The Department of Physics offers courses and concentrations designed to teach students about the fundamental processes that govern our universe. Students interested in majoring in physics can choose from several concentrations.
The Standard Physics concentration provides a curriculum that highlights the core areas of theoretical and experimental physics. The Computational Physics concentration gives a curriculum that emphasizes the use of computer simulations as a tool to visualize and understand natural phenomena. For students who wish to apply a physics degree to a career outside of physics, the department offers a concentration entitled Interdisciplinary Physics. This concentration combines a major in physics with a minor in a second field of the student's choice with their advisor's consent.
In each concentration, student participation in faculty research is an important component of the program at all levels. This experience prepares students for independent work in industry or graduate study in physics or in applied sciences such as optics, photonics, scientific computing, engineering, or computer science. Participation in research can be pursued either through independent study during the academic year or full-time during the summer quarter.
For students interested in engineering, the department offers a concentration in Engineering Physics. Through a joint program with Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), students can complete a five-year dual-degree program while remaining full-time DePaul students. This five-year program enables students to earn a BS degree in Physics from DePaul and a BS in Engineering from IIT in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical/Computer Engineering. Students interested in obtaining a BS in Physics with the Engineering Physics concentration must be accepted into one of these programs at IIT as part of the DePaul-IIT Joint Engineering Program.
Additionally, students interested in engineering, but are not interested in the joint dual-degree program, will have the scientific basis to complete an engineering program at another institution after the first two years of the physics major curriculum at DePaul.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
Lincoln Park Campus
2400 N. Sheffield Ave,
Chicago,
Illinois,
60614, Midwest, United States
You are considered an international freshman applicant if you have been educated outside of the U.S. at any time during secondary school (high school).
English proficiency requirement
Students educated outside the U.S. for secondary school (high school) are required to submit an exam score that meets our English proficiency requirement.
IELTS Academic - 6.5 on the IELTS Academic
TOEFL - 80 on the IBT TOEFL with no subsection lower than 17
Duolingo English Test (DET) - 115 on the DET
SAT - minimum evidence based reading and writing score of 540
ACT - minimum reading score of 18 and English score of 20
PTE Academic - minimum English academic score of 53
Revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test - 59 on the PdT overall with no subsection lower than 17
Application Deadlines: Early Action - Nov. 15; Regular Notification - Feb 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
92 percent of DePaul undergraduate students enter into professional employment or continue their studies within sixth months of graduating.