Department of Physics & Astronomy
Summer Office Hours
From June 3 - August 9, the main office for the Department of Physics & Astronomy will be open only on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.
Academic Office Coordinator Roger Dang will work in the office on Tuesdays & Thursdays. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Roger Dang will be available to assist students, faculty, and other staff via Zoom appointments.
Department Chair Joseph Barranco will be available for Zoom meetings and limited in-person meetings on campus. Please email him to make an appointment.
Incoming transfer students who have department-specific advising concerns should email Department Chair Joseph Barranco. We will be assigning all new first-year and transfer students to a Faculty Major Advisor later in the summer.
The San Francisco State Rooftop Observatory & the Charles Hagar Planetarium are closed to the public during the summer. Public access will resume in September 2024.
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 content knowledge in classical mechanics, electricity & magnetism, special and general relativity, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and astronomy and astrophysics; to provide “hands-on” training in theoretical, experimental, observational, and computational techniques for pure 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.