Engineering to Physics?

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm currently an engineering major at a top public school. I have been considering applying to physics Ph.D. programs next year for Fall 2010.</p>

<p>Over the past two summers I have done research in accelerator physics and plasma physics, and I have become interested in it. For that reason I wish to apply to physics grad school programs. However, I do not have the background in terms of the coursework for it. I know I will have to take the subject GRE, and I probably will have to take some undergrad classes if I get accepted.</p>

<p>I am currently a fourth year, and I still have one more year before I graduate. I could switch majors for undergrad, but I feel that I have come too far in engineering to just turn away, at least for undergrad. I could switch majors now, and that will mean that I will have to take ~4 physics classes for the next four quarters. However, I fear that most grad programs will not look to favorably on this. No? </p>

<p>How difficult will it be to get into a physics Ph.D. program with an undergraduate engineering degree?</p>

2

<p>I think it's harder to go from engineering to physics than from physics to engineering. You will have to do the subject GRE which is considerably harder than the general GRE, you'll be behind on coursework, and all of those sorts of things. You might want to look into getting a PhD in engineering, but finding a professor with a joint appointment in your engineering field and physics.</p>

<p>I'd say you should at least try to pick up a minor in physics if you want to apply to those programs. And, even if you can't get a major in physics, try to take as many upper-level courses as possible so you can demonstrate interest in the field (and possibly prepare yourself for the subject GRE a bit, too).</p>