Top 10 universities in the US for physical science degrees 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in the US for physical science degrees
US physical science rank 2024 | Physical science rank 2024 | University | State |
1 | 1 | California Institute of Technology | California |
2 | 2 | Harvard University | Massachusetts |
3 | 3 | Stanford University | California |
4 | 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts |
=5 | =6 | University of California, Berkeley | California |
=5 | =6 | Princeton University | New Jersey |
7 | 10 | Yale University | Connecticut |
8 | =12 | Columbia University | New York |
9 | 16 | The University of Chicago | Illinois |
10 | 17 | University of California, Los Angeles | California |
The physical sciences include mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, environmental sciences and Earth and marine sciences. Courses in the physical sciences differ across universities and countries, but the core focus is on the understanding and application of mathematics in the natural world through practical and lab work.
In the US, studying physical sciences at the undergraduate level usually takes the form of a four-year course, beginning with a foundation in calculus, physics and chemistry. After the first year, students can choose more specialised areas of study, and through the country’s major-minor system a number of scientific disciplines can often be explored simultaneously. Students are also encouraged to engage in research projects throughout their studies.
Postgraduate courses are focused on more specific subject areas, where students undertake research in their chosen area of interest or join a research group within their institution.
These are the best universities in the US for physical science degrees 2024.
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=5. Princeton University
Princeton University offers a range of natural sciences programmes that include mathematics, astrophysics, chemistry, geosciences, physics, and sustainable energy.
Princeton’s astrophysical sciences department offers a range of courses including general relativity and cosmology, while the maths department’s offerings include combinatorial optimisation and dynamic meteorology.
In the department of chemistry, undergraduates are taught in small classes and progress to an independent senior thesis project.
Graduate studies in mathematics focus on independent research from the beginning of the programme, unlike many other doctoral courses in the US.
=5. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley was founded in 1868.
Undergraduate physical sciences courses include applied mathematics, astrophysics, Earth science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, physical science, physics and statistics.
Earth and planetary science students can choose from six majors and eight minors covering a range of topics, including marine science, geology and atmospheric science.
The mathematics department is home to one of the largest mathematics libraries in the US. Maths-related organisations that students can get involved in include the mathematics undergraduate student association and the women in math group.
The astronomy department is known for its research on the discovery and computation of comets, orbits and minor planets. Undergraduates can take a variety of courses, from modern cosmology to radio astronomy, and develop skills in Python coding. The department also offers research funding, meaning many astrophysics majors have had work published in scientific journals before graduating.
Physical sciences students also participate in a range of extracurricular academic, sporting, theatrical and philanthropic groups, including the space exploration society and the women in the physical sciences group.
Students are encouraged to take part in research projects during their course.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The physics undergraduate programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers two tracks: Flexible and Focus.
Postgraduate students in physics take a range of core classes such as classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.
The Flexible track is selected by most physics majors and allows students to choose from a range of fundamental physics topics. The Focus track requires students to take more specific required courses, including two terms of experimental physics, and to write a research thesis.
There are three different undergraduate programmes in maths: applied mathematics, pure mathematics and general mathematics. There are also two postgraduate programmes in pure mathematics and applied mathematics.
The university lays claim to 85 Nobel Laureates, 58 National Medal of Science winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation winners and 45 MacArthur Fellows. Among its impressive alumni is Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations.
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3. Stanford University
At Stanford University half of all undergraduates take at least one physics course as part of their studies.
Undergraduates can also major or minor in physics, choosing to specialise further.
Elective modules across the physical science fields allow for specialisation later down the line and cover everything from aeronautics, astronautics and astronomy to chemical engineering, geological sciences, mathematical and computational science and statistics.
There is a specific chemical physics track for students with a strong aptitude for physics and maths. Students can major or minor in maths, and they have the opportunity to participate in an annual maths contest with cash prizes for excellent scores and for outstanding performances by women.
An undergraduate research programme over the summer gives students the opportunity to join a physics research group to gain research experience.
There are many streams for graduates studying physical sciences, from applied physics to biophysical chemistry.
2. Harvard University
Undergraduate students at Harvard University can choose from a range of physical science concentrations including astrophysics, chemistry, physics, Earth and planetary sciences and statistics.
Students can study either with interdisciplinary courses in the physical sciences sequence or with foundational courses in one of the relevant departments. As students continue their degrees, the course can become more focused based on areas of interest.
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the best in the world for research in astrophysics, with over 350 scientists and astronomical observatories in Arizona, Chile, Hawaii, and in space. Undergraduate students are able to join the centre to take part in term-time or summer research.
The mathematics department hosts a range of events for students including math table talks and colloquiums.
1. California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, is a science and engineering institute founded in 1891.
Caltech’s Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a range of subjects across the physical sciences.
The physics undergraduate courses offered at Caltech include classical mechanics and electromagnetism, the science of music and frontiers in physics. All undergraduates must complete three terms of introductory physics. Students are encouraged to get involved in research, for which they can receive academic credit.
The four-year mathematics undergraduate programme at Caltech provides a foundation in calculus, combinatorics, geometry and analysis in the first year. There are then a range of elective mathematics modules, from abstract algebra and classical analysis to homological algebra and Riemannian geometry. Seniors are encouraged to do a bachelor’s thesis in an advanced topic.
The university manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for Nasa as well as operating the Seismological Laboratory.
The astronomy department has four observatories available for students to use: Ovro, Palomar, W.M. Keck, and Ligo.
Best universities for physical sciences degrees in the United States 2024
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