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Introduction
A branch of the physical sciences, physics is the study of energy and the behavior of single atoms and their component pieces. Physicists are the most fundamental of scientists, for they examine the basic laws of nature. They seek to study and understand what happens when atoms and subatomic particles break down and assemble, how they react to collisions with each other and to electro-magnetic radiation. Physicists use mathematics to understand, explain and predict their theories and equations. They often apply their predictions and theories to other fields - chemistry, biology, geophysics, engineering, communication, transportation, electronics and health.
A physicist can be either an experimentalist or a theoretician. Almost all have doctorates, essential for college and university teaching and research, upper level research positions in government and industry, and higher administrative positions. Those with bachelors degrees may work in applied research and development as research assistants or in design, administration or engineering. Some specialized areas include: biophysics, health/medical physics, nuclear physics, optical physics, fluid physics and plasma physics.
The Physics Department offers two options, the professional option and the applied option, for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. The general option leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The professional option is intended for students who, usually after graduate study, expect to become physicists in industrial or government research and development laboratories, or in teaching institutions. The applied option is intended for students who plan to pursue a technical career in physics or other technical areas, usually without further study. The general option is a flexible liberal arts program with physics as a major component for students who do not necessarily wish to become physicists.
A Sample of Related Occupations
| Acoustical Physicist | Geophysicist | Optical Physicist |
| Astrophysicist | Health Physicist | Plasma Physicist |
| Biophysicist | Materials Scientist | Quality Assurance Specialist |
| Engineer | Medical Physicist | Research Physicist |
| Fiber Optic Engineer | Molecular Physicist | Teacher/Professor |
| Fluid Physicist | Nuclear Physicist | Technical Consultant |
Types of Employers
| Private & Non-profit Organizations | ||
| Aircraft & instrument manufacturers | Engineering firms | Research and Development departments |
| Chemical manufacturers | Health care facilities | Scientific journals |
| Defense manufacturing companies | Information technology companies | Technical consulting firms |
| Educational institutions | Production facilities | Testing labs |
| Electrical equipment companies | ||
| Government Agencies | ||
| Centers for Disease Control & Prevention | Environmental Protection Agency | National Science Foundation |
| Department of Agriculture | Food & Drug Administration | Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
| Department of Defense | National Aeronautics & Space Administration | Patent Office |
| Department of Energy | National Bureau of Standards | Smithsonian Institution |
| Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health | |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| First Jobs of Recent Graduates | |
| Environmental Specialist, NJ Dept. of Envir. Protection | Research Assistant, Clemson University |
| Fiber Optic Engineer, Rutgers Univ. Dept. of Ceramics | Systems Engineer, Compulink Management Center |
| Lab Technician, Allied Signal | Systems Engineer, Infotech Development |
| Lab Technician, Chicopee Research | Teacher, New Brunswick School System |
| Project Engineer, Lowe Paper Company | Technical Consultant, Hamamatsu |
| Quality Engineer, Frigidaire Corp. |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni | |
| Associate Manager, AT&T Corporate Headquarters (MS) | Physics Professor, University of Pennsylvania (PhD) |
| Clinical Research Associate, G.H. Besselaar Associates | Research Associate, Syracuse University (PhD) |
| Consultant/Research Associate, Rutgers University Dept. of Ceramics (PhD Cer. Engr.) | Research Physicist, Allied Signal, Inc. |
| Engineer, AT&T (PhD) | Senior Engineer, GEC - Marconi (MS) |
| Member, Technical Staff, David Sarnoff Research Center (MS) | Senior Scientist, Raytheon Co. |
| Patent Attorney, Henleal Corp. (JD) | Supervisor-Quality Assurance, Matheson Gas Products |
| Physicist, Hoechst Celanese Corp. | Technical Consultant for Business Systems, IRI Software |
Graduate Schools Attended
| Dartmouth College, MBA, Computers & Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MS, Engineering Management |
| Drexel University, MS, Physics | Rutgers University, JD, Law |
| Hunter College, MS, Occupational Safety & Health | Rutgers University, MS, Ceramic Engineering |
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Last Updated: 05/10/2009