The BA in Physics is designed for students who are interested in physics, but wish to seek a broader education in their undergraduate years. Though students who complete this track will possess the proper background to proceed to graduate school in physics, the curriculum is more appropriate for students who desire a working knowledge of basic physics in order to pursue allied careers in areas such as geophysics, biophysics, health physics and public policy.
Professional physicists typically pursue careers in teaching, research or some combination of the two. Teaching opportunities are available at the secondary, community college, or university level, where professors often engage in their own research projects. Opportunities for non-instructional research careers generally fall into two categories: the private sector (such as the computer chip industry), or national government-supported laboratories such as Argonne or Brookhaven.
Approximately 75% of UB undergraduate students in physics go on to graduate school. Many continue to study physics, but a significant number choose to pursue alternative paths, including law, business, medicine, biophysics and medical physics. Some of our outstanding recent graduates have been accepted into internationally-recognized programs at schools such as Princeton University, Cornell University, the University of Chicago, MIT and the University at Buffalo.