Physics

You'll explore the fundamental properties, law, and structure of all matter. In addition, you'll examine the relationships among space, time, matter and energy. All while gaining the skills for jobs in engineering, computer applications, school teaching, biomedical sciences, or graduate work.

Major highlights

5 focus areas: Including professional physics, engineering, biology, teaching, and computation. 

Award-winning Methods of Experimental Physics course: You design your own experiment.  

$67,000 average starting salary of our graduates. 

Research & outreach opportunities: You could work on projects in the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics (MIfA) and the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute (FTPI).

Student groups

There are many you can join as a Physics major at the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, including the Society of Physics Students and Science and Engineering Student Board (SESB). See cse.umn.edu/studentgroups.

Career examples

  • Researcher
  • Data scientist
  • Test and systems engineer
  • Laser engineer

For more info on career prospects: visit: What can I do with a major in physics?

Related links

Seth Thompson
Major: Physics, with a biochemistry minor
Hometown: Greenfield, Minn.

“This major fits perfectly for someone like me—who couldn’t choose between physics, chemistry, and biology—because it combines elements from every discipline.”

View other CSE student videos.
 

View other CSE Why I Chose My Major videos.