FAQ
How do I declare Physics as my major?
There's no separate departmental application. If you're a new student, simply select Physics (BS or BA) as your intended major on your CSUSB application. If you're already enrolled at CSUSB in another major, visit the Office of the Registrar's Change of Major page.
Who is my academic advisor?
We don't pre-assign faculty advisors. You'll meet all of our faculty and staff early in your degree through the Tools for Physicists seminar course, and you're encouraged to build relationships with whichever faculty fit your interests. Every physics major also meets with a P&A faculty advisor each semester. See Resources & Advising for more detail.
What's the difference between the B.S. and B.A. in Physics?
The B.S. includes more physics and related coursework and better prepares you for graduate study or technical careers in industry and research. The B.A. gives you more flexibility to take courses in other disciplines, a good fit for students planning careers in secondary teaching, medicine, or other interdisciplinary paths. See our Degrees page for more.
How do I get involved in research?
Just ask. About 80% of our majors do research with a faculty member before graduating, our approach is that if you want to do research, we'll find an opportunity that fits, including paid summer research through NSF-REU. See our Graduate School Resources page for more.
Where can I get tutoring help?
The Society of Physics Students runs a study room in PS-104 with department-supported tutoring at all levels. Lower-division tutoring is also available through the ASUA tutoring center. See Resources & Advising for details.
What can I do with a physics degree?
A lot more than "physicist." Our graduates go into research, industry, government labs, education, and fields from aerospace to biomedical physics. See our Careers in Physics page for career paths, real outcome data, and where our graduates have gone.
Should I go to graduate school?
That depends on your goals, not every career path requires it. If you're considering it, our Graduate School Resources page covers how to choose schools, whether you'll need the GRE, and programs like Cal-Bridge that support students pursuing PhDs.
How big are physics classes at CSUSB?
Small. Upper-division courses typically run 6 to 15 students, and our graduating cohort is about 8 to 12 students a year.
How much does it cost, and are there scholarships?
See our Cost page for tuition estimates, financial aid info, and physics-specific scholarships.
I still have questions. Who do I ask?
Reach out to your faculty advisor, email any of our faculty directly, stop by office hours (coming soon), or contact our Administrative Support Coordinator, Maureen Murphy (mmurphy@csusb.edu).