About Us

Department Contact Information

Physics Department

Location: 180-204
Phone: (805) 756-2448
Fax: (805) 756-2435
Email: physics@calpoly.edu
Chair: Karl Saunders

Support Physics

Student Resources

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Cal Poly Resources

Academic Advising

Physics Department Advising

  • For Physics major coursework advising, contact your physics advisor (or the department office if you are unsure.)
  • For general academic advising, contact the COSAM Advising Center here or Mustang Success Center here.
  • Pizza Advising every Fall quarter by the Physics Department Chair

Courses at Cal Poly

  • For Physics catalog course descriptions, flowcharts, and course offerings, click here.

Courses at other community colleges/universities

  • See which courses will transfer between Cal Poly and California community colleges, other CSU and UC campuses at ASSIST: www.assist.org   
  • Find on-line courses at California colleges and Universities here: www.cvc.edu

Academic Probation/Disqualification

Thinking about Changing your Major?

The Physics Learning Center

The Learning Center is a free, no appointment-needed, drop-in tutoring center staffed by advanced Physics majors and Physics faculty for students needing help primarily with the Physics 120 series and 141/130 series. Feel free to drop in with questions or problems you might have. To see current quarter hours, click here.

Senior Project Information

Clubs and Social Life

  • Physics Majors: 

    The Cal Poly Physics Department has approximately 200 majors. During the academic year, most of them can be found studying, emailing, socializing (or sleeping) in their dedicated student room known as "h-bar," (180-639).

  • Society of Physics Students (SPS):

    There is an active SPS chapter on campus. Information about their activities can be found on their Facebook page.

  • Sigma Pi Sigma (National Physics Honors Society) membership information

  • Cal Poly Women in Physics (CPWiP): 

    Cal Poly Women in Physics (CPWiP) is a student club affiliated with ASI and the Cal Poly Physics Department.  The club was started in 2009 with the goal of providing support for female physics majors, who represent less than 15 percent of all students in the department. Social events, professional development, conference attendance, and research opportunities are promoted by the club for the benefit of all physics majors, regardless of gender. Visit the club website and Facebook page for more information. Please let us know how we can help, and we hope to see you at our next event! The faculty sponsor of Cal Poly Women in Physics is Dr. Jennifer Klay. For more information, contact us at calpolywip@calpoly.edu.

  • Minorities in Physics Club:

The purpose of the Minorities in Physics Club is to act as a resource and provide a space for physics students to engage in discussion of issues regarding diversity and inclusivity such that their collective voice is represented and they become empowered in their ability to thrive in academia.

The advisor is Dr. Louise Edwards, who can be contacted at ledward04@calpoly.edu. The club email is CalPolyMiP@gmail.com for those interested in joining or have any questions.

  • Cal Poly Astronomy Club:

The Cal Poly Astronomy Club is a student-run organization that meets, socializes, and observes things astronomical using the telescopes in the Cal Poly Observatory. Click here to see the Astronomy Club's Facebook page, and click here to see the Observatory's Facebook page. Feel free to contact Dr. David Mitchell with any questions.

 

Internships and Research Opportunities

Research Opportunities

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Beyond Cal Poly

Going to Graduate School

    Resources for Future High School Teachers

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