Career Tracks
Undergraduate physics majors are trained to use the most modern equipment, learn about the most current and exciting topics for research, and, most of all, learn to be problem solvers. This training leads them to many fields of endeavor. Some (about one-third) go to graduate school in physics; others (another one-third) go on to further their education in professional schools such as medical school or law school; and the remainder enjoy opportunities in such wide-ranging fields as finance, the armed services, and scientific publishing. As the “liberal arts” of the sciences, physics is a training ground for the mind which opens many avenues.
What do physics majors do after graduation?
American Physical Society/Careers InSight
Physics InSight is a series of slideshows designed to inform and excite undergraduates about physics. Slideshow topics include:
- Physicist profiles with diverse career paths
- Skills used by physicists in their various professions
- Statistics on physics careers
- APS resources for undergraduate physics majors
- Internship and conference opportunities for undergraduates
APS hopes these slide shows will be shown in venues frequented by potential physics majors, such as university science buildings.
Physics as a lucrative major
Link to page that lists college majors and average starting salaries: Majors That Pay You Back