FAQs

If you have not done so or it has been a while, see the 4-year plans for each major: PHY, PEN, APH, and APM. Note that these are only rough guides and the exact plan for you will depend on many details, including which courses you have taken and which courses we are offering.

Start a conversation with your professors. To get a sense of what we do and where there is overlap with your interests, read up on what we do on the Faculty Research page.

The best way to start is by talking with your professors. Many graduate programs will be open to you as a physics major, even ones outside of traditional physics programs like geophysics, environmental engineering, and even economics. Unless you are really set on a particular path, keep an open mind to the possibilities and do some more research.

First, talk to us about your interests and request a special topics course (PHY 429) on the whatever subject(s) you are interested in. Second, if we cannot offer a special topics course for you, you should consider doing an independent studies course where you have occasional meetings with a professor who will guide you in your studies. Lastly, we can accept credit for a course from another institution if you can't find what you want here. Please talk to us for further details.

We are happy to accept credit for a class that is sufficiently similar to one of our courses. You should consult with your academic advisor in advance of taking the course to make sure that the Physics Department can sign off on this. To transfer in credit, you will need to work with the Advisement and Transition Office.

The W that appears at the end of the APH and APM degree titles indicates that you are "waiting" to be officially admitted to the program. This is the case for all adolescence education programs at SUNY Cortland. The idea is that we want to make sure that you are making satisfactory progress and maintaining a high GPA in physics and your education courses before officially accepting you into the program. The W is typically dropped in the 2nd or 3rd year.

In the end, that decision is entirely yours. You can take art or outdoor recreation courses if you want to. However, many of our students get a minor in Mathematics by taking one additional math course (MAT 224 - Methods of Proof) and many use their free electives to double-major in Physics & Mathematics. This is a great option for anyone considering going on to graduate school in a math-heavy discipline or who wants to have an impressive résumé.

You have to apply to and be admitted to an engineering program, just like any other student. Admission requirements vary from school to school. Some institutions, like SUNY Stony Brook, have relatively high GPA requirements. You will want to plan ahead and keep this in mind as you study here.