Applied Physics
Ƶ’s Applied Physics Program is a launchpad for future physicists, engineers, and innovators.
Dive into hands-on experiments, internships, and independent research, guided by expert faculty.
Whether it’s advancing technology or exploring new frontiers, your journey into physics and beyond starts here!
About the Program
Our program is meticulously designed to nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. Engage with a diverse array of topics, from the foundational principles of physics to the latest advancements in the field, all while being mentored by experienced faculty.
Our approach to learning emphasizes not just academic excellence, but also practical application, ensuring that our students are well-prepared for a spectrum of professional avenues. In this program, you'll find more than just a degree; you'll discover a path to shaping the future of science and technology.
CHOOSE STOCKTON
for Applied Physics
- Expert Faculty Mentorship
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Internships and Research Opportunities
- Diverse Career Paths
- A Community of Innovators
- Cutting-edge Facilities
The physics department at Ƶ really feels like a family. The professors get to know you and want to guide you and help you succeed in any way they can.
Everybody is connected at Ƶ, and communication is one of the most important parts that people overlook in Physics.
My favorite thing about Ƶ's Applied Physics program is the research opportunities.
Ƶ students get one-on-one time with their faculty members.
Personalize your Studies
Advanced Lab Equipment
Graduate Pathways
- Pennsylvania State University
- Rutgers University
- George Washington University
- Drexel University
- Duke University
- and many more!
Opportunities in Applied Physics
Applied Physics majors have the unique chance to engage in cutting-edge research projects, including working in the Harold E. Taylor Observatory right on campus. Research and Internships form a crucial part of our curriculum, offering practical training that’s directly relevant to students' future advanced studies and/or careers. Students have gained invaluable experience at renowned institutions like the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center (FAATC), Argonne, Oak Ridge, and Brookhaven National Laboratories, among others.
Active Student Involvement
Teaching Assistantships
Perform Independent Research
Unleash Your Potential
Careers
Graduates of Applied Physics are prepared for positions in industry, government and education, as well as for graduate work in graduate school in physics or related areas.
Potential Careers
- Nuclear physicist
- Design engineer
- Data science and strategic analytics
- Materials scientist
- Biomedical scientist/engineer
- Computational scientist
- Energy policy analyst
- Gateway to professional careers [medical, veterinarian, dental, pharmacy]
- Quantitative research analyst
- Solar physicist
- Aerospace systems
- Acoustical engineer
- Forensics firearms examiner
- Seismologist
- Laser engineer
- Alternate and conventional energy production
- Geophysics
- Meteorology
- Medical
- Medical physicist
- Sales and Marketing
The Student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.
Curriculum
Our curriculum is not just about theory; it emphasizes practical application through comprehensive laboratory work, ensuring a balanced and immersive educational experience. With a focus on keeping pace with the evolving landscape of physics, we prepare our students not just for academic success, but for a lifetime of scientific discovery and innovation.
The program provides three general orientations: industrial and government, physics teaching, and graduate school. It is possible for a student to obtain a Physics degree and to carry out a concentration in a related area such as Engineering, Mathematics, Biology, Computational Science, Marine Science, Business, Computer Sciences, Environmental Science, Energy, etc.
Degree Offerings
Bachelors of Science in Applied Physics
Recommended for students interested in going to a Physics Masters or Ph.D. program.
Bachelors of Arts in Applied Physics
Recommended for students interested in teaching physics in middle/high school. Completed with an Education Concentration.
Minor in Applied Physics
Recommended for students in other majors interested in physics
Bachelors of Science Dual-Degree in Applied Physics & Engineering
The program begins with three years at Ƶ and concludes with two years at NJIT, Rowan or Rutgers, your choice! Students receive a BS in Applied Physics from Ƶ at the end of the 4th year and a BS in Engineering from the partnered university at the end of the program, generally the 5th year.
Degree Works Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool
You can see the curriculum for your area of interest using . This service is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Ƶ University.
Instructions on How to Use Curriculum ToolFaculty
Joseph Trout
Joseph Trout
Program Chair Professor of Physics
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Dr. Joseph Trout is a Professor of Physics at Ƶ. The fields in which I do research are: Atmospheric Physics, Astronomy, Climate Physics, Astrophysics, Food Physics, and Physics Education. My Ph.D. thesis dealt with the numerical modeling of weather fronts which caused rapidly intensifying cyclones. Presently I am working on two projects. The first project deals with climate and is looking at the effects tomatoes grown in the community gardens of Philadelphia, a city which has become an urban heat island. The project involves evaluating the historical weather data, modeling the weather in Philadelphia using numerical methods to predict the first and last frosts, and growing various varieties of tomatoes in the urban gardens and in the Ƶ Sustainability Farm and comparing the results. One product of this research is a daily four-day weather prediction available to the public.
ePortfolio:
Ƶ Physics Weather Forecasts
Low Resolution:
Medium Resolution:
High Resolution:
A second avenue of research is astronomy. A group of students and I rebuilt the Ƶ Observatory and refurbished the old LX-200 Meade 16-inch telescope. The telescope has now been replaced by a 17-inch PlaneWave CDK17 telescope. The students and I hold open observation nights every Thursday and are waiting for a new camera to continue our research comparing ground-based observations with the observations made by the space telescopes.
In the area of Food Physics, an interdisciplinary research project, in collaboration with the chemistry program, involves measuring the vitamin E content or locally grown wheat and commodity wheat. This project is currently on hold awaiting funding.
In the area of Astrophysics, my students are analyzing stellar light curves recorded by the space telescopes using Fourier and Wavelet Analysis to discover the characteristics of stars. The results so far are preliminary, but several students have presented at local and national conferences and the results look promising.
In the area of Physics Education research, we have completed several projects. The latest project studies the challenges presented by the artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatBots. We are researching how they are currently being used by students and how they can be used to increase student success.
The word “university” is derived from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium (community of teachers and scholars) and the first universities were created in Europe by Catholic monks. The word university (Latin: universitas, 'a whole') has come to mean an institution of higher education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. As a member of the Ƶ faculty, I believe that the research we do is the foundation of the teacher-learner model we employ to teach our students. As a university, the research completed here should be research in which students take an active part. I try to involve as many students as possible in my research, and many of them have presented our research at local and national conferences and have co-authored publications.
Books:
William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny, Stephen D. Druger, David Anderson, Daniel
Bowman, Gerald Friedman, Joseph Trout, et al. University Physics Volume 1. 1st ed.
Openstax, 2016.
William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny, Stephen D. Druger, David Anderson, Daniel Bowman, Gerald Friedman, Joseph Trout, et al. University Physics Volume 2. 1st ed. Openstax, 2016.
William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny, Stephen D. Druger, David Anderson, Daniel Bowman, Gerald Friedman, Joseph Trout, et al. University Physics Volume 3. 1st ed. Openstax, 2016.
Papers:
Trout, J. J., Jacobsen, T., Buondonno, G., & Weber, C. (2022). ‘Astrophysics: history and theory’, an undergraduate, interdisciplinary, asynchronous astrophysics course taught in the physics program. Physics Education, 57(4), 45015-. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ac48c3
Trout, J. J., & Jacobsen, T. (2020). ‘The Science of Ice Cream,’ an undergraduate, interdisciplinary, general education course taught in the physics program. Physics Education, 55(1), 15009-. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ab51ef
Trout, J. J., Murphy, C., & Vukicevich, M. (2019). Combining Active Learning Techniques and Service Learning in a Section of Physics I with Calculus Course. The Physics Teacher, 57(2), 109–111. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5088473
J. Trout, Joseph. “Measuring the Effectiveness of Online Lectures through Online Pre-Tests and Post-Tests.” Journal of Modern Education Review 4, no. 12 (2014): 979–986.
Neil Aaronson
Neil Aaronson
Professor of Physics
BIOGRAPHY
Neil Aaronson grew up in Marlton, New Jersey and graduated from Cherokee High School in 1998. He earned his B.S. in Physics from The College of New Jersey in 2002, and then went on to Michigan State University where he earned M.S. degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering, before completing his Ph.D. work in Physics there in 2008. He started teaching and doing research at Ƶ the same year. He currently runs and maintains the Ƶ Acoustics Lab and teaches for the Physics Program. Throughout his life, he has also been active in music as a violinist, violist, and vocalist. He currently directs the ASTA/NJ Chamber Music Institute, plays with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, is the assistant conductor of the Ƶ Oratorio Society, and is the music director of Ƶ's contemporary student a capella singing groups.
B.S. Physics: The College of New Jersey, 2002
M.S. Physics: Michigan State University, 2004
M.S. Electrical Engineering (Signal Processing):
Michigan State University, 2006
Ph.D. Physics: Michigan State University, 2008
Acoutsics, Psychoacoustics
Physics I/II
Physics for Life Sciences I/II
Electric Circuits
Optics
Thermal Physics
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Electricity & Magnetism I/II
Benjamin Agyare
Benjamin Agyare
Assistant Professor of Physics
Benjamin Agyare is a proud member of the physics faculty at Ƶ, and his journey is deeply rooted in a passion for physics and a commitment to academic excellence. His academic odyssey commenced with a B.S. degree in Physics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, in 1997. Subsequently, he pursued an M.S. degree in physics at Miami University in Oxford, OH, and completed it in 2007, before joining Ƶ the same year. In his capacity, Benjamin not only imparted knowledge but also assumed oversight responsibility for introductory physics labs, fostering a dynamic learning environment. Motivated by a desire for continuous growth, he embarked on a Ph.D. in physics at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, culminating in the successful completion of his doctoral studies in 2019. His academic journey reflects a dedication to both education and research, and he feels honored to contribute to the vibrant academic community of Ƶ.
Ph.D.Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2019
M.S. Miami University, Oxford, OH, 2007
BSc Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana, 1993-1997
Condensed Matter Physics and Physics Education
Physics for Life Sciences I & II lecture (algebra-based), Physics for Life Sciences I & II laborary (algebra-based),
Physics I & II lecture (calculus-based), Physics I & II laboratory (calculus-based),
Atom, Man and Universe,
How Things Work
My research interest involves using computational tools to investigate the formation of Intrinsically Localized Vibration Modes (ILMs) in crystallized lattices. This research is crucial for understanding material properties, energy localization, and nonlinear dynamics, with broader implications for advancing materials science, technological applications, and the development of innovative technologies in areas such as phononic and photonic engineering. Additionally, I am interested in applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in physics education.
Philip Eaton
Philip Eaton
Assistant Professor of Physics
BIOGRAPHY
I was born, two minutes ahead of my DNA stealing brother, and raised in North Dakota. As a result I am what people call "midwest nice" and love to chat with people, likely strangers, about this, that, and the other. After spending a summer working on a farm and the next summer working on a wildlife refuge, I decided working in the sun was not as fun as I thought it would be. Coincidentally, I was taking a physics course at the time and decided to give it a shot in college cause it "seemed interesting." As it turned out am a bit of a math geek, so after getting my Bachelors in Physics and Mathematics at the University of North Dakota I decided to go to Montana State University to continue my education. From there I brought eternal shame to my father by getting my Ph.D. in Physics, his Ph.D. is in Psychology, and my twin won "brown-noser for life" by getting his Doctorate in Psychology. Finally, I won big in the casino game called "Job Hunting" and wound up here, Ƶ, looking forward to what life next brings my way.
Bachelors of Physics and Bacehlors of Mathematics, University of North Dakota
Masters in Physics, Montana State Universitt
Ph.D. in Physics, Montana State University
Physics Education Research - Psychometric Analysis of Instruments
I am interested in the statistical functionality (i.e. psychometric properties) of assessments used to probe students' understanding of physics. I use tools like network analysis, exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory to extract information about assessments from student response data. This information is used to help future instructors/researchers better interpret students' results from these assessments and to offer suggestions on how assessments can be improved in the future.
Eaton, Philip, Barrett Frank, and Shannon Willoughby. "Examining the effects of item chaining in the Force Concept Inventory and the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation using local item dependence." (Accepted to PR:PER - 2020)
Smith, Trevor I., Philip Eaton, Suzanne W. Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Andrew Boudreaux, and Charlotte Zimmerman. "Toward a valid instrument for measuring physics quantitative literacy." arXiv:2007.08586v1 [physics.ed-ph]. (2020)
Alexis Olsho, Suzanne W. Brahmia, Trevor Smith, Charlotte Zimmerman, Andrew Boudreaux, and Philip Eaton. "Online administration of a reasoning inventory in development." arXiv:2007.08621 [physics.ed-ph]. (2020)
Charlotte Zimmerman, Alexis Olsho, Andrew Boudreaux, Trevor Smith, Philip Eaton, and , Suzanne W. Brahmia. "Exploring student facility with "goes like" reasoning in introductory physics." arXiv:2007.10409 [physics.ed-ph]. (2020).
Eaton, Philip, Keith Johnson, and Shannon Willoughby. "Examining changes of student ability along multiple latent traits on the force concept inventory using multi-trait item response theory." Physical Review Physics Education Research 16.1 (2020)
Eaton, Philip, Keith Johnson, and Shannon Willoughby. "Generating a Partial Credit Grading Criteria for the Force Concept Inventory Utilizing a 2-Parameter Logistic Nominal Response Model" Physical Review Physics Education Research 15.2 (2019)
Smith, Trevor, Philip Eaton, Suzanne Brahmia, Alexis Olsho, Andrew Boudreaux, Chris DePalma; Victor LaSasso, Scott Straguzzi, Christopher Whitener. PERC Proceedings Papers "Using psychometric tools as a window into students' quantitative reasoning in introductory physics." (2019)
Eaton, Philip, Barrett Frank, Keith Johnson, and Shannon Willoughby. "Comparing Exploratory Factor Models of the brief electricity and magnetism assessment and the conceptual survey of electricity and magnetism." Physical Review Physics Education Research 15.2 (2019)
Eaton, Philip, Kinsey Vavruska, and Shannon Willoughby. "Exploring the pre- and post-instruction non-Newtonian worldviews as measured by the force concept inventory." Physical Review Physics Education Research 15.1 (2019)
Eaton, Philip, Keith Johnson, Barrett Frank, and Shannon Willoughby. "Classical test theory and item response theory comparison of the brief electricity and magnetism assessment and the conceptual survey of electricity and magnetism." Physical Review Physics Education Research 15.1 (2019)
Eaton, Philip, and Shannon D. Willoughby. "Con firmatory factor analysis applied to the Force Concept Inventory." Physical Review Physics Education Research 14.1 (2018)
Monir H. Sharobeam
Yizhak Y. Sharon
Embark on a physics adventure with our dynamic Applied Physics faculty, who bring a wealth of expertise spanning theoretical and experimental realms. Check out the current research being done or see what research topics NAMS faculty are inserted in beginning to something that ignites your curiosity!
Take a Virtual Tour of Our Research Facilities
Faculty Research
Dr. Neil Aaronson
Professor of Physics
Psychoacoustic researcher employing models to explain experimental findings for auditory perception. Investigates topics such as psychoacoustic phenomena, audio quality perception, room acoustics, and the intricacies of music perception.
Dr. Benjamin Agyare
Assistant Professor of Physics
Research interests include using computational tools to investigate the formation of Intrinsically Localized Vibration Modes in crystallized lattices. This research is crucial for understanding material properties, energy localization, and nonlinear dynamics, with broader implications for advancing materials science, technological applications, and the development of innovative technologies in areas such as phononic and photonic engineering. Additionally, interested in applying the Technology Acceptance Model to explore the integration of Artificial Intelligence in physics education.
Dr. Philip Eaton
Assistant Professor of Physics
Primarily works in Physics Education assessment analysis, and construction of learning resources like online lectures and recorded demonstration videos. Also, dabbles in introductory General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory projects with interested undergraduates.
Dr. Fang Liu
Associate Professor of Physics
Biomedical and health physics investigating topics related to positron emission tomography (PET), surgical probe technology, and the biophysical aspects of medical applications.
Dr. Yitzhak Sharon
Distinguished Professor of Physics
Nuclear theorist who uses models to explain experimental data about nuclei. Nuclear properties studied are energy levels, electromagnetic transition probabilities, magnetic moments and quadrupole moments.
Dr. Monir Sharobeam
Professor of Physics
Mechanical engineering specializing in the mechanics of materials, fracture mechanics, and the application of finite element methods. Utilizes computer-aided drafting and design (CAD) to model and analyze mechanical structures. Investigates topics such as material behavior under stress, fracture mechanisms, and the simulation of complex structures using finite element methods.
Dr. Joseph Trout
Professor of Physics
Research interests spanning Atmospheric Physics, Astronomy, Climate Physics, Astrophysics, Food Physics, and Physics Education. Projects include studying the impact of urban heat on tomatoes in Philadelphia's community gardens, revitalizing the Ƶ Observatory for astronomy research, analyzing vitamin E content in locally grown wheat, and exploring AI tools like ChatBots in Physics Education. Dr. Trout emphasizes student involvement in research, with students presenting findings at conferences and co-authoring publications.
