<p>Reasons #4, 3c, and 1c:</p>
<p>Lol! That was hilarious! Ok, carry on.</p>
<p>Heh, heh…I say the same thing about Math when it comes to #4.</p>
<p>How true is it really that you can work as an engineer with a physics or math degree? </p>
<p>Is it commonplace, or does it just happen occasionally?</p>
<p>Also which type of engineer would each major be similar to? I’m assuming physics=mechanical and math=cs, or something along those lines.</p>
<p>I know globaltraveler has some experience with the math side of this, so hopefully you can let me know.</p>
<p>Math majors are closely related to CS majors and in some cases Industrial Engineers. When is comes of software engineering, a math major only needs the “software-related” coursework of a school’s CS program and can pretty much get hired into the same jobs.</p>
<p>As far as Industrial Engineering, some IE programs are almost a quasi-Operations Research degree (Linear Programming, Stochastic Processes, Probability/Statistics, etc) so math major can pretty much go into that area also.</p>
<p>A more remote possibility for a Math major is EE but ONLY as it relates to Communication Signal Analysis because it is more math-based than circuits but that again is more of a longshot.</p>
<p>I would guess that Physics would relate to either Mechanical or EE since in quite a few Physics programs, a physics major can focus on electronics.</p>
<p>Thanks globaltraveler.</p>
<p>Just to give me a general idea, I’m looking at the Rice University physics program, and there are several different concentrations.</p>
<p>Applied Physics
Computational Physics
General Physics</p>
<p>And there is a BS in Chemical Physics.</p>
<p>The information is at: <a href=“http://www.rice.edu/catalog/2010_2011/PDF/55_PhysicsAstronomy.pdf[/url]”>http://www.rice.edu/catalog/2010_2011/PDF/55_PhysicsAstronomy.pdf</a></p>
<p>If someone could take a look at the curriculum for those and tell me what their possibilities are for engineering employment, I would really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Also, I’m assuming that physics majors would be at a competitive disadvantage to engineering majors in both the job search and actual employment. Could someone tell me to what extent this disadvantage manifests itself?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Manarius,</p>
<p>I can speak for the Computational Physics major (my actual undergrad title on my diploma is Computational Mathematics) and a person with that major can definitely work in the area of scientific software development. True, non-scientific software development has far more job opportunities than scientific software development BUT there is still a need for scientific software development.</p>
<p>Many Math and Physics majors with a “computational” background are selected…plus add to it that many Computer Science programs have reduced the amount of math needed…with many CS programs no longer requiring Differential Equations.</p>
<p>Well as you probably know, there is still LOTS of need for folks who can provide computational techniques in the area of partial differential equations and MORE than likely, a Physics or Math major would have that background.</p>
<p>One of the first questions I was asked by my academic advisor was “what do you want to do with a Physics education?” </p>
<p>That’s the question you should be asking yourself. If you are primarily interested in engineering employment, then major in engineering. If you pursue a Physics education, but would like to maximize your engineering employment chances, try to get as many industry-applicable skills as possible in an engineering area that interests you (e.g. you could take a few photonics classes from the EE dept).</p>
<p>Just keep in mind a Physics bachelor’s does not provide you with that many applicable skills unless you make an effort to obtain them while you pursue Physics. Personally, I will major in Standard Physics but will add a few classes from the EE dept.</p>
<p>I understand that. I just have a problem with engineering programs in that they’re too rigid. For example, most majors require between 30-60 semester hours of credit to complete them. Engineering requires 90+. I have no problems with the intense workload or any of that mumbo jumbo. My problem stems from the lack of time it leaves me to pursue classes relating to my other interest.</p>
<p>I know it would be better to major in engineering, but before I make that commitment, I need to have at least a cursory look at any other options.</p>
<p>Manarius,</p>
<p>College is not a vacation, it’s war. You need to make sure you are marketable to employers so you can get a good job in the end.</p>
<p>Manarius,</p>
<p>The rigidness of engineering program is one of the many reasons I decided to switch to physics and mathematics. I’m primarily interested in learning the fundamentals and exploring 1 or 2 other intellectual fields while in undergrad. It seems you were bitten by a similar bug. A physics education is not necessarily going to leave you unemployed, but you have to be more creative and proactive when securing employment. Normally, I’d just say major in engineering but if you consider the physics path, take some time to reason the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing the latter.</p>
<p>They say physics can get an engineering job.
But they don’t tell you how much a pain in the butt it will be to get that engineering job.</p>
<p>Sure a physics major can tinker with some electronics or write software, but they aren’t going to design a compiler, layout an integrated circuit, etc. Its limiting in many ways.</p>
<p>Primarily what a physicist in engineer would be doing is research and development. Most of the time that can only happen with a Ph.D in physics, and most likely in a field like condensed matter and nanotechnology. There are other applications of things like astrophysics and other computational physics in finance because the data modeling is roughly the same in both areas.</p>
<p>A B.S. in physics isn’t good for a lot, but a B.S. in math will help you a little more if you don’t mind working economic/finance jobs. Most employers don’t know what the hell to do with a physicist who hasn’t been to grad school, and most just end up getting software engineering jobs (but then again, anyone can a job like that).</p>
<p>So don’t go into it thinking you’ll come out with a job, make sure you plan on minoring in CS, go to grad school, go to med school, whatever. Just have a backup, because physics isn’t like engineering where you’re basically guaranteed a job at the end of 4 years if you’ve got decent grades. The good thing about physics is that you’re almost always fully funded for graduate school if you have a semi-high GPA.</p>
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<p>This may be true, but for every compiler-design job, there are 10 object-oriented development or network or operating systems or database jobs.</p>
<p>I agree with you. However, the way I see things is: if you’re going to work as a software engineer, do it right, and do it 100%. Get a thorough CS background and pick and choose the job you want. Rather than say, being a physics major and getting stuck with a CS job, and having missing gaps in your theory.</p>
<p>My feelings resonate with manarius. I’m in an ABET-accredited engineering program, which means you are required to take a lot of “foundation” courses in your junior, and even senior years. I’m interested in most of them, but there are about 20 credits in there that if I had the chance, I would take courses in mathematics and in other engineering disciplines.</p>
<p>I feel pretty restricted by this, but it’s not enough to make me change my major. I’m more suffering from poor planning and preparation in my “younger” years.</p>
<p>I don’t have any problem with physics, but I didn’t see a single legitimate reason to study physics over engineering on that list.</p>
<p>No one is forcing you to do so.</p>
<p>you’d think that a bunch a physicists would know that the sky is actually violet, but just saying…</p>
<p>Actually, the sky is transparent. It’s just the Sun has the courtesy to shine on it.</p>
<p>uh The sky is red. The sky is blue, look out the window. It’s red in the evening.</p>