Engineering Physics BS

This program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics and is intended for those students whose interests center on the more fundamental aspects of electrical engineering and physics, but who also wish to have extensive contact with the applied aspects (instrumentation, circuit design) of those subjects. The program is designed such that a student can pursue a graduate program in electrical engineering or applied physics, depending on their interest. This course of study provides students with a unique combination of the fundamental principles of modern electronics, as well as a thorough education in electrical measurements and instrumentation. This program should be considered only by students whose academic performance is very strong.

Note: Course descriptions may be found in the Electrical Engineering course section and in the Physics course section.

Program Educational Objectives

Engineering Physics graduates are prepared to attain the following program educational objectives within a few years of graduation:

• Graduates of the program will be able to use their fundamental aspects of electrical engineering and physics in careers in industry or government or graduate programs in either electrical engineering or physics.
• Graduates of the program will continue to learn through advanced study or engagement in professional development activities within physics, electrical engineering or other technically related fields.

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers 9 engineering programs leading to the BS degree: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial and mechanical engineering.

5 combined BS/MBA programs are offered in conjunction with the School of Management. BA, BS, and BS/MS degrees in computer science are offered through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. A BS degree in engineering physics is offered jointly with the Department of Physics.

The curricula allow students flexibility in their programs of study and encourages interaction between students and faculty. The undergraduate educational experience prepares students for professional practice and advanced study. Special programs including our experiential learning program, undergraduate research, and internship opportunities provide professional development skills and experiences and facilitate placement of our graduates in high-quality engineering positions.

The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) provides its students with a computing laboratory equipped with state of the art software, continuously maintained and upgraded teaching laboratories for electronic circuit design and analysis, as well as an embedded systems laboratory funded by Intel. The department is located in Davis Hall, which includes a 5,000 square foot, grade 1,000 cleanroom facility that enables research in nanotechnology with state-of-the-art equipment, which allows for photolithography, metal deposition and dry chemical etching.

The Department of Physics (PHY) located in Fronczak Hall contains offices, a research library, and 500 research and instructional lab stations designed for study of theoretical, high-energy, low temperature, and solid state physics. Two astronomy observatories are located on the roof of the building and offer a distinctive feature to the building when coming onto the campus from 990-Exit 1. They house telescopes used by the Physics department and the Astronomy Club in pursuit of their academic and research aims.

The Directors of Undergraduate Studies for this program are Professor Kevin Burke, EE Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies who can be contacted at kmburke@buffalo.edu; 716-645-3115; or 230N Davis Hall and Professor John Cerne, PHY Director of Undergraduate Studies, who can be contacted at jcerne@buffalo.edu; 716-645-6730 or 3645; or 209 Fronczak Hall.

Please see the Department of Electrical Engineering's faculty listing for descriptions of the specializations of our faculty in Engineering. Some of the distinctions received by our electrical engineering faculty include: Tau Beta Pi Teacher of the Year, Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The physics faculty is comprised of approximately equal number of theorists and experimentalists. Five physics faculty members have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and eight are Fellows of the American Physical Society.

Please visit the — Electrical Engineering department website and the Physics department website — for additional information about our faculty.

People with degrees in engineering physics typically pursue careers in teaching, research, or some combination of the two. Teaching can be at the high school, community college, college, or university level. University teachers generally also engage in research. People who pursue a non-teaching research career work in industries, such as the computer chip and other electronic high-technology industries, or work in government labs such as Argonne or Brookhaven.

Approximately 90% of engineering physics students go on to graduate school, mostly in physics and/or related research engineering fields, but a significant number go into other areas such as law, medicine, biophysics, and medical physics. Our students regularly get into outstanding graduate schools such as Princeton, Cornell, University of Chicago, MIT, and UB.

Students obtain academic advice and guidance from the academic advisors in the SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education (410 Bonner Hall) and from faculty advisors in their program of study. The Office of Undergraduate Education advises all students throughout their first two years of study. In the junior and senior years, students seek advisement primarily from departmental faculty advisors.

Students are encouraged to consult with one of the directors of undergraduate studies with program questions regarding the sequence of requirements, technical electives and career opportunities starting in the spring of their sophomore year.

SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education
410 Bonner Hall
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-1900
Phone: 716-645-2774
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences website

For questions regarding sequence of requirements, technical electives, and career opportunities, please contact:

Electrical Engineering: Dr. Kevin Burke

Physics: Dr. John Cerne

There are many scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities available for students accepted into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These include recruitment scholarships and annual scholarships/awards for current students. There are both merit and need-based scholarships.