Since its beginning in 1892, UNCG has had a Department of Science. UNCG held its first astronomy class in 1913 that was a required course in the bachelors of pedagogy and the bachelors of science course of study. Physics and astronomy classes were held under the Department of Science until 1900 when the Department of Chemistry and Physics was introduced. The Department of Chemistry and Physics were split within the next year, introducing the Department of Physics in 1901. Many years later, in 1985 the Department of Physics expanded its curriculum and became the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Following the 2023 Academic Portfolio Review, the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the programs within it have been discontinued.
Department Heads:
Dixie Bryant (1892-1900)
Mary Petty (1900-1903)
William Hammel (1903-1916)
Clarence Hewlett (1916-1919)
William Wright (1919-1928)
Norman Foster (1928-1929)
Calvin Warfield (1929-1947)
Anna Reardon (1947-1965)
Clifton Clark (1965-1975)
Francis McCormack (1985-1993)
Gaylor Hageseth (1975-1985,1993-1999)
Steen Danford (1999-2007)
Promod Pratap (2007-2016)
Edward Hellen (2016-2023)
Department Names:
Department of Science (1892-1900)
Department of Chemistry and Physics (1900-1901)
Department of Physics (1901-1985)
The Department of Physics and Astronomy (1985-current)