Planning Ahead
Don't wait till graduation to think about your future career. Make the most of opportunities at Calvin beyond classes to help you prepare for a job after Calvin.
Plan your courses wisely
Talk with your advisor about the best type of physics major, and appropriate minor(s), for the career(s) you are interested in. Then select courses carefully. Many courses are offered only once every two years and have multiple pre-requisites, so plan ahead. Check out our sample 4-year course plans, then write a plan of your own. If you are interested in education, your core courses (not just technical courses) also need to be chosen carefully to meet education requirements.
Sample 4-year plansBuild your connections
Even while you're an undergraduate student, expanding your network of contacts within your target career field will help you make your way after graduation.
- Chat with professors outside of class.
- Contact physics alumni working in your area(s) of interest.
- Attend seminars and introduce yourself to speakers.
- Do an internship at a company or a summer of research, and keep in contact with people you meet there.
Get to know your advisor
Your academic advisor has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of physics and astronomy. He or she will be your best resource as you choose a career track, select courses, and apply for research and internships. In addition to your assigned advisor, feel free to chat with any professor in the department about careers.
Learn about career options
Physics majors typically pursue one of three main career paths: industry, secondary education, or research. Be sure to see our overview of these paths and Calvin-specific advice for each one.
To learn more about physics career options, see these sites:
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Career Resources
- Provides advice about careers, profiles of physicists employed in a variety of jobs and other information.
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What can I do with this Major
- Describes the sub-fields of physics and job opportunities in each.
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Career Guidance for Students
- The AIP Statistics office gives career guidance, including information on starting salaries and which companies hire physics majors after college.
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The American Astronomical Society
- Offers numerous career resources.
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National Optical Astronomy Observatory
- Frequently asked questions about careers in astronomy and astrophysics can be found at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory website.
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National Academy of Sciences
- offers several resources on careers, including "Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond"
Search job listings
- Christian Schools International
- National Association of Independent Schools
- Southern Teachers Agency
- Teach for America
- Match Education
- University of Michigan 12-month Master's certification program
- The American Astronomical Society offers a Job Register for jobs in astronomy and planetary science.
- List of companies that hire physicists with bachelor degress
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- The American Physical Society
A resource to learn more about jobs available to physics graduates. - Physics Today
Search jobs, post your resume and find job fairs. - AIP Careers Services
A service dedicated to assisting physics educated individuals in their search for jobs", and includes a list of open job opportunities for physicists.
- Go Government offers many jobs in the physical sciences
- USAjobs lists jobs at all government agencies
- Nature lists academic jobs and grad school assistantships
- Grad School Shopper helps compare graduate school programs