<p>What is engineering physics? Yes I googled it but I'd love to hear other thoughts, especially from people in the field. What do engineering physicists do? What kind of jobs are out there? Is it a good career?</p>
<p>I am a mechanical engineering student attending CC and am currently awaiting to hear back from the UCs and CSUs I applied to. Lately, I've found myself becoming more and more fond of physics, and less fond of math. I know, physics involves math anyway but for some reason I prefer physics way more. I have taken the Calc based physics series (1,2 and 3) and I loved it! I did pretty good (A,B,B), way better than I did in Calculus and more advanced math ( mostly C's) Physics comes so easy to me. I think this has to do with me having an awesome professor for physics, and mediocre professors for mathematics. I know ME involves both math and physics but I think I want to major in something that's more related to physics. At the same time I really want to be an engineer, not a physicist because I feel that engineers have more job opportunities. So engineering physics sounds perfect for me. But is it?</p>
<p>An engineering physics degree is a good option for those who may want to pursue graduate degrees in physics, but want an engineering background as a fallback. The curricula for EP will include many of the core courses required for most physics degrees which helps with prerequisite requirements when going for a physics MS or PhD.</p>
<p>As such, an EP degree is a hybrid of BS Physics and BS Engineering (with an emphasis generally on Computer/Electrical Engineering).</p>
<p>Job prospects are likely pretty good with an EP degree, as you will be qualified for any position requiring a degree in “Engineering”, and possibly those requiring a degree in “Physics”, but every employer is different so there is no saying for sure.</p>
<p>Math requirements are generally more rigorous in EP programs. In addition to meeting the engineering math requirements, you will be required to take an extra higher level math class (sometimes more).</p>
<p>Just to add on (because I considered it for my graduate degree)…</p>
<p>The graduate degree versions of EP can be very flexible. Of the schools that offered the M.S./M.Eng in EP, the curriculum was 3-4 Physics courses (usually in Electromagnetics, Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics), 1-2 Graduate Math Courses and the rest in Engineering or Computer Science.</p>
<p>I had considered the M.Eng in EP because: 1) I wanted a graduate engineering degree 2) Course flexibility and 3) admits non-engineering majors (like Math). Being that I was in software, I was going to attempt to use computational physics and quantum computing courses for the engineering coursework BUT I figured if I struggled with Electromagnetics (EE version) as an undergrad, how in the h.e.l.l. was I going to deal with the Physics-version of Electromagnetics??</p>
<p>…so I chose a even-more flexible general M.S. in Engineering degree.</p>