物理学试图发现支配我们宇宙的基本规律或“定律”，并运用这些定律来解释基本和复杂系统的行为。物理系提供物理学，物理学（天体物理学），应用物理学和物理教育专业。这些课程使学生为物理学，天体物理学和天文学的研究生工作，工业的工程和其他技术职位以及教育职业做好准备。这些专业开设了其他学科的适当课程，为生物学，化学，工程，地球物理学和科学哲学等技术课程的高级学习提供了出色的准备。应用物理专业为毕业后直接为工业职位做好了很好的准备。
Physics seeks to discover the fundamental regularities or laws that govern our universe and to apply these laws to explain the behavior of fundamental and complex systems. The Physics Department offers majors in physics, physics (astrophysics), and applied physics. These programs prepare students for graduate work in physics, astrophysics and astronomy, for engineering and other technical positions in industry, and for careers in education. With appropriate courses in other disciplines, these majors provide excellent preparation for advanced study in technical subjects such as biology, chemistry, engineering, geophysics, and the philosophy of science. The applied physics major is excellent preparation for positions in industry directly upon graduation.<br><br>Learning Experience<br>Astrophysics students and faculty use a number of UCSC research facilities: The Theoretical Astrophysics Santa Cruz (TASC) Institute, University of California Observatories (headquartered at UCSC), and the Supercomputing Laboratory for Undergraduates (SLUG). Lick Observatory, home to the first automated planet-finding telescope, provides additional local research opportunities.<br><br>Study and Research Opportunities<br><br>B.S., M.S., Ph.D., undergraduate minor, and a combined B.S./M.S. degree<br>The number of research opportunities for physics undergraduates is exceptionally high.<br>Within upper-division classes we offer a wide array of labs, including astronomical labs where students operate UC telescopes, and computational labs where students write their own codes.<br>The senior thesis requirement enables students to interact professionally with faculty in a research environment.