Math or Physics as a Second Major?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision of whether to pursue a second major in Physics or Mathematics alongside an Electrical Engineering degree. Participants explore the skills required for each major and how they align with personal interests and career goals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a love for both physics and mathematics but notes a preference for conceptual understanding over formal proofs.
  • Another participant points out that a math major typically involves proof-intensive classes, while a physics major may not require significantly more math than an Electrical Engineering degree.
  • A suggestion is made to consider an "applied math" track if available, as it may align better with interests in practical applications.
  • Concerns are raised about the dislike for formal proofs potentially indicating a mismatch with a traditional mathematics major.
  • Participants inquire about career goals, suggesting that interests in physics or math could be driven by future employment opportunities or personal curiosity.
  • One participant emphasizes the desire for new analytical skills rather than viewing physics as merely an extension of Electrical Engineering.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the choice between Physics and Mathematics should consider personal interests and skills. However, there is no consensus on which major is definitively better suited for the original poster, as differing opinions on the importance of formal proofs and career goals are present.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of comfort with formal mathematical proofs, which may influence their recommendations. The discussion does not resolve the specific skills required for each major or the implications for career paths.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a second major in Physics or Mathematics, particularly those with a background in Electrical Engineering, may find this discussion relevant to their decision-making process.

Wicketer
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Hey guys.

I need physicsforums to help me make a decision.

It's been a semester in college since I started my Electrical Engineering degree. I think I'd really love to major in something like Physics or Math alongside my current degree. The obvious question is which one...

I love physics and I love conceptualizing everything to fully understand ideas. On the other hand I've always loved building mathematical models and learning more about those that already exist. I personally dislike the formal proofs and rather just play around with the math to get where I want to.

After taking the first math and physics courses at university I realize that they actually do require slightly different skills. The problem as that these realizations aren't as amplified as they could be. Anyone more experienced could tell me what kind of skills would be required out of a Math major vs a physics major.

apologies if this topic has been done and established.
 
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A math major is going to require many proof intensive classes. You could do a math minor and take some more classes on de's and modeling.

A physics major, isn't going to require much more, if any, actual math classes than your EE. My physics track and EE track have the exact same math requirements. I'm taking extra math courses, but they're not required. The physics classes are obviously math intensive though. My mechanics class has 2 books, 1: analytical mechanics, 2: calculus of variations. So might as well be a math class. Some of the physics classes will overlap with EE and help you conceptualize, others wont.
 
Wicketer said:
I personally dislike the formal proofs and rather just play around with the math to get where I want to.

I guess this is physics.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though.
 
If your school has an "applied math" track, study that. Otherwise stay far away from math if you don't like formal proofs!
 
What's your career goal?
 
Well, if you really dislike formal proof, then I doubt that you will like mathematics very much. I'd say go for physics :smile:
 
Thanks a lot guys! I guess with math I just want a more theoretical background as opposed to EE which I'm guessing gets really hands-on and practical in later years.

lisab said:
What's your career goal?

My career goals only go as far as my decision to do EE; something to do with electronics/technology. But I guess for math/physics, it's really just out of interest, and just in case I stumble into a company that rather employ me for my math/physics skills. Like I wouldn't want physics to be a mere extension of EE (in terms of skill-sets), but I want to learn new analytical skills instead.
 

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