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physics v applied physics?

  • 01-05-2010 2:03am
    #1
    7 7 7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭


    hi everyone just one quick question, in college is there a difference between an applied physics course and a normal physics course or is it just the names are different but its the same thing really?


Comments

  • #2
    Killer Pigeon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Killer Pigeon


    Hey OP,

    I'd say there wouldn't be much of a difference in the first year of the course depending on what university you want to go to. Later on in the course it could differ with the normal experiment and theoretical physics degrees. An applied physics degree programme would have a lot of labs, maybe even more then experimental physics (which means you'll be spending a great part of your time in labs). It would also be very industry focused and you could share classes with engineering, especially in electronics and maybe in maths (however an applied physics course wouldn't be as 'mathsy' as an engineering/ physics degree). It would also have more computer science modules I imagine too.

    The main difference between the traditional physics degree (i.e., theoretical and experimental physics) would be that applied physics would be more directed toward the application of physics in industry and in industrial scale research.

    I think it would be a good degree if you want to put yourself right in the heart of the development of cutting-edge technology.

    I believe DCU, UL and DIT provide Applied Physics courses. Go onto there website or send an e-mail to them to find out more.


  • #3
    npc_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 ✭npc_100


    Pidgeon's advise is spot on, I would just add that if you are unsure, then do a normal science degree (TCD/UCD/etc) and you can go in the direction you want later, you do not want to get stuck on a course that has limited choice if you don't like what you are doing.
    As Pidgeon says, do your research, know beforehand what you will end up doing if you pick a specialised course upfront.


  • #4
    Conor108
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,871 ✭✭✭Conor108


    Thinking of Applied Physics in DCU myself :)


  • #5
    7 7 7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭7 7 7


    Hi, thanks for the replies. I was either thinking about Applied Physics in UL or Applied Physics and instrumentation in CIT does anybody have any info on these courses I would be really appreciate it


  • #6
    Yukina
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74 ✭✭Yukina


    A lot of the courses are quite similar, if you look at either the college's prospectus or the website, there is usually information about what modules would be taken in which years, and the module descriptors.

    For example the DCU one can be found here:
    http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=AP&mode=full&originating_school=32

    You should definitely look at this information when deciding which course you should do. :)


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