C2C: Course to Career

Physics is arguably the most ‘basic’ of the sciences. Its link with modern technology (robots, supercomputers, mobile phones, etc.) is obvious. Physics is also a model for other branches — natural sciences such as Chemistry and life sciences, and social sciences like Economics. Consequently, on the one hand, it finds direct application in other sciences, and, on the other, it serves as a training ground for the mind.

Career Options:
A first degree in Physics thus serves as an entry point to a variety of diverse careers. A variety of Master’s and other programmes are available to a student who has done B.Sc (H) in physics.

Apart from these, there are lesser known opportunities to branch off. Perhaps, the widest set of openings, in the coming years, is likely to be in the life sciences. Fields like Biophysics, Bio-informatics, Molecular Biology and Brain Studies are likely to draw people with a Physics background. Indeed, many eminent biologists started off as students of Physics.
 
For those who study the discipline at the Master’s level and beyond, the sky is the limit. Branches of study such as Astrophysics, Cosmology, High-Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Plasma Physics, Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science are open to them.
 
Skill set required
What is common to all branches of physics is logical thinking and formulation of real-life problems in quantitative terms. A student of physics should be comfortable with Maths and mathematical thinking. However, while pure maths has an emphasis on deductive logic, physics needs both deductive and inductive thinking. It also calls for making models with predictive power. This is why Physics is regarded as a good training ground for the mind, for fields as diverse as economics and molecular biology.

Institutions at a glance 
Most universities offer the B.Sc (H) programme in physics. At the University of Delhi, 21 colleges conduct this programme. In India, some of the popular colleges for physics are:

• Loyola College, Chennai    
• Presidency College, Kolkata    
• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai   
• St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 

The author is professor at the University of Delhi’s Department of Physics and Astrophysics, and was Director of its Centre for Science Education and Communication (2003-2009).

Amitabha Mukherjee
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