Physics Bachelor's of Arts Degree

Personalize Your Physics Degree and Reach for the Stars

Build an individualized career with a physics foundation in Michigan Tech's unique program at an R1 flagship technological university. You'll examine the building blocks of existence, from the smallest subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules, to the largest stars and galaxies. You'll understand what holds the atomic nucleus together, how proteins function, why stars shine—and design your own career path with the help of caring faculty and advisors.

Tech’s Bachelor of Arts in Physics is designed for students seeking a foundation in physics, but who typically do not intend to pursue physics as a profession. The flexibility in Tech's degree program frees you to gain educational breadth in other disciplines. The bachelor of arts in physics can be a valuable major in combination with a minor in engineering, mathematics, business, or technical communication, among other disciplines.

You'll gain insight into the nature of the physical world, develop new ways of thinking about problems, and build models that describe their inner workings. As part of a vibrant and supportive network here at Tech, you'll study the theoretical frameworks of physical theories. You'll learn the fundamental postulates and mathematical formulations that underlie the successful models of the physical universe from world-known instructors and researchers who are part of the global physics community.

The analytical and quantitative thinking skills you develop as you work toward your degree are valuable in many different careers. Undergraduate physics training provides excellent preparation for a careers or graduate work in fields including science, law, medicine, and finance.

Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science in Physics

If you’re looking for a foundation in physics that will build your problem-solving skills while also allowing you to pursue other interests, a bachelor of arts in physics might be right for you. If you want to continue on to grad school or a career in a physics field, a bachelor's of science degree in physics is your best option to prepare for lab- and research-based career paths or for careers in other areas like law or business.

Michigan Tech offers two ways to study physics. Both degrees build strong problem-solving and quantitative skills, but they offer different paths for applying your physics education. Compare the BA and BS to find the degree that best fits your interests and future goals.

Compare Physics BA and BS Degrees
	Physics BA	Physics BS
Primary Focus	Build a foundation in physics while exploring other academic interests	Take a traditional approach to studying physics and prepare for deeper study in the field
Course flexibility	Greater flexibility through electives, allowing students to build a secondary area of interest. See the Physics BA Typical Four-year Outline	More focused physics curriculum with opportunities to choose a physics focus area. See the Physics BS Typical Four-year Outline
Good fit for students who	Want to combine physics with another discipline or use physics as a foundation for another career	Want to pursue physics as a career or continue to graduate school in physics or another STEM field
Career/Graduate School	Well suited for paths such as medicine, dentistry, business, law, finance, and scientific or technical writing	Strong preparation for physics graduate programs, research and laboratory careers, and STEM industries
Research	Provides physics knowledge and analytical skills that can be applied across fields	Emphasizes preparation for lab- and research-based career paths

Choose your Career Path

The bachelor of arts in physics degree at Michigan Tech lets you customize your course of study through your choice of electives. Your electives serve as a secondary lens through which to see your physics education. With the strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and quantitative skills you'll gain through your physics studies, you're prepared to continue your professional studies with a solid scientific background.

This degree is well-suited for students seeking to continue their education in medical, dental, business, or law school. Or use your grasp of physics concepts and technical terminology to become a scientific and technical writer. The options are endless.

Pre-Health Professions Pathway

Put your skills to work in a career in medicine. Allocate your free electives to a pre-health minor and prepare for admission into health professional programs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 4% growth in demand for physicists through 2034. Plus, physics majors with a pre-health minor can take advantage of many professional program partnerships. For instance, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine provides early assurance of admission (February as opposed to June) for select Michigan Tech pre-health minors. Pick from these pathways:

Pre-Law Pathway

Physics provides excellent preparation for a career in law. Bankrate ranks physics as No. 32 of the most valuable college majors. You'll develop your analytical and critical thinking skills in the physics degree program. Being comfortable with the complexities and properties of physics lends itself to patent law. You may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor in law and society and take additional classes in humanities, social sciences, physics, or psychology.

Science and Technical Writing Pathway

Your grasp of physics concepts and technical terminology will serve you well in a technical or scientific writing career. If you have an interest in science and technical writing, you may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor in writing along with other courses in humanities, social sciences, or physics.

Business and Entrepreneurship Pathway

Leverage your math, data analysis and predictive modeling skills for a career in business. If you are interested in pursuing a career in Business you may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor or certificate in business or entrepreneurship along with other courses in business, physics and psychology.

Other Possible Pathways

You may choose to pursue one of 80+ other minors or certificates. With a BA in Physics you can design your own pathway.

7%annual job outlook growth through 2033 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025)

No. 3best college in Michigan (Niche, 2025)

6:1student to faculty ratio

100%of physics students conduct undergraduate research

Tomorrow Needs Experts With Physics Knowledge

The demand for individuals with a strong, quantitative education in physics, including application development and high-level laboratory investigation is great. You'll graduate thoroughly prepared to find success in graduate school in physics, business, law, and medical school, or a career in industries such as aeronautics, astronomy, electronics, engineering, finance, and transportation.

Be Career Ready

Career Opportunities for Physics Majors

Your future career options are unlimited with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics. Career opportunities can be found as:

Aerospace Engineer
Applications Developer
Associate Engineer
Business Analyst
Clinical Technologist
Computer Animation Specialist
Consultant
Data Analyst
Dentist
Lab Associate
Lead Engineer
Mechatronics Instructor
Medical Physicist
Programmer
Program Manager
Project Manager
Patent Attorney
Physician
Researcher
Marine/Oceanographic Scientist
Science and Technology Teacher
Scientific and Computational Manager
Test Development Engineer
Technical Writer
Water Engineer
Veterinarian

Companies Hiring Physics Majors

The growing list of companies hiring physics majors includes:

Accenture
Analog Devices
Covance
Epi
Eurofins
Ford Motor Company
GE Aerospace
General Motors
Intel
JP Morgan Chase
Lanier Technical College
Rockwell Automation
Sims Academy of Innovation and Technology
Steelcase
U.S. Bank
U.S. Department of Defense
Whirlpool Corporation

Graduate Schools Accepting Tech Physics Majors

The growing list of colleges and universities accepting physics majors includes:

London School of Economics
Michigan Tech College of Forest Resources
Oakland University
Piedmont University (Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship)

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Physics Pursuits Pay Off With BA

"A physics degree gives you the confidence to approach problems that are outside of your comfort zone and general area of knowledge."Nathan Schlorke ‘19, BA Physics

Study Physics at a Technological University

Gain foundational knowledge and understand the behavior of matter and energy. Develop analytical and quantitative skills required to succeed in graduate school or the job market.

Get personalized attention: With an average incoming class of 20 physics majors, your professors know you individually and understand your interests and needs. You receive the 1:1 guidance you need in a timely fashion.
Applied learning: Design your own application area and explore interdisciplinary connections. Recent application areas include computational mathematics, planetary science, aerospace engineering, and nanotechnology. Or apply your interest in physics to practical problems with the Enterprise Program—teams of undergraduate students working on real-world products and research for industry.
Customize your physics education: Make yourself more marketable in the eyes of prospective employers. Applied Physics pairs well with mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, and engineering majors. You can add one of two physics minors in astrophysics or nanoscale physics to further your specialization. Or diversify your degree with any of the other 80+ minors offered at Michigan Tech.
Get paid for summer research: A commitment to undergraduate research experience gives our students an edge. As soon as the summer after your first year, join one of manyresearch groups and turn your growing knowledge into practical experience under the guidance of a faculty member in our state-of-the-art labs.
Physics study abroad: Visit international research labs like CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built.

Huskies Are Ready to Run

Supercharge your analytical skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow's high-tech business landscape.

College of Sciences and Arts

The College of Sciences and Arts is a community of faculty, staff, and students committed to excellence and driven by our passion for education, outreach, research, and creativity across the social and natural sciences, humanities, and the arts. Uniquely situated in the heart of Michigan's R1 flagship technological university, we specialize in human-centered potential and discovery-based learning designed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Knowing that every student at Michigan Tech will pass through our doors, our college strives to be at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaborations that lead to breakthrough solutions.

Our students gain a profound understanding of social and cultural contexts through experiential learning and innovative research. We welcome you to be part of our caring, expansive college community, with 32 undergraduate and 24 graduate degrees to choose from.

The opportunities in Michigan Tech's College of Sciences and Arts are limitless. Transform into a civic leader ready to contribute to a sustainable future. Lead and participate in action-based experiences that are critical to the start of a fulfilling career. Job-shadow at a local hospital or veterinary clinic while preparing for a career in health. Design sound and lighting for a regional production. Conduct community forums on the implications of artificial intelligence. Work to purify vaccines. Study the impact of social media on society. Research the mysteries of space and galaxies beyond our universe. Explore transforming abandoned iron and copper mines into giant batteries. Understand freshwater ecosystem health. Document the nature of changes in cognitive function and motor behavior in aging and dementia.

At Michigan Tech, your academic growth is supported by a variety of learning centers, along with our Humanities Digital Media Zone and Writing Center. Model climate in the only cloud chamber of its kind. Take part in interdisciplinary health research in our state-of-the-art H-STEM Complex. Create amazing sights and sounds in our visual art, sound, and theatre performance spaces.

Undergraduate Majors in Physics

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem. Browse the entire list of College of Sciences and Arts majors. Or, give yourself time and declare the General Sciences and Arts major, which lets you decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more, speak to an academic advisor.

"Physics is hard. Being able to do hard things is valuable. Physics gives me the confidence to receive a difficult assignment and learn to figure it out."Ezra Cotter ‘21, BA Physics