The Department of Applied Physics offers qualified students with backgrounds in physics and mathematics the opportunity to do undergraduate coursework and projects in physics relevant to technological applications and natural phenomena.
Aside from the hands-on practical sessions in our General and Advanced Physics laboratories and the highly trained technical staff, our students receive relevant industrial training in their third year.
Final-year students are also required to work independently on a project in a selected area of specialization in Applied Physics.
The final year projects are well designed to help students apply their knowledge in Physics to solve challenging and practical problems. Student projects are supervised by the Department members and also by various members of other departments such as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Project activities are conducted in our advanced laboratories and collaboration with other Department laboratories.
HISTORY: The Applied Physics Department got the first batch of students during the 2003/04 academic year with twenty (24) pioneer students. Twenty-three (23) – students of the first batch of the Department graduated on 23rd December 2006. At that time the student population of the Department comprised seventy (70) males and one (1) female with four (4) lecturers, one (1) administrative staff and one (1) technician with Dr. O. A. Obawole as the Head of Department. The number of students currently in the Applied Physics program is forty-two (42). Academic staff strength stands at thirteen (8); five (5) Senior Lecturers, three (3) lecturers and one (1) Assistant Lecturer with one chief technician and one Senior Administrative Assistant.
It is quite interesting to note that two of the products of the Department are currently serving as lecturers at the University for Development Studies and C.K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science;
Available information indicates that a good number of our products are pursuing various postgraduate programs/degrees competing favorably in Universities around the globe. At least five (5) are on record to have graduated with a PhD. degrees.
Our Mission
The mission of the Department is to train Applied Physicists who can contribute effectively to global socioeconomic development by applying sustainable technological innovations premised on sound principles of physics.
We seek out and develop new areas of physics with a broad impact on science, engineering and society through research and education.
We believe that the key to our success as a department, both past and going forward, lies in strongly encouraging intellectual agility and interdisciplinary through the creative mixing of ideas from the physical sciences, engineering, and biological sciences.
Indeed, many ideas and inventions to emerge from the department will make revolutionary contributions to telecommunications, biotechnology, and our abilities to visualize microscopic matter and test fundamental physical principles.
Our Objectives
To ensure the achievement of the objectives of our programme(s), students, at all levels, are assigned Academic Advisers who provide academic guidance and counselling.
- Develop in the student a sound understanding of the underlying scientific principles of technological systems and industrial processes.
- Appreciate the use of theoretical and experimental physics as a tool to further the development of the country.
- Equip the students with the ability to apply theoretical knowledge of physics to the solution of local technological and industrial problems.
- Develop the skills of students in the use of modern technology such as computer control and data communication.
- Develop creativity in students, broaden their minds and orient them towards research, problem identifications and finding solutions which can enhance the scientific and technological advancement of the country.
- Develop students’ appreciation for Experimental and Theoretical Physics so that students can pursue higher degrees in physics or related disciplines.
- Develop the creative talents of students for indigenous technologies.
Dr. Philip Mensah | HOD, Applied Physics
The Department of Applied Physics is currently headed by Dr. Philip Mensah, a Senior Lecturer in laser & fibre Optic communications and 3-D Digital Holographic Imaging in the long infrared wavelength with distinguished scholarly publications in reputed academic journals.
The head ensures that the department staff and students receive high-quality administrative support in a manner compliant with CKT-UTAS policies and procedures, and leverages available resources to help advance the department’s mission in particular and the University as a whole.
Undergraduate Programmes
- BSc. Applied Physics
- BSc. Medical Physics
- BSc. Geophysics
- BSc. Industrial Physics
Postgraduate Programmes
- MPhil. Industrial Physics
Dr. Philip Kwasi Mensah
Dr. Jude Simons Bayor
Dr. Aaron Nsorbila Adazabra
Dr. Esmond Agurgo Balfour
Mr. Daniel Gyasi-Antwi
Mr. Fosu-Kwabena Amankwah
Mrs. Victoria Emefa Akposoe
Mr. Fatai Usman
There are many different career choices open to our Applied Physicist graduates, including research labs and positions in academia and the job market.
Our Applied Physics graduates go directly into the workforce and enjoy careers in;
- Hospitals as Medical Physicists.
- Telecommunications
- Electrical/Electronic Technology Industry
- Oil and Gas Industry as Geophysicists
- Fabrication Industry as Material Scientists
- Research and university Labs as Research Scientists.
- Higher Education Institutions as Lecturers (after MPhil/PhD)
- Secondary Schools as Teachers
Other professions where our graduates would be useful include; Meteorologist/Climate Scientist, Nuclear Engineer/Physicist, Operations Researcher, Systems developer, Patent Lawyer/Attorney (Overseas). Our students are also well-trained to pursue further studies in competitive disciplines at postgraduate levels. In particular, our Applied Physics programme provides an excellent preparation;
- Pathways to graduate-level programmes in physics-related areas including; engineering, condensed matter, optical physics, and biophysics, as well as areas such as high energy physics and astrophysics.
- For careers that lie at the interfaces of biology, medicine, and physics, and are ideally suited for up-and-coming multidisciplinary areas, such as clean energy and nanotechnology.
- And strong background in core areas, combined with great flexibility in the choice of electives for other cognate Departments; computer science, mathematics, science education majors.
Our Applied Physics degree will set you up well for research-based roles and positions even in social sciences; business, finance and other sectors; IT, legal sector, patent law, transport and utilities.