<p>I'm going to Amherst next year, which obviously doesn't offer engineering degrees. I'm thinking of doubling in physics and math, and then specializing in grad school...if my courseload allows I could also take some grad-level physics courses or intro engineering courses at UMass. would majoring in math and physics give me the necessary background to go into engineering in grad school, or provide me with a broader base just in case i don't want to be stuck as an engineer later on?</p>
<p>I was thinking that majoring in, say, computer science or chemistry along with physics may be better suited for engineering...but math is one of my passions, so I'm kind of stuck.</p>
<p>Physics and math would be awesome for doing grad level engineering work. Engineering is basically applied physics. CS and Chem would not be as helpful for engineering grad-level work.</p>
<p>phew...i really, REALLY love physics and the theory behind it all, but i know that it isn't necessarily a viable career option. electrical engineering sounds great, but i've been reading a lot about engineering physics...i guess i still have 4 years to decide what i want to study, right now i'm interested in too much!</p>
<p>Chem would only help with MatSE or ChemE (maybe bioE prolly not tho). CS would of course help with CS or CompE. So also while going thru the four years think about what engineering you would like. Then focus your classes on what that major would need. (like EE would need E&M type classes or chemE would need chem)</p>
<p>You will not have had the engineering classes for grad and might require some catching up once you get there but if you're smart and dont care about catch-up time then it should be just fine.</p>
<p>yea, one of the reasons i didn't want to major in a specific field just yet is that i don't know exactly what i want to do right now...i'm hoping i'll find my niche and college. i understand i'll have to play some catch-up...</p>
<p>that leads me to another question....do you think i would be better off taking grad level physics courses and some engineering courses at UMass....or writing a thesis senior year to graduate with honors, doing this would require about 3-4 courses and i'm not sure which will benefit me more in the long run</p>
<p>I have a PhD in Astrophysics, but my research was interdisciplinary, and my PhD advisor was in engineering... some of my friends in undergrad who were physics majors went on to grad school in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, civil/environmental engineering...</p>
<p>Majoring in physics is a perfectly good way to prepare for grad work in almost any branch of engineering... so don't sweat it... you won't have that much work to make-up... in the first two years, the grad curriculum is very similar to the undergrad curriculum, just with much more advanced courses... but if you have a strong math/physics background, you can almost always take the grad level course without having the undergrad material...</p>
<p>I totally agree with the above post. I knew a few guys in engineering grad school who were Physics majors and they were among the best students. If you can do well in undergrad Physics and Math you will be fine with grad engineering.</p>