About the Department of Physics

The Department of Physics offers undergraduate and graduate programs that combine rigorous academics with meaningful research experiences. Students develop a strong foundation in physics while gaining practical laboratory skills and experience solving real-world scientific problems.

Undergraduate students complete classroom and laboratory coursework and finish their degree with a faculty-mentored capstone research project. Graduate students pursue advanced study through master's and doctoral programs that emphasize original research.

Research Excellence

Research is central to the department's mission. Faculty and students conduct research across a broad range of disciplines, including condensed matter physics, accelerator science, particle-beam physics, detector development and high-energy physics.

NIU's long-standing partnerships with Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in nationally recognized research projects. Faculty also collaborate with researchers at CERN and other institutions around the world.

The department is home to the Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development (NICADD), which supports accelerator and detector research while providing research and fellowship opportunities through national and international collaborations.

Faculty

Our faculty are recognized for excellence in both teaching and research. They work closely with students through classroom instruction, laboratory experiences and collaborative research, creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.

Career Preparation

A physics degree prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers by developing strong analytical, computational and problem-solving skills. NIU graduates pursue careers in research, engineering, education, medicine, government, technology and industry, while many continue their education in graduate and professional programs.