Careers in Physics
Physics is the foundation for modern science. There is no science-related field that has not profited from the physics discipline. Physics has had a profound effect on
technology, engineering, and medicine. Indeed, physics has even made its mark in the arena of philosophy and religion, as the fields of quantum physics and relativity force
mankind back to fundamental questions about what it means to "know."
The student who elects to study physics will deal with science history, advanced mathematics, computing issues, and instrumentation. Thus, while physics is intellectually very rewarding and broad-based, it is also very challenging. The typical entering physics major should enjoy mathematics and problem solving. The beginning physicist should also be curious about what makes nature tick, and he or she should enjoy the laboratory.
Good preparation for the physics major includes chemistry and physics at the high school level, as well as mathematics up to and including trigonometry and analytic geometry. (Ideally, the entering physics major will have had high school calculus, but this is not essential.) The successful physics major typically earns a score of at least 550 on the math section of the SAT.
Physics forms the basis for a wide variety of career options. Below are listed some of the options chosen by physics majors over the course of the last decade. The list below is not intended to be exhaustive; it is merely a small sample of the paths physics majors have taken in previous years.
Research and Development
This is one of the traditional options for a physics major. This may involve research in a governmental, industrial, or university laboratory. The research could be dealing with materials, computation, or medicine. The possibilities are too numerous to list. Most physicists involved in these areas need a graduate degree. There are occasionally opportunities in these areas for BS physicists as workers acting in a support role to the researcher. (It should be noted that the BS physicist can often attend graduate school at no cost. The typical graduate student in physics is often required to pay little or no tuition. Physics departments use these graduate students as teaching assistants and research assistants. These positions often include a tuition waiver or reduction, coupled with a stipend. It is unrealistic for a good student to feel that graduate school will be inaccessible due to cost. Advanced study in physics is available at little cost to the disciplined student.)
Medicine, Medical Physics, Biophysics
A BS in physics is a suitable academic program for entrance into medical school. Some physicists with advanced degrees work in medical physics areas such as nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, and microcirculation, to mention just a few. Biophysicists are working in DNA-related research, as well as computational biology. Physicists have even pursued advanced degrees in public health and industrial safety, so physics is excellent preparation for a variety of health-related fields.
Education
Teaching at the junior college, college, or university level is another option, though graduate study is required. At the present time there is a serious shortage of physicists involved in education in grades K-12. Physicists interested in teaching in these grades have little trouble finding employment. (The physics student interested in teaching must consult with Union's School of Education in order to follow the program that will result in teacher licensure.) At present, the American Institute of Physics is encouraging the inclusion of physics at all levels of education K-12 in order to combat the poor level of science literacy in our country. The typical physics major with a desire to teach plans to do so at the secondary level. These physicists usually teach both physics and mathematics. Some even teach classes in chemistry. Teaching young people about the intricate order in the Lord's creation and helping to develop their scientific reasoning skills is indeed a wonderful ministry.
Engineering
A physics degree is good preparation for an advanced degree in engineering. BS physicists have moved on to earn advanced degrees in engineering. Indeed, engineering is basically physics applied to traditional areas involving transportation, production, and technology.
Business and Finance
Wall Street firms are hiring physicists to address the challenges of quantitative finance. (See the article "Physicists in Finance" by Joseph Pimbley, Physics Today, January 1997, pages 42-46.) Recently in Physics Today ads have appeared for graduate level physicists to work in financial modeling for the federal government. These trends indicate one of the principal strengths of physics training: the ability to solve quantitative problems. A physics-business double major would be excellent training for students interested in financial modeling.
Other Areas
A quick listing of other areas in which physics makes a significant impact: materials science, bioengineering, forensic science, energy issues (nuclear engineering, fission, fusion, solar, semiconductor development), environmental physics, management (particularly in technical business), government regulation, meteorology, the human genome project, oceanography, geophysics, medical technology.
"We can honestly tell our students that while physics is very challenging, if they have the aptitude and are not afraid to work hard, physics is truly one of the most exciting and interesting subjects they can study. Its discoveries have revolutionized our world, mostly for the good, and they most certainly will continue to do so. We should also let our students know that apart from experiencing a wonderful intellectual challenge, physics graduates have done quite well in the marketplace. Comparative studies of college graduates 10 or more years after graduation show that those who got their bachelor's degree in physics are near the top of all majors in terms of average salary.... Apparently, many employers do realize that physics majors can transfer their problem-solving skills to a wide variety of areas, including business, engineering, and medicine...." (Robert Ehrlich in Physics Today, May 1997, pages 59-60.)