Physics and Astronomy

A hands-on, individual experience.

Butler University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy encourages hypothetical thinking, intensive study, and experiential learning through use of state-of-the-art equipment such as a laser and quantum physics laboratory. 
Majors & Minors
female dark hair green pants, black shirt in front of 4 students in grays and maroon

Why Physics and Astronomy?

Butler University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy offers students a hands-on, individual experience, which prepares them for graduate research in Physics or Astronomy, or to be an applied physicist or engineer, a high school Physics teacher, a physician, a patent lawyer, or medical physicist. 

Research and internships are also an important part of the program. Our students have researched at CERN, Harvard University, and the University of Tokyo, and completed internships with Cummins, Raytheon, Commercial Forged Products, and more. Through these opportunities, students gain experience in fields such as engineering, obvervational astronomy, nanotechnology, computational physics, and theoretical astrophysics.

Upon graduating, students have gone on to study at places such as the University of California, MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, Washington University, and Johns Hopkins, just to name a few.

Research & Internship Opportunities
Faculty & Staff
Holcomb Observatory

Experiential Learning

Students have class and research access to the largest public telescope in Indiana in our Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium. And, Butler’s partnership with the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) provides remote access to telescopes on three continents.

Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium
SARA

Contact Us

Physics & Astronomy

Holcomb Building, Room 261

740 W. 46th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

317-940-9951

Department Chair

Gonzalo Ordonez

Administrative Specialist

Laura Brandenburg