what can my husband do if he majors in physics?

Question

He was studying to be an electrical engineer but now he wants to major in physics. What kind of jobs can he get after college?

Answer 1

The bureau of labor and statistics has an occupational outlook handbook online that covers pretty much everything. physicists tend to have jobs in the following areas

engineers, chemists and materials scientists, atmospheric scientists, environmental scientists, geoscientists, computer systems analysts, computer scientists and database administrators, computer programmers, and mathematicians

click on the link below, and it will tell you more than you probably would like to know.

Answer 2

I fully understand...I started out as a EE and switched to physics after my first year. I switched because I discovered I have a real phobia for wires.

Here's what I've done as a physicist.

* Worked as a Research Associate with one of the nation's foremost National Laboratories. [I used to ride up the elevator each AM to work with Ed Teller.]

* Discovered a weakness in one of the nation's major weapon systems.

* Identified risks to the Navy's weapons emergency destruction system.

* Determined radiation shielding potential for the Navy's surface ships.

* Determined radar cross section for incoming reentry vehicles that superheat the air around.

* Determined how deep an earth-penetrating projectile would penetrate various soil types.

* Did conceptual design of GPS augmented missile guidance system.

* Did risk analysis of a next generation air traffic control system proposed by IBM.

* Created a metrics system for tracking, displaying, and reporting the progress of R&D projects.

There are more, but I've forgotten most of the little ones.

Answer 3

I think the variety of jobs is so huge you will struggle to categorize them. One fellow I know works for a medical research company. Since he had a background as a machinist and had studied theoretical topics as well he was a great bridge between the company's designers and the folks who actually built their devices.

Another fellow got a job at a local hospital calibrating and maintaining their X ray equipment.

I've been teaching physics on and off in a variety of places, but I've also earned a little by tinkering with electronics and computer programming.

If your husband likes physics it probably means he likes to tinker -- is your garage and basement filled with junk?

Answer 4

I have a Ph.D. in physics and I work in industry. Started out in the R&D part of my company where I did research on different types of sensor systems, microwave generation, and appl;ied electromagnetics. I moved over to the product design side of the company where I now am responsible for the overall system design of sensor systems.

It really depends on the person and their interests. If your husband wants a career in pure physics, he is either going to have to find a job in academia or go to work in one of the large national labs. If he is interested in applying physics to products, services, etc. thene there are many career paths open in industry. Some are more robust than others, but this changes as we move through business cycles. Telecom used to be really hot - companies were hiring grad students before tehy even got to work on their thesis material. Not so right now.

Again, it depends on the person.

Answer 5

there are so many different careers, does he know what area of physics he wants to specialise in?
optics, mechanics, quantum / nuclear / astrophysics?

I think there would be a larger range of jobs for him to choose than with engineering, and if he wanted to go back and do engineering later, he wouldnt have to do half the subjects (all the maths ones) because he would have already done them.

As well as teaching positions at both secondary and tertiary levels, I would imagine jobs in research and development (r&d) or within privately funded companies, military (DSTO), govenment departments such as CSIRO, and many many others. Too many to name in fact.
By the way DSTO and CSIRO are companies in my country, australia. I keep forgetting im not talking to locals :)

Physicists are in high demand, but alot depends on what field they specialise in.

And to the person who posted above me, i would call that a terrible waste of a great brain, or a really bad joke.

Answer 6

So...what's your question precisely? What boogey guy are you petrified of right here? analyzing undergrad physics, chemistry and calculus does no longer make you a nuclear physicist. For crying out loud, every person in my college had to take a minimum of two words of calculus - particular even the dance majors.

Answer 7

Virtually nothing except teach. Even if he was to get a PhD in physics, there are no jobs.

Trust me, i worked with PhD's in physics before and in the early 90's when companies were shedding themselves of their research departments, the physicists were the first to go.. many never found work in their chosen field every since.

Answer 8

I have PhD in physics.
I collect empty cans from trash and recycle.

Answer 9

Teach
Work at Nasa
But really, you could do anything with whatever degree
I have a degree if philosophy... :op

Answer 10

he will know at what velocity the paint will the the wall of the house he is painting.