Career Preparation & Post Graduation

No matter what you have planned for your future, physics can provide you with a great foundation. We encourage students to talk to their advisors about their career aspirations. Through course work, physics majors gain skills in mathematical modeling, scientific computing, data analysis, and professional writing and communication.  

All three physics degree options are excellent preparation for medical school, law school, or other graduate programs, and for well-paying jobs straight out of undergraduate studies.

Physics Majors Are Gaining Skills that Include:

  • Mathematical modeling
  • Professional presenting and communicating
  • Scientific computing
  • Data analysis
  • Research and development
  • Sophisticated quantitative and analytical methods

Research

University of Richmond students can apply for Summer Research Fellowships lasting between 6 – 10 weeks. The Department of Physics offers students the opportunity to work in UR faculty labs studying Astrophysics and Cosmology, Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics, Condensed Matter & Nanophysics, and Biological Physics. UR students, including physics majors, work in labs outside of the University as well.

Physics majors have the chance to travel to physics conferences to present research around the country. Working with professors, students gain experience presenting in a professional setting and discuss relevant topics with experts from around the world.

The School of Arts & Sciences showcases student-led research projects each April at the A&S Student Symposium. Public speaking and being able to convey ideas and findings are important preparation for graduate school and careers in any field.

Beyond Graduation

After graduation, UR physics majors attend competitive graduate school programs and embark on a variety of careers. All three physics degree options are excellent preparation for well-paying jobs straight out of undergraduate studies, graduate studies in physics, medical school, law school, or other graduate programs.

For students interested in graduate studies, we encourage you to participate in research. In addition, ask your professors about working with peers and physics faculty to study for the physics GRE.

 

 

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  • Companies Hiring UR Physics Majors

    The National Science Foundation says that earning a degree in a science is good for you, even if you don’t go to work in a technical job.

    Want to learn more about the kinds of jobs that are available to physics majors? The American Institute of Physics keeps a database of job opportunities that you may enjoy perusing. You may also be interested in statistical research they have collected on education and careers in physics.

    Companies Hiring UR Physics Majors include: 

    • Wolfram Research Group
    • Monument Consulting
    • Federal Reserve Bank
    • Department of Defense
    • Berkeley Research Group
    • Altius Associates
    • Merck Pharmaceuticals
    • Boston Health Economics
    • Virginia National Guard

  • UR Physics Majors are prepared to Apply to Med School, Law School, and MBA Programs

  • Graduate Schools Accepting UR Physics Majors

    Many UR Physics graduates attend physics and engineering graduate school programs. PhDs in physics and related fields are highly employable in academia, industry, government, finance, and data science. Successful involvement in undergraduate-level research is one of the best predictors that a student will flourish in graduate school. Recent UR physics students have been admitted to pursue graduate degrees, either in physics or closely related fields (applied physics, applied math, engineering) at the following schools:

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Harvard University
    • University of Chicago
    • University of California, Santa Barbara
    • University of California, Los Angeles
    • University of California, Davis
    • University of Illinois
    • University of Toronto
    • University of British Columbia
    • Johns Hopkins University
    • Carnegie-Mellon University
    • Michigan State University
    • University of North Carolina
    • University of Virginia
    • University of Pittsburgh
    • George Washington University