A more detailed description of the programs for majors in both physics and astronomy is contained in the Handbook for Physics and Astronomy Majors. Copies may be obtained upon request from the Undergraduate Program Director. Career Opportunities Physics provides an excellent background for a wide variety of careers in science, and in science-related and technological fields. A survey of the department's graduates has yielded the following information. About one-third of the respondents are presently in graduate school or in academic positions following graduate school.
Graduates are in a wide variety of professions.
Some examples include a chemical engineer, a supervisor in charge of inspection techniques for nuclear power plants, a systems engineer in ship design, and a graduate student in oceanography. Several graduates are M.D.s or medical students. One of our former majors is now a Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts. A master's degree increases the number of opportunities in industry. For teaching at the secondary school level one needs also to complete the education courses necessary for certification.