Physics
It’s a common question from parents: What would my son or daughter do with a physics degree? If it’s a physics degree from Rollins, the answer is easy: You can do anything.
Graduates from the program are now lawyers, professors, bankers, programmers, and business owners. In fact, a lot of students enter the physics major through the back door, with interests in photography or cosmetics or earthquakes or music. Then they discover through exciting lab work that physics can be applied to any interest.
Students work together with instructors to think analytically, solve problems, and to write and present—skills that will set you apart in any field.
Why Study Physics at Rollins
A Relational Approach
From day one, the faculty takes a personal interest in you. It’s a tight-knit group, so every student feels comfortable asking questions and then working with a professor to find answers.
Research-Grade Equipment
An acoustical lab. An optics lab. An atomic-force microscope. Lasers and high-speed cameras. Undergrads learn to set up professional gear from scratch and use it instead of merely observing.
Empowerment for Success
Most colleges offer research experience, but at Rollins you can start lab work after your first year. The goal is not for professors to publish findings and present them—it’s for you to do it.
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“People might wonder how my physics degree at Rollins helped with my career in economic and financial consulting. The training in creative problem solving gave me the clarity and the confidence to tackle complicated topics of any kind. They’re the kinds of skills that will always be valuable, no matter how the marketplace changes.”
Rollins Physics Careers
Rollins physics grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative companies and organizations.
Nicholas Bowers ’14
Senior Product Manager, Amazon’s Choice
Sarah Evans ’06
Undergraduate Coordinator, Initiatives in STEM, University of Central Florida
Mitch Verboncoeur ’14
Associate Attorney, McKool Smith
Daniel Zietlow ’10
Educational Designer, The National Center for Atmospheric Research
Aditya Mahara ’12
Product Manager, AstraZeneca
Ashley Cannaday null
Assistant Professor of Physics
Real World Experience
From internships and research opportunities, physics students hone their skills in the real world.
See for Yourself
Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.
Popular Courses
When a professor is honest enough to say “I don’t know,” it becomes the impetus to study anything from pianos to planets. It might even become a new stand-alone class.
PHY 115 The Physics of Music
Explore the physical principles of music and musical instruments by delving into the scientific basis for music and the physics of brass, woodwind, and string instruments.
RCC 100 Science in the Art of da Vinci
Some of Leonardo da Vinci’s art, previously thought to be random, actually represents thoughtful science. This class shows us how he merged art and science to express a pursuit of truth.
PHY 325 Computational Physics
You’re given a real-world, modern-day problem, one that can be solved only through an understanding of physics and computation. An abundance of trial and error is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.
MM 200 The Science of Superheroes
We can learn a lot about physics by investigating the superheroes of comic books and movies. The big question: What’s the difference between the impossible and the merely improbable?
PHY 412 Experimental Optics
Construct your own experiment and then use research-grade lasers and optical tables to find answers. Along the way, you learn to collaborate and write professional articles as a graduate student would do.
PHY 451 Quantum Physics
Study early atomic models and wave aspects of particles before examining the quantum mechanical solution of one-dimensional barriers and wells, periodic potentials, and three-dimensional systems.
A Day in the Life of a Rollins Physics Major
“From my first year, Rollins allowed me to work closely with professors and has opened up numerous research, internship, and potential career opportunities.”
Beyond the Classroom
Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Program Work with a professor on your research for a summer, continue it through the school year, and then present to an audience of PhDs at a major national or international conference—a rare opportunity for undergraduates. Many of these projects result in students publishing articles in scientific journals before they graduate.
Pre-Engineering Program Rollins provides students with the opportunity to combine a three-year program in the liberal arts with two years of professional academic work in engineering at one of three prestigious institutions: Washington University, Case Western Reserve, or Auburn.
NSF Undergraduate Research Experience A competitive program supported by the National Science Foundation allows students to prepare research findings to be published and presented at national conferences.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into physics at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
May 04, 2023
What It’s Like ... to Partner with Your Professor
Thanks to acoustical research they conducted alongside physics professor Whitney Coyle, Makayle Kellison ’25 and Maggie Kuffskie ’25 played a role in the historic launch of the Artemis I rocket.
December 01, 2022
Rollins Receives Inclusive Excellence in STEM Grant
The six-year grant will support the College in its efforts to foster inclusivity and belonging for those who have been historically underrepresented in the sciences.
September 16, 2021
Guiding Greatness
At Rollins, our professors are equal parts knowledgeable and fascinating, providing
personalized attention to students in and outside the classroom while becoming mentors, research partners, and lifelong guides.
July 22, 2021
Moore Receives NSF Grant to Support Undergraduate Research
Physics professor Thom Moore’s research project will focus on understanding the basic physics and acoustical impact of cylindrical and rectangular pipes in flue organ pipes and recorders.
July 02, 2021
Murdaugh Honored with Cornell Distinguished Teaching Award
The Cornell Distinguished Teaching Award, named for George D. Cornell ‘35, honors Rollins faculty who have distinguished themselves through outstanding teaching.
June 16, 2021
Rollins Faculty Receive Inclusivity in STEM Learning Grant
The grant will go toward funding a variety of interdisciplinary programs focused on better serving marginalized students who wish to pursue STEM degrees, both at Rollins and beyond.
Expert Faculty
Physics professors at Rollins are at the top of the field and have chosen to teach here because of the satisfaction gained from creating a collaborative learning environment for every student, regardless of gender or background.
Department of Physics
Telephone: 407.646.2223
Fax: 407.646.2479
Ashley Cannaday, PhD
Assistant Professor of Physics
Research interests: Lasers and optics; coherent light scattering
Whitney Coyle, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics
Research interests: Musical acoustics with an emphasis on woodwind instruments; understanding the complicated mechanisms that contribute to the playability of particular instruments
Samantha Fonseca, PhD
Assistant Professor of Physics
Research interests: Computational molecular dynamics
Christopher Fuse, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics, Department Chair
Research interests: Astrophysics and galaxy morphology
Thomas Moore, PhD
Professor of Physics
Research interests: Laser-based methods for studying sub-micrometer motion; musical acoustics with an emphasis on brass instruments and piano
Anne Murdaugh, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics
Research interests: Biophysics using atomic force microscopy