The Department
The Department of Physics and Space Sciences at Florida Tech offers students a solid foundation in the physical sciences with the personalized attention of our 15 full-time faculty. Our department was the first in the country to offer a degree in Space Sciences, and we are still among only a handful that offers this degree today. Our graduates obtain employment at NASA, in the private-sector space industry, and academia.

We are able to offer our students unique real-world learning opportunities in a range of areas:

Florida Tech is one of just two Florida universities listed by Peterson's Top Colleges for Science, with our department playing a prominent role in that distinction. Our department has about 160 undergraduate students making us one of the largest Physics and Space Sciences departments in the country. Despite our size, we still have a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 12:1 allowing us to offer hands-on research experiences to all of our students. All of our major courses are taught by department faculty and typical class size for upper division major classes is 15 or less. The University as a whole has a student to faculty ratio of 11:1, allowing small class sizes, unique field, research, and project experiences, and the ability of the student to build good working relationships with faculty.

In January 2005, the Department of Physics and Space Sciences at Florida Tech doubled its on-campus office and laboratory space with the completion of the F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Building. It now provides 14 teaching and 21 research laboratories. We will also soon new on-campus astronomical observatory with an Internet-accessible automated 0.8-m research telescope and fifteen smaller instructional telescopes. A 3,500 sq. ft. “high bay” physics research hall will initially be used for magnetic levitation launch systems and high energy physics research.

The University
Florida Institute of Technology is an accredited, coeducational, independently controlled and supported university. At Florida Institute of Technology we are committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and research in the sciences, engineering, technology, management and related disciplines, as well as providing the challenges that motivate our students to reach their full academic and professional potential. Today, over 4,200 students are enrolled, with more than 2,800 students on the Melbourne campus and about 1,400 at our off-campus graduate centers. All of the off-campus students and more than 750 on-campus students are enrolled in graduate programs. We offer more than 140 degree programs in science and engineering, aviation, management, humanities, psychology and communication. Doctoral degrees are offered in 20 isciplines, while more than 60 master's degrees are offered. Our location in Melbourne, a esidential community on Florida's Space Coast, offers a delightful year-round subtropical climate and inviting ocean beaches. This location also gives us a unique place in the academic world. Corporations whose scientists and engineers are making tomorrow's technological breakthroughs for the U.S. space program surround the Kennedy Space Center. Moreover, the growing number of high-tech, innovative businesses and industries in the Melbourne area help to make Florida's business environment one of the most promising and exciting in the nation, and enables our faculty to stay abreast of the latest challenges and developments in the scientific, technical and business worlds. Overall, Florida Tech's location is ideal for keeping pace with developments in science, technology and business.

Travel Directions

From I-95, take exit 180 (old exit # 71, U.S. 192) and go east to Country Club Road (approximately five miles); turn south on Country Club Road, continue (approximately one-half mile) to the main campus or continue on US 192 one block east to Babcock Street, turn south on Babcock Street, continue (approximately one-half mile) to the main campus.

From US 1 South or North, turn west on US 192 (New Haven Avenue); continue to Babcock Street (approximately one mile); turn south on Babcock Street, continue (approximately one-half mile) to the main campus or continue on US 192 one block west to Country Club Road; turn south on Country Club Road, continue (approximately one-half mile) to the main campus.

From Melbourne International Airport, turn east on NASA Boulevard; continue one block to Airport Boulevard; turn south onto Airport Boulevard and continue (approximately three miles) to US 192 (New Haven Avenue); turn east (one block) to Country Club Road; turn south on Country Club Road, continue (approximately one-half mile) to the main campus

Once on campus, park in the lot indicated on the map below ("3"), next to the Physical Sciences Building ("2").  The Department Office is on the ground floor, in the middle of the building near the elevator.