City Tech Offers New Degree Program in Applied Computational Physics

This last decade has witnessed historically rapid advances in science, technology, and education driven by a dramatic increase in the power and usage of computers. In the past, undergraduate physics students were often taught exclusively analytical and theoretical skills; scientific computations were left as “black boxes” whose content was only revealed in graduate school. However, our increasing reliance on computer-based tools, both in science and in everyday life, makes this less true today, and much less likely to be true in the future.

This fall, the Physics Department at City Tech will offer a Bachelor of Science degree program in Applied Computational Physics (ACP). This program places a unique emphasis on task-oriented rather than theoretical or formal aspects of physical sciences, and on the use of advanced computational techniques to solve problems. As a result, it differs substantially from Physics Bachelor’s programs already in existence at other CUNY (The City University of New York) colleges.

“The program has been designed to equip students with skills that are in demand on the job market while, at the same time, conveying the excitement of exploring and testing the fundamental laws of our universe,” said Professor Giovanni Ossola, coordinator of the ACP degree program. “It took a few years to find the right combination of courses. We sought the advice of physicists employed in industry and finance, and I think we succeeded in providing the right blend. We want our graduates to have a scientific approach to study advanced problems, as well as the ability of applying their skills to practical tasks.”  

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Applied Computational Physics will fulfill the growing need for researchers, educators, and information professionals who perform in roles requiring programming and problem-solving skills, as well as technological proficiency. It will provide students with strong technical skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, all of which are highly rated by companies in their hiring process.

Graduates will be equipped with a solid foundation in physics, computer science, and mathematics. This will enable them to pursue careers in a variety of STEM disciplines such as aerospace engineering, applied mathematics and computer science, finance, environmental science, chemistry, biomedicine, or conduct research in academia, industry, or national laboratories. Graduates of the program will gain access to a wide spectrum of employment opportunities in the private and public sector, as well as to advanced degree programs.

The Physics Department currently has twelve award-winning tenured or tenure-track faculty qualified to teach all the classes related to the program. In particular, many faculty members are active in research involving advanced computational techniques and their applications to various physical systems. Their research includes the use of theoretical and computational methods for the study of particle physics, condensed matter systems, cosmology and astrophysics, gravitational physics, and optics. In addition, there are several faculty members in other Departments within City Tech who can provide support and bring their expertise to the proposed curriculum, in particular in the Mathematics and Computer Systems Technology Departments.

“A degree in Applied Computational Physics will provide students with a strong level of motivation to solve complex computational problems in the different fields of physics, engineering, applied mathematics, and finance. It also opens a wide avenue to pursue graduate studies at any high-quality academic institution,” said Professor Roman Kezerashivili, Chair of the Physics Department.

Advanced courses developed specifically for the ACP major, such as Computational Dynamics, Machine Learning for Physics and Astronomy, and Computational Methods will help students build a readily usable toolbox of mathematical, problem-solving, and programming skills. Those will be put to the test in an internship/real research experience, another unique component of this program. This program-specific section of the curriculum will provide students with a diverse skill set to either proceed to graduate school, or to enter the job market and access careers in technology, engineering, data science, and financial sectors.

For more information about the ACP degree program, contact Professor Giovanni Ossola, program coordinator, at 718.260.5569 or by email at acpcoordinator@citytech.cuny.edu.