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Career Center for Science and Engineering


What can I do with a major in Physics

What Activities Could Physics Majors Do?

Physicists explore and identify the basic principles governing the structure and behavior of matter, the generation and transfer of energy and the interaction of matter and energy. Some physicists use these principles in theoretical areas such as the nature of time and the origin of the universe. Others work in more practical areas such as the development of materials, electronic or optical devices and medical equipment.

Physicists design and perform experiments with lasers, cyclotrons, telescopes, mass spectrometers, and other equipment. Based on observations and analysis, they attempt to discover and explain laws describing the forces of nature, such as gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear interactions. Physicists also find ways to apply physical laws and theories to problems in nuclear energy, electronics, optics, materials, communications, aerospace technology, navigation equipment, and medical instrumentation.

Many physicists work in research and development. Some do basic research to increase scientific knowledge or applied research to build on basic knowledge. Some common areas of study in physics include solid state, nuclear and astrophysics, biophysics, acoustics, atomic physics and geophysics.Research in physics often requires a Ph.D.

What Industries Could Physics Majors Explore?

Petroleum/Mining Telecommunications Publishing Engineering Consulting
Optics Information Systems R & D Research

What Employers Hire Physics Majors?

3M Alliant Techsystems Bristol-Meyers Squibb Donatelle Plastics
Epic Systems ExxonMobil Graco FM Global
Corning General Electric Lockheed Martin Lucent Technology
IBM Co. Microsoft Schlumberger Intel
Universities MIT Lincoln Laboratory US Military USDA
AT&T Bell Labs California Institute of Technology Cypress Semiconductor EDS
Imation Polar Fab Seagate Technology Thomson West

What Are Some Full-Time Job Titles For Physics Majors?

Application Integrator Teacher Systems Engineer Research Physicist
Director of Sales Field Engineer Technician Senior Scientist
Manager Technical Sales Scientist Professor

What Are Some Useful Websites For Physics Majors?

Physics Web physicsweb.org
Institute of Physics www.iop.org
Physics.org www.physics.org
Physics and Astronomy www.physlink.com
Science Careers sciencecareers.org