RIT recognized for number of physics graduates

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Michael Kotlarchyk

Rochester Institute of Technology has been included on a list of universities conferring the largest number of undergraduate physics degrees, according to the American Institute of Physics.

The list was limited to programs offering BS only degrees in physics and averaging 10 or more graduates from 2012 through 2014. It was based on data from the American Institute of Physics Enrollments and Degrees survey.

RIT’s physics program in the College of Science was ranked 20^th, with an average of 16 graduates per year. This is the first year RIT has made the list compiled by the American Institute of Physics. Approximately 160 students are enrolled in RIT’s undergraduate physics program.

RIT shares the 20th spot with Angelo State University, Brigham Young University and James Madison University. State University of New York Geneseo was ranked first with an average of 36 physics graduates per year.

“The B.S. physics program in the RIT School of Physics and Astronomy has been steadily growing in enrollment every year since 2006,” said Michael Kotlarchyk, head of the School of Physics and Astronomy. “The number of RIT physics majors and BS physics graduates has approximately doubled since that time. There is likely a connection between the significant growth in our program over the last decade and the recent award of distinction we received from the American Physical Society for our efforts toward improving undergraduate physics education.”

The RIT School of Physics and Astronomy is proposing to offer an MS degree in physics, Kotlarchyk said. If approved, the program could begin as early as fall 2018.