Program Overview

Northern Illinois University Department of Physics

The Department of Physics at Northern Illinois University is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Academics

The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in physics.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program provides students with a comprehensive education in physics, preparing them for careers in research, industry, and education.

Graduate Program

The graduate program offers advanced degrees in physics, with research opportunities in various areas, including:

• High Energy Physics
• Beam Physics
• Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
• Medical Physics

Research

The department is involved in various research projects, including:

• High Energy Physics
• Beam Physics
• Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
• Medical Physics
• Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development (NICADD)

Research Facilities

The department has access to state-of-the-art research facilities, including the Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development (NICADD).

PHYS 162H Honors Project

The PHYS 162H Honors Project is an opportunity for students to engage in observational astronomy research. The project involves an observation project, which will be determined by the instructor.

Project Ideas

Some ideas for the honors astronomy project include:

• Jupiter and Moons
• Saturn and Rings
• Moon and Craters
• Venus and Phases
• Nebulae
• Galaxies
• Sun and Sunspots
• Stellar Life Cycle
• Variable Stars
• Star Clusters
• Solar System Survey
• Double Stars

Observatory

The department has an observatory, which is used for research and educational purposes.

Observatory Manager

The observatory manager is Jeremy Benson.

Location

The observatory is located in Davis Hall Room 703, at the intersection of Normal and Locust Roads, DeKalb, IL 60115.