You’re Not Limited to Physics and Astronomy
Did you know physics and astronomy majors are often qualified for master’s and PhD programs in other fields? This isn’t a comprehensive list of them, but it should get you thinking more broadly about your options.
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Acoustics and acoustical engineering deal with sound and vibrations. People in the field work on designing, analyzing, and controlling sound for applications such as noise dampening, ultrasound imaging, underwater communication, audio productions, and aircraft design. Learn more from the Acoustical Society of America,
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Materials science and engineering is a broad discipline that seeks to understand materials and engineer them to exhibit certain characteristics for various applications. Materials scientists work in areas from semiconductors to nanotechnology, 3D printing, and everything in between.
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and motion. Mechanical engineers design machines or analyze their movement and forces to optimize the system for functionality, aesthetics, or manufacturability. Career areas range from automotive to aerospace to robotics.
Medical physics aims to prevent, diagnose, and treat human diseases using physics applications. Medical physicists work in areas like medical imaging, radiotherapy for cancer treatment, cardiology, and medical research. To learn more, check out “Pathways to Medical Physics” from GradSchoolShopper at GradSchoolShopper.com/pathways-to-medical-physics.html .
Optics and photonics explore the fundamental properties of light and how to utilize them for practical applications. People in optics and photonics commonly work in communications (e.g., optical fibers), medicine (e.g., imaging techniques), displays (e.g., cell phone screens), and sensor design (e.g., monitoring environmental conditions or contents). Learn more from Optica, optica.org .
