Physical Sciences

Physics

Focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Covers classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.

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Inside the major

Programs within this field

Colleges may offer this field under 10 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.

Physics, General: Focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Covers classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
Atomic/Molecular Physics: Focuses on the scientific study of the behavior of matter-energy phenomena at the level of atoms and molecules. Covers chemical physics, atomic forces and structure, molecular orbital theory, magnetic resonance, molecular bonding, phase equilibria, quantum theory of solids, and applications to the study of specific elements and higher compounds.
Elementary Particle Physics: Focuses on the scientific study of the basic constituents of sub-atomic matter and energy, and the forces governing fundamental processes. Covers quantum theory, field theory, single-particle systems, perturbation and scattering theory, matter-radiation interaction, symmetry, quarks, capture, Schroedinger mechanics, methods for detecting particle emission and absorption, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Plasma and High-Temperature Physics: Focuses on the scientific study of properties and behavior of matter at high temperatures, such that molecular and atomic structures are in a disassociated ionic or electronic state. Covers magnetohydrodynamics, free electron phenomena, fusion theory, electromagnetic fields and dynamics, plasma and non-linear wave theory, instability theory, plasma shock phenomena, quantitative modeling, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Nuclear Physics: Focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behavior of atomic nuclei. Covers nuclear reaction theory, quantum mechanics, energy conservation, nuclear fission and fusion, strong and weak forces, nuclear modeling, nuclear decay, nucleon scattering, pairing, photon and electron reactions, the physics of nuclear effects, statistical methods, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Optics/Optical Sciences: Focuses on the scientific study of light energy, including its structure, properties and behavior under different conditions. Covers wave theory, wave mechanics, electromagnetic theory, physical optics, geometric optics, quantum theory of light, photon detecting, laser theory, wall and beam properties, chaotic light, non-linear optics, harmonic generation, optical systems theory, and applications to engineering problems.
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics: Focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. Covers low-temperature and solid-state physics, x-ray physics, liquids and soft materials, including the study of semiconductors, metals, superliquids, magnets, superconductors, glasses, gels, polymers, colloids, neural networks, and macromolecules.
Acoustics: Focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions. Covers wave theory, the acoustic wave equation, energy transformation, vibration phenomena, sound reflection and transmission, scattering and surface wave phenomena, singularity expansion theory, ducting, and applications to specific research problems such as underwater acoustics, crystallography, and health diagnostics.
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics: Focuses on the scientific and mathematical formulation and evaluation of the physical laws governing, and models describing, matter-energy phenomena, and the analysis of related experimental designs and results. Covers classical and quantum theory, relativity theory, field theory, mathematics of infinite series, vector and coordinate analysis, wave and particle theory, advanced applied calculus and geometry, analyses of continuum, cosmology, and statistical theory and analysis.
Physics, Other: Physics not listed above.

Where it can lead

Careers this field can lead to

Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.

Growing

Natural Sciences Managers

Median pay: $167,220
Hiring change through 2035: 8.2%
Job openings a year: 9,200

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Shrinking

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Median pay: $72,040
Hiring change through 2035: −0.2%
Job openings a year: 63,500

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing

Physicists

Median pay: $172,250
Hiring change through 2035: 7.2%
Job openings a year: 1,300

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $100,310
Hiring change through 2035: 2.4%
Job openings a year: 1,100

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

Explore this career

All work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $38,630 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.

Working style

How and where the work happens

Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.

85%of related openings involve substantial in-person or active work

Most careers connected to this field involve in-person work. About 85 of every 100 openings require working close to other people or spending time on your feet.

College options

Where to study it

Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.

College	Degrees a year	Earnings, first year out	Admit rate	Average annual cost after aid
University of California-Santa Barbara CA	183	$49,863	28%	$13,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA	125	$38,470	43%	$8,000
University of California-Berkeley CA	110	$43,877	12%	$10,000
University of California-Irvine CA	86	$33,381	26%	$12,000
University of Colorado Boulder CO	82	$42,374	83%	$19,000
The University of Texas at Austin TX	80	$42,452	29%	$17,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA	79	—	5%	$1,000
University of California-Los Angeles CA	74	$42,865	9%	$10,000
University of Arizona AZ	71	$66,451	86%	$16,000
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI	70	$42,728	18%	$5,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH	68	$45,021	51%	$10,000
University of California-Davis CA	62	$25,226	42%	$12,000
University of Maryland-College Park MD	62	$48,534	45%	$10,000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL	61	$47,882	44%	$8,000
University of California-San Diego CA	60	$41,524	25%	$10,000
Michigan State University MI	57	$34,929	84%	$17,000
New York University NY	57	$33,529	9%	$17,000
Stony Brook University NY	57	$25,311	49%	$21,000
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA	56	$50,536	54%	$26,000
University of Pennsylvania PA	55	—	6%	$10,000
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA	52	$34,598	16%	$11,000
Harvard University MA	51	—	3%	$2,000
University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA	51	$55,521	58%	$13,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI	51	$45,916	43%	$8,000
University of Chicago IL	48	$52,578	5%	$0
Cornell University NY	48	$38,630	8%	$7,000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC	47	$43,015	19%	$9,000
University of Virginia-Main Campus VA	47	—	17%	$13,000
Purdue University-Main Campus IN	47	—	50%	$9,000
Texas A & M University-College Station TX	46	$39,684	63%	$17,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ	42	$35,484	90%	$17,000
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY	42	$42,448	58%	$28,000
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA	42	—	57%	$18,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN	41	$55,327	77%	$10,000
Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ	41	$36,245	65%	$18,000
Rochester Institute of Technology NY	40	—	71%	$29,000
University of Rochester NY	40	—	36%	$21,000
William & Mary VA	40	—	33%	$6,000
Boston University MA	39	—	11%	$12,000
University of Alabama in Huntsville AL	38	—	74%	$18,000

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