Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged and opportunities exist as early as the second semester to work in a research group. These groups include experimental and theoretical condensed matter physics, high energy physics, nano-physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, biological physics, geophysics, relativity, and interdisciplinary areas of material science, engineering, or computational science. 

The department also helps undergraduates with external internships, particularly for the summers. Upon graduation our students are accepted for graduate programs at many of the top universities and are also sought after for positions in industry, particularly high-tech positions. Our graduates have an exceptional record of career accomplishment in a wide variety of settings, including academia and major industrial and government labs.

Careers in Physics

A bachelor’s degree in physics prepares students to pursue careers in an extraordinary variety of areas, including technical and managerial careers in industry and basic research in universities, industrial laboratories, and national laboratories. The general problem-solving skills developed in physics studies serve students well not only in careers in physics but also in careers in other sciences, engineering, law, medicine, management, finance, and government.

Some examples of careers chosen by physics majors include teacher, doctor, research scientist, lawyer, physician, architect, technical salesperson, electrical engineer, aeronautical engineer, astronaut, geophysicist, software designer, technical analyst, reliability engineer, and process engineer.