<p>I will most likely be majoring in physics. If I decide after my four years as a physics major to study engineering, will my physics degree act as a prerequisite? I know that a physics bachelors degree is almost worthless but if I go to grad school I'll most likely get a good job?</p>
<p>A bachelors degree in Physics is by no means “worthless.” It’s true that if you want to work as a <em>physicist</em> you will probably need a PhD in Physics, but I don’t know a single person with a Physics bachelors who is unemployed and unable to find any work. Physics is viewed as a demanding, math-oriented major that is a good basis for pursuing a scientific career in many other fields. </p>
<p>Several Physics majors I know do have jobs as engineers. And it may be entirely possible to get into an Engineering grad program, but you would probably need to take several catch-up engineering courses early in your grad studies. How flexible these grad programs are prepared to be probably varies a bit school to school.</p>
<p>Perhaps it varies by specific engineering field. I tend to agree with coureur that a bit of catch up might be required. </p>
<p>Are you contemplating computer science by any chance? I have a son who is majoring in computer science/math. We were discussing what it takes to be a cs grad. student not long ago, and he said it is entirely possible to enter the cs field as a graduate student w/o a cs undergrad. degree–assuming a good deal of math, which a physics student would have.</p>
<p>I have a friend who was a Physics grad at UCLA that got his MBA and is doing financial modeling for one of the big movie studios.</p>
<p>Another friend from B-school got his physics degree at Yale, then his math MS at USC, then his MBA at UCLA. He started Metropolitan West Asset Management with a couple of ex-Pimco ex- Hotchkis and Wiley co-workers about 15 years back. He was (and I think still is) the Chief Investment Officer. The company sold not too long ago to TCW for an ungodly sum of money.</p>
<p>Physics grads can do most anything. Wall St. calls them rocket scientists.</p>
<p>Thanks. My impression was always that a physics degree was only good if you follow it up with grad school. I just want to know if I could potentially go into something like mechanical/electrical engineering if I decide that’s what I want to do.</p>