69����

If you are curious about the laws of nature, ’s counterintuitive ideas about space and time, the strange laws governing subatomic interactions, currents that flow without resistance, the physical basis for modern electronics, the nature of the , and what is known about the and , then we have very good news: You can indulge your curiosity while preparing for future career satisfaction as a 69���� physics major.

Physics Career Resources

Read stories about people with physics degrees from 69���� by checking out physics professor Lloyd Knox’s blog, .

For quantitative information on physics careers, visit the of the American Institute of Physics.

The study of at 69���� offers exposure to truly astounding ideas about the nature of reality. It’s a celebration of the beauty of the laws of nature and the power of the human mind. And you receive rigorous intellectual training in how to grasp any subject at a fundamental level.

Physics major prepares for practical career paths

Perhaps surprisingly, this somewhat esoteric course of study is excellent preparation for a great variety of practical career paths. We hear time and time again from our alumni and employers that studying subjects such as the , or the curvature of pays off handsomely in terms of future employment and career satisfaction.

’87, a corporate vice president at Microsoft, writes on our , “It was during my [business school] courses that I realized that the analytical abilities, honed on physics problems at UCD, were exactly what I needed to attack the broad range of business case studies that were part of the graduate curriculum.”

Musk links physics thinking to technological innovation

, who majored in physics at the University of Pennsylvania and then went on to found SpaceX, Tesla, and Solar City, points to the “first-principles thinking” required to develop as essential to fundamental technological innovation.

Musk said in an with the American Physical Society, “ … if you are trying to break new ground and be really innovative, that’s where you have to apply first-principle thinking and try to identify the most fundamental truths in any particular arena, and you reason up from there.”

Physics department features alumni seminar series

Since 2007, every spring quarter I have run a seminar series in which our alumni come back and talk to our students about what they are doing in the world. They also share life wisdom they have gained since graduation. This is how I know our alumni highly value their physics educations.

The seminar series led to a blog, , to allow our speakers to reach a broader audience. Read about four of our alumni:

, founded several small businesses producing high-end audio amplifiers. He has written on our testimonial page: “Physics was the place to be, and likely still is — the fractal zone between the applied science of something like engineering and the total abstraction of mathematics. I look around at successful people in all sorts of fields, and I see that a remarkable number of them have degrees in physics.”

, Ph.D. ’11, wrote her theoretical dissertation on the physics of protein folding. Since then she has been an adjunct professor at , a member of many boards including , an economic and community development consultant, and a founder and CEO of .

, B.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’92, is a physicist and engineer with a bachelor’s in applied physics and a doctorate in physics. Spooner works in the fields of medical devices, medical laser applications, optical engineering and intellectual property. He has worked for laser companies , IntraLase and , and has served on the board of directors for the .

, B.S. ’85, M.S. ’87, is one of our many graduates working in Silicon Valley. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied physics and a master’s in applied science from 69���� and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. from its beginning in dreams of space travel, through two trips back to school and a variety of employers — including the U.S. Navy, manufacturing companies, a management consulting company and more than a handful of startups. 

Consider a doctoral program

About half of our undergraduates go on to doctoral programs. A physics Ph.D. program is one of the best educational value deals out there. Graduate school in physics, for almost every student, is free. Students typically cover tuition and living expenses by working as teaching assistants or research assistants.

Learn about physics on our department website

If your curiosity so moves you, we invite you to learn more about majoring in physics at 69���� by visiting our . There, you can find course offerings, from students, our list of answers to the question “?” and more.

You can also like our department’s and check the , , and Undergraduate Diversity and Inclusion in Physics student clubs.

Finally, if you would like to schedule a visit to the 69���� Department of Physics, please contact our undergraduate student advisor, Jason Sison, at 530-752-4092, jcsison@ucdavis.edu.

joined the 69���� physics faculty in 2001. In addition to his interest in helping majors in his department chart a path to a career, Knox focuses on data analysis research to study the cosmos.

Subscribe to the majors blog