<p>To give a glimpse of my situation, I'm 34 years old and looking to change my career path. Very long story as to why, but in short, I feel like I have achieved all I can in my current field (health and fitness), and need a field that is more challenging and stimulating. I have always loved researching physics on my own, but never delved too deeply into it. Within the last few months, I have decided I want to pursue the field professionally.</p>
<p>Though my ideal path in the field would be in research, I want to keep my career path open to as many opportunities as possible. I have considered education as a minor, however since I am pursuing my PhD, I'm not sure if this is practical. From my research, college physics teaching positions get hundreds of applicants every year, so your chances at getting one of those positions would be slim at best. Additionally, I have heard professors indicate that the work can become quite monotonous due to the specific curriculum you teach, so I'm also wary this might bore me after a while.</p>
<p>So, I'm trying to figure out what minors go good with physics that really open your career opportunities? I don't particularly have an interest in engineering, and I would like a minor that would open opportunities for work that won't be monotonous.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I have considered a minor that would give me more credibility for published material, like writing books on the subject matter, or putting together presentations and being a company representative in public and business presentations, but not sure what minor would be best in that regard. </p></li>
<li><p>I have also considered something in regards to computers, since I already have a decent amount of knowledge in that field and would be ok with some types of computer-related work. </p></li>
<li><p>Business management is also something I considered, especially since I already have professional experience in the field and have always preferred leading rather than being a follower. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Anyway, any suggestions you all have would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Physics isn’t very marketable. You will face stiff competition for a job at the phd level that actually deals with physics. You could also get a job a an analyst.</p>
<p>I suggest you go for an engineering degree to be on the safe side.</p>
<p>I’m a bit surprised you suggested engineering, considering competition is just as bad if not worse in that field. I personally know of two people with a masters in engineering that are unemployed and have been for some time.</p>
<p>I know competition can be fierce in physics, but at the same time, my degree is also about 8-10yrs out at this point. Considering everyone is hearing how stiff the competition is in the field right now, I’d like to think that by the time I get my PhD, things will be different. Even if they aren’t, I’m already in a field where competition is fierce, so that’s nothing new to me.</p>
<p>Anyway, the whole point of me getting a minor in a different field is to keep my options open for a worst-case scenario. Since engineering is a related field, I don’t see it doing me a whole lot of good.</p>
<p>Many physics graduates (including PhDs) end up in non-physics jobs like computer software and finance because there are more of them than actual physics jobs, while those non-physics jobs value them for their analytical/logical/mathematical thinking skills. Some types of engineering jobs not requiring Professional Engineer licensing may also hire some physics graduates.</p>
<p>So if you want to improve your backup job prospects, good minors (or just out-of-major course selections) would be in computer science, math/statistics/economics/finance, or engineering (selecting design courses which do not duplicate what is covered in physics courses).</p>
<p>Would it be correct to guess that your unemployed engineer friends are in civil engineering?</p>
<p>Forget the minor. If you’re serious, you need to be worrying about what school you’re going to if you don’t have that lined up. You’ll be taking physics and calculus the first year plus some other courses to fulfill general requirements. Get through that successfully and then you can start to think about a minor, but math is a good bet.</p>
<p>Technical Writing
Science Journalism
Technical Japanese
History of Science + Writing/Journalism
Public Policy
International Relations (thematic option in science/technology & international affairs or national security)
Earth Sciences
Occupational & Environmental Health (Radiological Safety)
Meteorology</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus - Thanks for the info. I’ll be sure to look into those minors and see what specific career opportunities each will open up for me. Though I do want to keep my options as open as possible, I really want to try to get into a field that I will enjoy more than my current one. My biggest issue (among many with my profession) currently is I hate sales. I don’t mind marketing, but direct sales is just not something I want to deal with. I know having sales experience will give me an edge in many professions, but I don’t want it to be a large focus of my work.</p>
<p>@notakid - As far as schools, I’ve done a lot of research on the matter already. Due to it having been so long since I’ve been in school, I’m starting my AA at a community college. I figure this will give me an opportunity to save some money at first and also give me a chance to get the grades that will allow me to get into a great college for my bachelor’s. For my bachelor’s, I’m looking at FSU. For grad school, I am not 100% sure yet. From the research I’ve done, if I have my pick of the litter, I would probably go with Caltech, just because it seems like that would be the optimal choice for opening as many doors as possible after I earn my PhD.</p>
<p>@zapfino - Thanks for the list. I will definitely look into those minors and see what they could help offer me as well.</p>
<hr>
<p>I really appreciate this information, as my current college just isn’t very helpful. Then again, I guess you can’t expect a whole lot from a community college, lol. I’m hoping when I transfer to FSU for my bachelor’s, they will help me out more with things like this. I just figure the sooner I start thinking about it, the more confident I will be in my choice and the less likely I will be to regret it down the road.</p>
<p>Reality check snowflake here. I can see you asking questions about getting a Masters in a field related to what you are doing, but at your age (no offense) do you really have the time and resources to reset your basic degree to a PhD program, especially something so specialized and unrelated to your current degree and experience? You will not likely be thrown a bunch of merit aid, so hopefully you are independently wealthy to cover the tuition. Do you hang out with physics people today and like their personalities and intensity? Do you really want to do research versus something related to what you do now? Exercise physiology seems like an interim step (Masters) before you jump into or are even accepted to a PhD program in Physics. </p>
<p>If you’re just secretly brilliant and rich, and have no family obligations, then go for it.</p>
<p>If you earn a minor as a BS in physics student, in the 5-6 years that it will take to finish your PhD, that minor becomes irrelevant. A few credits in business will be old. As for credibility for published material, the overwhelming amount of credibility will be based upon is the quality of that research because that is what a PhD in physics is all about. Basically, I don’t see any opportunities arising from those minors. What I see helping you more are classes in mathematics and statistics. Of course, you will use computers in your work.</p>
<p>In regards to classes becoming monotonous, I know profs who like teaching the same class over and over again because they don’t have to prepare new lessons; they only have to make sure the current lessons are up to date. It’s all about the research.</p>