Recommend
Read full review“Physics at UCLA is very tough but very rewarding. For career opportunities, don't silo yourself to just research roles - physics is highly employable in roles like engineering, finance, etc.”
Difficulty
Highly demanding
Average difficultyBased on 6 students across 2 schools.View review makeup
4.7/ 5
Share of students at each rating
Class-year breakdown needs more responses.It appears after at least two class years have 5 difficulty ratings each.
What makes this major demanding?
Worth it?
83% would recommend it
Students’ starting certainty
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CriticalAdvice & things to know
We asked: What has been hard about exploring careers after Physics?
Read full review“Wish i knew what jobs would look like and also if i had more initiative to explore and ask mote questions”
PositiveCourses & teaching
Read full review“A physics major lets you explore lots of different areas and lets you be very interdisciplinary. A lot of the math and problem solving skills you pick up show up in lots of surprising areas in other fields so it is always easy to switch to focusing on other things”
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What you will study and do
Curriculum and careers
Physics is the study of the fundamental principles governing the natural world, from the smallest subatomic particles to the vastness of the universe. Students learn to apply mathematical models and experimental techniques to understand laws of motion, energy, and matter.
Core course themes
Classical Mechanics
Covers the laws of motion and their applications, including the study of forces, energy, and momentum.
Electromagnetism
Explores electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and their applications in technology.
Quantum Mechanics
Introduces the principles of quantum theory and its implications for understanding atomic and subatomic systems.
Thermodynamics
Focuses on the principles of heat, energy, and work, and how they apply to physical systems.
Statistical Physics
Examines the statistical methods used to describe the behavior of large numbers of particles.
Experimental Physics
Provides hands-on experience with experimental techniques and data analysis in physics research.
Common roles
- Research Scientist
- Data Analyst
- Physics Teacher
- Software Developer
- Engineer
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Physics by school
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Community
Big questions in Physics
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Student reviews
Careers & next stepsPositive
Physics at UCLA is very tough but very rewarding. For career opportunities, don't silo yourself to just research roles - physics is highly employable in roles like engineering, finance, etc.
Difficulty & workloadCritical
Upper division is very hard. Really important to select the right professors. Workload will be really heavy, and require hard dedication to complete.
Careers & next stepsPositive
Very difficult but rewarding experience. For careers you need to keep an open mind beyond just physics research and professorships - physics is a super employable major in so many areas, like finance, engineering, prelaw, etc.
Courses & teachingPositive
A physics major lets you explore lots of different areas and lets you be very interdisciplinary. A lot of the math and problem solving skills you pick up show up in lots of surprising areas in other fields so it is always easy to switch to focusing on other things
- Interested in Tech & software · Healthcare +2
- Unsure about grad school
Advice & things to knowCritical
What has been hard about exploring careers after Physics?
Wish i knew what jobs would look like and also if i had more initiative to explore and ask mote questions
- Interested in Tech & software
- Unsure about grad school
Careers & next stepsPositive
Hard but rewarding. Really competitive for grad school and career. Good in physics good in everything. Hard but not talent-demanding
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