Do These Focased Physics Programs Seem Beneficial?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a student's decision between two physics major options: Electronics and Acoustics, both designed to enhance employability post-graduation. The Electronics option includes advanced courses in electrical engineering and computer science, requiring an extra semester to complete. This path is perceived to offer broader job opportunities in applied physics and engineering fields. Conversely, the Acoustics option focuses on engineering acoustics, appealing to those interested in sound-related careers but lacking clarity on job prospects in this area. The student expresses uncertainty about their career interests, acknowledging a desire for a challenging yet manageable workload. They seek insights on which option might provide more diverse employment opportunities, given their limited experience in both fields.
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Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for anyone willing to help me make this decision.
My school offers some options with the physics major supposedly designed to enable students to be more ready to join the workforce after college. As this is my plan, I am trying to get some perspective on how they might benefit me.

OPT 1: Electronics includes upper-level courses in electrical engineering and computer science and engineering for employment or graduate work in applied physics, engineering, electronics, and computer engineering.
This option actually requires me to stay an extra semester in order to fulfill all the requirements.
Code:
[FONT="Garamond"]The specialized courses I will take with this program are:
[FONT="Times New Roman"]CMPEN 271  Introduction to Digital Systems 
E E 210          Circuits and Devices 
E E 310          Electronic Circuit Design I 
E E 350          Continuous-Time Linear Systems
And pretty much any 2 high level E E or CMPEN classes of my choosing.
OPT 2: Acoustics includes upper-level courses in engineering acoustics for students interested in employment in acoustics or in graduate studies.
Code:
[FONT="Garamond"]The specialized courses I will take with this program are:
[FONT="Times New Roman"]AERSP   308  Mechanics of Fluids
[FONT="Garamond"]And 2 from this list:
[FONT="Times New Roman"]ACS        402    Introduction to Acoustics
AERSP   412    Turbulent Flow
A E         458    Advanced Architectural Acoustics and Noise Control
CSD        230    Introduction to Audiology 
E MCH   412    Experimental Methods in Vibrations
E E         460    Communication Systems II 
M E        471    Noise Control in Machinery
I am a junior, so I must make this decision immediately. Whatever path I decide to take, I should rearrange my next semester to account for. I have just finished the baby courses and am taking my first 400 level courses next semester, so don't feel that I have had enough exposure to either of these to decide on interest. I would just like to know how these options look in the entry level workforce.

How do these programs look insofar as employability on a resume?
 
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What do you want to do, job-wise?
 
tmc said:
What do you want to do, job-wise?

That's the thing... I have not a clue what I want to do, so it's hard for me to make a decision. I would like to get more experience in either of these fields, but I sort of need to make this decidion now... especially if I want to go with the electronics option.

I know I want something that is challenging, but will allow my time to focus on other things.
I'm sort of interested in acoustics. By that I mean I play guitar and I enjoyed installing a system in my car... not much to go on. I don't really know what kind of work really is out there for acoustic focused physicist either.
I think the electronics options might provide more opportunities, but I have zero experience doing anything related, so I can't be sure if I'd enjoy it. Never built robotics, or designed anything like that for fun. And again, I don't really know what kind of work is out there exists for electronic focused physicist.


That's why I'd like to know what seems to provide more diverse opportunities.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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