Physics Major

<p>Physics really interests me and I'd love to major in it but what would I do for a job? What do phyicists usually do for jobs? Is there a good outlook?</p>

<p>I know this should be in other majors section but no one is answering there so I'm just wondering if you engineers know.</p>

<p>Physicists can take on engineering jobs such as electrical and nuclear engineering. Often this will be in research or design. Otherwise they can always become college professors...</p>

<p>A physics major would also make a great video game engine programmer =)</p>

<p>Also, physicists can land jobs in the finance market quite easily because we are quite familiar with partial differential equations.</p>

<p>If you actually want to do Physic work you will need a Ph.D.</p>

<p>will I need the ph.D. to work for companies in R&D depatment?</p>

<p>pretty much. a PhD is a research degree.</p>

<p>Unemployment among people with physics degrees is pretty low, but I'm not sure how many physicists actually work in their field. "Physicist" is an academic career and therefore, you need a PhD to work as a physicist. With a BS in physics you may be able to get programming jobs, engineering jobs, finance jobs, and teaching jobs. But you will be fighting for these positions with people who have degrees in their respective fields.</p>

<p>You can also work as a lab or research assistant in a physics lab, like at NASA or JPL. Or as a technician or test engineer in similar places. But the career potential of such jobs is usually pretty low unless you get a graduate degree.</p>

<p>If you're pretty much undecided about all the above options then you can just remain a physics major. Get a job after graduation in something that interests you (finance, programming, engineering, etc.) if possible. And if not, then get a graduate degree in that field... then you won't have a very hard time finding a position in your field, in most cases. You pretty much have to have the intention of going to graduate school.</p>

<p>You can also get an MBA and do business stuff... so lots and lots of opportunities.</p>

<p>Ok guys thanks for answers. I guess I will stick with engineering. I'm sure I'll get quite involved in physics there anyways.</p>

<p>Physics and Engineering!!!!
How do you guys precisely define the difference between PHYSICS and ENGINEERING??
Please share your views~!</p>

<p>Physicists are more concerned with the advancement of knowledge and ideas, while engineers are more concerned with the end product that comes as a result of advancements in physics.</p>

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Physicists are more concerned with the advancement of knowledge and ideas, while engineers are more concerned with the end product that comes as a result of advancements in physics.

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<p>Couldn't have said it better myself.</p>

<p>I'm definitely not against going to graduate school for an advanced degree in physics, but I don't see myself liking being a professor. Are there plenty of job opportunities outside of academia for a physics PhD?</p>

<p>physics->theory, engineering->application.</p>

<p>At a company I worked at, many of the engineers had majored in physics.</p>

<p>What type of company was it?</p>

<p>Some companies will hire people with physics degrees and basically put them directly to work in engineering jobs. If this approach doesn't work out, there are at least some engineering schools that accommodate people with BS degrees in physics for an MS in engineering. It takes a little longer for a physics major to do this than for someone with an engineering BS because they do make you go back and take a limited number of undergrad courses that you missed while studying physics.</p>