If you like physics—and you like technology and computers—why choose just one to study? At UB, we've combined physics and computer science (two of our most popular programs!) into one fascinating major. Here, you can explore matter and energy and how the physical world works, while also learning how to solve problems using advanced computing techniques. If you want to stand out from the crowd, keep reading and see how a computational physics degree can help you.
As a computational physics major you'll get an exceptional education in both physics and computer science. UB’s computer science department was one of the first in the U.S., and we have one of the top supercomputing centers.
You'll start with foundational classes and labs for computer science, programming, physics, calculus and other math-related subjects, then move on to advanced classes as you build your analytical and critical thinking skills.
At UB, undergraduates have opportunities to get involved with faculty research in both physics and computer science. Research areas have included high-energy physics, algorithms, computing education and many more. UB also has 100+ active research centers and institutes.
Want to get more real-world experience? Check out an internship or co-op at an organization here in Buffalo or nearly anywhere you choose.
And if you're looking for student clubs and professional organizations focused on physics and computers, you’ll find them here, especially on the computing side, with hacking competitions and other events.
Do you want to work in an astrophysics lab? Improve the way we forecast the weather? Develop specialized software for research or education?
As a computational physics graduate, you’ll have a combination of skills and experience that few people can match—which means you’ll also have opportunities that few others will have.
Nearly every area of traditional physics has a place for people who can apply computational expertise. And many careers in computer science require someone with a solid foundation in physics.
Whether your next step is graduate school or going straight to work for a university, a company or a government lab, a UB degree is a smart choice.
National Science Foundation Career Award winners. SUNY Distinguished Professors. Fellows of the American Physical Society, Association for Computing Machinery and Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. These are just some of the faculty that our students have learned from at UB.
As a computational physics major, you'll have classes with instructors from both departments. In physics, you’ll find both theorists and experimentalists, with experts in high-energy physics, astrophysics and many other research areas. And in computer science and engineering, you'll find experts in everything from machine learning and data mining to data science and software engineering.