The B.Sc. Major in Physics program offers a comprehensive understanding of fundamental physical concepts, from classical physics to modern research topics. The program can be completed in 60-63 credits and covers applied physics, astrophysics, biophysics, and more. The Department of Physics offers three programs: the Physics Specialist, a double major, and photonics, providing students with solid training in physics. Students can apply to Physical Sciences and choose one of eight majors starting in their first year. Some of the most important courses for a degree in physics include:
📹 Why Physics Is Hard
What is the highest degree in physics?
Doctoral degrees in physics typically take 5-6 years, consisting of two years of coursework and a competency exam. After completing the exam, students conduct independent research projects and produce dissertations. They specialize in subsets like cosmology, quantum technology, or biophysics, with each student’s emphasis influencing their research and dissertation. Doctorates can lead to teaching positions in postsecondary institutions.
Which bachelor degree is best for physics?
Physics graduates typically earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in three to four years, with some universities offering an additional one or two years to pursue a Master of Physics (MPhys) or a Master of Science (MSci). Physics specializations cover historical works, contemporary physics topics, and their application in industries like medicine, communications, and engineering. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, electrostatics, magnetostatics, steady currents, DC circuits, and electric motors. Students can also apply their knowledge to other fields like medicine, communications, and engineering.
Which are the major physics?
Physics is a scientific discipline that aims to construct and test theories of the physical universe. Classical mechanics, also known as “Newtonian mechanics” after Isaac Newton, is a model of forces acting on bodies, including sub-fields for solids, gases, and fluids. It includes the classical approach, Hamiltonian and Lagrange methods, and deals with the motion of particles and the general system of particles.
There are many branches of classical mechanics, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, continuum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. These branches cover various aspects of the physical universe, including high-energy particle physics and nuclear physics.
What is undergraduate physics?
The Caltech undergraduate physics program offers students a comprehensive understanding of modern physics, preparing them for graduate study and careers in basic research. Students must complete three terms of introductory physics, with most options requiring additional physics. Those who choose to pursue the physics option study the discipline in greater depth, exploring waves, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. Elective courses during the junior and senior years allow students to explore their interests through broad survey courses and focused laboratory studies and research.
Active research evolvement is encouraged for all PMA undergraduates, and students often receive academic credit for their outside-class work. Many students complete at least one Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). The program aims to provide students with a broad overview of modern understanding of physical laws, extensive practical lab experience, and research experience with leading research groups.
What is the best branch of physics to study?
Mathematical Physics, Astrophysics, Biological Physics, Advanced Physics, and Medical Physics are popular concentrations for those majoring in physics. Mathematical Physics uses mathematical methods to solve problems in physics. Astrophysics is a branch of physics that uses astronomy to study the universe. Biological Physics is a branch of physics that studies the relationship between the environment and life.
Advanced Physics is a branch of physics that uses advanced technology to study the human body. Medical Physics is a branch of physics that focuses on the treatment of diseases and medical conditions. These fields can lead to various jobs across various industries.
What is the hardest undergraduate physics class?
Quantum Mechanics is a challenging undergraduate course that introduces complex concepts and requires strong math skills, particularly in calculus and linear algebra. It delves into wave functions, uncertainty principles, and quantum dynamics. Advanced courses in Electromagnetic Theory use calculus to study electric and magnetic fields, with complex solutions. Thermodynamics, an engineering course, is also challenging due to its abstract nature and heavy reliance on mathematical descriptions. These courses challenge intuitive understanding of the physical world.
What double major is best for physics?
The combination of a BS or BA in Mathematics and a BS or BA in Physics is ideal for students interested in theoretical work in mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical physics, or theoretical physics. Physics fulfills the allied field requirement for a mathematics major. Dual majors should be tailored to the student’s interests and should be worked with an advisor in both departments. When scheduling conflicts arise, students should work with undergraduate advisors to resolve difficulties and consider various options.
Which Bachelor degree is best for physics?
Physics graduates typically earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in three to four years, with some universities offering an additional one or two years to pursue a Master of Physics (MPhys) or a Master of Science (MSci). Physics specializations cover historical works, contemporary physics topics, and their application in industries like medicine, communications, and engineering. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, electrostatics, magnetostatics, steady currents, DC circuits, and electric motors. Students can also apply their knowledge to other fields like medicine, communications, and engineering.
What is a better degree BA or BS?
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree offers a broader, more customizable education across multiple disciplines, allowing for exploration of topics outside of the major and learning soft skills like communication and analytical thinking. It also includes a focus on STEM and tech applications, with hands-on experience and potential internships or residency requirements. Both degrees can prepare students for job opportunities or graduate school. The choice depends on personal interests and career goals.
Are there two main branches of physics?
Physics is the science branch that studies the interaction of energy and matter, with two major branches: Modern and Classical Physics. It includes sub branches such as electromagnetism, physics, thermodynamics, and optics. Physics focuses on concepts like energy, force, mass, and charge, with the goal of understanding the natural world. It is one of the oldest disciplined academics, with its modern subfield, astronomy, being considered the oldest of all.
📹 The Physics Major
This video mostly goes over two of the biggest classes and fields you learn about as a physics undergrad which is quantum …
I’m going to be a physics major, but I’m stuck between astrophysics and quantum physics; both are so interesting! edit: it’s been a year since I’ve commented this. I’m a senior in high school and going to major in physics/minor in math next year. I’m leaning towards quantum mechanics but I realized that it doesn’t really matter which one I choose yet for my undergraduate. Shoutout to the one comment that basically said i was in a state of superposition.
If you are between Physics and Engineering (physics-based ones like ME,CE,EE), I have some advice for you. Only major in Physics if you are willing to study for approximately 8-10 years and actually have a deep interest in the theoretical/research aspect of it. If you, instead, want to only study 3-4 years and work on real-world problems which involve applied Physics, choose Engineering. You will most likely be making more money than a Physicist (or at least the same, depending on your experience and the company).
If you love STEM fields, and ever have an option to study any one of the STEM fields, including Physics, always choose Physics. Do Bachelors in Physics, and Masters in any other Engineering discipline you like. But you can still get a good paying job with a Bachelor’s in Physics. The reason is, with a Physics degree, you can get a job at almost any Engineering discipline, be it Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemist, Software etc… Since as a Physicist, you get to learn everything the Engineers learn, but in a much deeper level of understanding.
Thank you for making these physics articles. For years I was interested in physics and had to resort to older documentaries to get the information I wanted to learn. Your articles have made it so much easier to find that information and as an incoming physics major this fall, you have more than reassured me on my decision. Been perusal your articles since the start! Keep doing what youre doing!
Take the Upper Division Lab elective Courses, even if you think you’re a Theory Geek. The hands-on work is a good break from problem sets, and learning how to write Physics is priceless. (In Grad School, I learned that my “knack” is in the lab. Should have learned that earlier.) Take the full course of “Math for Physics” rather than a lot of separate Mathematics Courses; two exceptions are Differential Equations, and Vector Calculus (take those from the Math Department) but skip Linear Algebra and Group Theory (part of Abstract Algebra). Math Major prove theorems (which is great), but Physicists calculate; learn how to calculate. I’ve used Mary Boas, George Arfken in my courses, and recently found “Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics” by Byron & Fuller which very readable. Morse & Feshbach is the classic Heavy Artillery of Mathematical Physics, also very readable for an Undergrad. Read “The Feynman Lectures in Physics”! They are full of interesting insights by three ingenious Physicists.
Should i do a double major with physics and chemistry? Or should I go into biochem? I love studying how small molecules interact with each other to perform huge actions. But I’m also interested in how that happens within the body and how certain chemicals are made and why theyre made (kinda intersted in psych too) and then how and why those chemicals made by the body make us feel certain things even though theyre just different amounts of carbons and hydrogens etc.
0:29 if you have that wormhole like on the thumbnail and gravity affects more than 3 dimensions then the matter of a galaxy could create gravity in 2 places which would mean than 2 galaxies are basically supporting each other and making double the (actually less than double but still more) gravitational pull with the same matter. How does the fabric of space interact with itself? If it can kinda pass through itself one galaxy could be affecting many more galaxies with its gravity kinda directly.
1:03 When he wrote “You will take many elective classes” many of these will be math classes. Some things he failed to include in the list are (and I’m basing this list off of the program at my university): Calculus I-III Linear Algebra (at least first year, but I’m planning on doing second and third year LA because it’s really useful later on) Differential Equations Numerical Methods Probability Statistics Programming I also took discrete maths and planning on taking real & complex analysis, group theory, and abstract algebra. One does not need to take those courses, but some if not all are especially useful if you’re thinking of pursuing particle physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, or theoretical physics.
Right now, I’m in first year of college, and I’m going to enter physics major next year (my colleagues obtain their majors in the second year). I’d like to develop my interest in photonic and magnetics or theoretical physics. But right now, after perusal this article, I realize that are so much essential things I have to conceive before that. I hope I can understand better what am I going to learn furthermore after perusal this. By the way, I’m also developing an interest in informatics besides physics for some ridiculous reason but I think it has something special. I want you to make a article about how are the relations betweenn physics and informatics, such as what physics has to do with coding, machine learning, formal language theory, etc. Not only from computer components but what are its roles in informatics. Most of the people relate informatics with mathematics since it’s the most basics. But I its relations with physics are quite underrated. So, what do you think? Is it a good idea? Anyway, I love your articles, it’s beneficial. (Sorry if I made some mistakes in my typing, I’m not communicating with English very often)
Hi, I’m a new electrical engineering major and I really enjoy your articles. After college (and probably after a master’s too) I would love to go into the audio equipment field, designing the latest headphones, speakers, amplifiers, sound boards, new digital pedals, etc. Even with the “dying of analog” I am hoping that there will still be much to do in this field as digital gets better and better. However, it’s easy to find hundreds of electrical engineering careers in space programs, defense, aerospace, etc, but not so easy to find exactly what I’m looking for, but I know its got to be out there. I was hoping and wondering if you knew anything about this subject, is this a worthwhile field to pursue, do these jobs exist, any idea where I should start looking? Or should I start focusing on a different field of EE? Thanks so much
Great article! I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I’m going into my senior year of high school and looking at colleges. I want to major in Mechanical Engineering, but I am also interested in physics. The reason that is important is because one of the colleges I’m looking at is Illinois State University (I’m from Illinois) and they offer a double major program where you go to their university for 3 years for your physics and math specific classes, and then transfer to another school for 2 years for your engineering specific classes. Upon completion you graduate with a B.S in Physics and a B.S. in a specific field of engineering (for me it would be mechanical). While I would have to go an extra year I would get a second degree and I do find Physics interesting. Also I would get in State tuition and if I did well I could have a chance to transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne which is a top 10 engineering university. However that 5th year is a decent chunk of money so do you think a second degree in physics could help my marketability right out of school? If I decide not to go to ISU I would go to another school out of state but I could only afford it if I went to Community College for 2 years. While I would love to do this 5 year program I’m just not sure what to do as I don’t want to screw myself over financially in the future. It’s also important to note ISU does not offer a standalone engineering program so if I don’t do the double major I will not be attending.
If a desired goal is to architect virtual reality worlds in order to create puzzles, games, and other methods to influence user’s creative problem solving skills would a computer science major with physics minor be a wise choice, followed by a master in mathematics a little after? I greatly appreciate the way you are able to break down these subjects and paths in an easy to see method that I’m sure almost anyone can comprehend. Thank you.
I’m currently studying engineering physics (that’s a single major, not engineering and physics) at UW-Platteville. It’s part electrical engineering, part mechanical engineering, and part physics. Engineering physics students take all of the physics courses and the rest depends on your emphasis. My emphasis is in controls so I focus more on the electrical engineering side. Sadly, this major isn’t very common (I’ve heard only 50 schools have it in the States), so I’m always explaining what it is I do. That is, a controls engineer with a general understanding of quantum mechanics.
Well…Sir..from what you have explained “”in space a ball has no ”” kinetic energy “” because the ball doesn’t fall. What about that. Kinetic energy only exists in a trapped gravity field like earth. So ..why does relativity say its wrong..when its right. Check out …video .. What is interfering with the Natural Order of the Universe.
I am interested in some aspects of science and engineering, like planetary and earth sciences, working and operation of engines and nuclear reactors, renewable energy, field theories, railway engineering, extensive systems in civil engineering, general and quantum computing, and topics such as erik lentz’s warp drive, but I feel I can’t focus solely on this as there are many other things such as architecture, design history, cultural anthropology, languages, nautical science, music, archaeology, psychology, and philosophy, whose bits I like a lot as well. Also, I do lose interest if the work involves mathematics a lot more than the theoretical concept and thinking. So, should I study physics in undergraduate, and given my interests, what would be the best option? I am just highly confused.
I was a physics major but switched to applied math (and minor in CS). I’m in the honors program and plan on taking lots of physics related math sequences so I can apply to grad school for physics/ applied math. I transfer to uni from my local cc Fall 2019 with my eyes on UCLA/ UCB. Any advice? I love math and physics
Afaik, quantum entanglement does NOT allow transfer of information – this would break a fairly fundamental principle, that neither mass NOR INFORMATION can travel faster than the speed of light. As a disclaimer, I’m certainly no expert, so I could be wrong, but that is overwhelmingly what I have heard about the subject. I’m also no expert on this, but I believe that an einstein-rosen bridge is currently our best contender for “teleportation”
Could someone kindly talk a bit about the job opportunity or possible career path for a physics undergraduate? I am currently choosing what major i should apply for through UCAS as an international student and i am having a hard time convincing my parents to allow me to go for a physics major(they think that physics major’s career path is more ‘narrow’, btw the place i am from has little resources for pure science subjects so it may affect the way they think)(they hope I study more “applied” major or health-related major, which can lead to generally more of stable and relatively higher-income jobs) I am also doubting my ability as i am not the most outstanding student in phy and math class(for math, i do quite good at calculus but not that well in probability which i know is pretty important in physics) Is it true that I will have a hard time studying physics if i am not such “elite” student? If i end up working in academia(which idk if i am capable of getting in), i believe it takes many years of study, but i don’t think my parents can afford and allow it (i have 2 siblings and just come from a middle-class family) plus i dont want to add a lot of financial pressure to them(it already cost quite a lot for international student fee and living expenses for 3 year of undergraduate program)(i am also considering applying for scholarships but most of them have harsh requirements like “going back to the country applicants are from for 2 years” which deviates from my intention of studying abroad) could someone with similar experience advice?