What type of physics degree should i get

michaelbrules

hi, the cao is looming and all i know is i want to do physics the problem is what type. i have seen applied, theoretical, experimental, astrophysics, mathmatical sciences but what are the differnces and which are best for what. plus where do the institutions providing the courses lie regards reputaition in case i go for a phd afterwards. lots of thanks in advance for your replies

Morbert

michaelbrules wrote: »

hi, the cao is looming and all i know is i want to do physics the problem is what type. i have seen applied, theoretical, experimental, astrophysics, mathmatical sciences but what are the differnces and which are best for what. plus where do the institutions providing the courses lie regards reputaition in case i go for a phd afterwards. lots of thanks in advance for your replies

There is no difference at the undergrad level. Pick whichever allows you to specialise the latest. In terms of jobs they are all equally useful/useless, though if you can get some computer programming in there it helps job wise.

General Relativity

michaelbrules wrote: »

hi, the cao is looming and all i know is i want to do physics the problem is what type. i have seen applied, theoretical, experimental, astrophysics, mathmatical sciences but what are the differnces and which are best for what. plus where do the institutions providing the courses lie regards reputaition in case i go for a phd afterwards. lots of thanks in advance for your replies

1) Applied physics is basically computer engineering. (I think!) I'd say you get a decent job with one of the big multi-nationals with that.

2) I'd stay away from theoretical physics unless you're extremely competent in math. Not much use unless you plan to go into research or academia. (Oddly enough, comedian Dara O'Brein has a degree in TP )

3)Experimental physics involves a lot of data collection. Not much else to say as I don't know a great deal about it or a Uni. in Ireland that offers a degree in it.

4)Astrophysics is the study of physical properties of celestial objects. This is prob. the broadest degree you've listed, covering the most physics. (This is the area that most intrests me!)

5) I have no idea what; mathematical science is, nor what entails.


DCU, UCD and Trinity are all well respected on the world stage. All the are in the top 500 Uni's in the world.


Any other Q's?

krd

Morbert wrote: »

There is no difference at the undergrad level.

Yes. But I've learned recently some courses do special and general relativity for under grad - whereas other courses consider them post grad. And some post grads never bother doing either.

Pick whichever allows you to specialise the latest.

The latest i-pod.

In terms of jobs they are all equally useful/useless, though if you can get some computer programming in there it helps job wise.

In other words - we have very little hard industry in Ireland. And doing a little PHP is as close as you might get to applying your degree.

citrus burst

I agree with morbert and GR (except about applied physics being a computer degree) . They are all the same, pretty much.

If I were choosing right now I'd go with a general physics degree, something along the lines of applied or experimental physics. You are more likely to get a phd position or job with this type of degree. There is more money in these fields essentially. Unfortunately as krd says you are unlikely to learn about general relativity, quantum field theory, string theory, particle physics.... if you do these types of courses (that shouldn't stop you though).

I didn't really answer what the difference is between the courses, but a general way of putting it is; you major in physics and minor in the other part, if that makes sense???

IRWolfie-

Experimental physics is covered by Applied physics (I don't get the comparison to computer engineering). The university you get your degree in doesn't really matter for getting a PhD, just your results.

Woodward

The mathematical phys degree you mention is probably the one in NUI Maynooth and is essentially theoretical physics. The Head of Department is an absolute legend. I did math phys for first year as part of a chem degree and thanks to his enthusiasm and amazing lecturing I managed to get a first in it despite doing pass maths for the leaving cert

Morbert

Woodward wrote: »

The Head of Department is an absolute legend.

I can confirm this.

michaelbrules

General Relativity wrote: »

1)
DCU, UCD and Trinity are all well respected on the world stage. All the are in the top 500 Uni's in the world.


Any other Q's?

wat about ul ucc nuig and nuim because im from limerick


citrus burst i dont really understand your statement about majoring and minoring

i would really love to learn about relativity but i dont know if i would have the maths for it i reckon i will get around a high c or low b at honours in the maths
i also reckon i will get around 430 points what which gets rid of quite a few courses

amen

Applied physics is basically computer engineering. (I think!) I'd say you get a decent job with one of the big multi-nationals with that.

wow don't know where you get that from.

In general Applied Physics (AP)degrees do most if not all of the theory of normal Physics degrees but also look at the application of that knowledge in practical terms. I did AP in DCU and its a great degree.

As for post grad most of that depends on the person applying. Where you studied your primary doesn't make that much of a difference.

I know people who got their primary degree from DCU and PhD from MIT.

thecornflake

General Relativity wrote: »

1) Applied physics is basically computer engineering. (I think!) I'd say you get a decent job with one of the big multi-nationals with that.

Eh no, its not as stated many times above.

General Relativity wrote: »

4)Astrophysics is the study of physical properties of celestial objects. This is prob. the broadest degree you've listed, covering the most physics. (This is the area that most intrests me!)

Again, good god no. It in no way covers the most physics. From my experience with this field it is just computer modeling in addition to basic physics and doesn't cover important topics like solid state physics.

kevmy85

michaelbrules wrote: »

wat about ul ucc nuig and nuim because im from limerick


citrus burst i dont really understand your statement about majoring and minoring

i would really love to learn about relativity but i dont know if i would have the maths for it i reckon i will get around a high c or low b at honours in the maths
i also reckon i will get around 430 points what which gets rid of quite a few courses

In terms of the official top universities rankings for 2011 you have
Trinity = 65
UCD = 134
UCC = 181
NUIG = 298
DCU = 326
DIT/UL = 401-450
NUIM = 501-550

Some of these are stronger in certain areas than other but I think it's a pretty fair breakdown of where they lie overall.

I obtained a undergrad and PhD degree from NUIG (a little unusual but it just so happened the area I was interested in for a postgrad came down between UCC and NUIG and I got funding for NUIG). I'd say it was generally fairly good but students got out what they put into the degree.

If you are just applying I would not specialise straight away. Do a general science/general physics degree. I know for example that there are physics degrees in NUIG in Applied Physics, Experimental Physics, Medical Physics and Physics and Astronomy. In 1st and 2nd year these courses are between 80 and 100% the same.
Then there is the general science degree in which you can choose physics subject and can lead to the exact same degree as some of the above.

Overall advice keep it more general when you start and specialise as you go along unless you are very certain of the area you would like to do and what it entails.