Opportunities

Dual Bachelor's Degree

Allegheny has dual-degree programs with Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pittsburgh, and Washington University (Missouri)—all known for the excellence of their engineering departments. Participants earn two bachelor's degrees in five years.

Bachelor's/Master's Degree

A cooperative program with Columbia University allows students to earn a bachelor's degree from Allegheny in four years and a master of science degree from Columbia after two additional years.

Lectures

Nationally recognized experts regularly visit campus to lecture on topics of current interest. Two lectureship programs are endowed.

Summer Research

With the assistance and support of the department, many of our students obtain paid summer employment in a research environment. In recent years, students have worked at:

• Argonne National Laboratory
• Fermi National Laboratory
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Air Force Radio-Biological Laboratory
• Naval Research Laboratory
• F.S. Seiler Research Lab (USAF)
• Cornell National Supercomputer Facility
• Allegheny also offers opportunities for summer research with faculty.

Professional Societies

• American Physical Society (APS): Both faculty and students present research papers at national and regional meetings
• American Association of Physics Teachers
• Sigma Xi: Student forum for presentation of research projects
• Society of Physics Students

Awards

The department awards prizes for the best Senior Project, the best Senior Project in experimental physics, and outstanding work by a major through the junior year.

Graduate School

• About 50% of our majors attend graduate or professional school. Almost all of our students receive full financial assistance (both tuition and stipend) for graduate study.
• Recent schools include:
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Colorado
  • Northwestern University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Syracuse University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • University of Illinois
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Columbia University
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Cornell University
  • University of Rochester
  • Duke University
  • Lehigh University
  • Ohio State University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Tufts University
  • University of North Carolina
• The most popular fields of study include: Computer science, engineering, materials science, and physics.

Career Data

• About 50% of our majors seek jobs directly after graduation, and many secure work in their fields right away.
• The most popular fields with a bachelor's degree: physics-related research, education, computer science, medicine.
• The most popular fields with advanced degrees: industry, physics-related research, higher education, medicine.