<p>I was recently accepted to the college of engineering at the University of Michigan with the intent of pursuing a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. However, I have been considering pursuing a career in physics as opposed to engineering (mostly because it has occurred to me that I like the theoretical stuff much more than the applied stuff, and because it seems as though it would grant me the greatest amount of leeway in my selection of graduate studies in case I decide that I don't like something about it). Because of this, I have been weighing my options as to whether or not I should change my major to physics. </p>
<p>Since there already seems to be a wealth of information on this forum and elsewhere about the possibility of a physics major entering graduate school to pursue engineering, I would like to ask if anyone could tell me if it is possible to do the opposite - a BS in engineering entering graduate school to study physics.</p>
<p>It is very easy to go from physics to engineering for a graduate degree. I know several examples of people going into nuclear engineering and materials science among others. It is much harder to go the other way. An M.S. in engineering also means much more than an M.S. in physics. Most top physics schools only grant Master’s if you don’t end up completing a PhD.</p>
<p>@Poeme That’s only for American schools. For most schools outside of the U.S, you need to have a master’s degree just to qualify for the PhD. </p>
<p>As for the OP, just remember to take quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and statistical mechanics as your electives and you should be good to go provided you do well on the GRE. I’ve had TAs who came from engineering and they had little to no trouble with the transition. </p>
<p>Take a look at the list of upper division physics courses for physics majors. You want to include those which do not substantially overlap with your upper division engineering courses in your elective choices.</p>
<p>@Magma55, the OP is going to Michigan so I assume he wants to stay in the U.S. for grad school. Like I said, most Americans who apply to physics PhD programs get their M.S. from their first two years of coursework and the M.S. itself is only significant if you do not complete the PhD. After getting a Bachelor’s in physics from Michigan you would most likely just apply to PhD programs.</p>
<p>By the way @PointOfNoR3turn, Michigan physics is fantastic. The faculty are all really great and are also very nice. They are especially strong in high energy physics and cosmology.</p>
<p>Please note that quantum mechanics, physics theory etc. Are not well prepared for you in an aerospace engineering major. It is very applied, while pure physics is theoretical. This is a common issue that I seem to have with many majors, is that it does sufficiently prepare you for a graduate degree in something that seems similar but is fundamentally off from engineering. If you insist on taking this path you need to make sure you take the right classes as an undergrad, consider minoring in physics or something.</p>
<p>We have experience in taking Engineering majors into our physics graduate program at Illinois Tech. it is possible but each type of engineering major has different missing parts to their physics background that need to be corrected. An Electrical Engineer is generally missing quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and classical mechanics, a Mechanical Engineer is deficient in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and electrodynamics and a Chemical Engineer is missing electrodynamics and classical mechanics (the physical chemistry courses do provide some quantum mechanics). We try to incorporate these missing components in the curriculum when possible so they don’t need to take too many extra courses. These students are often successful in passing all of our Ph.D. requirements.</p>
<p>If you take courses to make up these missing parts, it should be no problem to get into a physics program. after all, that is pretty much what an Engineering Physics degree would give you.</p>
<p>Probably engineering physics at schools where that emulates the physics curriculum but may substitute engineering courses for some of the physics courses (e.g. electromagnetism from the EE department in place of electromagnetism from the physics department).</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I have considered engineering physics before, however the major offered by the University of Michigan is not ABET-accredited. If I do go this route, how much will this lack of accreditation matter in graduate school and in the job marketplace?</p>
<p>For getting into graduate school, ABET accreditation is not a big deal. For the job market it is hard to say. I am sure that there are some employers who are keen on hiring only applicants with ABET accredited degrees but there are others who are more open minded and would hire even a physics major, so accreditation for engineering physics might not be an issue there.</p>
<p>@xraymancs Thanks everyone, once again, for the information. If I were to earn a BS in engineering and then was able to get into graduate school for physics, would I still be somewhat behind the program even if I did take bridge classes? Also, would I be at a disadvantage in the theoretical physics job market if I had a BS in engineering instead of physics even though I had a PhD. in physics?</p>
<p>If you have a Ph.D. in physics your B.S. major is irrelevant for a physics job. For a theoretical physics Ph.D., I would say you would be a bit behind but frankly, you will only really know if you are cut out for theortical physics once you are in a graduate program.</p>