The Department was established in the year 1970 under the Faculty of Science.  Dr. K. S. Viswanathan, eminent theoretical Physicist and student of Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman, was the founder Head of the department. The Department started functioning with a UGC sponsored Post M.Sc Diploma Course in Space Physics, with 7 students and a few research scholars. From the modest beginning, it has grown into one of the largest and most bustling centres of academic activity.  The department has received support from DST under the FIST programme.  At present the department offers M.Sc., M. Phil and Ph.D programmes in Physics.