<p>"This program is not accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission or Computing Accreditation
Commission of the ABET, Inc."</p>
<p>This is what UCB says.</p>
<p>How would this impact someone with this degree after graduation?</p>
<p>At UCBerkeley, I doubt that would be an issue. Trustworthy enough school as it is.</p>
<p>I was using UCB as an example really. What about other places?</p>
<p>I think it’s mostly a degree for people who want to go to graduate school. If you want to go into industry it’s really not worth doing. As to what the degree is and why it’s not accredited, it varies from school to school. The main reason is that your substituting a few engineering classes for high level physics classes, meaning you’re less of an engineer and more of a scientist than someone who does the standard degree. </p>
<p>There are some fairly sketchy EP degrees where you take a mix of courses across each department. The better ones come from schools where you can do a concentration in a certain type of engineering (Like OSU’s: [OSU</a> Undergraduate Physics: Engineering Physics Major Courses](<a href=“http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/undergrad/bs_engphysics.php]OSU”>http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/undergrad/bs_engphysics.php)). These allow you to double major in EP and your concentration with just 3-4 extra classes in case you want the standard degree for job applications (some HR departments filter out EP applicants because they don’t understand the degree).</p>
<p>I was under the impression Engineering Physics would be a perfect major for me. I’d like to go into engineering, but am also interested in studying theoretical physics. But it seems to me now that engineering physics is more expensive (as I’d have to go to graduate school before I can join the workforce), not ideal for job seekers (if what you said is correct about the HR depts), and, judging from the curriculm/class schedules, more difficult.</p>
<p>But if I could concentrate on a specific type of engineering, it should be worth it, right?</p>
<p>It’s very hard to judge from where I am standing now…how can a high school kid have in depth knowledge of engineering job markets, and be expected to make rational decisions?</p>
<p>Don’t let me turn you off the major, but if you want to start working after four years, it’s not ideal. I don’t know much about physics majors but I’m pretty sure if you wanted to work in theoretical physics, you’d have to get a PhD. If you want to work in a more practical engineering field, however, you’re just not going to need that kind of knowledge. If you want to study physics as a hobby/interest you might be better of taking some elective classes. Here’s an idea of what graduates do with the degree (EP at UCB is part of the Eng Science program): <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/EngrSci.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/EngrSci.stm</a></p>
<p>As for graduate school, don’t worry about the cost. If you’re going for a PhD you have tuition waived and you’ll receive a ~25K yearly stipend to pay for housing and whatnot. If you’re more interested in business/industry, though, a PhD won’t be very useful. That being said there’s little theoretical physics in industry, so it would become more of an independent interest than anything.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about choosing the perfect major or overthink graduate school as an HS student either. Most schools have a common first semester/year curriculum for the engineers where they can explore the different departments. Even if you don’t go to a school with an EP major, you can always take physics electives.</p>
<p>Edit: These have some good stuff on the major too. <a href=“http://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/aa3pr/applied_physics_engineering_physics_a_good_field/[/url]”>http://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/aa3pr/applied_physics_engineering_physics_a_good_field/</a>
<a href=“http://www.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/rf9o9/is_pursuing_an_engineering_physics_major_a_bad/[/url]”>http://www.reddit.com/r/AskEngineers/comments/rf9o9/is_pursuing_an_engineering_physics_major_a_bad/</a></p>
<p>At some schools (e.g. Harvard, Harvey Mudd), all engineering is under one degree program, which is ABET accredited as an engineering science or engineering physics degree program, where the student can choose courses to focus on electrical, mechanical, etc. areas.</p>
<p>That may be somewhat different from an engineering physics major like the one at Berkeley which is modeled more on a physics major, but allows the substitution of some engineering courses for physics courses (e.g. electromagnetic fields and waves from the EE department instead of electromagnetism from the physics department) and has some additional engineering course requirements.</p>
<p>ABET accreditation does matter if you intend to get a Professional Engineer license (this is most common in civil engineering).</p>
<p>There is a lack of standardization on what eng. phys. is and a lot of people (like potential employers, or your own professors) aren’t clear on what it is. At my school, OSU, until the semester switch is was effectively a BS in advanced physics with a minor in engineering (you choose <em>which</em> engineering). You can still do it that way, but they’ve put in a lot more customization, kind of like a dimmer switch controlling how much physics/engineering you emphasize.</p>
<p>If you want to go into industry, then you need to get some industry internships while an undergrad. Show potential employers that you can work in industry.</p>
<p>Is going for a graduate course in engineering physics after doing an undergrad in electrical engineering a good option? I’d like to do some research for few years and then get into the industry… What do you think?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s offered at the graduate level.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Correction…</p>
<p>Cornell and U-Virginia offer M.S./M.Eng degrees in Engineering Physics as far as more well-known schools.</p>
<p>U-Tulsa, George Mason Univ and Appalachian State offer M.S./M.Eng degrees in Engineering Physics as far as lesser know schools.</p>
<p>UC-San Diego and U-Wisconsin offer Engineering Physics options within other M.S./M.Eng engineering disciplines (UCSD via Aero & Mech and Wisconsin via Nuclear).</p>