Student Organizations

Physics majors contribute to the wide variety of student organizations available at Davidson by leading and participating in Society of Physics Students (SPS) events, both on and off campus.

In addition, eligible Davidson physics majors carry on the long tradition of being inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the national honor society in physics, which was founded at Davidson in 1921.

Society of Physics Students (SPS)

We have a very active chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) that routinely receives the honor of an Outstanding Chapter Award from the national SPS. Our chapter routinely hosts:

• Stargazing events on and off campus
• Outreach programs to elementary, middle, and high schools
• Presentations and lectures at conferences
• Physics seminars with outside speakers

Activities also include the coolest Halloween Haunted House on campus (we are physics majors after all) and the sharing of information regarding physics and astronomy research opportunities, scholarships, outreach, conferences and contests.

Sigma Pi Sigma

In 1921, students and faculty in the Physics Department at Davidson founded the original chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics Honors Society. Sigma Pi Sigma is the official honor society of the physics profession. Through election to Sigma Pi Sigma, distinctive achievement and high scholarship in physics is recognized and celebrated. Today, there are over 740 chapters across the continental United States.

An inductee into Sigma Pi Sigma must be in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship. A higher minimum average is often established for physics courses. Students must have completed at least three semesters of full-time college work and at least three semester courses in physics to be eligible.