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Physics

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Begin a Career with a Physics Degree!

Launch your journey to a professional, STEM career! A Physics degree can lead to careers as astronomers, meteorologists, solar energy developers, atmospheric scientists and more. Our Physics (AS) degree strengthens your foundational understanding of the sciences while fulfilling the general education requirements needed to enter your STEM program of study at a four-year Oregon public university. Complete your two-year degree at Southwestern and enter as a junior in the physics programs at: Oregon State University, University of Oregon or Portland State University. Study foundational concepts and mathematical models important to the understanding of matter and energy. Become comfortable testing hypothesis in a laboratory or the field and communicating your findings via written, spoken, and visual representations. Speak with an advisor for specific transfer requirements and take the next step toward reaching a Physics degree!

Enroll now! We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to become a student.
Apply Now

Get helpful updates on programs, deadlines, and other tips about enrolling.
Request Info

Come see why Southwestern Oregon Community College is a great place to learn.
Visit

CONTACT
Text or Call: 541-240-8227
Email

Partner with NASA and other national research organizations

Save Money

Tuition & fees at Southwestern are half that of major state universities.

Degrees

Specific overview, class descriptions and courses you’ll take for this degree.

Physics Degree

Lay the foundation for a successful transition to a partner university: 

LAUNCH YOUR FUTURE

Research Opportunities

Click HERE To Apply For The South Coast Challenge

Benefit from small classes. Explore with hands-on experiments.

Work on innovative research projects. Collaborate on inventions through InventOR.

Apply for SWOCC Foundation scholarships. We award $40k/year in STEM scholarships.

MEET OUR STUDENTS

“Southwestern provided a way for me to begin my education without having to spend nearly as much money as at a university. I started in community college, but I’m headed to MIT – a world-renowned university. Southwestern helped me get there.”
Nicole Wales, Physics Student

JOB INFO

$46.45/hr is the average for Physicists

$33.21/hr is the average for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

$27.62/hr is the average for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$47.93/hr is the average for Atmospheric and Space Scientists

$45.61/hr is the average for Natural Sciences Managers

$73.20/hr is the average for Nuclear Engineers

$47.94/hr is the average for Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

$57.98/hr is the average for Biochemists and Biophysicists

Source: Oregon Employment Department

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

DR. AARON COYNER, PHD
“Physics is the science of discovering the workings of the universe. Teaching physics is the art of making the workings of the universe attainable.”

Dr. Aaron Coyner is a solar physicist by trade and the physics faculty at Southwestern. He is an avid amateur astronomer, and a proponent for lifelong science exploration. Dr. Coyner has research experience having spent graduate school at Rice University, and a three-year post-doctoral research term at NASA/Goddard Spaceflight Center. He has teaching experience at the community college and university level in physics, astronomy, meteorology, and engineering.

Dr. Coyner’s goal in teaching is to make science and engineering accessible to everyone. He hopes to instill a sense of wonder and an increased desire for exploration among students of all ages and backgrounds. As a professor, he relies on making tangible connections with students through comparisons to everyday life or familiar references, and strives to create hands-on research and innovation opportunities to drive students to further exploration. These activities include: mentoring students in NASA OSGC SCORE projects in solar physics and other subjects; maintaining the Southwestern Physics Experimental Atmospheric Research (SPEAR) high-altitude balloon group – for students interested in weather and atmospheric science; and serving as a faculty lead for Southwestern’s participation in the statewide Invent Oregon (InventOR) competition.

*The material contained in this document is based upon work supported by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant or cooperative agreement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.

Physics and Astronomy Lecture Series

Compelling, relevant speakers lecture on a variety of subjects related to physics, space exploration and the cosmos.

Watch live or check out our archive.

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