Engineering physics what can I do?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the job prospects for graduates of an Engineering Physics program, particularly in relation to a degree in Physics. Participants explore the differences in career opportunities between these fields, the relevance of geographical location, and the implications of the curriculum offered at the University of Arizona.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the difficulty of finding engineering jobs with a Physics degree, prompting inquiries about the job prospects for Engineering Physics graduates.
  • Another participant suggests that job availability may vary by country, specifically noting challenges in the US job market.
  • Some participants argue that many jobs for physics graduates exist but may not be explicitly labeled as such, emphasizing the importance of basing career decisions on factual information rather than rumors.
  • There is a viewpoint that Engineering Physics can lead to qualifications for becoming a professional engineer, which may enhance job prospects.
  • A later reply introduces a comparison between physicists and philosophers, suggesting that job opportunities for physicists may be primarily in teaching or military R&D, while noting that both fields have overlapping aspects.
  • One participant provides statistics on Canadian physics graduates' career paths, indicating a variety of roles beyond teaching, including research and development, computing, and health sciences.
  • Another participant challenges the notion that physicists are primarily akin to philosophers, arguing against the implication that their job opportunities are mainly in academia.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the job prospects for Physics versus Engineering Physics graduates, with no consensus reached on the implications of these differences. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best career paths and the nature of job opportunities in these fields.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the geographical focus on the US and Canada, as well as the reliance on anecdotal evidence and statistics that may not fully capture the current job market landscape.

ObHassell
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I'm planning on going to the U of A and there is an engineering Physics program there, all I have heard about majoring in Physics is that it's not easy to get an engineering job as with a degree in Physics, so I'm wondering about engineering physics, how are the job prospects?

fyi: the curriculum for Engineering Physics at UA is:

Basic Physics classes:
Intro Classical Mechanics
Intro Optics and Thermodynamics
Intro Electricity and Magnetism
Intro Quantum Physics and Special Relativity
Mathematical Methods in Physics
Intermediate E&M 1 and 2
Optics
Intermediate Classical Mechanics
Quantum 1 and 2
Thermal Physics
Methods in Experimental Physics 1 and 2

Engineering classes:
Intro to Engineering
Mechanics of Solids
Elements of Electrical Engineering
Intro to Mat Sciences
Intro to Fluid Mechanics

then there are 18 units of technical electives to specialize in a type of engineering.

thanx
 
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EDIT: Post deleted due to irrelevancy to thread
 
Last edited:
EDIT: Post deleted due to irrelevancy to thread
 
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Thanx for the insight! It's helpful! I guess i should have been more specific, I'm not going to University of Alberta...I'm going to the University of Arizona...lol
 
It depends what country you are in. In the US, it may be tough to find such a job.
 
It's probably better to base your career decisions on hard facts rather than grapevine rumours. There are lots of jobs out there for people with physics degrees, they're just not necessarily advertised as for someone with a physics degree.

The advantage of engineering physics is that it can qualify you to eventually become a professional engineer.
 
Choppy said:
It's probably better to base your career decisions on hard facts rather than grapevine rumours. There are lots of jobs out there for people with physics degrees, they're just not necessarily advertised as for someone with a physics degree.

The advantage of engineering physics is that it can qualify you to eventually become a professional engineer.

TRUE! but I think it may be fair to say that physics is closely tied to philosophy. And like most philosophers your primary job opportunities, at least in the US, will be teaching. Or perhaps military R&D. The basic relationship is that physicists develop the laws of the universe and the engineers use it to do something. both have aspects of each other, but as a whole are very different.
 
Here's a breakdown of Canadian physics graduates who received a B.Sc. in physics from 1985-1996. Of these, roughly 25% had gone on to complete a M.Sc. as their highest degree and 25% had gone on to complete a Ph.D.
* Research and Development - 25.8%
* Teaching - 24.1%
* Computing - 12.2%
* Health Sciences - 6.2%
* Management and administration - 4.6%
* Product Development - 4.0%
* Consulting - 4.0%
* Sales and Marketing - 3.4%
* Other - 15.8%
https://www.cap.ca/careers/home/employmentprospects.htmlI don't know how the study question was worded, but people in academia play multiple roles teaching and in research.

I don't think it's fair to equate physicists with philosophers and imply their job opportunities will be primarily as teachers.
 

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