3 answers
David
Student
North Branch, Michigan
2
Questions
3 answers
Douglas Lemmo, P.E.
Consultant, Owner at Power Generation Consulting Services
130
Answers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Updated
Douglas’s Answer
Hi,
To become a physicist, take all of the math and science classes you can in High School and then apply to a 4-year college that offers a major in physics and most likely you will then get a Masters Degree in Physics.
In the future, I suggest that you spend a few minutes on the Internet, there is a wealth of information on this subject. Please see: https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Physicist for much more information that I can give you here.
Good Luck,
To become a physicist, take all of the math and science classes you can in High School and then apply to a 4-year college that offers a major in physics and most likely you will then get a Masters Degree in Physics.
In the future, I suggest that you spend a few minutes on the Internet, there is a wealth of information on this subject. Please see: https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Physicist for much more information that I can give you here.
Good Luck,
David Avezov
Client Senior Pre-Sales Systems Engineer
40
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
David’s Answer
There are several required steps to attain a job as a theoretical physicist.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Physics
Bachelor's degree programs in physics provide students with a strong foundation in general physics and related mathematics. These programs teach students the fundamentals of running physics experiments. Potential undergraduate courses could include calculus, Newtonian mechanics, electricity, analytic geometry, magnetism, electronics, and thermodynamics.
Step 2: Get Research Experience
Professionals with bachelor's degrees in physics can often acquire jobs as research assistants or laboratory technicians. These entry-level positions provide real-world training while working in physics laboratories. Individuals may also gain some first-hand knowledge with preparing reports or working with applied physics research. Gaining laboratory experience may also help individuals get accepted into graduate degree programs.
Step 3: Pass Additional Tests
Students may be required to pass regulated graduate-level tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The physics GRE covers nine categories, including electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, laboratory methodology, and atomic physics.
Step 4: Earn a Doctoral Degree
The majority of employers require theoretical physicists to hold a doctoral degree. Ph.D. programs in theoretical physics can be completed in 4-6 years. Most programs require students to work as either physics teaching assistants or teachers for several semesters during residency.
Students often collaborate with faculty in research projects, leading to the writing of a thesis or dissertation. Possible coursework could include quantum mechanics, biophysics, general relativity, and condensed matter physics.
Step 5: Advance Your Career by Joining Postdoctoral Research Projects
After earning a Ph.D., the majority of graduates join postdoctoral research projects. This postdoctoral experience helps to find better job opportunities. Some universities run research fellowships, and graduates can apply to these programs. Non-university research facilities may also host postdoctoral fellowship or internship programs.
Theoretical physicists generally earn a Ph.D. after graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics and gaining some work experience in research or as lab techs. Post graduate participation in postdoctoral research projects or fellowships is common.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Physics
Bachelor's degree programs in physics provide students with a strong foundation in general physics and related mathematics. These programs teach students the fundamentals of running physics experiments. Potential undergraduate courses could include calculus, Newtonian mechanics, electricity, analytic geometry, magnetism, electronics, and thermodynamics.
Step 2: Get Research Experience
Professionals with bachelor's degrees in physics can often acquire jobs as research assistants or laboratory technicians. These entry-level positions provide real-world training while working in physics laboratories. Individuals may also gain some first-hand knowledge with preparing reports or working with applied physics research. Gaining laboratory experience may also help individuals get accepted into graduate degree programs.
Step 3: Pass Additional Tests
Students may be required to pass regulated graduate-level tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The physics GRE covers nine categories, including electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, laboratory methodology, and atomic physics.
Step 4: Earn a Doctoral Degree
The majority of employers require theoretical physicists to hold a doctoral degree. Ph.D. programs in theoretical physics can be completed in 4-6 years. Most programs require students to work as either physics teaching assistants or teachers for several semesters during residency.
Students often collaborate with faculty in research projects, leading to the writing of a thesis or dissertation. Possible coursework could include quantum mechanics, biophysics, general relativity, and condensed matter physics.
Step 5: Advance Your Career by Joining Postdoctoral Research Projects
After earning a Ph.D., the majority of graduates join postdoctoral research projects. This postdoctoral experience helps to find better job opportunities. Some universities run research fellowships, and graduates can apply to these programs. Non-university research facilities may also host postdoctoral fellowship or internship programs.
Theoretical physicists generally earn a Ph.D. after graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics and gaining some work experience in research or as lab techs. Post graduate participation in postdoctoral research projects or fellowships is common.
Vijay Shankar Venkataraman
Data Scientist
5
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Vijay Shankar’s Answer
By doing Physics! What does doing physics involve? Primarily asking questions about phenomena you observe in nature and trying to answer your questions by formulating various hypotheses. What have you observed in nature recently that you don't fully understand?
If you want to whet your curiosity, minute physics is not a bad place to start -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHW94eEFW7hkUMVaZz4eDg
There is obviously a lot of prior work in the field of physics that you need to understand to be able to contribute to the field as a researcher, but your curiosity should drive you.
Depending on where you are in your education, I would start by reading the Feynman lectures on Physics (this will give you a good base of the various sub-fields of Physics). The whole book is available for free online - http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/
Follow your interests from thereon. Gerald T'hooft has a great website on how to become a good theoretical physicist which recommends books and online courses for every area of Physics - http://www.goodtheorist.science/
Physics is a very beautiful subject, and I hope you have a lot of fun learning it. It can also be a hard subject to master, so don't get discouraged if you don't understand things the first time. All the best!
Watch a few minute physics videos on Youtube
Read the Feynman lectures (and solve the exercise problems)
Proceed to areas of interest and check resources from T'hooft's website
If you want to whet your curiosity, minute physics is not a bad place to start -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHW94eEFW7hkUMVaZz4eDg
There is obviously a lot of prior work in the field of physics that you need to understand to be able to contribute to the field as a researcher, but your curiosity should drive you.
Depending on where you are in your education, I would start by reading the Feynman lectures on Physics (this will give you a good base of the various sub-fields of Physics). The whole book is available for free online - http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/
Follow your interests from thereon. Gerald T'hooft has a great website on how to become a good theoretical physicist which recommends books and online courses for every area of Physics - http://www.goodtheorist.science/
Physics is a very beautiful subject, and I hope you have a lot of fun learning it. It can also be a hard subject to master, so don't get discouraged if you don't understand things the first time. All the best!
Vijay Shankar recommends the following next steps: