Undergraduate Student Opportunities & Resources
The GW Physics Department offers research opportunities, funding and other resources to make the undergraduate experience as productive, supportive and enjoyable as possible.
Department Opportunities
Society of Physics Students
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) offers students the opportunity to attend conferences, organize panel events and tutor other students. SPS members frequently win external awards, including the Future Faces of Physics Award and the SPS Outstanding Chapter Award, which recognizes the top 10 percent of SPS chapters across the nation each year. SPS is open to all faculty and students, though some opportunities are exclusive to undergraduate members. Send an email to gdubsps
gmail [dot] com (gdubsps[at]gmail[dot]com) to inquire about membership and follow SPS on Facebook.
gdubspsgmail [dot] com (Peer Physics Tutoring)
The Society of Physics Students offers free tutoring hours to students taking topical or introductory courses during the semester. All physics majors are encouraged to participate in this program, as tutors or tutees, as it helps both the students and the majors gain a better understanding of physics. Send an email to gdubspsgmail [dot] com (gdubsps[at]gmail[dot]com) for more information.
Research Opportunities and Fellowships
Bachelor of Science majors in Physics, Biophysics, and Astronomy & Astrophysics have a research requirement in their junior and/or senior year, but doing research is encouraged and supported for all students in the department, and also before the junior year for those who are interested. Students are encouraged and supported to apply for college- and university-wide research fellowships, and for research experiences and internships outside the department during the summer months. The department has the Walker and Berman Fellowships to support students interested in doing a summer research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Social Events
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) regularly organizes social events for faculty, staff and students, in addition to their academic and outreach activities. At the annual Halloween party, faculty and students dress up, eat liquid nitrogen ice cream, and compete for the coveted costume awards. At the annual Holiday party, faculty and students enjoy games, trivia, and again liquid nitrogen ice cream. The graduating seniors get roasted (in a fun way) by the juniors at the annual SPS senior send-off. A new tradition is the faculty vs students dodgeball game, where faculty can display their athletic skills when dodging balls thrown by students who might not be not too happy with their midterm grade.
Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society
Sigma Pi Sigma is the honor society for physics and astronomy students in the US. Every year, GW students are inducted into this prestigious society, which is for those students who are in the top one-third of their class and completed 5 courses towards a physics major degree. The induction takes place in a ceremony at the end of each academic year, where students get to sign a book that was also signed by famous GW Physics professors Gamow and Teller, since Physics faculty can be inducted into the honor society as well.
Scale-Up Classrooms
Student-Centered Active Learning Environment for Undergraduate Programs (SCALE-UP) is a collaborative classroom designed to support group-based, hands-on learning using tools including whiteboards, clickers and projection from devices located at each desk. Based in Corcoran Hall on Foggy Bottom Campus, the classroom encourages real-time feedback and active student engagement.
Supportive and Diverse Community
The GW Department of Physics strives to create a community-oriented environment in which everyone feels welcome and has a sense of belonging, no matter a person’s race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, or other diverse background. Important components of the department’s efforts in this area are the activities of the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) committee, which has a membership representing faculty, staff, and students; the student-led Physicists of Underrepresented Genders (PUGs) group; and SPS. These organizations work together with the department leadership to continuously improve the department, so everyone in the department can be themselves and thrive.
Departmental Honors
Outstanding students majoring in physics may be awarded special departmental honors. Majors must complete a two-semester research project and accompanying honors thesis, present their thesis to faculty, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in physics courses and 3.5 overall and meet GW's special honors requirements.
- Advisors
All honors candidates must be approved by the undergraduate advisor. In addition, all honors theses will require advance approval and supervision by a faculty research advisor, who must be a member of the Department of Physics, even in cases when the project is done in another department or another institution. Other research advisors may also be engaged by mutual agreement with the student, the faculty research advisor and the undergraduate advisor.
- Honors Thesis and Presentation
The honors thesis should be a significant scholarly work that expands upon the work completed for the research course. The student’s knowledge of the subject should exceed the minimum requirements of the research course and demonstrate a solid understanding of the project. The student should provide periodic reports of thesis progress to the faculty research advisor.
Every honors candidate will be required to make an open-invite presentation of the thesis. After the presentation, faculty will vote on whether to award special honors to the student.
GW Student Resources
Student Financial Assistance
Look for scholarships, Federal Work-Study positions, military benefits and other funding assistance.
Academic Commons
Book peer tutoring or review sessions, research and writing help, step-by-step study strategies, language support and more.
Center for Career Services
Take advantage of career and job search coaching, self-assessment services, résumé development, networking and more. (Services offered to students and alumni.)
Undergraduate Advising
Get assistance from your Columbian College academic advisor to navigate declaring a major or minor and other academic support.
Undergraduate Research Award
Apply for this $5,000 research award, open to first-years, sophomores and juniors.
GW Noyce STEM Teaching Program
Apply to earn a stipend and credit to support a unique service project focused on high-need populations.