Is a Physics Undergrad to Engineering Grad Possible?

[sbaks0820]

I want to major in physics for undergrad, and was wondering if it was possible to get a bs in physics and do graduate school in engineering. I mean I have the physics part covered, but would it be possible (allowed) to happen? Cuz the job market for physicists (esp astrophysicists) is not adequately high. So I'm considering doing my physics, but then getting masters/ph. d in engineering, and just wanted to know if this was possible.

 

[wukunlin]

differs from school to school, from what I've heard, in Auckland, physics undergrad doing engineering post grad require an extra semester. In various engineering departments in australia, the entry requirement accept "applied sciences"

So make sure you contact each department you are planning to apply for, for the most accurate info

 

[nlsherrill]

Why would you want to do this? Engineering and physics aren't as similar as you may think. They require different skills, and ask different questions.

Of course you COULD do this(at least in the US), but you will just be screwing yourself over. The best thing you could do is major in engineering and focus exclusively on it. A lot of engineering students at my school minor in physics just to get some modern physics concepts that aren't usually covered in engineering.

 

[MECHster]

Yup^. If you want to be an engineer, take engineering. In engineering you will be taking some physics courses. For example last year I took electricity and magnetism, this year I'm taking modern physics (relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear and atomic physics) which are both taught by the physics department. Not to mention you will be learning lots of physics in your engineering courses (just more of an applied approach). It depends which country you are in but becoming a professional engineer is much more difficult if you have a BSc in physics as appose to a BEng.

 

[DukeLuke]

What type of engineering, and in what country? I know that ~50% of incoming nuclear engineering graduate students in my department (in the US) have a B.S. in physics.