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

New York University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $53,770 average out-state tuition; $53,770 average in-state tuition

The Pennsylvania State University

Four or more years; Public; $25,084 average out-state tuition; $15,400 average in-state tuition

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Four or more years; Public; $13,484 average out-state tuition; $13,484 average in-state tuition

Columbia College Chicago

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $26,610 average out-state tuition; $26,610 average in-state tuition

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $32,644 average out-state tuition; $17,416 average in-state tuition

Naval Postgraduate School

Four or more years; Public

Scholarships for Acoustics Majors

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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.

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The 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...

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The 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...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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...

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Big Bang Theory Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field at the University of California-Los Angeles. To be considered for this award, you must be a resident of Southern California, demonstrate financial need, and show a strong commitment to STEM studies and extracurriculars.

View Scholarship Details
 

Big Bang Theory Scholarship

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field at the University of California-Los Angeles. To be considered for this award, you must be a resident of Southern California, demonstrate financial need, and show a strong commitment to STEM studies and extracurriculars.

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Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship

Mississippi State University

$10,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Mississippi State University who plan on studying engineering, technology, computer science, physics, or chemistry. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a graduate of Brookhaven High School or Brookhaven Academy to be eligible for this award.

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Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship

Mississippi State University

award

$10,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Swalm Brookhaven Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Mississippi State University who plan on studying engineering, technology, computer science, physics, or chemistry. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a graduate of Brookhaven High School or Brookhaven Academy to be eligible for this award.

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Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$10,000 April 22, 2025 See Details

Description

The Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award is available to full-time undergraduate students under the age of 25 who are dependents of Norfolk Southern Corporation or Norfolk Southern Railway Company. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this renewable award.

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Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award

Norfolk Southern Corporation

award

$10,000

deadline

April 22, 2025
See Details

Description

The Norfolk Southern Scholars STEM Award is available to full-time undergraduate students under the age of 25 who are dependents of Norfolk Southern Corporation or Norfolk Southern Railway Company. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this renewable award.

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Veterans and Family Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

Up to $10,000 May 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

View Scholarship Details
 

Veterans and Family Scholarship

For A Bright Future Foundation

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

May 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.

View Scholarship Details