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SUNY GCC - Genesee Community College

Do you like to investigate how things work? Are you curious about space, energy, transportation, medicine, structural design, technology, climate and the environment, financial matters, sports or even gaming? Physics plays an integral role in nearly every major career path. With an Associate of Science degree from Genesee Community College in Liberal Arts Natural Science with a concentration in Physics you will have taken the first step toward any of these diverse career paths.

GCC’s coursework in physics, chemistry and mathematics will provide the skills and knowledge needed to investigate and understand the laws of the universe and is the route to many different dynamic professions. Successful completion of an associate in science degree allows you to continue your studies as a third year student in any SUNY four-year college or university or transfer to a private institution.

Why GCC?

19:1 – As a ratio, that is the average number of students in class to each GCC faculty member. That means small classes and plenty of one-on-one instruction. GCC also offers free tutoring to help students individually in areas of specific need. Additionally, state-of-the-art technology has always been a priority at GCC – from the science labs to the new Food Processing Technology lab, the outdoor Nature Trail to the dozens of online databases at the library.  There are also smart classrooms and WiFi connections across all campus locations, and 26 open-access computer labs.

Finally, GCC is friendly and prides itself on being flexible and accessible. Classes are offered day and night at seven campus locations, and each semester more than 100 courses are offered online. There are also nine different academic sessions in a year, allowing you to create a course schedule that accommodates employment or family care responsibilities.

 

Degree Types

Associate In Science: Physics Concentration (AS)

AS Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

Upon successful completion of the Liberal Arts & Science: Natural Sciences, A.S. the student will be able to:

  1. Apply quantitative skills to solve scientific problems.
  2. Produce results or findings scientific investigations or experimentation, documenting as appropriate.
  3. Analyze and interpret scientific data.
  4. Design solutions to scientific problems, based upon carefully planned and executed processes.
  5. Explain the foundational theories and principles of at least one of the major fields of the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics).

PHYSICS Concentration

  1. Apply a variety of physics principles to scientific problems (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, waves and optics, relativity, quantum mechanics, etc.).
  2. Use advanced quantitative skills to solve physics problems (calculus, vector arithmetic, differential equations, linear algebra, etc.).

Download the 2024-2025 Curriculum Worksheet for AS [PDF]

College Students walking on outside on campus

Career Outlook

In New York State, the average annual wage for an occupation in physics is $72,390 for entry level workers and $152,210 for experienced workers. Among the many careers that can begin with a foundation in physics from GCC:

  • Aeronautical Engineer
  • Air traffic controller
  • Analysts (multiple fields)
  • Architect
  • Astronomer
  • Audio engineer
  • Civil engineer
  • Climatologist
  • Clinical scientist
  • Drilling engineer
  • Electrical engineer
  • Energy & utilities manager
  • Energy assessor
  • Energy consultant
  • Energy engineer
  • Engineering geologist
  • Environmental safety engineer
  • Geophysicist
  • Hazardous waste assessor
  • Hydrologist
  • Lab assistant
  • Laser engineer
  • Mechanical engineer
  • Mining engineer
  • Nuclear engineer
  • Oil broker
  • Optical engineer
  • Petroleum engineer
  • Physical sciences technician
  • Piping specialist
  • Professor / teacher
  • Researcher
  • Sustainability officer
  • Systems engineer
  • Test engineer

Contact Career Services for more information.

Transfer Opportunities

Starting at GCC saves many students and their families thousands of dollars in tuition. With an A.S. or A.A. degree you will be able to seamlessly transfer within the SUNY network of 64 college and universities as well as to many 4-year private institutions. GCC’s A.S. and A.A. programs were developed as part of the SUNY seamless transfer initiative allowing students to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree as a freshman and a sophomore at a community college, then seamlessly transfer to a SUNY four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Please reference the SUNY Transfer Pathways for degree programs to learn about any campus specific requirements. Visit the SUNY Core Course Finder to plan out the courses you should complete to transfer to a 4-year SUNY School.

If you are planning to transfer to a 4-year private institution you should work with our Transfer Services office to learn about possible articulation agreements and pathways that exist for many or our degree programs. Some GCC A.A.S. programs also have transfer opportunities.

Transfer opportunities include, but are not limited to:

  • Canisius College
  • Houghton College
  • Niagara University
  • Roberts Wesleyan College
  • St. John Fisher College
  • SUNY College at Brockport
  • SUNY College of ESF
  • SUNY College at Geneseo
  • SUNY University at Buffalo

To learn more about these opportunities and agreements contact the Transfer Services Office, we are more than happy to work with you and answer any questions you may have on building your own personalized transfer plan.