Department of Physics & Astronomy
Summer Hours
From Monday, June 23, 2025 - Friday, August 8, 2025, the Department Office will be open only on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm, and also on Wednesday, July 9, and Wednesday, August 6. The office will be staffed by AOC Roger Dang. The Department Chair Joseph Barranco will primarily be availably via email and Zoom, but can be available for limited in-person meetings, by appointment only.
If you are a student who has questions about transfer equivalencies and/or needs guidance on class selection and/or would like an advising appointment, please email the Chair Joseph Barranco (barranco@sfsu.edu).
The Department Office will resume to regular hours starting on Monday, August 11, 2025.
Mission Statement
The fields of physics & astronomy use the scientific method to investigate the fundamental laws that govern the cosmos and all its contents, from subatomic particles to the cosmic web of galaxies on the largest observable scales in the universe and beyond. The pursuit of science is a human endeavor, and our department welcomes the full spectrum of humanity to contribute their perspectives, passions, and skills to scientific exploration.
The mission of San Francisco State University’s Department of Physics & Astronomy is to equip students from all backgrounds with foundational physics & astronomy knowledge; to provide “hands-on” training in theoretical, experimental, observational, computational, and data anlaysis techniques for fundamental research and industrial and “real-world” applications; to mentor students to embrace an empirical, scientific framework to expand the boundaries of knowledge through novel research, and, ultimately, to create diverse STEM leaders, teachers, and policy-makers ready to tackle the most challenging problems facing society locally and globally.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates with physics and astronomy degrees will be able to:
PLO 1.) Describe universal physical principles in classical mechanics, electricity & magnetism, special & general relativity, thermodynamics & statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, astronomy & astrophysics, and relate fundamental conservation principles (conservation of energy, conservation of linear momentum, conservation of angular momentum) to underlying symmetries of nature.
PLO 2.) Analyze real-world physical systems on Earth and throughout the Universe, develop simplified models of such systems, translate physical principles into the language of mathematics, and then apply the appropriate mathematical tools (vector calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, variational techniques, probability & statistics, numerical & computational methods) to determine a system's spatiotemporal evolution with an awareness of the limitations of any solutions due to the approximations of the physical models and/or mathematical/computational techniques.
PLO 3.) Demonstrate proficiency with basic laboratory skills and experimental techniques with electronics, lasers & optical devices, sensors, detectors, microscopes, and telescopes, always with appropriate safety practices (especially with respect to lasers, chemicals, radioactive materials).
PLO 4.) Articulate and apply the “scientific method,” the empirical, iterative method of acquiring new knowledge through developing models to explain observations of the natural world, formulating testable hypotheses, designing and executing experimental, computational, and theoretical investigations to test predictions, analyzing data with appropriate statistics and attention to uncertainties, ascertaining consistency with existing theories, and sharing results with the broader scientific community for confirmation and validation.
PLO 5.) Demonstrate writing, speaking, and visual data presentation skills to effectively communicate science at the appropriate level of sophistication for the relevant target audience (e.g., instructors, students, scientists, public-at-large, policy-makers).
PLO 6.) Develop the social and communication skills to effectively participate in diverse scientific teams, including those that are multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary, and appreciate that the pursuit of science is a human endeavor and that progress is best made when the full spectrum of humanity is encouraged to participate and share their perspectives, passions, and skills.
PLO 7.) Engage local, state, national & global communities to address current and emerging scientific and technological challenges in equitable and environmentally sustainable ways.