Introduction

The Department of Physics was established in 1965. Since then more than 1,900 Bachelors, 1200 Masters, and 200 Ph.D's have been graduated. Currently, the department has about 290 university, 100 Masters, and 120 Ph.D students. We provide flexible curricula and various streams to facilitate and widen students' choice and aspects of learning. Our graduates perform excellently in academics as well as in the industry.

Faculty

Our faculty is one of the strongest in Taiwan. Currently, we have 36 professors (including full, associate, and assistant), 5 of which is in the Institute of Astronomy. Among the regular faculty we have 1 Cheng-Wen Chair professor, 5 NTHU Natural Science Chair professors. We also have 18 Adjunct professors from Academia Sinica, the National Synchrotron Center. Research areas include particle physics and fields, gravitation and astrophysics, nuclear physics, statistical and mathematical physics, atomic, molecular and optical physics, condensed matters, microwave and plasma physics.

The research atmosphere is very strong. We have been blessed with the largest funding for research projects from the National Science Council. The number of faculty-times of various academic awards is also the highest in Taiwan, including the NSC Outstanding Research Award, Ministry of Education Academic Excellence Award, Chong-Sun Academic Award, Ministry of Education National Chair Professorship, Lee Yun-Chi Outstanding National Chair Professorship, Fellows of Academic Sinica, and Presidential Award. Each professor is also a mentor for students, taking care of their needs in school work and problems in their daily life. On the average, each mentor has about 8 students, so that the opportunity of interactions among students and teachers is abundant.

Features

Ever since the department was established we have emphasized both teaching and research. On the aspects of teaching our curricula covers on broad areas in physics such that both the university and graduate students can choose, according to their own interests, various important subjects in physics. We are well known for being vigorous in teaching. Among the aspects of research our department covers from fundamental theory to applied sciences, from condensed matter to cosmology, from the smallest to the biggest. In recent years, "XX" and "YY" has placed NTHU Department of Physics the first in a series of teaching and research evaluation.

The Physics Research Promotion Center sponsored by the National ,Science Council was established in NTHU in 1965. The main mission is for the planning and promotion of physics research in the whole nation. The Promotion Center Library was also established, which the most complete collections of books and journals for the whole physics community in Taiwan.

The National Center for Theoretical Sciences was also founded in 1997 and established at NTHU and NCTU. The Physics Division is located in the Physics Building of the department such many professors and students can participate and organize many center activities. Good foundation of exchanging ideas and interactions has significantly improved the research environment and is now taking a leading role in the national theoretical research in various areas.

The Taiwan Institute of Advanced Research in Astrophysics (TIARA) was established in NTHU in 2004, which hopes to be one of the world-class research institute in astronomy.

Divisions

The undergraduates in our department are classified into two divisions: physics and photoelectric divisions, while the Master students are classified into physics, applied physics, and photoelectric divisions.

Curricula

In the design of the curricula in the department, the first two years contain most of the mandatory subjects, including general physics, general physics laboratory, mechanics, electromagnetism, experimental physics. These are the fundamentals for more advanced subjects. In the third year, other than quantum physics, thermal physics and modern physics, all the other classes are elective. A student is required to take at least 130 credits to graduate. The best students should be able to finish in three years. Our department also has special curricula for students intending for applied sciences such photo-electrics, material sciences, computational physics, and biophysics. Students can be admitted to the graduate school after they passed the examination. Since the curricula is quite flexible, the teachers will advise the students, according to their interests and the past grades, to choose the best stream for the students, which is very beneficial for their future after graduation.

Double Majors, Minors

When the students fulfill certain level, they can apply for a double major or a minor. Since the method was introduced, more than 21 graduates have the second major in either mathematics, computer sciences, or electric engineering, and more than 47 have obtained a minor in mathematics, biological sciences, electrical engineering, material sciences, or economics.

Teachers curriculum

If the student satisfies, in addition to all the graduate credits, 26 credits in teachers' education and fulfill other requirements in practice, he/she will be qualified as a secondary school teacher.

Physics Building

The physics building is a seven-story building of about 3,800 "pings" (1 "pings" is about 3.5 sq. meters). We have various well-equipped classrooms and laboratories, audio-video classrooms with well-equipped hardwares and softwares, self-study rooms, a library, and a computer room.

Audio-Video classroom and Colloquium

In the modernized Physics Building, there are two audio-video classrooms for lectures and special needs in teaching. Each one has 130 seats and advanced audio-video equipments, which substantially raise the efficiency in teaching. Our physics often invites well-known scholars from local and abroad to give lectures in these two rooms, e.g., the Honor Chair professor Ta-You Wu hold a lecture series of fundamental physics on each Friday in these rooms.

Library

Besides the excellent collections in the Main Library, our department also includes a departmental library set up by the Physics Research Promotion Center. The Physics Library occupies a space of 210 "pings" and has more than 180 journals from aboard and Taiwan, and 16,000 books. This is the largest physics library in the nation.

Computer Room

The computer room has 14 workstations, a number of personal computers, which are all connected to the internet.

Student Study Room

The department has set up a special "K" room for undergraduate students, which opens 24 hours a day. It has more than 60 desks and 100 lockers with sufficient lighting and air-conditioned.

The future after graduation

Physics is the subject of fundamental sciences that can be applied to various sciences and engineering. At the same time, physics provides excellent training in ability in critical thinking, deduction, and problem solving. Therefore, our physics graduates are well equipped under the excellent teaching and research environment. Not only can they continue their studies in physics, material sciences, atomic sciences, electrical engineering or biological sciences, but also have broad development in various industries like semi-conductor manufacturing, electronics, photo-electrics, instruments, or computer sciences. Our alumni has very well performance in both academics and in industry. A lot of them have been the professors or management directors and research and development managers in industries.