Physics Graduate Programs Involving Internships in Industry

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around graduate programs in physics that incorporate internships or industry experience, particularly for students aiming for careers in industry rather than academia. Participants explore various programs and the potential benefits of applied physics degrees.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions interest in Georgetown University's Industrial Leadership in Physics and the University of South Florida, noting their inclusion of industrial practicums.
  • Another suggests looking into applied physics programs, indicating that professors often have industry connections, which may reduce the necessity of formal internships.
  • A participant questions the comparative advantage of an applied physics MS or PhD over a traditional experimental physics degree, particularly for those targeting industry roles.
  • Another participant argues that the label of a program may not reflect the actual applied nature of the research conducted, suggesting that students should engage with research groups to understand their industry connections.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various perspectives on the value of internships and applied physics programs, indicating that there is no consensus on the necessity or advantages of these options.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on individual experiences and institutional contexts, and the discussion does not resolve the comparative benefits of different program types.

Who May Find This Useful

Undergraduate students considering graduate physics programs, particularly those interested in industry careers, may find this discussion relevant.

jonesje
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Hello PhysicsForums!

I'm currently a senior undergraduate physics major looking at grad school options. I hope to pursue a future career in industry rather than academia. I've found a couple graduate programs that are very interesting to me.

1) Georgetown University Industrial Leadership in Physics (ILP)
http://physics.georgetown.edu/graduate-studies/graduate-studies/industrial-leadership-physics

2) University of South Florida
http://physics.usf.edu/graduate/phd/

Both programs offer some kind of "Industrial Practicum or Industrial Apprenticeship" as part of their program.

I'm wondering if there are any other programs out there that have similar programs? So that industry experience and connections will be gained during graduate school.

Thanks!
 
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Look at applied physics programs. The professors often have direct connections to industry (they do at my institution). An internship may be unnecessary but it certainly isn't a bad thing.
 
After a quick search, I was only able to find http://internship.uoregon.edu/overview.html Apparently it is only for those four listed fields, though.

Arsenic&Lace said:
Look at applied physics programs.

Given that one is already intent on going into a field relevant to indstury (e.g. condensed matter, accelerators, or optics), how much of an advantage would an applied physics MS or PhD have over an experimental one?
 
It's just a name, for instance there are numerous groups at my institution who do more or less applied physics even though there is no official applied physics group.

A different way of interpreting my advice is that you should consider getting in touch with research groups of interest irrespective of whether or not an internship is offered and figure out where graduates go and what sorts of connections exist, since some of these groups probably funnel students into industry with or without an internship.
 

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