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Physics

Overview

History

Department was established in 2012. The Department owes its development to prior initiatives in other departments such as Academic and Industrial Science Department, Chemical engineering Department (both in then School of Technology), and Physical Sciences Department (SMNS).

Department offers a wide range of programmes, which include a four years B. Sc. Physics and two years M. Sc. Physics and PhD in Physics programs. The B.Sc. Physics program includes specializations in Nuclear Physics, Solid State Physics, Astrophysics and Laser Physics.

The department envisions being a recognized centre of excellence. It is our firm belief that it is achievable through attracting quality students, maintaining sustained excellence in teaching and research leading to quality products and publications. In this vein, we are also fully cognizant of some obvious challenges regarding infrastructure, laboratory equipments and instruments, and recruiting and retaining technical experts.

The D.o.P vision is to train physics graduates who will play very key roles in both public and private sectors of the Zambian economy through production of academicians, researchers, scientific officers, instrumentation engineers, computer hardware/software specialists, information technology experts, meteorological and environmental experts, etc., and offer very exciting intellectual stimulation and job opportunities for our students. We hope we shall live up to these challenges using this strategy.

PROGRAMMES
Physics is the most fundamental of the Natural Sciences. Physics is one of the fundamental fields of natural sciences from which as sprung a lot of other fields. For this reason, the Department of Physics occupies a very important place in the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (SMNS) of the Copperbelt University (CBU). A basic level of Physics is required by anyone who wishes to study any science subject or Mathematics. The Physics first-year courses offer this foundation.
Description:
Students wishing to pursue Physics at higher levels will find various strong programmes being offered by the Department. Specialised areas offered are;
Solid state Physics
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
Laser Physics
Expected outcome
Physics may be taken by itself or in combination with other sciences like Biology, Chemistry and Geology, as well as with Mathematics. In the past, the Department specialised in Solid State Physics, Nuclear Physics, Electronics, and Theoretical Physics. Recently it has diversified its offerings and in addition to the above-mentioned areas, the Department will be offering courses in the new fields of Energy and the Environment, Computational Physics, and Applied Optics and Lasers, just to mention some.
Undergraduate Programmes
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Postgraduate Programmes
Master of Science in Physics
PhD in Physics

Careers/ opportunities

There are several job opportunities in Government Ministries, Mining industries and other institutions, parastatal organizations and private companies, which require the expertise of physics, and these include in;

  • Universities

  • Scientific Institutes

  • Researcher Labs

  • Telecommunications

  • Computer companies

  • Electronics

  • Energy,

  • Environmental research

  • Geophysics,

  • Medical physics

  • Meteorology

  • Mining sector

  • Soil physics in agriculture,

  • Teaching in schools and colleges,

RESEARCHES

Determination of the most economic thickness and energy source in the design of local hemispherical clay pots

Programs

Published:

18th March 2026

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