WHAT CAN I DO WITH
A MAJOR IN...
PHYSICS AND
ASTRONOMY
www.sc.edu/career
phys·ics
The scientific study of matter and motion.*
*"physics." The American Heritage® New
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition.
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. 05 Aug. 2009.
<Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/physics>.
as-tron-o-my
The scientific study of the universe beyond the
earth, especially the observation, calculation,
and theoretical interpretation of the positions,
dimensions, distribution, motion, composition,
and evolution of celestial bodies and
phenomena.*
*"astronomy." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English
Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 05 Aug. 2009.
<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/astronomy>.
Physics And Astronomy
Majors Study
Laws of matter, motion, heat, light and electricity
The universe beyond the earth, especially the
observation, calculation, and theoretical interpretation of
the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion,
composition, and evolution of celestial bodies and
phenomena
...And more
Specializations
Most undergraduate programs offer a general course of study as well as
many specializations that can be pursued with additional study. These
include (but are not limited to):
• Bachelor's
• Further education
degree/entry level required
– Test engineer
– Process engineer
– Meteorologist
– Industrial
hygienist
– Technical writer
– Computer
systems engineer
– Mathematician
– Aerodynamist
– Physicist
– Physics
researcher
– Astronomer
– Astrophysicist
Physics And Astronomy At
The University Of South
Carolina
Undergraduate Degrees
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Majors:
• Physics
• Engineering Physics
• The university also offers a Minors in
Astronomy and Physics
Physics And Astronomy
At The University Of
South Carolina
Graduate Degrees
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Industrial Statistics (MIS)
Master of Sciences (MS)
Master of Mathematics (PM)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Physics And Astronomy
Majors Develop Skills In
• Investigation
– Define research
problems
– Develop research models
– Establish hypotheses
– Gather/analyze data
– Evaluate ideas
– See relationships among
factors
• Communication
– Develop/write research
proposals
– Review scientific
literature
– Summarize research
findings
– Inform, explain, instruct
– Prepare technical reports
– Draw meaningful
conclusions
Statistics Majors Develop
Skills In
• Computational
– Measure distances/
relationships
– Perform
calculations
– Mathematical
modeling
– Maintain records
– Utilize math
formulas
• Technical
– Design equipment
– Identify/classify
materials
– Observe data
– Establish
experimental
designs
– Use instruments
Employment
• For those interested in careers in research or industrial
science, astronomy, meteorology, marine sciences,
biophysics, geophysics or the health sciences, the B.S.
degree in physics provides a good background for
employment as lab technicians, field researchers and
production assistants or for graduate study.
• Many physics and astronomy B.S. graduates continue
study in graduate school, after which they may work as
professional physicists in industry, universities or
government laboratories.
Employment Settings
• Business & Commerce:
Includes management and direction
of for-profit organizations including
the development of business plans,
marketing strategies, product
development, and human resource
management.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Business &
Commerce
• Industrial Hygienist
• Medical Products
Designer
• Optical Device Designer
• Automotive Engineer
• Occupational Safety
Specialist
• Environmental Analyst
• Nuclear Power Plant
Project Manager
• Systems Analyst
• Environmental Health
Specialist
• Quality Control
Manager
Employment Settings
• Actual Field Work:
Includes both studying and working
with and in the actual field.
Encompasses everything from
management to hydrology
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Actual Field
Work
•
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•
•
•
Acoustics Physicist
Agriculture Scientist
Atomic Physicist
Chemical Physicist
Nuclear Physicist
Astronomer
Hydrologist
Solid Earth Physicist
•
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•
•
•
•
Meteorologist
Physicist
Seismologist
Test Engineer
Aerospace Tester
Astrophysicist
Environmental Health
Specialist
Employment Settings
• Research:
Includes technicians, researchers,
and technologists. Also incorporates
laboratory work and the education of
peers.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Research
• Medical Products
Designer
• Nuclear Physicist
• Radiological Laboratory
Director
• Stratigrapher
• Technical Consultant
• Aerodynamist
• Astrophysicist
• Biophysicist
• Science Laboratory
Technician
• College/University
Faculty
• Forensic Scientist
• Physicist
• Research Scientist
• Seismologist
• Test Engineer
• Satellite Data Analysis
Employment Settings
• Education:
Includes classroom instruction,
curricula development, research,
writing, administration, program
management, and lecturing.
Teaching and research positions at
colleges and universities require an
advanced degree. Most other
teaching positions require appropriate
certification.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Education
•
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•
•
•
•
Administrator
Admissions Evaluator
Author/Writer
Career Counselor
College or University
Professor
Financial Aid Director
Guidance Counselor
Health Educator
Lecturer
•
•
•
•
Primary School Teacher
Program Manager
Residence Hall Director
Secondary School
Teacher
• Student Affairs
Professional
• Text Writer
• Medical Librarian
Employment Settings
• Health Services:
Includes healing, both physical and
mental, hospital/doctor’s office services,
and some technician positions.
Most physician and counseling positions
require the completion of a certification
or advanced study program.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Health
Services
• Dentist
• Genetic Engineering
Researcher
• Medical Laboratory
Technician
• Physician
• Dietitian/Nutritionist
• Health Officer
• Health Physicist
• Biophysicist
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Medical Librarian
Pharmacy Technician
Medical Illustrator
Mortician
Nurse
Physical Therapist
Medical Products
Designer
• Radiological Laboratory
Director
• Medical Physicist
Other Occupational Settings
For Physics And Astronomy
Majors
• Aircraft & instrument
manufacturers
• Information technology
companies
• Chemical
manufacturers
• Production facilities
• Defense manufacturing
companies
• Testing labs
• Health care facilities
• Research/Development
departments
• Educational institutions
• Scientific journals
• Electrical equipment
companies
• Technical consulting
firms
• Engineering firms
• Government Agencies
Strategies For Developing
Skills To Get The Job You
Want
• Pursue an excellent
academic record
• Obtain part-time,
summer, or internship
work experience
• Volunteer with service
and counseling
organizations
• Become fluent in a
foreign language
• Obtain an advanced
degree and/or
certification in order to
perform substantive
counseling work
• Obtain a minor in an
additional area of
interest (i.e. Language,
business, education)
• Develop strong writing
and speaking skills
Strategies For Developing
Skills To Get The Job You
Want
• Develop strong
quantitative and
statistical skills
• Become comfortable
working with people
from different
backgrounds and
cultures
• Acquire sales
experience
• Become active in peer
mediation groups if
available
• Secure leadership
positions in campus or
community groups
• Obtain teaching
certification
• Shadow the work of a
professional
Books & Web Resources
Books
Alternative Careers in
Science: Leaving the Ivory
Tower by Cynthia Robbins
Roth
Web Resources
Health Physics
Employment Opportunities
http://www.physics.isu.edu
/radinf/jobs.htm
Curious About Astronomy
http://curious.astro.cornell.
edu/aboutus.php
Resources For More
Information
USC’s Department of Physics and Astronomy
www.physics.sc.edu/
Career Center Library
http://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html
Physics and Astronomy Related Websites
http://www.sc.edu/career/la/physicsastro.html
College of Arts and Sciences Career
Development Program
www.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html
Career Center Contact
Information
University of South Carolina Career Center
6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-7280
On-call counseling without an appointment:
M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the
website at www.sc/edu/career)