Physics

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  • The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher is the spiritual center of the Merrimack College community.
    The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher is the spiritual center of the Merrimack College community.
  • Aerial shot of the Academic Quad.
    Aerial shot of the Academic Quad.
  • The Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities.
    The Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities.
  • Whether it’s winter, spring, or anything in between, Merrimack’s beautiful campus is enjoyed by all.
    Whether it’s winter, spring, or anything in between, Merrimack’s beautiful campus is enjoyed by all.
  • Mendel Center and the Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge.
    Mendel Center and the Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge.

Career Paths

A major in physics at Merrimack lays the foundation for a diverse array of post-graduate opportunities, including (but not limited to) the following: 

  • Direct entry into wide range of private-sector careers.  Bachelor's degree physicists rarely work as "physicists" in the traditional sense (that is, studying the theoretical and experimental basis of the fundamental laws of nature -- one usually needs a Ph.D. for that).  Physics can be thought of as a supercharged liberal arts major, interesting for its own sake but at the same time preparation for a broad spectrum of interesting jobs, especially those with substantial analytical/quantitative components that would be off-limits to most liberal arts majors.
  • High-school physics teaching:  Our teacher education program, based on the Physics B.A. and offered in conjunction with the Merrimack Education Department, is approved by the state of Massachusetts. 
  • Medicine, Law, Business:  physics is excellent preparation for medical, law, or business school, and opens doors to quantitative areas in these professions. 
  • Medical Physics and Health Physics
  • Graduate study and subsequent careers in physics or astronomy.
  • Graduate study in other areas of science, especially interdisciplinary programs.  The laws of physics provide the foundation for the sciences; the study of physics promotes the development of strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving abilities applicable across the sciences.  Consequently, physicists are well-prepared to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries (as evidenced by the existence of fields called "biophysics" and "econophysics").