We use to say that if you were good there were many jobs available to you. But we can no longer say that.

On the other hand, there are presently no careers which can guarantee you a job when you leave college. So while you are in college you might as well major in something that is interesting to you.

The important thing to keep in mind is that an education in physics prepares you for much more than an academic or research career. The training you receive in computers, problem solving, appyling mathematics to situations, in experimental techniques, and in thinking logically and rigorously about the physical universe prepares you for virtually any career you choose. Many students do go on to pursure advanced degrees in physics, engineering or a related field but others pursue careers in very different areas.

Some areas where physics alumns work are:

lawyers college faculty high school teachers architects/city planners politicians

doctors editors lab techs researchers video game design

veterinarians software developers rock musicians engineers environmental services

And they pursue work in many sectors including (but not limited to):

investment banking research labs

finance universities

publishing the U.S. Patent Office

Check with your physics department for advice, guidance and information.

For some hard-headed advice check out the following sites.

• Careers Using Physics page from the SPS, you may want to pay particular attention to their Advice page and the Profiles of physicists.
• Career Services of AIP
• Student Guidance Resources from APS
• Explore, Understand, Succeed: Physics from the Committee on Minorities of the APS
  
  Career information from
• NASA
• The Biophysical Society
• The Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
• The American Astronomical Society
• The American Meteorological Society
• The American Association of Physicists in Medicine
• The Health Physics Society
  
  
• Physics Career Information from the Physics Department of the University of Toronto
• The Scientist's Guide to Traditional and Alternative Careers
• Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond - very thoughtful book, a copy can be read on-line
• The Sloan Career Cornerstone
• Leaving Physics, careers in physics outside academia maintained by Jennifer Hodgdons who is now a Web designer

• Back to the Student Gateway
• Back to the Home Page of the Education Office

Last updated 10/20/2008.