The Department of Physics is one of the original departments of UT Dallas since its beginning in 1961. The department grew from the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, a research institute started by Texas Instruments (TI) scientists and engineers. Close ties to TI continue to this day as evidenced by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, a 192,000-square-foot research facility designed in cooperation with TI. Our faculty includes world-renowned experts in space science, cosmology and astrophysics, particle and high-energy physics, nanotechnology, materials science among others. Faculty members are affiliated with and conduct research at physics facilities worldwide, including the Large Hadron Collider.

Physics graduates from UT Dallas arrive at graduate school or in the work force prepared to work in the vast array of fields open to modern graduates with a background in physics. Nanotechnology and other contemporary and emerging disciplines are covered throughout the educational process, which ensures that our graduates are ready to excel in highly competitive, sophisticated science environments.