Physics major

Physics: courses, careers, and where to study

Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.

A Physics major covers classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, modern physics (relativity), and laboratory methods. Math is heavy, calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, and often complex analysis. BS-track programs prepare for graduate school in physics or engineering; BA tracks suit pre-med or interdisciplinary applications.

Physics graduates are highly sought-after for their analytical and quantitative skills. Career paths include physics PhD (academia or national labs), engineering (hardware, optics, semiconductors), quantitative finance, software engineering, and patent law.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Physics maps to CIP 40.0801, Physics, General, within the PHYSICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:

A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Classical mechanics
  • Electromagnetism
  • Quantum mechanics
  • Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
  • Modern physics (relativity, atomic, nuclear)
  • Mathematical methods (PDE, complex analysis)
  • Computational physics (Python, MATLAB)
  • Senior research thesis

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $58,000–$85,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 physicists median $166,290, requires PhD)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Physics. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Physics major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Physics program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Physics department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Most Physics programs are covered by their institution's regional accreditation; specialized programmatic accreditation is less common in this field. Confirm any field-specific accreditation or licensure that matters for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Physicscareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Physics program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Physics programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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Related majors

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.