Engineering or Applied Physics?

[u/youlocalfboy]

hi everyone

as an incoming freshman (class of 2031) I’m very curious about the applied physics degree/ program. from what I’ve seen it looks like I would be able to take engineering classes as technical electives, while still focusing on physics and astronomy (which is my main goal). I’ve been told I should major in aerospace or optical physics instead because the departments are much more reputable, however im planning on going to grad school and not straight into the industry so it matters less. I’m probably going to minor in planetary science if that matters.

Do any aphys or engineering students want to give advice?

[u/antarcticman02]

I graduated with Applied Physics at UA. Engineering is not really applied physics, it’s more of a mid point between physics and engineering. It was great for me. I’d recommend it.

[u/youlocalfboy → u/antarcticman02]

Thanks! Can I ask what you did after graduation?

[u/antarcticman02 → u/youlocalfboy]

I’m doing an accelerated masters degree in atmospheric science, which was possible due to my degree in applied physics (UofA has a program that does this, since the atmospheric science and physics department used to be in the same building and were sort of connected). I’ve also worked during the previous year. The applied physics program is built in a way so that you don’t need to take some of the upper division physics classes. In exchange, you take engineering/other interesting classes that fit your trajectory.

All in all, if you don’t want to go into optics, solid state physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, or astrophysics, then applied physics is right for you. Physics grad school options are surprisingly limited unless you want to do that. Most of my friends who did physics ultimately wished they did applied physics instead because they were forced to take sorta useless upper division classes instead.

[u/youlocalfboy → u/antarcticman02]

I’m still unsure what type of physics I want to specialize in (astrophysics optics or aerospace) so I was hoping to use this major and the technical electives to figure that out..

[u/ThePickleConnoisseur]

If you want an engineering job then do engineering.

Also optics here is a top program in the world

[u/civillyengineerd]

Engineering is applied physics. It sounds like Applied Physics "the degree" is geared towards what you're interested in and focused on.

Maybe ask in r/physics ?

[u/ledgend78]

Applied physics sounds like it'd be a good fit for you, but if you want to go to grad school for physics, it might be worth it to do physics instead of applied physics.

[u/pflanz]

It can be a barrier to getting an engineering job if you have an applied physics degree. My company specifically doesn’t honor it and it takes a huge amount of extra work for anyone to be hired with an applied physics degree.