What can I do with a degree in physics/engineering/nuclear

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the career prospects for individuals with a degree in physics, particularly with a focus on nuclear engineering and related engineering fields. Participants explore the types of jobs available, the qualifications needed, and the potential challenges faced when seeking employment in engineering roles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes their educational background in physics and nuclear engineering and inquires about job opportunities available with this degree.
  • Another participant suggests that while there may be engineering jobs available, employers typically prefer candidates with an engineering degree over a physics degree.
  • A follow-up question asks if having a physics degree would exclude the participant from mechanical engineering jobs, leading to a response that it would not exclude them but could make job searching more challenging.
  • Participants discuss the relative rarity of hiring physics graduates for engineering positions compared to engineering graduates.
  • One participant requests guidance on fields that are more likely to hire physics graduates, expressing an intention to pursue graduate studies in nuclear engineering.
  • Another participant advises checking with reactor engineering departments at nuclear power stations, indicating they often hire physics graduates, but also warns about the stability of careers in nuclear units.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that while a physics degree does not exclude one from engineering jobs, it may complicate the job search. There is no consensus on specific fields that are more favorable for physics graduates, and the discussion remains open-ended regarding the best career paths.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the job market and the specific qualifications that employers seek, highlighting the dependence on job descriptions and the variability in hiring practices across different fields.

mike232
Messages
37
Reaction score
1
I am almost done with a BS in physics with focus in nuclear engineering and engineering.
My classes have been all the normal BS physics classes as well as nuclear physics with kranes book, two classes with Lamarsh's books on nuclear engineering as well as the blue bible (deuterstadt and Hamilton). I also have classes in ME thermo , fluids , and heat transfer. And i might be taking an ME materials class.

I know I can go to get a MS in nuke engineering, which is what this is mainly designed for, but what kind of jobs are out there for this kind of degree line up? Do i qualify for a job as an ME or similar?

Thankyou for the input.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
mike232 said:
Do i qualify for a job as an ME or similar?
There are likely engineeing jobs out there that you could do however if the employer asks for someone with an engineering degree they are more likely to hire someone with an engineering degree than a physics degree.
 
russ_watters said:
There are likely engineeing jobs out there that you could do however if the employer asks for someone with an engineering degree they are more likely to hire someone with an engineering degree than a physics degree.

Would this exclude me from any mechanical engineering jobs? Is it uncommon to hire physics engineering majors for engineering/similar jobs?
 
mike232 said:
Would this exclude me from any mechanical engineering jobs? Is it uncommon to hire physics engineering majors for engineering/similar jobs?
It would not exclude you, it would just make finding a job in that area more difficult. Yes, it is less common to hire physicists than engineers for engineering jobs.
 
russ_watters said:
It would not exclude you, it would just make finding a job in that area more difficult. Yes, it is less common to hire physicists than engineers for engineering jobs.

Okay thankyou for the input! Would you be able to point me to a field that would be more likely to hire physicists. I'll say I intend to go to grad school for nuclear engineering but am trying to assess all my options.
 
Okay, again tha you for your response. I appreciate it.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters
Russ is right, if you want to work as an ME it is best to get the engineering degree.

That said, you could check with the reactor engineering department at the nuclear power stations. They routinely hire physics bachelors. And once you have a job you could migrate towards the more mechanical type work if you're suited for it. A warning though, the careers at the nuclear units are not as steady as they once were. Subject for another thread perhaps.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K