Physics
The Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University is one of the best university-based research centers in Canada. Complete your undergraduate degree as a major, or consider completing an honours or co-op degree and/or earning one or more certificates if certain courses are taken as part of the program.
Students also have the option to specialize among nine exciting sub-disciplines in physics: astrophysics, computational physics, biophysics, environmental physics, materials physics, applied materials, theoretical physics, leadership in physics, and medical physics.
Your major map: Physics
The Physics Major Map highlights academic and co-curricular opportunities and provides an overview of how students can customize their degree. Students are encouraged to connect with advising supports at Dalhousie and use the Academic Calendar and Timetable to create their course plan.
Where your degree can take you
The skills and knowledge acquired through this program provide great preparation for a variety of careers and can be applied, but not limited to career paths in:
Aerospace, research, energy, engineering, health care, technology, computer and game design, consulting, and education among many more.
A BSc degree in Physics will prepare you for further studies in various sciences such as physics, engineering, or meteorology. Students could go on to study Optometry (OD), a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Engineering, and eventually a Ph.D.
Core competencies gained
Discipline-level skills:
- An understanding of the fundamental elements of the universe, energy, and matter and their properties, structures, movements, and behavior in time and space
- Knowledge of key topics in the different sub-disciplines of physics, such as astrophysics, biophysics, and materials physics
- An understanding of the law of nature and the different classical and modern theories in physics
Transferable skills:
- Academic writing and presentation skills
- Critical thinking, synthesis, and analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Numeracy skills
- Time/project management
- Leadership and teamwork
- Basic statistical analyses
- Laboratory techniques
Possible careers and employment
Physics Alumni can be employed within a variety of industries and have multiple career path options. These are influenced by the student's elective courses, experiential learning choices and certificates. Some of the options below will typically require additional or graduate-level training*, while some can be pursued following the completion of baccalaureate program only.
- Analyst
- Aviation inspector
- Astrophysicist*
- Biophysicist*
- Computational scientist*
- Data scientist*
- Design engineer*
- Energy policy analyst*
- Health physicist*
- Game designer
- Geophysical surveyor*
- Meteorologist*
- Medical physicist*
- Nuclear physicist*
- Nanotechnologist*
- Optical technician
- Optometrist*
- Research technician
- Laser engineer*
- Software engineer
- Technical writer
- Teacher/professor*
