Can I become a theoretical physicist?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
Pendulum Swing
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
With an undergrad degree in Applied Mathematics and Meteorology (school has no quantum field theory; didn't to study it and its extensive lab classes).

And then do a masters degree in Mathematical Physic afterwards do a PhD in Mathematical Physics?

Will I then be a theoretical physicist or a Mathematical Physicist? I know it sounds vague but is it possible to claim the title of being a "Theoretical Physicist" with two postgrad degrees in mathematical physics?
 
on Phys.org
Mathematical physics and theroretical physics sound very similar, and what you actually do will matter more than what exactly your degree says.
Pendulum Swing said:
school has no quantum field theory
There is a lot of theory outside of particle physics, too.
 
mfb said:
Mathematical physics and theroretical physics sound very similar, and what you actually do will matter more than what exactly your degree says.
There is a lot of theory outside of particle physics, too.

I guess so and cheers for your response. So is it then viable for me to say that I'm a 'physicist' (stemming from a postgrad in mathematical physics)?

Does particle physics have a lot of integral calculus? because I like integrals.
 
Pendulum Swing said:
So is it then viable for me to say that I'm a 'physicist' (stemming from a postgrad in mathematical physics)?
Who would stop you?

Pendulum Swing said:
Does particle physics have a lot of integral calculus? because I like integrals.
Depends on what exactly you do, in general there will be many integrals around, most of them won't look like integrals you see as undergrad. There is even a wikipedia page just for integrals related to QFT.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Niflheim