- #1
Mzachman
- 51
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I've been look at some stuff about applied physics recently to see if I would be interested in doing that, but it seems like mostly everywhere else it is different than it is here at Purdue.
Applied Physics here at Purdue takes all of the core classes of the Physics degree (physics and college of science requirements), removes the 30 credit hours of electives you normally take, and replaces them with classes for a "specialization", whatever that may be. So basically you earn a full General Physics degree and take 30 credit hours of Nuclear Physics, Astrophysics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or whatever other science/engineering subject you want in place of the electives in the General Physics degree. So basically you just learn a lot more than a General Physics major about science/engineering subjects (and are more diverse when it comes to looking for a job).
The only classes you lose from the General Physics degree are the last two, a choice between PHYS 536 or 580 which are "Electronic Techniques For Research" or Computational Physics", and then a 300+ Astro/physics elective.
Then they also have a program to get an Applied Physics Master's in a year after your undergraduate graduation. You take 30 more credit hours of graduate level classes this time, 12 of which are Physics credits, and 18 of them are for your "specialization" again. That would take one extra year.
So what do you think? Sound good, or no?
PS, I've been at Purdue 3 years and I'm switching to Physics this summer. Applied would take me a semester or possibly a year longer than General Physics.
Applied Physics here at Purdue takes all of the core classes of the Physics degree (physics and college of science requirements), removes the 30 credit hours of electives you normally take, and replaces them with classes for a "specialization", whatever that may be. So basically you earn a full General Physics degree and take 30 credit hours of Nuclear Physics, Astrophysics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or whatever other science/engineering subject you want in place of the electives in the General Physics degree. So basically you just learn a lot more than a General Physics major about science/engineering subjects (and are more diverse when it comes to looking for a job).
The only classes you lose from the General Physics degree are the last two, a choice between PHYS 536 or 580 which are "Electronic Techniques For Research" or Computational Physics", and then a 300+ Astro/physics elective.
Then they also have a program to get an Applied Physics Master's in a year after your undergraduate graduation. You take 30 more credit hours of graduate level classes this time, 12 of which are Physics credits, and 18 of them are for your "specialization" again. That would take one extra year.
So what do you think? Sound good, or no?
PS, I've been at Purdue 3 years and I'm switching to Physics this summer. Applied would take me a semester or possibly a year longer than General Physics.