Why study physics?
Studying physics prepares you to perform scientific reasoning and complex problem-solving.
You’ll master the analytical skills needed to take on technical problems in physics, and you’ll have the ability to translate what you know to others, thanks to your sharp communication skills. That could be your launchpad for a career as an automotive engineer, environmental compliance inspector, web developer, high school teacher, regulatory affairs specialist, astrophysicist or any of a number of physics-related jobs.
News
July 7, 2026
New AI-powered platform helps researchers find promising cancer therapies faster
The approach, which could help guide more personalized treatment decisions, uses cancer cells from patients to create tiny, lab-grown replicas of tumors, known as organoids.
April 30, 2026
2,700+ staffers, thousands more years of service – and one big VCU event
The annual Service Recognition Celebration highlights those who have forged VCU’s path, some for more than a half-century.
Physics Spotlight
Meet Raven
A high school summer program at NASA Langley sparked Raven Witherspoon's interest in studying physics. Learn more about her favorite classes, favorite professors and recent internship in the nuclear energy field.
Fast track to a master's degree
Earn your B.S. in physics and M.S. in physics and applied physics in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of your undergraduate program.
Study in our new STEM building
The new facility features a variety of unique learning environments for physics students, including six physics laboratories, with one dedicated to astronomy.