Introduction to Courses and Careers in Physics
If you are interested in what is happening around you? Why it is happening like that? How it happens? Then physics is what you need to study. It says about the nature and natural phenomena. A person who study physics and have a physics degree is called a physicist. There is wide options available for courses and careers in physics.
What is Physics?
Physics is the study of nature and its laws. That is physics helps us to understand the laws of nature. Observations and understanding the rules around us is basically physics is all about.
The study of physics is wide spread and can be considered as mother of other related fields like engineering and technology.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Physicist
The role of a physicist is depends upon the work and area he / she is working. A physicist can do the job from a teacher to a scientist, to a researcher, to a technical career.
Educational Qualification Required
One can become a physicist by obtaining a degree in physics. He / she can further get a post graduate in physics followed by M. Phil. and / or Ph.D. in Physics. There are many other options available by studying various other related or subsidiary fields and courses in physics. That is getting specialized in various related fields of physics is an option to get good career in physics.
Skills and Knowledge Required
A physicist required various skills to become successful in his / her career. They must have observation skills, technical knowledge, reasoning skills, problem solving skills, numerical skills, practical skills, presentation and communication skills, etc.
A physicist must acquire good knowledge in computer and also analysis methods of scientific data. A good knowledge in mathematics will also be benefit.
How to become a Physicist?
To become a physicist one should opt science stream in 10 + 2 with PCM or PCB or PCBM as options. All these includes physics as one of the optional subject. After 12th they can get admission into B.Sc. Physics and further go for M.Sc. Physics and for M. Phil. and Ph.D.
A physicist can specialize in areas like biophysics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, solid state physics, nanotechnology, magnetism, optical physics, fluid physics, plasma physics, health / medical physics, etc. He / she can be a theoretician as well as an experimentalist. That is they can work in applied physics area.
Different Courses in Physics
One can study different courses in physics like:
Atomic physics
Cosmology
Earth science
Engineering physics
Fluid physics
Material Physics
Medical physics
Molecular physics
Nuclear physics
Optical physics
Photometry
Plasma physics
Seismology
Solid state Physics
Spectroscopy
Where do I get the Job?
A physicist can get job in different government, semi government and non-government organizations. They have good options in research and post-doctoral research programs or teaching institutions. They also can obtain technical knowledge and pursue their career in this field. Different fields in which one can get employment also includes research scientist, engineering, scientific laboratory technician, oil and gas, space exploration, telecommunication, medical physicist, etc.
A physicist can also be considered for the job in quantitative research and developing models for financial analysis.