Acoustics
Acoustics is the branch of physics that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including topics such as vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics technology may be called an acoustical engineer. The application of acoustics is present in almost all aspects of modern society with the most obvious being the audio and noise control industries.
Hearing is one of the most crucial means of survival in the animal world, and speech is one of the most distinctive characteristics of human development and culture. Accordingly, the science of acoustics spreads across many facets of human society—music, medicine, architecture, industrial production, warfare and more. Likewise, animal species such as songbirds and frogs use sound and hearing as a key element of mating rituals or marking territories. Art, craft, science and technology have provoked one another to advance the whole, as in many other fields of knowledge. Robert Bruce Lindsay's 'Wheel of Acoustics' is a well accepted overview of the various fields in acoustics.
The word "acoustic" is derived from the Greek word ἀκουστικός (akoustikos), meaning "of or for hearing, ready to hear" and that from ἀκουστός (akoustos), "heard, audible", which in turn derives from the verb ἀκούω (akouo), "I hear".
The Latin synonym is "sonic", after which the term sonics used to be a synonym for acoustics and later a branch of acoustics. Frequencies above and below the audible range are called "ultrasonic" and "infrasonic", respectively.
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Matching Acoustics Colleges
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New York University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $53,770 average out-state tuition; $53,770 average in-state tuition |
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The Pennsylvania State University
Four or more years; Public; $25,084 average out-state tuition; $15,400 average in-state tuition |
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Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Four or more years; Public; $13,484 average out-state tuition; $13,484 average in-state tuition |
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Columbia College Chicago
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $26,610 average out-state tuition; $26,610 average in-state tuition |
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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Four or more years; Public; $32,644 average out-state tuition; $17,416 average in-state tuition |
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Naval Postgraduate School
Four or more years; Public |
Scholarships for Acoustics Majors
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM ScholarshipU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
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award Up to $30,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs. View Scholarship Details |
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Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Fellows ScholarshipRev. Jesse Jackson Fellows Scholarship |
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award $25,000 |
deadline May 31, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Fellows Scholarship is available to rising sophomore who have completed a full freshman year at a four-year educational institution. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM or a business-related field, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be involved in community service and/or leadership activities. In order to be considered for... View Scholarship Details |
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Science Post Graduate Scholarship FundNative Forward Scholars Fund |
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award Up to $30,000 |
deadline June 01, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled members or descendants of members of federally and state recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native groups. You must demonstrate financial need and be pursuing a degree in a STEM field to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAIDUniversity of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) |
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award $20,000 |
deadline May 15, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within... View Scholarship Details |
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Rice University Astronaut ScholarshipRice University |
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award Up to $15,000 |
deadline February 22, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Rice University Astronaut Scholarship is open to rising junior and senior-level undergraduate students at Rice University who majoring in a STEM subject. To be eligible for this opportunity, you must be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled on a full-time basis. Scholarship programming includes an Astronaut Scholar conference, mentorship,... View Scholarship Details |
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Marian H. Rose Research ScholarshipSociety of Physics Students |
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award $15,000 |
deadline March 15, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Marian H. Rose Research Scholarship is open to female or female-identifying graduate students. You must be majoring in physics or a related field, be a member of Sigma Pi Sigma or an SPS alumnus, be in good academic standing and demonstrate intent to pursue meaningful research in order to be eligible for this award. Preference given to... View Scholarship Details |
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SEI Native American Education ScholarshipSolar Energy International (SEI) |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of... View Scholarship Details |
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SEI General ScholarshipSolar Energy International (SEI) |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe SEI General Scholarship is available to students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected students to help facilitate their professional development and eventual entry into the solar energy workforce. View Scholarship Details |
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SEI Energy Women in Solar ScholarshipSolar Energy International (SEI) |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their... View Scholarship Details |
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EAGLES Scholarship - PSUPortland State University |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and... View Scholarship Details |
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Acoustics Related Majors
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Astronomy
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
- Astrophysics
- Physical Sciences
- Forensic Chemistry
- Meteorology
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Planetary Astronomy and Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Paleontology
- Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
- Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Nuclear Physics
- Chemical Physics
- Hydrology and Water Resources Science
- Geophysics and Seismology
