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Department of Physics and Astronomy

Available now! 

B.S. in Astronomy 

Join the first cohort of this exciting new major at the University of North Florida. Our small class sizes, faculty mentorship, and internship opportunities make this program stand out. Contact your advisor or the department (904-620-2729/physics@unf.edu) for more information on how to enroll in this dynamic degree!

Mission

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astronomy, and a Master of Science (MS) in Materials Science and Engineering. The department’s faculty are committed to providing a transformative training experience to their students that is grounded in high-impact practices in the classroom, undergraduate and graduate research, internships, and mentorship. 

As an integral component of their training experience, students from all programs participate in research in collaboration with national and international institutions on topics ranging from materials science to astronomy and astrophysics to physics education. 

Through an innovative curriculum that leverages active learning to enhance student engagement and foster the development and retention of transformative skills, the department aims to graduate students well-prepared to navigate a lifelong dynamic professional landscape in areas such as data science, academia, medical physics, and engineering. 

Physics and Astronomy News and Events

 

Congratulations to Drs. Coelho, Pekarek, and Haraldsen, along with University of North Florida students Patrick Kenney (Graduate), Kyle Taylor (Undergraduate), and Cole Ratkus (Undergraduate), on the publication of their manuscript "High-Spin Defect Clustering and Emergent Magnetism in TiS2" in the Wiley journal Advanced Functional Materials. (July 2026)

Following the launch of our new BS in Astronomy, the Department of Physics has officially changed its name to the Department of Physics and Astronomy! (Feb. 2026) 

"UNF student earns research honor after work in astrophysics locally and abroad" (UNF Newsroom, Dec. 2025)

"UNF receives $1.3M National Science Foundation grant to support STEM education" (UNF Newsroom, Dec. 2025)

UNF joins with other Florida universities and industry partners to create the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technologies (FAQT)