Can anyone tell me their thoughts on Stevens Physics program? My daughter just visited RPI and absolutely loved it and would like to look at more schools that are science oriented. We will visit WPI (but they don’t have an equestrian team so she’s not sure about that). She also wants to visit RIT, URochester, and a few other schools. But any thoughts on the Stevens Physics program would be great!
Stevens has an excellent physics program. The faculty are doing some great research in quantum electronics and quantum physics, graphene, quantum information processing/theory, nanophotonics and nanotechnology (in collaboration with the mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering departments), and quantum electronics. One of the significant research projects recently was the development of the first long range quantum free-space laser communications systems. My thesis advisor and committee chair when I was studying for my doctorate in engineering physics at Stevens was an inventor of the quantum cascade laser, the formative research for which was done at Stevens and later in collaboration with Bell Labs. There is much opportunity for undergraduates to participate in research with the faculty in these and other areas. Last year, all of the Stevens graduates from the undergraduate physics program were placed in employment in industry or in graduate school. Approximately half went directly into master’s or PhD programs in physics full time after graduation. Physics traditionally has been a field in which a graduate degree is a prerequisite for any significant careers in industrial, government, or academic research yet, with just their undergraduate degrees Stevens physics majors are highly sought after by industry and graduate schools (many continue their education on a part time basis while working in the field).
https://www.stevens.edu/schaefer-school-engineering-science/departments/physics
@Engineer80 thank you for your insight!
@Engineer80 would you say that the focus of the school is on engineering physics? She is more interested in theoretical physics and wants to see if Stevens would be good for that.
Stevens has both physics and engineering physics programs. There is a core of required theoretical physics courses and in later terms electives which can be chosen by the student according to his or her interests. There are both theoretical and applied/engineering physics courses and electives. One can choose electives that are theoretical, applied, or a combination of both. Stevens has been particularly strong traditionally in quantum mechanics and both theoretical and applied plasma physics (for example, some years back, Stevens was producing the majority of the plasma physics PhDs in the United States, many of whom went to do research in fusion energy in the national laboratories (Plasma Physics Lab, National Ignition Facility, etc) that are working towards the goal of a sustainable fusion reactor).
The course descriptions can be found here: