Other Which branch of engineering is more physics heavy?

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Electronics Engineering (EE) is often considered closer to physics compared to other engineering disciplines, making it a suitable choice for those interested in transitioning to graduate studies in physics. The specific curriculum can vary significantly depending on the country and university, with some institutions allowing students to delay their specialization until later in their studies. Early coursework in EE and physics may overlap, particularly in the first two years, before diverging in advanced topics. Personal circumstances, such as family expectations, can influence the choice of pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) over a physics degree. Ultimately, the decision should consider both academic interests and external constraints.
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I will be entering engineering but i want to do graduate studies in physics after it so im searching for the branch with most physics so it would be abit easier of a transition. Im trying to decide between nuclear engineering or electronics and engineering
 
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Welcome to PF.

I am biased of course, but for me EE is closer to Physics than the other Engineering disciplines.

Having said that, a lot depends on your country where you are studying and the course tracks that your university offers you. At my uni in the late 70's I did not have to declare my choice between EE and Physics until the start of my 3rd year. The courses that EEs and Physics majors took for the first 2 years were basically the same (as long as I chose the harder Physics track courses), but they diverged a lot for the last 2 years obviously.

Why are you constrained to a BSEE if you would rather study Physics?
 
Lasers.
Quantum Computing.
Semiconductors.
 
berkeman said:
Welcome to PF.

I am biased of course, but for me EE is closer to Physics than the other Engineering disciplines.

Having said that, a lot depends on your country where you are studying and the course tracks that your university offers you. At my uni in the late 70's I did not have to declare my choice between EE and Physics until the start of my 3rd year. The courses that EEs and Physics majors took for the first 2 years were basically the same (as long as I chose the harder Physics track courses), but they diverged a lot for the last 2 years obviously.

Why are you constrained to a BSEE if you would rather study Physics?
Forced by family. Happens more than you think outside of 1st world countrys
 
At my university and the one a few towns over, there is a degree call Engineering Physics. Basically you take Physics and engineering courses from one of the engineering disciplines.
 
DaveE said:
Lasers.
Quantum Computing.
Semiconductors.
But these are devices not realy physics. I looked at the ECE curriculum and they teach some about these but just give the minimum physics intro then and go into deep technical details
 
questions000 said:
But these are devices not realy physics.
But you asked about the convergence of engineering and physics. Engineering is nearly always about devices. Otherwise you'll be stuck with purely theoretical physics, which is really different than the physics most people end up doing. There aren't too many jobs out there without the engineering part.

OTOH, the 2023 Nobel prize in physics was essentially for building a new laser. But, OK, not really your version of physics, I guess.

Go to school and start out with the normal physics curriculum. Along the way you'll figure out what you want to do after you have learned more about the choices and your options.
 
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questions000 said:
But these are devices not realy physics.
Say what?

Lasers -- explain stimulated emission without using Physics.

Semiconductors -- explain semiconductor action without using Solid State Physics and Band Structure.
 
berkeman said:
I am biased of course, but for me EE is closer to Physics than the other Engineering disciplines.
I think so too. There's some overlap, but there can still be a pretty big gap between the two majors. To properly prepare for physics grad school, I had to go back and earn a BS Physics.
 
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  • #10
berkeman said:
Say what?

Lasers -- explain stimulated emission without using Physics.

Semiconductors -- explain semiconductor action without using Solid State Physics and Band Structure.
I didnt say its physics-less. I said its just more about technical details. Yes you need to study a portion thats not small to understand these but you will still be uncapable of competing against people who took a clean solid state physics course about the physics itself
 
  • #11
A lot will depend on your definition of “physics”. For example, materials engineering would count if solid state/condensed matter was your end goal.

As a practical matter, you will be at a significant disadvantage for grad school unless you take junior/senior level classical mechanics, E&M, QM and stat mech.
 
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  • #12
vela said:
To properly prepare for physics grad school, I had to go back and earn a BS Physics.

questions000 said:
Yes you need to study a portion thats not small to understand these but you will still be uncapable of competing against people who took a clean solid state physics course about the physics itself
<<Emphasis added.>> Note: OP's own words.
Frabjous said:
As a practical matter, you will be at a significant disadvantage for grad school unless you take junior/senior level classical mechanics, E&M, QM and stat mech.

OP: These, including your own words, sum it up. As I, and others, have posted in previous similar threads: The goal is not to meet the minimum requirements needed to get admitted to a physics grad program; the goal is to attain a strong enough undergrad background to succeed in a physics grad program (in a peer group comprising primarily undergrads who majored in physics).
 
  • #13
berkeman said:
Say what?

Lasers -- explain stimulated emission without using Physics.

Semiconductors -- explain semiconductor action without using Solid State Physics and Band Structure.
<<Emphasis added>> Yes, you need physics if you wish to understand how and why a device works. But for some engineers, that is not needed. They only need to understand when to select a particular device for a particular application: power requirements, input/output characteristics, size, weight, environmental operational conditions, reliability, expected operational lifetime, connectivity, cost ....
 
  • #14
questions000 said:
I will be entering engineering but i want to do graduate studies in physics after it so im searching for the branch with most physics so it would be abit easier of a transition. Im trying to decide between nuclear engineering or electronics and engineering
<<Emphasis added>> Another consideration is which major would serve as a better Plan B should you not enter a grad physics program. In your country (assuming you plan to stay there for a job eventually), what are the job opportunities for electrical engineers vs nuclear engineers?
 
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  • #15
CrysPhys said:
<<Emphasis added>> Another consideration is which major would serve as a better Plan B should you not enter a grad physics program. In your country (assuming you plan to stay there for a job eventually), what are the job opportunities for electrical engineers vs nuclear engineers?
im not planning to stay here as my country is bad but for the comparison electrical engineers power machines have tons of job chances. Electronics and communucations have hard time compared to first and nuclear engineers have it the worst. But the thing is that i dont plan to go into industry so i dont realy care about job chances
 
  • #16
questions000 said:
im not planning to stay here as my country is bad but for the comparison electrical engineers power machines have tons of job chances. Electronics and communucations have hard time compared to first and nuclear engineers have it the worst. But the thing is that i dont plan to go into industry so i dont realy care about job chances
What do you plan on doing and where do you plan on doing it?
 
  • #17
Frabjous said:
What do you plan on doing and where do you plan on doing it?
As soon as i can which is mostly will be after i finish my degree then i will try to go to physics graduate program in a good country
 
  • #18
questions000 said:
im not planning to stay here as my country is bad but for the comparison electrical engineers power machines have tons of job chances. Electronics and communucations have hard time compared to first and nuclear engineers have it the worst. But the thing is that i dont plan to go into industry so i dont realy care about job chances
The whole point of a Plan B is to serve as a backup in case your primary plan does not work out, for whatever reason. You will find that there are many circumstances not under your control. And life will get even more complicated should you later on have a spouse and children.
 
  • #19
questions000 said:
As soon as i can which is mostly will be after i finish my degree then i will try to go to physics graduate program in a good country
By a physics graduate program, do you mean a master's or a PhD (or both)? After you finish your graduate program, what is your goal? You said you don't plan to work in industry, so are you planning for a job in academia or government research lab? Or are you independently wealthy and do not need a job of any sort?
 
  • #20
CrysPhys said:
The whole point of a Plan B is to serve as a backup in case your primary plan does not work out, for whatever reason. You will find that there are many circumstances not under your control. And life will get even more complicated should you later on have a spouse and children.
With respect but people got different plans for life. I dont consider plan B at all . And i dont plan on getting married so my sole interest is in what prepares me better for physics graduate studies and i need answer for that only.
 
  • #21
CrysPhys said:
By a physics graduate program, do you mean a master's or a PhD (or both)? After you finish your graduate program, what is your goal? You said you don't plan to work in industry, so are you planning for a job in academia or government research lab? Or are you independently wealthy and do not need a job of any sort?
If i was very lucky i guess i can try to go for phd straight in america thats if i got very high gpa. But most standard path would be masters then phd. And yea my plan is academia
 
  • #22
questions000 said:
With respect but people got different plans for life. I dont consider plan B at all . And i dont plan on getting married so my sole interest is in what prepares me better for physics graduate studies and i need answer for that only.

questions000 said:
If i was very lucky i guess i can try to go for phd straight in america thats if i got very high gpa. But most standard path would be masters then phd. And yea my plan is academia

But so far the responses you have received are along the lines of, "The path you are pursuing will not get you to your desired destination."
 
  • #23
CrysPhys said:
But so far the responses you have received are along the lines of, "The path you are pursuing will not get you to your desired destination."
What do you mean by that?
 
  • #24
What you need to appreciate is that more PhD graduates want to end up in academia than there are positions available. So you can do everything right and still fail. You want to pursue a non-standard path which will make everything harder. On top of this, you are only providing us with vague generalities which makes providing advice even harder.
 
  • #25
Frabjous said:
What you need to appreciate is that more PhD graduates want to end up in academia than there are positions available. So you can do everything right and still fail. You want to pursue a non-standard path which will make everything harder. On top of this, you are only providing us with vague generalities which makes providing advice even harder.
What do you mean by vague generalities? So i should providd the curriculum for both programs so people can judge?
 
  • #26
questions000 said:
What do you mean by vague generalities? So i should providd the curriculum for both programs so people can judge?
So you are actually looking for advice on two specific programs?
Are you fluent in English or are you using translation software?
 
  • #27
Frabjous said:
So you are actually looking for advice on two specific programs?
Are you fluent in English or are you using translation software?
Yes im fluent in it. And yea 2 programs. As i searched in almost every engineering program's curriculum these 2 seemed to have the most relation to physics which i confirmed by seeing that most people mention NE or EE when talking about physics heavy engineering
 
  • #28
questions000 said:
Yes im fluent in it. And yea 2 programs. As i searched in almost every engineering program's curriculum these 2 seemed to have the most relation to physics which i confirmed by seeing that most people mention NE or EE when talking about physics heavy engineering
Physics heavy and physics are not the same thing.
We are already at post 28 and I cannot believe that you are going to make us ask for the specific curricula that you are evaluating. You are going to burn people out.
 
  • #29
Frabjous said:
Physics heavy and physics are not the same thing.
We are already at post 28 and I cannot believe that you are going to make us ask for the specific curricula that you are evaluating. You are going to burn people out.
Ok sorry im just going post the math and physics related parts of each program its going to be long but here :

prep year ( shared by both ) :
Math 1:
Differential Calculus (Differentiation)
Transcendental functions – Inverse function of transcendental functions –Derivative of
transcendental functions – Leibniz’s rule –L’hopital’s rule – Mean value theorem – Taylor and
Maclaurin series –Functions of several variables – Partial derivatives – Applications of partial
derivatives.
Algebra
Binomial theorem – Partial fractions – Mathematical induction – Theory of equations –Matrices and
determinants –System of linear algebraic equations (Gauss methods)– Applications of system of
linear algebraic equations – Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors – Vector space.

Math 2:
Integral Calculus (Integration)
Integration techniques – Reduction formula – Definite integral and its properties – Improper integral
– Applications of integration (area, volume, and arc length) – First order ordinary differential
equations (separable, homogeneous, exact, linear and Bernoulli) and their applications– Infinite
series.
Analytic Geometry
Two-variable quadratic equations – Conic sections (circle, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola) –
Parametric equations of conic sections –Coordinates systems in plane and space – Line and plane in
space – Quadratic surfaces (cylinder, sphere, ellipsoid, hyperboloid, cone and paraboloid).


Mechanics 1:
Statics: Force vectors in three dimensions - Equilibrium of a particle in three dimension – System of
forces and moments – Moment of a force about point and line - Moment of a couple – Equivalent
systems of forces and couples – Reduction of systems of forces and couples - Equilibrium of Rigid
body in two dimension - Equilibrium of Rigid body in three dimension - Center of gravity and
centroid– Frames and Machines: Analysis of frames – Dismembering connected parts of the frame -
Analysis of Machines.

Mechanics 2:
Statics: Distributed forces– Fluid statics: Hydrostatic forces – Horizontal, Vertical and Inclined flat
plate, curved plate of constant width –Trusses: Internal and external redundancy, Assumptions of
design, Method of joints and Methods of sections. – Friction: Types of friction, Theory of dry
friction – Static friction and Impending motion – Kinetic friction – Types of problems involving dry
friction – Wedges – Power screws.
Dynamics: Introduction to dynamics – Kinematics of a particle: curvilinear Motion – Rectangular
components – Motion of projectiles – Normal and Tangential components – cylindrical components


Physics 1:
Mechanical Properties of matter:
Units and dimensional analysis - Mechanical Properties of metals - Oscillations- The waves and
superposition principle -The Sound Waves – Doppler effect.
Heat and thermodynamics:
Temperature and thermometers – Quantity of heat - Thermal expansion- Heat Transfer- The first law
of thermodynamics- the entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.


Physics 2:
Electricity and Magnetism:
The Charge and matter - The electric field – Coulomb's law- The electric flux Gauss's law - The
electric Potential - the capacitors and dielectrics- The magnetic field -Boit- Savart's law- The
magnetic flux Gauss's Law – Faraday's Law- Magnetic Induction.
Optics and atomic physics:
Nature of light -Interference - Diffraction - Polarization - Early quantum theory - Special Relativity.




ECE:
Math 3:
Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)
Homogeneous higher order ODE – Nonhomogeneous higher order ODE with constant coefficients
(undesemesterined coefficients method and variation of parameters method for finding the particular
solution) – Cauchy-Euler ODE (homogeneous and nonhomogeneous) – System of ODE– Laplace transform
– Inverse Laplace transform –Applications of Laplace transform – Series solution of ODE.
Functions of Several Variables
Differentiation of integration – Vector calculus –Multiple integrals double and triple) and their applications
–Line integral – Green’s theorem – Surface integral – Divergence (Gauss) and Stokes’ theorems –
Mathematical modeling using partial differential equations

Math 4:
Partial Differential Equations (PDE)
Special functions (Gamma, Beta, Bessel and Legendre) – Fourier series – Fourier integral – Fourier
transform – Partial differential equations (PDE) – Separation of variables method (heat equation, wave
equation and Laplace equation) – Traveling wave solutions to PDE.
Complex Analysis
Complex Numbers – Functions of complex variable – Complex derivative – Analytic functions – Harmonic
functions and their applications – Elementary functions – Complex integration – Cauchy theorems and
their applications – Taylor and Laurent series – Residue theorem and its applications – Conformal mapping.

Math 5:
Numerical Methods
Curve fitting – Interpolation – Numerical integration – Numerical solution of algebraic and transcendental
equations – Iterative methods for solving system of linear algebraic equations – Numerical differentiation –
Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations – Numerical solution of partial differential equations–
Finite difference method.
Applied Probability and Statistics
Introduction to probability – Discrete random variables – Special discrete distributions – Continuous
random variables – Special continuous distributions – Multiple random variables – Sampling distribution
and estimation theory – Test of hypotheses – Correlation theory – Analysis of time series.

Solid state and electronics devices:
Crystals in solids, properties; Quantum theory of solid; Electron and hole properties in semiconductors,
doping of semiconductors, Fermi Dirac; Semiconductors in equilibrium. Doping, electric conductivity, PN
Junction: Operation, forward bias, reverse bias; Metal-Semiconductor Junction. Diodes Characteristics –
Zener and Schottky Barrier Diode - Diode SPICE Model. Diode Circuits Analysis. Field-Effect Transistors
MOS Characteristics.The NMOS Transistor Characteristics- Mode MOSFETS – MOSFET Circuit Symbols –
MOSFET Modeling in SPICE. The Junction Field-Effect Transistor – Bipolar Junction Transistors – Physical
Structure – the NPN Transistor model – The Complete Transport Model Equations for Arbitrary Bias
Equivalent Circuit Representations, The Operating Regions of the BJT, Biasing, PNP and other Devices.

Engineering thermodynamics:
Fundamental Concepts; First Law of Thermodynamics; Second Law of Thermodynamics; General
Thermodynamic relations (Maxwell), Application of thermodynamic principles to simple engine cycles;
Properties of vapours with specific reference to the use of the steam tables; Application to simple Rankine and
refrigeration cycles; Properties of mixtures with specific reference to the measurement of humidity;
Dimensional Analysis; Buckingham's theorem and derivation of some basic dimensional groups; Heat Transfer:
use of the basic laws for simple problems in conduction, convection and radiation

Electromagnetic fields:
Review of Vector Algebra and Calculus, Coulomb’s Law and the Electric Field Intensity, Electric Flux and
Flux Density Gauss’s Law, Electrostatic potential, Conductors, Dielectrics, and Capacitance, Boundary
conditions for electrostatic fields, Uniqueness, Method of Images, Simple Boundary value problems,
Conformal Mapping Technique, Electrostatic Energy, The Steady Magnetic Field, Biot-Savart law, The
Vector magnetic potential, Magnetic materials, Boundary Conditions, Inductance, Magnetic energy,
Magnetic Forces, and Torque: Lorentz force, Time Varying Fields and Maxwell's Equations: Introduction.

Microwave electronics:
Introduction; O type tubes; Two cavity Klystron; Reflex Klystron; M-type tubes-bMagnetron: Construction
and Principle of operation of 8 cavity cylindrical travelling wave magnetron, o/p characteristics,
Applications; Slow wave devices: Advantages of slow wave devices, Helix TWT: Construction and principle
of operation, Applications; Microwave Solid State Devices: Microwave bipolar transistor, FET, MESFET,
Varactor Diode, PIN Diode, Shottky Barrier Diode, Tunnel Diode, Gunn Diodes, IMPATT diode and TRAPATT
diode. Principle of operation, various modes, specifications, and applications of all these devices; Theory of
lasers Oscillator.

Discrete math:
Logic and logical equivalence- Methods of proofs- Mathematical induction- Algorithms- Basic counting
techniques- Advanced counting techniques- Recurrence relations- Binary relations- Graphs - Shortest path
algorithm- Trees- Minimum spanning trees.

Opto-electronics:
Optoelectronics: Wave Nature of Light, Dielectric Waveguides and Optical Fibers, Light-Emitting Diodes,
Stimulated Emission Devices: Optical Amplifiers and Lasers, Photodetectors and Image Sensors,
Polarization and Modulation of Light.

Electromagnetic waves:
Review of Maxwell's equations; Uniform Plane waves, Waves in unbounded lossless media , Polarization of
plane waves, Phase velocity and group velocity, Waves in Lossy media; Reflection, Refraction, and
Diffraction; Electromagnetic Theorems; Wave propagation on a transmission line; Smith Chart, impedance
mismatches and reflections; TEM, TE and TM electromagnetic waves, parallel-plate waveguide;
Rectangular waveguide and cylindrical waveguide; Planar transmission lines; Microwave Network Analysis;
Impedance Matching and Tuning; Microwave Resonators; Microwave Passive Components.

Nano-photonics:
Introduction: Photonics and Optoelectronics: why nano? – Nano-photonics overview; Materials for Nano
photonics: Quantum effect for electronic confinement: quantum dots, Nano-particles – from
semiconductor to organic, Microcavity effect for photonic confinement: photonic crystals; Building Blocks
for Nano-photonics: Nano-lasers, Nano-detectors, Nano-sensors, Nano-channels; System Integration for
Nano-photonics: Photonic crystal Nano-PIC, Silicon PIC, Other approaches.










Nuclear engineering:
MP 113 Mathematics – 3
Methods of Integration, some special techniques, successive reduction method, improper integrals,
mean value theorem special function: the error, gamma and beta functions of several variables,
limits and continuity, partial derivatives, chain rule directional derivatives, Taylor expansions of
functions of several variables, extreme, differentiation under integral sign.
Sequences, series, convergence and convergence tests, uniform convergence. Fourier series
expansions of general periodic functions, expansions of even and odd functions, convergence and
remarks.
MP x14 Mathematics-4
Multiple Integral, Regions in plane and space, Double and triple integrals, Change of variables
technique and the Jacobeans, Line integrals and green theorem, ordinary differential equations of
the second order and higher. Elle’s homogeneous equations and simultaneous differential equation.
Calculus of finite differences, Vector algebra, Scalar and cross product. Identifies, Application.
Line and planes in space, Spherical and cylindrical coordinate systems, Quadratic surfaces. Line,
Surface and volume integral, green’s and stock’s and divergence theorems.
MP 215 Mathematics-5
Ordinary and Prtial differential equation: Solution of ordinary differential equations with variable
Coefficients, system of linear differential equations, heat wave and Iapilace equation in two and
three dimensions. Separation of variable technique, some boundary value problems and
applications. Numerical solutions of differential equation.
Complex analysis: Function of complex variables, differentiation and integration, analytic
functions, cache theorem and cache formula. Contour integration, power, series expansion,
conformal mapping vector analysis: Scalar and vector fields, vector, operator, application to
geometry, line, surface and volume integral, divergence theorem of gauss stock’s and Green
theorem. Curvilinear and orthogonal coordinates.
MP x16 Mathematics-6
Numerical analysis (Gauss elimination method, numerical solution of nonlinear algebraic equations,
numerical integration, interpolation, numerical solution of differential equations, error analysis),linear algebra (vector spaces, independence, bases, subspaces, dimensions, linear transformations
and matrices, eigen values and eigen vectors, inner product), special functions (beta and gamma
functions, Legendre functions, Bessel functions, Chebyshev functions), Z-transform.
MP 317 Mathematics-7
Numerical analysis (Gauss elimination method, numerical solution of nonlinear algebraic equations,
numerical integration, interpolation, numerical solution of differential equations, error analysis),
introduction to probability theory (sample space, conditional probability and Bayes' theorem,
discrete and continuous random variables, distribution functions, expectation and variance, some
special distributions, moments and moment generating function, central limit theorem and law of
large numbers, Chebyshev's inequality).


MP128 Mechanics-8
Central Force Motion: Polar Coordinates – Properties of central Force Motion – Equation of
Motion – Applications to Space Mechanics –Kinetics of System of Particles: Equations of Motion-
Motion of the Mass Center of System of Particles – Systems Gaining or Losing Mass: Motion of
Rockets – Motion of Chains and Cables- Plane Kinematics of Rigid Bodies: Translational,
Rotational and General plane motion- Instantaneous center of rotation in plane motion – Rolling
without sliding – Gears – Mechanisms - Kinetics of Plane Motion of Rigid Bodies : Angular
Momentum – Kinetic Energy – Equations of Motion – Moment of Inertia – Applications- Initial
Motion –Impulse and Momentum of Plane motion of Rigid Bodies : Principle of Impulse and
Momentum for a rigid Body and for a System of Rigid Bodies – Collision of Rigid Bodies –
Mechanical Vibrations: Free Vibrations – Damped Free Vibrations – Forced Vibrations –
Analytical Mechanics: Generalized Coordinates - Energy and Work – Canonical Transformations –
Lagrange’s Equations – The Hamiltonian – Hamiltonian form of the Equation of motion –
Applications – Wave Mechanics.


NE111 Modern Physics
Special Theory of Relativity, Photoelectric Ionization, X-Rays, Compton Scattering, Waves and
Particles, Atomic Structure, Atomic Models, Uncertainty Principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle.

NE121 Introduction to Engineering Materials Science
Atomic Structure and Atomic Bonding, Crystalline Structure of Solids, Defects in Solids, Diffusion,
Phase Diagrams, Characterization of Materials.

NE211 Nuclear Physics
Nuclear Radii, Nuclear Charge and Mass, Bonding Energy and Nuclear Stability, Natural and
Artificial Radioactivity, Nuclear Transmutations: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Transmutations,
Nuclear Reactions, Nuclear Forces and Models.


NE251 Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory of Gases
Basics and Definitions, Properties of Pure Materials, Heat and Work, The First Law of
Thermodynamics, The Second Law of Thermodynamics, The Entropy, Introduction to the Kinetic
Theory of Gases, Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution, Deduction of the Properties of Gases.


NE311 Quantum Mechanics
Schrödinger Wave Equation, Synchronized Oscillator, Multi Particles Systems, Potential Wells,
Angular Momentum, The Scattering Problem.


NE312 Plasma and Electromagnetic Theory
Vector Algebra (Revision), Electric Potential and Field, Gauss' Law, Magnetic Field, Ampere's
Law, Faraday's Law for Induction, Maxwell's Equations and the Limits Conditions, Introduction to
Plasma, Single Particle Motion, Fluidized Plasma, Waves in the Plasma, Diffusion and Resistance,
Equilibrium and Stability, The Kinetic Theory, Introduction to Fusion Reactors and Devices,
Fabrication of Semiconductors Using the Plasma, Polymers, Plasma Spray Coating.


NE331 Nuclear Reactors Physics
Nuclear Physics (Revision), Reactions Cross Sections, Nuclear Fission, Reaction Rates and Energy
Threshold, Fission Products, Neutrons from Fission, Energy Released from Fission, Nuclear Fission
Theory, Neutrons Diffusion, Fick's Law for Diffusion, Methods for Solving the Diffusion Equations
with Different Boundary Conditions, Neutrons Moderation without Absorption in Hydrogenous
Media, Neutrons Moderation using Non Hydrogenous Moderators, Equation of Neutron Moderation
and Diffusion, Neutrons Moderation and Diffusion with Absorption, Numerical Methods for
Solving Diffusion Equations in Homogeneous Media.


NE351 Heat Transfer
Fundamental Laws for Heat Transfer, Steady State Conduction in One and Multiple Dimensions,
Variable Conduction, Heat Transfer by Natural and Forced Convection, Condensation and Boiling,
Heat Exchangers, Heat Transfer by Radiation

ME 232 Fluid Mechanics and Flow Engineering
Fluid properties – Fluid statics and kinematics – Flow in pipes – Pumps – Valves – Dimensionless
analysis and similitude

NE343 Introduction to Simulation of Radiation Transport
Analytical Methods used to Analyze Radiation Transport Described by Different Differential and
Integral Equations, Numerical Methods: Finite Difference, Finite Elements, Finite Orthogonal
Coordinates, Monte Carlo Method
 
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  • #30
questions000 said:
What do you mean by that?
Refer back to my Reply #12.
 
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  • #31
Not having a plan B is stupid.
1) Around 10% of PhD’s get academic positions. There is a bias towards high prestige schools in these hirings (which given your non-standard route will be harder for you to get into). Many of these positions are not at research universities. Non-tenure positions can be a hard life. The post-doc process is also difficult.
2) Only about 15% of physics undergraduates eventually receive a PhD.
3) Over 50% of undergraduates drop Physics as a major.
4) So your current plan has a 0.75% chance of success.
5) Let’s say my numbers are wrong. Double each of them. You get the still tiny 6%.
6) This ignores the additional risks with pursuing a non-standard route.

My advice is choose an engineering degree that matches your interests. If you decide to go to graduate school, go to school in engineering. As a PhD physicist, I see see interesting science in both of the curricula.

That being said, if you insist on doing things your own way, from looking at the curricula, NE supplemented by additional physics classes probably has a better chance.
 
  • #32
Frabjous said:
Not having a plan B is stupid.
1) Around 10% of PhD’s get academic positions. There is a bias towards high prestige schools in these hirings (which given your non-standard route will be harder for you to get into). Many of these positions are not at research universities. Non-tenure positions can be a hard life. The post-doc process is also difficult.
2) Only about 15% of physics undergraduates eventually receive a PhD.
3) Over 50% of undergraduates drop Physics as a major.
4) So your current plan has a 0.75% chance of success.
5) Let’s say my numbers are wrong. Double each of them. You get the still tiny 6%.
6) This ignores the additional risks with pursuing a non-standard route.

My advice is choose an engineering degree that matches your interests. If you decide to go to graduate school, go to school in engineering. As a PhD physicist, I see see interesting science in both of the curricula.

That being said, if you insist on doing things your own way, from looking at the curricula, NE supplemented by additional physics classes probably has a better chance.
Ok thanks. May i also ask what additions are needed the most incase of NE? what i can see needed is statistical mechanics and some more depth in QM but i suspect some other things will be lacking
 
  • #33
It is too hard to say without knowing at what level the courses are taught and what is offered in the physics department. This is what academic advisors are for.

Most people put themselves on paths that give them options. You are placing yourself on a singular path defined by a low probability end goal. Is the ‘future you’ going to be happy with the decisions that you are making now? Why are you denying ‘future you’ any agency? Most people get wiser with age. Why are you assuming that you are currently at peak wisdom? If your plan fails, will you be happy being a nuclear engineer? (These are rhetorical questions)
 
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  • #34
Frabjous said:
It is too hard to say without knowing at what level the courses are taught and what is offered in the physics department. This is what academic advisors are for.

Most people put themselves on paths that give them options. You are placing yourself on a singular path defined by a low probability end goal. Is the ‘future you’ going to be happy with the decisions that you are making now? Why are you denying ‘future you’ any agency? Most people get wiser with age. Why are you assuming that you are currently at peak wisdom? If your plan fails, will you be happy being a nuclear engineer? (These are rhetorical questions)
Most people dont get wiser by age. It doesnt work like that. Some get wiser and some get dumber ( i saw it with my own eye. A math teacher whos a friend to my father became flat earther later at life) . And also alot of people stay and dont realy change their opinions about life. And also even if the chance that i get accepted into good masters in physics is slim even if it didnt happen that doesnt mean the only option left is to work at industry. I still can get into engineering physics master in my country and then go for phd in just physics. This 2nd option is very achievable because all i need to get into native masters is somewhat good gpa and thats it
 
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  • #35
As others have said EE and Nuclear Engineering are probably the closest Engineering disciplines to an undergraduate degree in Physics barring Engineering Physics. Even so there are core Physics courses that are not covered under a typical Engineering curriculum, the most notable being Quantum Mechanics.

It is possible that you could find a Physics master's program in the US that would be willing to admit you and allow you to take courses to make up for your deficiencies. Alternatively you could look for post-bacc/pre-master's programs to help fill the gap. You'd probably be more successful targeting experimental programs than theory.

BTW, the reason I specify the US is because you don't typically need a master's degree to get admitted to a PhD in the US, so doing a master's first is less common. This means that master's programs may be a bit less restrictive with regards to the required undergraduate preparation necessary for admission. In countries where a master's is needed first, they may be more restrictive with their admission criteria. Also, if you want to be able to progress to a PhD, the master's you do should be research/thesis based. These are less common in the US though.

In a related note, what will your funding situation be? I'm assuming that since your parents are forcing you to pursue Engineering against your will they will not be aiding you to fund graduate studies in Physics. Most master's and pre-master's programs are going to require you to pay out of pocket. A PhD should provide funding however.
 
  • #36
gwnorth said:
As others have said EE and Nuclear Engineering are probably the closest Engineering disciplines to an undergraduate degree in Physics barring Engineering Physics. Even so there are core Physics courses that are not covered under a typical Engineering curriculum, the most notable being Quantum Mechanics.

It is possible that you could find a Physics master's program in the US that would be willing to admit you and allow you to take courses to make up for your deficiencies. Alternatively you could look for post-bacc/pre-master's programs to help fill the gap. You'd probably be more successful targeting experimental programs than theory.

BTW, the reason I specify the US is because you don't typically need a master's degree to get admitted to a PhD in the US, so doing a master's first is less common. This means that master's programs may be a bit less restrictive with regards to the required undergraduate preparation necessary for admission. In countries where a master's is needed first, they may be more restrictive with their admission criteria. Also, if you want to be able to progress to a PhD, the master's you do should be research/thesis based. These are less common in the US though.

In a related note, what will your funding situation be? I'm assuming that since your parents are forcing you to pursue Engineering against your will they will not be aiding you to fund graduate studies in Physics. Most master's and pre-master's programs are going to require you to pay out of pocket. A PhD should provide funding however.
what if i self studied QM and maybe statistical mech. Would i have a chance in getting into a phd? And is it even possible to self study them
 
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