{"id":1371,"date":"2026-04-03T17:56:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/?page_id=1371"},"modified":"2026-06-29T13:21:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:21:02","slug":"160-physics-and-astronomy-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/","title":{"rendered":"Physics and Astronomy"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"introduction block-container\" >\n    <div class=\"introduction__content\">\n    \t        \t<p class=\"introduction__copy\"> At Macalester, you\u2019ll study everything from quarks to galaxies. Our majors ask big questions about energy, matter, and the mysteries of space and time itself. <\/p>\n    \t    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section   class=\"callout-resource block-container callout-resource--inner\">\n    <div class=\"callout-resource__inner\">\n        <div class=\"callout-resource__lockup-column\">\n            <div class=\"callout-resource__lockup\">\n                <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Physics is how we make sense of the universe<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">The phone in your pocket? The laptop you\u2019re reading this on? None of it would exist without the fundamental laws of nature that Physics studies. Physics underlies the technology that powers the modern world and is shaping what comes next, from renewable energy to the structure of galaxies to quantum computing to artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"callout-resource__content-column\">\n            <ul class=\"callout-resource__links-container\">\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/facultystaff\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Meet Our Faculty and Staff\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/majorsminors\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Physics and Astronomy Major and Minor Requirements\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/courses\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Explore Physics and Astronomy Courses\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--left\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Professor teaching a physics class\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/04\/20181003_mac_294.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Small classes means big learning<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">Our professors will guide you through the fundamentals while helping you find your niche, from post graduate engineering preparation to astrophysics research. Small classes mean you\u2019ll work closely with faculty who know your name and your interests. (And we\u2019ll do it in style, through a little something called Hawaiian Shirt Fridays.)<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--right\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Two students wearing safety glasses control a small machine\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/01\/20210720_mac_1186_WordPress_Inline_Image_600x400.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">A path toward engineering<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">Many Mac physics grads go on to master\u2019s and doctoral programs in engineering at places like MIT, Yale, and the University of Michigan. Our curriculum gives you the foundation: problem-solving skills, mathematical fluency, and hands-on lab experience. Learn more about our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/preengineering\/\">pre-engineering pathway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--left\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Student presents a physics research poster to a small group of other students\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/01\/20190927_mac_547_WordPress_Inline_Image_600x400.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Get ready to research<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">Every physics major completes an original research project before graduating. Browse our <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.macalester.edu\/mjpa\/\">student research journal<\/a> to see what Mac physics students are investigating. Recent grads have earned PhDs at MIT and Cornell, become National Science Foundation graduate research fellows, and found employment at places like NASA, Google, 3M, and Epic Systems.<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--right\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Six students stand beside a large telescope\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/01\/macro-crop-1.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Study the stars<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">If your eyes light up at the thought of galaxies and supernovae, focus on astronomy within the physics major. Through the <a href=\"https:\/\/macroconsortium.org\/\">MACRO Consortium<\/a>, you can participate in research using an advanced robotic  telescope in Arizona\u2014collecting real data and contributing to published research. You\u2019ll also collaborate with students and faculty from other colleges in the consortium, joining a tight-knit community of young astronomers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"callout-quote block-container\" >\n    <div class=\"callout-quote__inner\">\n        <div class=\"callout-quote__container\">\n            <div class=\"callout-quote__image-column\">\n                <div class=\"callout-quote__image-wrapper callout-quote__image-wrapper--landscape\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"\"\n                        alt=\"\"\n                        class=\"callout-quote__image\"\n                    >\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"callout-quote__image-wrapper callout-quote__image-wrapper--portrait\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-03-154247.png\"\n                        alt=\"\"\n                        class=\"callout-quote__image\"\n                    >\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"callout-quote__text-column\">\n                <blockquote class=\"callout-quote__quote\">It was really compelling to be able to look up and see everything we had talked about in class.<\/blockquote>\n                <cite class=\"callout-quote__name\">Lila Schisgal &#8217;25<\/cite>\n                                \t<cite class=\"callout-quote__title\">Physics &#038; astronomy major<\/cite>\n                                \t                <div class=\"callout-quote__cta\">\n\t                    <a class=\"base-cta-secondary\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Gv7ChmDL_bY\" target=\"_self\">Watch a video about the MACRO Consortium<\/a>\n\t                <\/div>\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-quote__ornament\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/texture-quote.svg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"statistic-group block-container\" >\n\t<div class=\"statistic-group__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__header-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__header-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Physics and Astronomy in the Cities <\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stats\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"statistic-group__stat-heading\">4<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">Minnesota\u2019s rank in the nation for businesses in technology and innovation<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"statistic-group__stat-heading\">500+<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">Medical device companies in Minnesota, including Medtronic<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"statistic-group__stat-heading\">5<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">Miles to the University of Minnesota, a top-ranked research university<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--right\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Student positions a large telescope\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/20200227_mac_444_WordPress_Inline_Image_600x400.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Join our community<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\"><ul>\r\n<li><strong>High-Power Rocketry Club.<\/strong> Build a rocket and show it off at competitions around the region.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Physics and Astronomy Club.<\/strong> Host public observing nights with Macalester\u2019s research-grade telescope (or take in a sci-fi movie with the group).<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Weekly seminars.<\/strong> Learn from visiting researchers and industry professionals at our department talks.<\/li> \r\n<li><strong>Physics wing.<\/strong> Study or hang out in our slice of Olin-Rice.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"callout-featured-media block-container\"\n >\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--cyan\"><\/div>\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--red\"><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-row\">\n        <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-column\">\n                    <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup\">\n                                                    <h2 class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-heading\">Are you a future physics and astronomy major at Mac?<\/h2>\n                                                    <p class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-copy\">If you\u2019re considering Mac, let us know. We\u2019ll keep you up to date on application deadlines and visit opportunities.<\/p>\n                                                    <ul class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-cta\">\n                                                    <li class=\"callout-featured-media__cta-item\">\n                                <a class=\"base-cta-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" target=\"_self\">Introduce Yourself<\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                                    <\/ul>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Professor writes equations on a whiteboard\" class=\"base-background-media base-background-media--image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-960x0-c-default.png\" srcset=\"        https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-720x0-c-default.png     480w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-960x0-c-default.png     720w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-1280x0-c-default.png    960w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-1440x0-c-default.png    1280w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/573\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-141926-1920x0-c-default.png    1440w            \">\n    \n    \n        <span class=\"base-background-media__overlay\"><\/span>\n    \n        <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--yellow-long\"><\/div>\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--yellow-short\"><\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":875,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template_2020_level_2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1371","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/875"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1371"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1627,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1371\/revisions\/1627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}