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CAREER PATHS WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PHYSICS

We recognize that there are many reasons to pursue a physics degree. Physics is a powerful base on which to build a wide variety of careers! That is why we offer our undergraduates a flexible undergraduate degree program with different areas of emphasis. All of these areas of emphasis include a strong core curriculum combined with advanced physics courses and courses from other disciplines. Bachelor's degree physicists have excellent job prospects in our technological society. To get an idea of current industrial opportunities, link to http://www.dice.com/ and search on the word "Physics." Career information for professional physicists (usually with a Ph.D. degree) is available from the American Physical Society web page; employment statistics are available from the American Institute of Physics. To find out where some of our recent graduates have gone with their degrees, check out our Alumni Survey (not yet available).

Students, who follow one of these more flexible tracks towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with a particular Area of Emphasis, will develop strong analytical skills and will obtain broad knowledge in an additional area of science. The B.S degree in physics requires completion of 32 hours of physics: PHYS 111,112, 314, 331, 333, 341, 451, and 461. From the standard requirements of the B.S. degree in physics, the Areas of Emphasis require completion of at least 27 hours of physics: PHYS 111, 112, 314, 331, 333, 341, 451, and 461. The Areas of Emphasis (AOEs) described below encourage students to tailor and expand on the basic B.S physics degree requirements to develop specialized competencies in selected interest areas that span more than two disciplines. Completion of an AOE is posted to the student's transcript and the courses in the AOE can be used to satisfy the physics elective requirements and the capstone requirement. The AOEs emphasize research experience and each requires either a summer research experience (at WVU or another institution) or a capstone experience in the area of emphasis. Students wishing to complete more than one area of emphasis will need to complete a summer research or capstone experience in each AOE. The research experience must be approved by the student’s undergraduate physics advisor.

Terminology:

Minor
A formal program consisting of courses taken in another department. The Minor in Physics is an example.

Area of Emphasis (AOE) or “Track”
An informal program within a department. Students completing an area of emphasis receive a certificate of completion in addition to a notation on their transcript.

Applied Physics

The area of emphasis in applied physics is designed for those who are interested in employment or future study in applied physics or engineering.

• Advisor: David Lederman, dlederma@wvu.edu
• Preparation for: employment in industrial research and development or graduate study in applied physics
• Course Requirements:  EE 221, 223, 251, 252, and MAE 241, 242, 331, 423
• Research: A capstone experience or a summer research experience emphasizing an applied physics topic

Astro/Space physics Track

The area of emphasis in astro/space physics is designed for those who are interested in future study in astronomy or astrophysics.

• Advisor: Duncan Lorimer, Duncan.Lorimer@mail.wvu.edu
• Preparation for: graduate school in Astrophysics or Astronomy
• Course Requirements: PHYS 493 or 492 - Astrophysics, PHYS 321, PHYS 481, GEOL 455, EE 221, 223, 465, MAE 331, and a second semester of PHYS 341 – Astrophysics Emphasis
• Research: A capstone or summer research experience focused on an astro/space physics topic
•Typical 4 year plan of study.

Biophysics Track

The area of emphasis in biophysics is designed for those who are interested in future study in medicine with a strong physics preparation.

• Advisor: Leonardo Golubovic, lgolubovic@yahoo.com
• Preparation for: medical school, graduate study in Biophysics , or graduate study in Medical Physics
• Course Requirements: In addition to the 32 hours of physics, the other requirements are: CHEM 115, 116, 233, 234, 235, 236, 346, 348, BIO 115, 117, 219, 310, and BIOC 339, and PHYS 225 – Medical Imaging Physics
• Research: A capstone or summer research experience focused on a biophysics topic.

Business Track (Five year program ending with a MBA)

• Under development

Computational Physics Track

The area of emphasis in computational physics is ideal for those who are interested in computation.

• Advisor: Marty Ferer, mferer@wvu.edu
• Preparation for: employment in applications programming, physical systems modeling, software development.
• Course Requirements: CS 110, 111, 210, and 470 and Math 420. Two additional three-hour electives must be chosen from either physics or computer science
• Research: The capstone should focus on a Computational Physics topic
• Typical 4 year plan of study.

Materials Science Track

The area of emphasis in materials science is designed for those who are interested in employment or future study in materials science.

• Advisor: David Lederman, dlederma@wvu.edu
• Preparation for: employment in industrial research and development or graduate study in materials science
• Course Requirements: PHYS 471, 321, CHEM 341, CHE 366, CHE 466, EE 450, and a second semester of PHYS 341-Condensed Matter semester
• Research: A capstone or summer research experience focused on a Condensed Matter Physics topic.
• Typical 4 year plan of study.

Medical Physics

The area of emphasis in medical physics is designed for those who are interested in future study in medical physics.

• Advisor: Ray Raylman, rraylman@wvu.edu
• Preparation for:  graduate study in medical physics or medicine
• Course Requirements: CHEM 115, 116, 233, 234, 235, 236, BIO 115, 117, 310, EE 425, 465 and PHYS 225 – Medical Imaging Physics
• Research: A capstone or summer research experience focused on a Medical Physics topic.
• Typical 4 year plan of study.