What Can You Do With a Physics Degree?

Florida Tech June 3, 2014

Pete calculates the possible career opportunities for students majoring in physics in today’s installment of, “What can you do with a physics degree?”

Space. Time. Energy. Matter. These are the things that make up the science known as physics, and these are the things you seek to become a master of. I mean, that’s why you’re here, right? You’re thinking about majoring and earning a degree in the field of physics, aren’t you? Well let me tell you, you have stumbled upon the right blog post. Yes, you may have already decided to study physics in college — and congratulations on making that decision by the way — but are you aware of the kinds of careers that await you out there in the real world after graduation? Let’s start by defining what exactly it is physicists do…

While there are many different types of physicists out there, nearly all of them share the same basic job function: to explore the properties that govern space, time, energy and matter. Where the career paths differ is in which field each physicist chooses to dedicate their efforts. What are some of these fields? Let’s find out. What can you do with a physics degree?

For starters, you could actually work in the medical field as a medical physicist. Medical physicists apply their expertise to the healthcare system, using their knowledge to help create new medical technology and treatments. For example, a medical physicist may develop new, safer radiation therapies for cancer patients.

You could also become a plasma physicist, or someone who studies plasma. “What is plasma,” you ask? It’s actually pretty important; plasma is considered to be a distinct state of matter that occurs naturally in stars and interplanetary space; it’s also in the neon signs you see while driving down the street and in plasma screen televisions. The main job function of many plasma physicists is to find ways to develop new fusion reactors that could create future sources of energy.

Finally, with a degree in physics, you could become a particle and nuclear physicist, or someone who studies the natural properties of subatomic and atomic particles. Specifically, a particle and nuclear physicist focuses his work on the electrons and nuclei of these particles in order to better understand the forces that cause the particles to interact.

Still asking yourself, “What can you do with a physics degree?” You shouldn’t be! As you can see, there are a number of different directions where you can take your physics degree professionally, and even more that we didn’t have the chance to get to today. Whichever direction you choose to take your career after college, feel confident in knowing that you are changing the world with your college degree.