If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact the department chair or send an email to physics@cortland.edu.
- What courses should I choose for next semester? 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.
- I took a course over summer or winter at another institution. Can I get credit for that at SUNY Cortland? 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.
- How do I get involved in research here? 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.
- I signed up for the APH or APM major, but my actual degree title shows up as APHW or APMW. What does the W mean? 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.
- How do I learn more about graduate programs? The best way to start is by talking with your professors and/or academic advisor. As a physics major, many graduate programs will be open to you, 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.
- As a PHY major, what should I do with my free electives? In the end, that decision is entirely yours. You can take art or outdoor recreation courses if you want to. However, many of our student get a minor in Mathematics with one extra course (MAT 224 - Methods of Proof) and many use their free electives to get a double-major Physics & Mathematics. This is a great option for anyone considering going on to graduate school in a math-heavy discipline.
- As a PEN major, am I guaranteed to be admitted to an engineering program at another university? 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.