Undergraduate research, public outreach, summer internships, publications, and R&D projects…there’s a lot going on in the Department of Physics at High Point University. We invite you to browse our website, blog, course materials, and photo galleries. But if you really want to know what we are about, we encourage you to come to campus and spend time with our faculty, our physics majors, and our alumni. We love to talk physics and astronomy, and we love to show you our results. So check out our annual reports.

2013-2014 Annual Report (79 MB, long download)

2014-2016 Annual Report (272 MB, long download)

Dr. Briana Fiser (bfiser@highpoint.edu)
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Physics
(336) 841-9412

What can I do with a physics degree?

Our graduates do whatever they want to do! There is no single career path that they choose. With strong problem solving skills and theoretical understanding, experience in designing and carrying out experiments, and knowledge of computational tools, our graduates are prepared for a variety of careers and graduate programs in science, engineering, and technology. Our graduates’ career choices are as diverse as our students themselves. Many physics students choose to double-major or minor in biochemistry, chemistry, math, or computer science in order to develop a broad theoretical and experiential background.

AIP Statistics

According to statistics from the American Institute of Physics shown below, nearly half of physics majors graduating from High Point University will enter industry and just over half will attend graduate school. Approximately one fourth of our alumni will attend graduate school in physics or astronomy, and approximately one fourth will attend graduate school in engineering, computer science, materials science, or a related field in science, engineering, and technology.

Read more about how a degree in Physics can prepare you for success.

Potential careers and graduate study include all traditional areas in physics, astronomy, engineering, atmospheric science, nanotechnology, microelectronics, computer programming and technology, materials science, biophysics and medical physics. However, physics majors may also choose a career in teaching, medicine, finance or law, for example. With analytical reasoning and problem solving skills developed through physics, you are equipped for nearly any related area and career.

Featured Alumni Profiles

Jordan McClung, ’20 – Pursuing his M.S. in bioengineering at the University of Colorado, Denver

“The intellectual challenges on campus and the physical challenges from being an HPU track and field athlete helped me grow as a student and an individual. In the classroom, my professors and advisors guided me to become a versatile scientist by tailoring my studies to bridge two subjects that seemed exclusive. The incredible resources and laboratories, in tandem with encouraging professors, motivated me to work hard. I found a subject that I am passionate about, and I’m pursuing a graduate degree because of my academic experience.”

Megan Mouton, ’20 – Pursuing her Ph.D. in nanoscience at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

“HPU and all the incredible professors I had along the way really shaped my future. Dr. Titus, Dr. Lancaster, and Dr. Fuselier are just a few of the mentors that positively impacted my time here. They were always available when I had questions or needed help, whether that be for homework or for life advice. I would not be where I am today without all of the incredible professors that pushed me to be the best, most extraordinary version of myself.”

Sarah Nowell, ’20 – Pursuing her Master of Integrated Product Design at the University of Pennsylvania

“I wouldn’t be where I am without incredible mentors. The faculty at HPU is consistently helpful, kind and encouraging. They were the ones who helped me attend conferences, do research and figure out what I wanted to do after graduation. Without their constant support, I am not sure I would be where I am today…It was in that class [Art and Design for the Web] that I used coding skills I had learned in physics and combined them with design. I realized that I wanted to keep designing things that are functional and useful and that’s how I decided to pursue further education in product design.”

Noah Novembre, ’18 – Pursuing his D.O. at the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

“I was able to gain admission to a number of top medical schools because of my academic and research experience at HPU. During one of my admission interviews, a professor complemented my use of the scanning electron microscope, a specific piece of equipment the medical school uses, and extensive laboratory experience. I also believe my extraordinary education at HPU prepared me for my medical school interview. Each interview I had went well because of all the personal time my professors invested in me.”

Alan Vasquez Soto, ’18 – Pursuing his Ph.D. in physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“HPU definitely prepared me in the way of life skills…The faculty, especially in physics, were phenomenal in mentoring me in a way that gave me a considerable advantage over undergraduate students at other universities. This became very clear when I landed an awesome internship with a company called Greenway Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I interacted with Fortune 500 companies…My most impactful mentor at HPU is without a doubt Dr. Brad Barlow. He has mentored me for undergraduate research projects and provided numerous opportunities for experiential learning, including traveling to the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.”

Kevin Sanders, ’14 – M.S. in Physics, Boston University; Quantitative Developer at Akuna Capital

“HPU granted me freedom as a student. With such a supportive environment to live in, I never needed to worry about anything other than my studies. Even within those studies, there was substantial freedom: countless projects I chose myself, numerous opportunities to work with professors and bountiful occasions to give my own personal feedback. On top of that, HPU allowed me to present my own research at national conferences across the country in places like California, Florida, and Louisiana (courtesy of URCW grants).”

Nikki Sanford, ’13 – J.D. at William and Mary; Associate at Baker & Hostetler LLP

“My biggest mentor at HPU was Dr. Aaron Titus of the Physics Department. He was my physics advisor. He really helped encourage me to explore my variety of interests whether it was research…or pursuing a law degree. He also helped give me the opportunities to attend conferences and do presentations that not only helped my confidence but helped me find experiences like this one [Mather internship at the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology].” Watch Nikki’s internship profile.

Here is a selection of some of our graduates’ next steps, chosen to illustrate how well physics prepares you broadly:

• Paul Klippel (2020) is a Ph.D. candidate in acoustics at Pennsylvania State University.
• Nolan Roth (2020) is a Ph.D. candidate in geosciences at Pennsylvania State University.
• Stephen Walser (2020) is a Ph.D. candidate in astronomy at the University of Virginia
• Thomas Boudreaux (2019) is a Ph.D. candidate in astrophysics at Dartmouth College.
• Paddy Clancy (2019) is a Quality Engineer at Northrup Grumman Space Systems and also a M.S. candidate in applied physics at Johns Hopkins.
• Michael Welter (2019) is teaching physics and chemistry at Greensboro Day School.
• Joshua Berg (2018) is an Operations Analyst at Corvid Technologies.
• Matthew Iczkowski (2017) is an Application Program Manager at the 3-D printing company Carbon in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Hallie Stidham (2016) received her M.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson and is now a Project Steering Analyst at BMW Manufacturing.
• Jake Brooks (2015) received his M.S. in physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is continuing to pursue his Ph.D. in physics at UNC.
• Stephen Vultaggio (2015) worked for Cisco Systems.
• Linda Poplawski (2013) received her M.S. in medical physics from Duke University and is now a medical physicist at West Virginia University.
• Dr. Laura Lee (2012) received a Ph.D. in bioengineering from North Carolina State University and is now a research engineer at Novozymes.
• Dr. Brielle Spencer-Tyree (2012) received a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and is an Instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at High Point University.

The Department of Physics offers both B.A. and B.S. degrees in Physics. To graduate from High Point University with these degrees, students must complete the following:

B.S. in Physics

B.A. in Physics

Requirements for a B.S. in Physics (62 credits)

Core Physics Requirements (42 credits):