Changing\Combining disciplines? CS, Physics, breadth, etc.

[thecs]

Hi, I'm currently on my third (& last) year of BSc studies, in Computer Science.

One problem is that the range of topics I find interesting is extremely huge: Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Biology & Biochemistry, Philosophy, Math, and more.
Overall I can say the 2 I find the most interesting are CS and Astro\Physics.

The 2nd problem is that I'm currently towards the end of my BSc studies in CS, and the degree is extremely 'narrow', in the sense that we can only take about 3 non-CS courses, and the Math courses are also extremely limited (only 2 basic courses in each of the following - Calculus, Algebra, Discrete\Set Theory\Logic).

I really want to study physics and I'm afraid that my degree did not provide me any good 'general' basis for science, and the only thing I can do is study CS further.
Now as for the 'why' I studied for this degree.. I like CS, it's just that I also like Physics.. and Math.. and I really don't know what to do right now and where is my life heading. So I'm just going to throw some questions here:

Is there any graduate program (MSc or PhD) which combines Physics and CS?
Is there any chance I could be admitted to a university and study towards MSc in CS and BSc in Physics at the same time?
Is there any "general" MSc program which let's you take various courses from Physics, Math, CS, etc. (and then you choose one of the topics to do your thesis about).
What do people generally do when they end up with a BSc in X, but want to study and do reasearch in Y?

And finally, which additional math courses are 'important' to take? which ones I definitely shouldn't miss?

any thoughts would be appreciated... Thanks :)

 

[TonyG]

It's great to hear that you have a wide range of interests in various scientific fields. I can understand the struggle of choosing just one area to focus on for your studies and future career. However, it's important to remember that all these fields are interconnected and can overlap in many ways.

To address your first question, there are definitely graduate programs that combine physics and computer science. These programs are often referred to as "computational physics" or "computational astrophysics." You can also look into interdisciplinary programs that combine different fields, such as "physics and computation" or "physics and data science."

As for studying both CS and physics at the same time, it may be possible to do so in a graduate program, but it would depend on the specific university and their requirements. It would be best to reach out to the admissions office of the universities you are interested in to inquire about their policies on dual degree programs.

Additionally, there are general MSc programs that allow you to take courses from various disciplines and choose a specific topic for your thesis. These programs are often called "interdisciplinary studies" or "general science" programs.

When it comes to furthering your education in a different field, many people pursue a master's degree or even a second bachelor's degree in the desired field. It may also be possible to gain experience and knowledge through internships or self-study before applying to a graduate program.

In terms of which math courses are important to take, it really depends on your specific interests and goals. However, some important topics to consider are differential equations, linear algebra, and statistics. It may also be beneficial to take courses in numerical methods and programming languages commonly used in scientific research.

I hope this helps in your decision-making process and wish you the best of luck in your future studies and research endeavors. Remember, it's never too late to explore new fields and follow your passions. Keep an open mind and continue to pursue your interests. Best of luck!