Who Should Study Physics 

If you like mathematics and science, a physics career offers many opportunities. Physics offers challenging, exciting, and productive careers. As a career, physics covers many specialized fields -- from acoustics, astronomy, and astrophysics to medical physics, geophysics, and vacuum sciences. Physics opens doors to employment opportunities throughout the world in government, industry, schools, and private organizations.

The laboratory of the physicist extends from the edge of the universe to inside the nucleus of an atom. A physicist may work in a laboratory designing materials for the computer chips of tomorrow, or smashing atomic particles in a quest to understand how our universe began. Physicists have orbited the Earth as astronauts, and plumbed the oceans' depths. Individuals who have studied physics seek to make instruments that diagnose and cure disease; to develop safer and cleaner fuels for our cars and homes; to harness the power of the sea; to calculate the movement of arctic glaciers; and to create smaller, faster electronic components and integrated circuits
Research physicists work in industry and government, in laboratories and hospitals, and on university campuses. Some physicists serve in the military, teach in high schools and colleges, design science museum exhibits, write books and news articles about science, give advice to governments, and run businesses.

Students wishing to pursue physics as a career may enter work immediately after graduation, or they may continue their education by pursuing a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in physics or optical science. For a career as a professional scientist, or in academia, a graduate degree is almost essential.