PHYSICS
WHAT IS PHYSICS?
Physics is the basic science. Its goal is simple: to understand the rules of nature that govern the universe. Physicists hope that there are relatively few of these rules, applicable in general, and capable of explaining the widely diverse phenomena we observe, from everyday life, to stars, to DNA, indeed, to the universe itself.
Physics roughly separates into an experimental side and a theoretical side, although constant interaction between the two makes for a fuzzy dividing line. In some sense, physics is the ultimate exercise in philosophy asking fundamental questions, such as: What is the universe? How did it get here? What rules govern its operation? Where is it headed? Nowadays, of course, it is also separated along the lines of the practical versus the basic. Practical or applied physics, such as the study of the solid state that led to the discovery of the transistor and eventually to the microchip/computer revolution, leads to new technologies and inventions. Research in basic physics, for example, the study of elementary particle interactions, may also lead to new spin-off products for society, but its ultimate goal is more esoteric.
WHAT COURSES DO YOU NEED TO TAKE?
Undergraduates usually take many courses in physics and mathematics, ranging from the introductory to advanced undergraduate.
- Astronomy
- Calculus
- Classical and Modern Physics
- Computer Programming
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Electronics
- Elementary Particle Physics
- Laser Physics
- Linear Algebra
- Mechanics
- Nuclear Physics
- Optics
- Quantum Mechanics
Graduate courses focus on physics and mathematics, covering similar topics but in much greater depth and sophistication than at the undergraduate level.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN PHSYSICS?
At the bachelor's level, students are typically employed as engineers, teachers (with the addition of an appropriate teaching credential), or technicians. This degree can also serve as a stepping stone to graduate school in not only physics, but also engineering, other sciences, such as chemistry, and an M.B.A., M.D., or law school.
At the master's level, students are usually interested in industrial research or teaching at a junior college or at the K-12 level. Many students at the M.S. level continue on for their Ph.D., the entire graduate program taking between four and eight years, depending on the subfield of research. With a Ph.D., the student would have access to university teaching and research professorships and also industrial/governmental laboratory research. Government laboratories that hire a large number of Ph.D.s in physics include: Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago, and Brookhaven Nation Laboratory on Long Island, New York.