarship. But you’ll also get a “plus one” scholarship from the group, team or area you’re part of. It’s a great way to help pay for school — but also to find your people.

We’ve thought a lot about the ways students learn and built a four-year plan to help you navigate it all. From finding your place and in Year 1, to showing the world you’re ready for what’s next four years later.

Your transition from college to a career begins your first semester. Every class, internship, research study and activity adds up. We love to celebrate all the ways you shine — your experience matters!

Get involved beyond the Physics classroom

Alpha Chi (Academic Honor Society)

In addition to Alpha Chi, there’s always something to do at Hastings. Student clubs, service learning, Greek life, recreation and more make Hastings a great campus for student life.

Find scholarships for Physics majors

Your high school achievements can both fuel and fund your success at Hastings. We offer a range of generous and renewable academic scholarships based on your GPA. Then there’s “plus one” scholarships — an additional scholarship for participating in anything from athletics to the arts to media (it’s a long list!).

It all adds up to making Hastings an great choice for you and your family.

Excel in graduate school

Recent Hastings College Physics alumni have gone on to pursue professional and master’s degrees at some of the top graduate and professional schools for their program: