Engineering Physics

Career potential

Texas is among the world's leaders in semiconductor manufacturing and overall high-tech industry research and development. Majoring in engineering physics at the University of North Texas helps prepare you for a career with semiconductor firms, aerospace and automobile manufacturers, computer software companies, electrical equipment manufacturers, engineering services firms, and independent research and development laboratories. The armed forces, the departments of Defense and Commerce, national laboratories and NASA also employ engineering physics graduates in research careers.

UNT's Career Center helps you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff helps you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in engineering physics

The engineering physics program primes you for the diverse challenges encountered when working in high-technology industries. These challenges change with time as a result of technological advances and advancement opportunities. The degree program includes a basic physics core and a broad-based background in engineering and engineering-related technologies.

Upon graduation, you have a strong foundation in the basic physics principles that underlie many high-tech advancements and the hands-on capabilities for developing various systems and devices.

Engineering physics faculty members include dedicated teachers and researchers from the Physics and Engineering Technology departments. Two physics professors have been named Regents Professors for outstanding research and teaching. Regents Professors devote at least half of their teaching load to introductory-level courses. Another physics faculty member received a President's Council University Teaching Award. UNT graduates have ranked most of the physics faculty in the top 20 percent of UNT's faculty.

Engineering technology faculty members have degrees in aerospace, civil, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical and nuclear engineering and engineering technology. They average 10 years of industrial experience. Faculty members have worked for organizations such as Airgas Inc., Boeing Military, Electrotest, General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin), General Electric, Integrated Technologies Inc., Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, among others.

Scholarships are available if you decide to major in engineering physics.

UNT's Society of Physics Students is one of the most active student chapters in Texas. The group often goes on field trips and invites guest speakers to meetings. Students in the society sponsor the Physics Olympics each spring for high school students in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Getting hands-on experience

UNT engineering physics majors have many chances to get hands-on experience and to participate in research as undergraduates. Research opportunities include working as a group or individually with a professor, interning at a high-technology company in the region or presenting original student research at conferences or in publications. You may also work on research as an exchange student at Sheffield Hallam University in England.

A paid research assistant position is available to undergraduates who have completed at least 60 hours of college-level courses. More information on selection criteria is available in the physics department office.

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your major through UNT's office of Cooperative Education and Internships. You may earn academic credit and money and gain valuable work experience.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science - economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

Along with basic college preparation courses, take as much mathematics and physics as you can. You should also become proficient in using computers.

You need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT I or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning helps you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

The staff members in the Department of Physics and other physics faculty members are available to help you when necessary. The department office is in the Physics Building, Room 110.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.