About

The Department of Physics at UC Santa Barbara has seen exponential growth since its inception in 1944, comprising then just a small handful of students and faculty interested in pushing the limits of scientific discovery. Currently housing two Nobel Prize winners, 16 memberships of the National Academies, and a host of award winning faculty, UC Santa Barbara’s relatively small Physics Department is now ranked among the top 10 graduate programs in the Nation.

The Physics Department is located in Broida Hall, named after Herbert P. Broida, a distinguished early member of the Department who made many contributions to molecular physics, laser spectroscopy and related fields.

The Physics Department at UC Santa Barbara is steered by a clear mission:

• Provide a world-class education to its students that will prepare them for a diverse range of professional careers requiring a strong technical background. » Education
• Perform cutting-edge research across broad and inter-disciplinary fields. » Research
• Share expertise and communicate the excitement of science both locally and globally. » News & Events

These goals have led the Department of Physics at UC Santa Barbara from relative obscurity 40 years ago to placement as one of the most innovative and robust programs in the country.