SDSU物理系的特点是拥有良好的师生比例：高年级物理课程平均少于25名学生，研究生课程约为10名学生。该系积极促进师生之间的紧密联系，教职员工本人最了解上层部门和研究生。专职教授大部分的本科生和研究生的讲座和实验室课程。在SDSU物理系的教学哲学中，非常重视学生的动手经验。物理课程的显着优势是本科生和研究生都积极参与研究。我们的高年级学生与教师合作成为研究合作者。高中和理科硕士学生一起参加各种研究活动，包括研究研讨会和小组会议。
The Department of Physics at San Diego State University is committed to offering every undergraduate and graduate student the fullest opportunity to realize his or her potential as a physicist. The department has a history of teaching excellence and a commitment to continuing this tradition. Although SDSU is a very large institution (over 30,000 students), class sizes in the physics department are small. The personal attention offered to each student is similar to that which exists at considerably smaller institutions. We take a personal stake in the success of each and every student. Faculty members are always very accessible to undergraduate and graduate students alike.<br><br>The Master's degree program is a rigorous curriculum requiring both course work and a thesis (M.S. only). Typically, M.S. theses result in scientific publications for the students. The broad range of professional interests of our faculty affords our students a the opportunity of choosing among a wide range of thesis topics, many of which in applied phyics. A M.S. degree in Physics from SDSU is a highly respected degree, not just a consolation prize as is often the case at other institutions. Like our bachelors students, our Master's degree graduates are highly regarded by both industry and academia.