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RESOURCES
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What Good is a Degree in Physics?
Sheena Murphy sheds some light on this puzzling question.
[ Article by Jamie Hegarty ]
When asked why they chose to major in physics, most undergrads shrug and say something like
"I don't know, because it's interesting?"
Fortunately for them, that's the right answer. However, it's not the whole story. A degree in physics provides
students with much more than just a "challenging" college experience: it leaves them with marketable skills which
will be valuable throughout their careers, no matter which direction life takes them.
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Physics: "a liberal arts degree for the 21st century"
| "The OU Physics Department prides itself on teaching physics majors how to think," says
Sheena Murphy, Associate Professor
of Physics at OU. According to Dr. Murphy,
students who major in physics learn much more than just how to solve textbook problems. In addition to the
necessary analytical skills, students become proficient in using computers and receive plenty of hands-on training in a
laboratory setting. "The excellent 3:1 student-faculty ratio means that there are plenty of opportunities for students
to do real original research, even as undergraduates."
Although Dr. Murphy admits that undergraduates are primarily trained with physics graduate school in mind, that's
certainly not the only option for students who leave OU with a Bachelor's degree in Physics. "Graduates in physics
have gone into a number of fields after college, including graduate school in other fields," says Murphy. Some of
the more popular fields she lists are Engineering, Medicine, Law, and other sciences.
Additionally, many physics students are recruited directly into industry after receiving their degrees. As the
Physics Alumni Database verifies, many graduates have been
immediately hired into industries focusing on Semiconductors, Aerospace, and other high-tech fields. Dr. Murphy
suggests that this is really very common, and adds "Physics majors graduate with the skills necessary to work in
any area of science or technology. They're certainly not restricted to research in fundamental physics."
So, why major in physics? Why hire a physics major? Because physics majors are trained use computers, work with
data, analyze complex problems, and above all: think. Those who graduate with a degree in physics truly
are prepared for a vast array of technical fields.
Says Dr. Murphy, "We like to think of [physics] as a liberal arts degree for the 21st century."
Wondering where to go next? Here are some ideas:
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