What can I do with a Major in....Physics?
Those graduating with a degree in Physics understand how physical properties relate to one another.
Before you begin to look at the different types of opportunities available to Physics majors, you must look at yourself and ask yourself a few basic questions:
What am I good at?
Understand your major strengths, skills and accomplishments. Some examples of skills and qualities employers look for are:
Research
Teamwork
Attention to detail
Analysis
What do I like to do?
Examine your interests. What kind of life style do I want to lead? Examine your values...is money what you're after, job security, challenging work?
If you are having trouble answering these questions, you are not alone. Make an appointment with an advisor in the Career Center. We want to help you!
POSITIONS
Once you know yourself, you are ready to decide where and how you want to apply this knowledge.
Traditional Fields/Specialties:
Acoustics
Astrophysics
Imaging
Atomic & Molecular
Medical
Engineering
Nuclear
Electronics
Thermal
Geophysics, etc.
A bachelor's degree in Physics and the appropriate skills and/or experience can lead to positions in:
Applied research
Product developer
Teacher, high school
Technical writer
Design, testing and instrumentation
Experience in the field or an advanced degree could lead to certain positions in:
Teaching, colleges/universities
Research project coordination
Engineering, electrical/aeronautical
Physicist
Science & technical marketing
Forecasting
Science journalism
Medicine
For information on graduate schools, consult Peterson's.
EMPLOYMENT
Typical places of employment are:
Airports
Air, bus and rail lines
Colleges and universities
Engineering firms
Government agencies
Hospitals
Publishing companies
Research and development firms
Utility companies
Weather bureaus
Industry
Laboratories
Schools
LEARN MORE
To help you decide which area to pursue you must do in-depth research into each area of specialization and/or industry you have an interest in.
St. John's University Department of Physics
Physics Career and Job Resources on the Internet
Places to begin:
Join the Career Centers COACH Program
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
Talk to people in the field, talk to your professors, write to and/or join one of the following associations:
American Association of Physicists in Medicine One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740-3846 (301) 209 - 3350 www.aapm.org
American Institute of Physics One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740-3846 (301) 209 - 3000 www.aip.org
For additional lists of Associations consult the Encyclopedia of Associations.
Trade Publications:
Physics Today
Reviews of Modern Physics
Science