Department of Chemistry & Physics

GCSU Chemistry & Physics Department may soon reinstate the physics Major

In the early 1970s Georgia College's mission was not supportive of the physics program, and the long-existing major was discontinued and relegated to the status of a minor. Today, Georgia College & State University has a new mission and a new student body. As Georgia's Public Liberal Arts University the mission of the university clearly supports a vigorous B.S. physics program. The department proposes a fresh approach to develop a greater interest in physics. We propose to apply many of the same techniques that have worked for our chemistry program that in the past six years has grown from conferring 4 degrees in chemistry to conferring 14. The state of Georgia ranks 48th in the number of per capita degrees conferred in physics in the nation. The infrastructure at GCSU is in place to address the shortfall of physics graduates, by following the faculty-student research scholars program that has been successful in raising the number of chemistry majors. Our proposed program will be a significant effort towards addressing these critical state needs. Our target numbers are low, 6 to 12 graduates per year with an average of 10, but they are realistic. Given the number of current physics graduates in the state of Georgia these low numbers will have a large impact, and rank GCSU as the second largest program in the state for both public and private institutions. The program proposal has passed through the University Senate, with a unanimous vote, and has been approved by the president. The program proposal is on its way to the BOR, and hopefully will be approved soon.