Programs What should I obtain my Bachelor's degree in?

[olivermsun]

SpaceX seems to be hiring mostly engineers, not really physicists or astrophysicists. The part of space they're interested in reaching (in the immediate future) is already pretty well understood.

P. S.: I think it really depends more on what your course preparation and skills are at the end of your B.S., rather than the name of your major.

 

[MrElculver2424]

SpaceX seems to be hiring mostly engineers, not really physicists or astrophysicists. The part of space they're interested in reaching (in the immediate future) is already pretty well understood.

P. S.: I think it really depends more on what your course preparation and skills are at the end of your B.S., rather than the name of your major.

What I'm trying to do is make sure I go down the right path so that I would be a good candidate for many different types of jobs in the field of "space." I may major my BS in Physics, and PhD in astrophysics, but if I can't find a job working on purely research, I might want to apply to places to work on designing and building spacecraft , and I want to be qualified for that just in case.

That's why I am trying to gather a list of space companies. Some of them seemingly have to hire astrophysicists and physicists (they need people to plan and design missions).

What about SETI? That is a research project...the search for extraterrestrial life, right? So they must hire astrophysicists.

I am just trying to form a clear and broad understanding of specific companies in the "space" field so that it's easier for me to look for jobs when I graduate, and I'm not totally lost in what I'm doing.

 

[MrElculver2424]

As I sit here right now, I would rather deal with the abstract ideas and theories of space and the universe (astrophysicist) than physically use my hands to build spacecraft s (astronautical engineer).

But that could change, you never know. I might find that it's too difficult to find a good job as an astrophysicist and I might rather move into astronautical engineering because it's in more demand. So I would want to able to switch over to that with relative ease...

 

[lisab]

As I sit here right now, I would rather deal with the abstract ideas and theories of space and the universe (astrophysicist) than physically use my hands to build spacecraft s (astronautical engineer).

But that could change, you never know. I might find that it's too difficult to find a good job as an astrophysicist and I might rather move into astronautical engineering because it's in more demand. So I would want to able to switch over to that with relative ease...

...then you should study the required courses of each path and make sure you'll be able to cross over fairly easily. For example: typically, an astrophysics curriculum doesn't require Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanics of Materials, but most engineering curricula do. You should consider taking them just so you'll have fewer hurdles if you decide to go with engineering.