What Jobs Can You Get with a Bachelor's Degree in Physics?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the job prospects for individuals holding a Bachelor's degree in Physics, particularly in the high-tech industry. Participants explore the practicality of various physics subfields and their relevance to employment opportunities, as well as considerations for further education such as a Master's or PhD.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the practicality of a physics degree and its impact on job prospects, questioning whether this issue extends to advanced degrees.
  • Another participant suggests that certain fields, like Astrophysics, may lead to fewer job opportunities in industry compared to fields like Solid State Physics, which are more aligned with industry needs.
  • A suggestion is made that pursuing an engineering degree while taking physics courses may be a more practical approach for job security.
  • A participant shares a resource listing jobs that do not require a Master's or PhD, indicating that there are opportunities available for those with a Bachelor's degree.
  • Another participant mentions their experience with Mustang Engineering, noting that they were able to secure a position with a Bachelor's degree in a related field, emphasizing the importance of relevant experience and skills.
  • A link to statistics on job trends in physics is provided, though no specific claims are made about its content.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the practicality of a physics degree and its subfields, with some arguing that certain areas are more viable for employment than others. There is no consensus on the best path forward for job security in the field.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the variability in job prospects depending on the specific area of physics studied, indicating that assumptions about the field as a whole may not hold true across its subfields.

RasslinGod
Messages
117
Reaction score
0
Hi,

im wondering what kind of scientific jobs in high tech industry would a BA/BS in physics be able to get into? I am really interested in physics...but i fear not having a job after such hard work because physics seem so impractical. Is this the same case for a MS or PhD too?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Certain fields of physics are impractical, other are very practical. You will probably have trouble getting an industry job if you concentrated on Astrophysics courses.On the other hand, solid state physics is pretty much what the semi conductor industry is based on.

Coming out of high school, it is easy to think that physics is just one big inseparable entity, and that it all lives and dies together. In reality, physics has many different sub fields, some impractical, with no job opportunities outside academia, and others very practical, such as Solid State and Applied Physics, which open you up for jobs elsewhere.
 
If you are not going beyond a bachelors, I would highly suggest you get an engineering degree and, along the way, take the physics classes you'd like to take.
 
Yep. Mustang engineering (not the car) for entry level position gives jobs to physicist at the b.s. level. I got an offer (math major here) to work on turbines with only a b.s. It isn't easy though. You have to fill your resume with engineering type stuff. For example, I built robots. It is a deviant from my math role, but it makes more well rounded...and i enjoy it.
 
Just came across this...

http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/states/state.html
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 50 ·
2
Replies
50
Views
11K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K