Physics major Definition and 332 Threads

So as a physics undergrad, I have been studying extensively into the popular (and useful) textbooks books by Stewart (Calc), Boas (Methods), and Riley (Methods). Any ways, I was just wondering, is there another book on mathematics for that a physics major should probably like to look, say after...

Hello everyone, I am doing B.Tech. in Engineering Physics and in my final year right now. I come from a reputed institute we are generally offered on campus jobs although at my institute there aren't many core companies related to my major. Anyway, my plans are to obtain a masters degree. My...

2nd year undergrad here. What did physics majors think about the difficulty of their various courses? I took the honors versions of the intro course and did pretty well but I'm in intermediate classical mechanics and it's destroying me... I guess taking six classes might have been a bit too...

Hi, I'm in my Junior year and I'm starting to think very seriously about what I want to do once I graduate, especially about whether I want to go to grad school or not. I've had a bit of experience doing research (spent two summers doing academic research) and I don't really think it's my...

In my college students who don't have AP credit for calc I are required to delay physics a semester till they are done with calc I. Because of this students take E@M sophomore year and have to take a intro waves and thermo class 2nd semester sophomore year. This means students don't take...

Hi, I'm going into my second year of the physics program and I was thinking about trying out for med school afterwards. In case that doesn't pan out, what are some other jobs that require a physics degree? If I don't make it into med school, I'll probably go for a masters and probably Ph.D...

So, I'm looking at colleges and whatnot, and I know I want to be a doctor of some sort, so I am going to do pre med, but I am also really into physics. The plan is to hopefully go to a college that has a good premed classes and advice, but also get a physics major at that college. First off, is...

Hey I've been browsing these forums for some insight into the field I'll be currently majoring in. But I feel I may as a well ask myself and get some firsthand advice. Being a physics major, it's only natural that the course load will be quite heavy compared to others. I'm taking five...

This is my first semester at uni so, I am also enrolled in my first physics class. It is an honors mechanics class. So far, there have been 2 problem sets of around 20 questions. The questions in the problem sets are orders of magnitude more difficult than anything covered in class. It comes to...

Hey PF, I'm in my senior year of high school and I'm taking AP Physics B this year as my school does not offer AP Physics C, and I'm wondering if I should supplement with extra studying as I plan on majoring in physics. I took calculus AB (equivalent of first semester calculus) last year and I'm...

I was strongly considering getting a BS in Physics along with a BA in Math until right now when I'm starting to consider dropping the Physics major. By "dropping" I don't mean leave Physics altogether but instead of getting a BS in it, I'll just be taking a lot of courses in it (such as quantum...

I like to plan ahead so as of now I basically have a good idea what my schedule will be like for all 4 year of college. I want to go into QFT eventually so I think the math classes I have decided to take will be best for that. They are Multivariable calculus( freshmen year 1st semester) Half a...

People never seem to mention optics when they talk about the core courses an undergraduate student majoring in physics should take. Yet, a professor told me it was a very useful course. Is it applicable to other areas in physics? How demanding is such a course? (my college uses Hecht's book...

I'm wondering if I'll be able to find a job once I graduate, if my grad school plans don't pan out. I'm graduating with a BA in physics from a University of California, to be able to take computer science classes on the side (enough for a minor). Am I qualified enough to get software engineering...

I am currently in my last year of a B.S. Physics degree. I have an emphasis in medical physics and have spent the past year interning at the local cancer center's radiation oncology department. I love the field, but interning has made me realize that the patient interaction is not for me. I'd...

Did any of you take General Chemistry 2 as part of a physics degree? Most of my fellow students are engineers and they are only required to take Chem 1, but the physics degree lists Chem 2 as a recommended course. Either way, is this something that would prevent me from taking any third year...

I was thinking about majoring in physics with a minor in an engineering like chemical. electrical,or materials science. I want to ultimately have a PhD in physics and an engineering. Do you think this is advisable? Or should i major in an engineering with physics minor?

I will be starting my freshmen year at college this September and I can't wait to do physics. I really want to learn as much physics as possible and do a lot of research. However I feel that I don't know enough math to go at the pace I really want to go at. Compared to most H.S students I did...

Hi, I am entering Rice University this fall as a Physics major, with the intention of double-majoring in Mathematics. Although I'd like to take every math class they have to offer, I need some advice on which math classes are crucial in providing a mathematical foundation and possibly a timeline...

Other than C++, which is obvious, and MATLAB, which is unavoidable.

Hello! I am new to this site as you can see but I plan on being here for a while. I am just finishing my freshman year of college, and I have 20 unites with between a 3.4-3.7 GPA. This year I did not want to declare a major because I was to scared to commit to one.. Ive known my whole life I...

Hi all, I'm a graduating freshman at university right now. I'm currently enrolled in the engineering program but am strongly considering switching majors to physics with perhaps a computer science minor, or at least some computer science classes. I eventually plan to go to graduate school...

Hi all, My university has an exchange program, and I am thinking to apply for it Some of the notable choices (in Europe) are: -ETH Zurich -EPFLausanne -TU Munich -TU Darmstadt -U Stuttgart -Utrecht -KTH -Chalmers I am a Physics Major (undergraduate) and do not speak any...

Hey PF, just thought I'd post a story. Kind of long, sorry. I'm 19 next week, and a freshman at a community college. Long story short, up until this semester my school effort has been hit and miss. I'd do great sometimes, then terrible at others. Until senior year, I just stopped caring...

Heya folks! So I had a question about mathematics requirements. In my current physics program, you are only required to go up to calculus 3. Some people choose to do a math minor, others choose other minors. This same program, goes up to QM 1 + 2 as capstone classes. My question is...

I want to study astronomy/astrophysics. But only two of the University of California offers astronomy or astrophysics. Would it be possible to major in physics and get a job in an astronomy related field or later get a masters in astronomy/astrophysics with a BS in physics?

Hello everyone! Our son wants to pursue physics as a major (eventually getting a Ph.D.) and wants to ultimately become a research physicist. He has narrowed down the schools that he has been accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Case Western Reserve, and the University of Rochester...

I see more and more that any professor or REU program wants one of three skills: programming (which I am in the process of obtaining), fabrication/machining/welding(which I know very well), or electronics knowledge, the latter which I do not have and have no idea even where to start. I know...

I'll be graduating soon and don't really want to go to grad school. My heart is just not in it anymore and I want to start "living" outside of the context of school for once. I don't have any internships or anything to make me particularly attractive besides pretty good grades. A few years...

I want to be some sort of a research scientist. I was wondering what you guys think would be better to study. Is one easier to get jobs with? How much harder is physics then chemistry? and finally how much would a research scientist with a masters degree earn right out of school with those...

Hello, What are some recommended engineering courses I should take to diversify my physics degree? Thanks! DoubleMint

I'm going to be a second-year student next year, and since for the first semester I only have three courses I need to take, and there are no optional Physics modules other than the already prescribed core courses everyone needs to take anyway, I was thinking I'd pick another Maths course...

Hello, I'm currently a junior undergraduate majoring in Physics/Math at a well ranked university. I've recently decided that I'm way more excited by the new commercial space industry than I am by pretty much anything in frontier physics (although I find many topics in frontier physics really...

Hello. I am a third year physics major (technically, although I am still taking 200 level classes) and understand that programming is a must. I do not know anything about programming. I initially planned on taking a summer programming course (if not, then next fall) but it seems as though I'd...

Hi, I'm currently a grade 11, and due to certain extreme circumstances I was unable to study Physics in the four years of High School (only Chemistry and Biology and Math, albeit to the highest levels possible for my age). I was wondering if I could still be double majoring in Physics & Math...

After working in the real world and saving for the past 4 years I'm headed back to school tomorrow. Due to a technicality (sorry) I'm actually a physics major until next semester. Since I'm now married with a house, I'm staying local and finishing up my BS in Mechanical Engineering at the...

I'm a 2nd year physics major, with a minor in math, i have a GPA around 3, (4 point system), and i will probably graduate by next year, i was wondering what grad schools i would have a shot at?

Hi, I am a physics major graduate and i what to do a masters preferably in engineering and i would like some suggestions on the possible courses i can do. Thanks

Here's some background to the story: Throughout HS, I always thought physics and math was my forte, and went to several international competitions in both subjects. But as I started college in the US, I fell in love with art history and over freshman year thought that I should major in the...

Hello everyone! I have recently decided that I want to pursue a career in software engineering, but the problem is that I haven’t taken many courses in it. I’ll briefly describe where I’m at now: I’m a senior physics major, and I had originally planned on doing some sort of medical physics or...

What kind of energy field should I focused on? Solar? Geothermal? Biomass?

I am in my 3rd year of a physics b.s. program. I have been taking a few courses (not many) to get a computer science concentration. I have become increasingly interested in software engineering (not just programming), so I'm looking into how hard that is going to be with a physics degree...

Hello. I'm a recently graduated high school senior who is attending an Ivy next fall (I don't know if there's a forum decorum issue about naming which one). I need advice on what career path to take. I'm currently planning on majoring in physics, since I feel that physics and chemistry are...

I don't want to take the second quarter of quantum mechanics, since I can easily self-study the material and since I'd prefer to take graduate level courses in some other field instead. It's not required for the physics major here. Does it matter that much if I don't take it? Same goes for...

I wanted to know if most schools require you to take any physics classes that are not calculus based. Also does anyone have any suggestions on a good college to go to for physics or mathematics.

I really like physics, however I'm worried about not being able to get a 3.8+ gpa (looking to go to a top med school) if I major in it. I'm also going to be attending a really good undergrad school so there will be much more competition in my classes (having a near 4.0 gpa in high school is...

I recently got the idea of being a physics major. I was accepted for chemical engineering, but I'm not sure I want to concentrate on that just yet. I will be entering college in the fall. I really love studying physics, even though I've never had an actual class on it. I read physics...

I will be attending Coastal Carolina University in the fall as an applied physics major, but the school also has a 3+2 program with Clemson where I would get a Physics degree from Coastal and an Engineering degree from Clemson. My question is would it be better to do the 3+2 and then graduate...

im a physics major and i want to specialize in optics.. any suggestions which path and university i should follow what would a good idea as of making good money in future and also doing research by specializing in optics (physics)

Best math classes for a physics major?? So I'm double majoring in physics and math, what are some beneficial math classes? REQUIRED FOR A MATH MAJOR: - Calculus I - Calculus II - Calculus III - Linear Algebra - Abstract Algebra - Differential Equations - Intermediate Analysis -...