Career Profiles: Physics

CSULB Department of Physics

Physics has twin aims: (1) To understand the workings of the physical universe and its parts in detail, and (2) to apply understanding of physical phenomena in useful ways in the realms of physics, other sciences, and engineering. Physics proceeds through experimentation, observation, analysis and interpretation (usually mathematical) and further experimentation. Most physicists specialize in one or more branches of the science: elementary particle (high energy) physics, nuclear physics, atomic, electron, and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, optics (including lasers), acoustics, plasma physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Physicists usually specialize in theoretical or experimental areas. In addition, many physicists work in such applied or interdisciplinary areas as microelectronics, communications, medical physics, biophysics, power production systems, space science and geophysics.