Physics (B.S.)

Physics is the study of the natural world, seen and unseen, and seeks to answer questions about how matter and energy work everywhere from the tiniest observable particles to the most sprawling galaxies. As a physics major, you will:

• Gain experience with experimental techniques, instrumentation, and measurement processes 
• Develop mathematical, computational, and analytical skills
• Collaborate on interdisciplinary scientific projects
• Examine real-world problems with scientific rigor

And, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom. Participate in research opportunities offered through  faculty-led research projects on campus or at the nearby Argonne and Fermi National Labs. Connect with peers in the Society for Physics Students or Women in STEM. Join campus clubs like Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) or Illinois Tech Hyperloop and participate in national competitions. Dive in to hackathons and entrepreneurship challenges at the Kaplan Center to bring your theoretical knowledge to the market and forge your own career. 

Why Study Physics at a Technology-Focused University?

Studying physics at Illinois Tech uniquely prepares students to launch their careers. Physics majors are working alongside biologists, chemists, engineers, entrepreneurs, ethicists, educators, and policy experts every day, applying their insights in project-based collaborations. By investigating the natural world at Chicago’s premier tech-focused university, our physics majors are preparing to take on pressing scientific challenges in settings ranging from research labs to startup companies to power plants. 

Program Overview

At Illinois Tech, we don’t just read about physics–we do it. Together, we solve problems and develop practical skills, tackling challenges like building electronic circuits, creating computer simulations, and contributing to research projects in energy, medicine, and more.

Career Opportunities

Upon graduation, you’ll have the problem solving, analytical, and practical skills to launch an exciting career or to continue to graduate study–whether that’s in physics, business, or even law school. Recent graduates work at companies and organizations like Microlink Devices, Constellation Energy, Tesla, Unabridged Software, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and the U.S. Senate Space and Science Subcommittee.  

Some common jobs that graduates pursue include:

• Risk Analytic Consultant/Actuary
• Operations Accelerator Engineer
• Engineering Process Technician
• Junior Process Engineer
• STEM teacher
• Software developer
• Data analyst
• Financial technology (fintech) specialist

Want to take your education even further? Our students are primed for postgraduate study. Graduates have gone on to further study in physics at schools like Stanford, Notre Dame, the University of Pennsylvania, and right here at Illinois Tech. Consider an accelerated master’s, completing both B.S. and M.S. in just five years. Or, consider our Honors Law Program, which combines study at Illinois Tech with the J.D. program at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, allowing students to graduate earlier and launch their careers. Physics majors are especially well suited to careers in patent law.