- #1
The_Inventor
- 9
- 2
Ever since high school I have always been interested in technology and hoped that one day I would be working in a field where I would get to build new gadgets and technologies (I had a particular interest in robotics). When it came time for college I was told by my teacher that physics was a great stepping stone to any field of engineering. Throughout college I was also told by various physics professors that one could do anything with a physics degree. So I decided to pursue physics instead of engineering without doing much further research on the matter (this was my mistake).
However, I'm now beginning to realize that Physics has taught me a lot about how things work at the very fundamental level, and how to solve problems. But that knowledge doesn't extend much beyond academics. For example, I know quantum mechanics but I can't design a laser or a transistor on my own from that knowledge. I know solid state physics but I can't build a microchip or a semiconductor device on my own from that knowledge. I learned how to code a little bit in Matlab but only towards applications to physics problems. I don't know how to program simple AI or machine learning algorithms. I know electromagnetic theory but I can't build an electric motor (If I took the time to read up on all these things then I could probably do them but that's beside the point).
Essentially by choosing to do an Undergraduate degree in Physics I missed out on all the hands on building, application, and design work that I would have received from an Engineering curriculum. So my question is would it be wise to go back and earn another bachelor's degree in engineering if my end goal is to get into the field of Robotics? or should I look for a Master's program in Engineering? I'm hoping someone who has been in a similar situation can help me out.
(My only problem with going for a masters is that it seems to be more specialized than a Bachelor's and I would rather know more than specialize in one area, especially If I don't have the prerequisite knowledge to succeed in that specialization.)
Thank you for taking the time to read and answer. Sorry if this was a bit long, I know there are a lot of posts out there with similar questions to this but I wanted answers relating to my specific situation.
However, I'm now beginning to realize that Physics has taught me a lot about how things work at the very fundamental level, and how to solve problems. But that knowledge doesn't extend much beyond academics. For example, I know quantum mechanics but I can't design a laser or a transistor on my own from that knowledge. I know solid state physics but I can't build a microchip or a semiconductor device on my own from that knowledge. I learned how to code a little bit in Matlab but only towards applications to physics problems. I don't know how to program simple AI or machine learning algorithms. I know electromagnetic theory but I can't build an electric motor (If I took the time to read up on all these things then I could probably do them but that's beside the point).
Essentially by choosing to do an Undergraduate degree in Physics I missed out on all the hands on building, application, and design work that I would have received from an Engineering curriculum. So my question is would it be wise to go back and earn another bachelor's degree in engineering if my end goal is to get into the field of Robotics? or should I look for a Master's program in Engineering? I'm hoping someone who has been in a similar situation can help me out.
(My only problem with going for a masters is that it seems to be more specialized than a Bachelor's and I would rather know more than specialize in one area, especially If I don't have the prerequisite knowledge to succeed in that specialization.)
Thank you for taking the time to read and answer. Sorry if this was a bit long, I know there are a lot of posts out there with similar questions to this but I wanted answers relating to my specific situation.