Physics at University (friendly advice wanted)

Leavenotrace

Hi im a leaving cert student studying HL maths, physics, chemistry and applied maths and doing pretty well in all of them, Im looking at college courses and amn't quite sure what to pick. At the moment i looking at 4 courses and would just like some advice from anyone who might have some to offer in relation to these types of courses. Im looking at:
Honours degree in physics
Honours degree in Chemical physics
Honours degree in Theoretical Physics
Joint honours degree in Maths and Physics.

I would like to go into some form of research after degree and phd and am just wondering which would be the best basis (also in relation to the last too courses which one would be better to work in the area of theoretical physics)

Thanks in advance

antiselfdual

Well I imagine any physics degree would set you up to go into research afterwards, the "best" one for that would depend exactly what areas you think you'd like to go on to do further study in... Where are you thinking of studying? I'd like to see the course descriptions for the Theoretical Physics and the joint Maths/Physics courses so I could comment better on them. In Trinity at least either the TP degree or the Mathematics degree are tailored towards being able to go into real theoretical physics of varying levels of theoretical. The TP degree also does plenty of more applied physics so it might be good for keeping your options open if you have an interest in experimental physics too (this is probably true of TP degrees in Ireland in general).

Leavenotrace

Well im not sure exactly which area but at the moment im quite interested by the whole quantum side (not that i know that much about it but from what i have read it really interests me)
Well all the courses im looking at are in UCC except for the Theoretical physics which is in TCD.
Heres the course info for joint maths and physics in ucc
And heres the course info for single Theoretical physics in TCD

de_Selby

Maths and physics and theoretical physics are basically the same course, there's not a whole lot to choose between them. If you like maths and (and especially) applied maths in school it's what you should probably go for.

Miao

Hi, What course would you suggest in UCD for someone who was very interested in Physics, Maths and Applied Maths and doing Leaving Cert in June and expecting to do well?

Would it be Engineering or Mathematical Science or Theoretical Physics or something else?

What would the job prospects be like? Would it be wise to keep one's options open for Maths secondary teaching seeing as there is a current suitably qualified dearth of Maths teachers?

Thanks!

fillmore jive

Miao wrote: »

Hi, What course would you suggest in UCD for someone who was very interested in Physics, Maths and Applied Maths and doing Leaving Cert in June and expecting to do well?

Would it be Engineering or Mathematical Science or Theoretical Physics or something else?



Thanks!

Undenominated science. That's what I'm doing in Ucd. I wanted to do the astronomy course, hated the labs, now doing pure maths and math physics.

Miao

Hi fillmore jive,

Thanks so much for that. So you can do Pure Maths and Maths Physics in Undenominated Science? Is that two subjects? Do you have to do lab work - prob for Math Physics. Do you like the course? Would that B.Sc qualify you to teach Maths and Applied Maths and Physics in a sec sch if you did the H.Dip afterwards? Or are you planning on going into industry? There are prob lots of options open to you with a Science degree........ A Masters or further? Do you have a heavy week of lectures and tutorials? Have you time to socialise?! Is the faculty staff nice? Sorry to bombard you with all these qsts!

Really appreciate it, mate!

Miao

fillmore jive

Miao wrote: »

Hi fillmore jive,

Thanks so much for that. So you can do Pure Maths and Maths Physics in Undenominated Science? Is that two subjects? Do you have to do lab work - prob for Math Physics. Do you like the course? Would that B.Sc qualify you to teach Maths and Applied Maths and Physics in a sec sch if you did the H.Dip afterwards? Or are you planning on going into industry? There are prob lots of options open to you with a Science degree........ A Masters or further? Do you have a heavy week of lectures and tutorials? Have you time to socialise?! Is the faculty staff nice? Sorry to bombard you with all these qsts!

Really appreciate it, mate!

Miao

Yeha you do science undemoninated for the first two years, you can pick whatever subjects you like then at the end of second year you pick which subject you want to specialise in for 3 and 4 year. This is what you get your degree in, and you can also do a joint degree.
No lab work for maths/math. physics, only 2 hours a week doing matlab/maple etc. The mathematical physics degree is essentially the same as a theoretical physics degree except a heavier emphasis on pure and applied maths than physics.
The course itself is grand, interesting it's better than doing something boring like business studies.
Not too sure about the teaching stuff.
Not too sure about going into industry don't really know what the job climate is like, I'll most likely go into research do a phd or something.
Workload is very handy about 12 hours a week between lectures and tutorials although because of the subject matter you'll probably spend a good bit of time in the library but nothing mental you'll still be able to go out and stuff.
Yeha the staff are a lovely bunch.

Miao

Thanks, fillmore jive, those comments are so interesting and good to know . Glad the faculty staff is nice.
What do you mean when you say that "you can do a joint degree"? Does that mean that you can 'do / get' two degrees at the same time?
I could not find Undenominated Science on the UCD website. Is it still there?
Where could you see a list of the various subject options for the different years?
The workload sounds fine. So , exams at Christmas and in May, eh?

Thanks so much for your patience with my questions. I really do appreciate that!

Cheers!

Miao

fillmore jive

Miao wrote: »

Thanks, fillmore jive, those comments are so interesting and good to know . Glad the faculty staff is nice.
What do you mean when you say that "you can do a joint degree"? Does that mean that you can 'do / get' two degrees at the same time?
I could not find Undenominated Science on the UCD website. Is it still there?
Where could you see a list of the various subject options for the different years?
The workload sounds fine. So , exams at Christmas and in May, eh?

Thanks so much for your patience with my questions. I really do appreciate that!

Cheers!

Miao

A joint degree is one degree in it two subjects and it's usually it's split 50-50 in terms of classes and tests. Here's the list for science in ucd https://myucd.ucd.ie/programme_info/science.ezc whatever has DN008 beside means you can do it in science. Click on the subject you want and go down and click on module information. That'll give you all the different classes you can do.

ghostchant

Hi,

I finished the Theoretical Physics degree in UCD a couple of years ago, currently doing a PhD (also in UCD).
I echo pretty much everything fillmore jive said, but if you've any questions specific to doing TP in UCD feel free to ask

nitrogen

Thanks, fillmore jive. I'll add UCD to my choices.

Also interested in returning to college to get a physics degree, as I'm currently studying it in my spare time with aim to make life as a mature student easier.

esposito

Me too Nitrogen. Thinking of returning as a mature student to study Omnibus Science in UCD.

I wanted to do the Climate & Earth System Science degree but I do not have honours maths so I'm going to do it through DN008.

I know it will be a challenge because I didn't do any science subject for the leaving cert. However I'm willing to work really hard so hopefully that will get me through it. Nitrogen- did you do a science subject for the leaving and how are you at maths??

Also, any other advice from others, I would greatly appreciate it.:)

Michaelrsh

The maths courses in ucd are fairly good. I can't wait for the 'Mathematics of Google' opinion module next year. Lol. Fun, fun, fun!!