Program overview
Acoustics might sound niche, but it's everywhere—from smartphone microphones to concert hall design, from hospital ultrasounds to submarine sonar. This major falls under physics, focusing on understanding the physical principles of sound: vibration, waves, sound fields, auditory perception, and more. You'll study foundational physics, math, signal processing, and specialized courses like architectural acoustics, electroacoustics, ultrasonics, and noise control. There are plenty of hands-on experiments, such as measuring room reverberation time, designing a speaker, or simulating sound propagation with software. China has strong expertise in acoustics, with universities like Nanjing University, Harbin Engineering University, and the University of Science and Technology of China hosting dedicated acoustics institutes and labs, especially renowned in underwater acoustics and architectural acoustics. This major suits students who are curious about physics and sound, enjoy hands-on work, and like solving real-world problems.