Engineer wants to be Physicist, whats my next step?

[jasc15]

Engineer wants to be Physicist, what's my next step??

I have a BS in mech eng and am working full time in the semiconductor/data storage industry. I've been exposed to physics here and i find myself stopping to listen to discussions in the lab among the physicists and asking questions. I've always had a real passion for physics, but didnt think i could do much with a degree besides teaching. now i see that there are real career opportunities for physicists and I've decided that i want to pursue a masters in physics or at least engineering physics. i have a loose plan of action consisting of taking some undergrad physics courses to prepare me for the physics GRE and for grad school, i also spoke to a professor of mine about a year ago who said i would have to pretty much get a BS before i can go for my masters, which makes sense. sorry for the run-on sentences, its pretty late. if anyone has any reccomendations please offer your expertise

 

[franznietzsche]

I have a BS in mech eng and am working full time in the semiconductor/data storage industry. I've been exposed to physics here and i find myself stopping to listen to discussions in the lab among the physicists and asking questions. I've always had a real passion for physics, but didnt think i could do much with a degree besides teaching. now i see that there are real career opportunities for physicists and I've decided that i want to pursue a masters in physics or at least engineering physics. i have a loose plan of action consisting of taking some undergrad physics courses to prepare me for the physics GRE and for grad school, i also spoke to a professor of mine about a year ago who said i would have to pretty much get a BS before i can go for my masters, which makes sense. sorry for the run-on sentences, its pretty late. if anyone has any reccomendations please offer your expertise

I don't see why you couldn't get into a master's program(a PhD program might be a different story depending on the school) with an engineering degree if you have a good Physics Subject GRE score. However, in order to do that, it may well be that you'll need to practically get a BS in physics. the subject GRE covers all the main pillars of a typical undergrad program.

 

[QuantumReg]

Hi jasc15!

Although I, myself am searching for something else, becouse I have a Master's in Physics and I want to apply for a PhD, what I found can be useful for you either. Take a look at IMEC's site (www.imec.be)[/URL]. There are lots of Master and PhD positions for scientists and also for Engineers too and they do their researches mostly in semiconductor physics.
I think you should take a look at it!

Good luck!

Gergely

 

[Oskarias]

There may be another option apart from doing a BSc in Physics is doing the core of the BSc so that basically you do all of the 2nd and 3rd year physics units. In Australia where I am there are a couple of universities which offer Graduate Diplomas which do this, something which is even easier if you are an Eng graduate as you already have 1st year physics and 2nd year maths.

Im graduating in November with a BSc in Chemistry and hoping to study more Physics after I graduate with any luck : )

Oskar

 

[Astronuc]

In order to pursue an MS in physics, one should look at the requirements. If one's baccalaureate curriculum in Mech Eng covered the prerequisites, then one could certainly enter an MS Physics Program.

Perhaps one should compare undergrad physics curricula from different schools and compare to one's undergrad ME program.

In nuclear engineering, my former department required anyone from a non-Nuc E program to take junior and senior level courses in order to obtain the minimal background required for an MS program.

There are certain upper level courses in Mathematics and Physics that one might need in order to pursue an MS or Doctorate in Physics.

 

[ravisastry]

hi, I am in a similar position..me a BE in comp sci and have 4 yrs exp. I am keen on astrophysics and would like to do my masters in the same. but I am very skeptical on career prospectives. can some one through more light on this ?