Students studying in Social Sciences Building

What can I do with my studies?

Physics

Program Overview

Program Requirements 

Acquired skills

University education stimulates the development of many valuable skills transferable to the workplace. Employers increasingly demand a set of skills from their employees; communication, research, data use, analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organizational, responsibility, adaptability and autonomy, and teamwork skills are sought after. While they can seem limited to each program of study, skills are adaptable and extendable to a variety of situations and they can also be used to acquire other aptitudes and abilities hence ensuring the development and advancement of one’s career (to further develop your skill set, see Experience section). The list of skills below can then help in the process of choosing occupations that best fit your education and aptitudes and it can also be used to communicate your employability.

Skills [Coming soon]

Further studies

Many graduate programs are available for people with an undergraduate degree interested in expanding their knowledge, specializing or conducting research. The graduate programs below are examples selected from the list of graduate programs offered by the University of Ottawa. While they are related to this program of study, it is important to consult the admission requirements of the programs as not all types of degrees qualify one for admission. Moreover, additional programs and other universities could be considered depending on your career plan.

Undergraduate programs can also serve as a preparatory step toward professional programs in law, medicine or teaching. Admission to professional programs is not automatic as it is important to meet various requirements – academic performance, course selection and, in some cases, the experience and the score on an entrance examination.

Graduate programs

Potential occupations

Universities studies lead to multiple occupations. Furthermore, certain professions require talent, special aptitudes, additional skills and experience beyond degrees themselves. By targeting a profession, it can make decisions easier during your schooling, throughout your job search and, finally, when choosing among job offers. The choices can change over time based on academic, personal, and professional paths and on the knowledge of occupations and of the labour market.

In order to list your choices, visit the Job Bank Canada website and, using the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, view job postings, wages, employment prospects and other important information that can help you make a decision. If need be, additional and complementary information can be found via two online career exploration tools (Careercruisingand Choices Planner)* also designed to facilitate your career advancement. The occupations found below are examples derived from the National Occupational Classification. They are presented by their occupational group title, in bold, followed by bulleted occupational titles specific to the program of study. Immediately after the occupational titles, the hyperlinked NOC code for the occupational group is provided. Overall, the occupations are presented side by side with their employment requirements and the establishments where to find a job.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 is the authoritative resource on occupational information in Canada providing a standard taxonomy and framework for dialogue on Labour Market Information. It gathers more than 30,000 occupational titles into 500 Unit Groups, organized according to skill levels and skill types.

Occupations related to this program

 

Technical occupations related to museums and art galleries

  • Museum interpreter

Registrars, cataloguers and interpreters may require a university degree in a field related to museum and gallery work

 

Authors and writers

  • Technical writer

Technical writers usually require a university degree in the area of specialization, such as computer science or engineering; talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria; membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required

 

Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade

  • Technical sales representative

A university degree or college diploma in a program related to the product or service is usually required; experience in sales or in a technical occupation related to the product or service may be required

 

Physicists and astronomers

  • Aerophysicist
  • Biophysicist
  • Health physicist
  • Laser physicist
  • Metal physicist
  • Nuclear physicist
  • Physicist
  • Physics research scientist
  • Semiconductor physicist

Physicists usually require a master's or doctoral degree in a field of physics, engineering physics, or in a related discipline

 

Geoscientists and oceanographers

  • Geophysicist

A master's or doctoral degree in geophysics, physics, mathematics or engineering may be required for employment as a geophysicist; registration with a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers, geologists, geophysicists or geoscientists is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut; geologists and geophysicists are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program and after several years of supervised work experience and, in some provinces, after passing a professional practice examination

 

Meteorologists and climatologists

  • Meteorologist

A bachelor's or master's degree in meteorology, atmospheric sciences or in a related field is required; formal training is provided by Environment Canada for operational meteorologists employed by the federal government; membership in the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society or, in Quebec, in l'Association professionelle des météorologistes du Québec is available, but voluntary, for qualified meteorologists

 

Other professional occupations in physical sciences

  • Materials scientist
  • Soil scientist
  • Technical scientist

A bachelor's degree in metallurgy, physics, chemistry, or a related physical science discipline is required; a master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research scientist

 

Architecture and science managers

  • Scientific research department  manager
  • Scientific research director

Science and other managers in this unit group require a master's or doctoral degree in a scientific discipline and several years of experience in a related scientific discipline

 

Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers

  • Patent agent

A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required for occupations in this unit group; a master's degree in a related scientific discipline may be required; patent agents require 12 months of work experience in the patent field and successful completion of examinations set by the Commissioner of Patents. They may also be required to be listed in the register of patent agents

 

College and other vocational instructors

  • College teacher

A bachelor's degree, a college diploma or demonstrated expertise in the field of instruction is required; a master's degree in the field of instruction may be required; a certificate, diploma or degree in adult education may be required

 

Administrators – post-secondary education and vocational training

  • Assistant dean
  • Dean
  • Faculty administrator

Faculty administrators require a graduate degree in a field related to the academic faculty and several years of experience as a university professor or college teacher

Related field

Although many students believe that they will pursue a career path directly connected to their university studies, quite often, graduates tend to work in related fields. Below is a list of possible related fields of work based on a given program of study. These fields present opportunities that are not typically considered as first choices when choosing a career path based on a program of study. Hopefully, this list will allow students to further consider the various fields that are loosely connected to their program of study. These results were compiled through a research of the University of Ottawa's alumni profiles which were found on the business-oriented social networking service, LinkedIn. 

Related Fields

  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Information Technology
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Sales

Acquiring experience

Experience is acquired by participating and trying new personal, educational and professional activities, where it is possible to discover preferences, increase confidence and improve skills. As for professional experience, it is acquired through volunteering, internships, self-employment and full-time or part-time jobs. And certainly, experience working on campus or in other settings adds to the set of skills acquired in your degree (see Acquired Skills section). The Employability Skills 2000+ presenting the skills employers look for in their employees as well as its complementary checklist can help target experience opportunities that will improve your skill set necessary for employment. In addition to developing these skills, performing work related to your program of study can strengthen your expertise and increase your employability.

All examples of volunteer experience and potential employers were selected specifically for this area of study and according to occupational groups in which it is possible to acquire experience. Examples of volunteer organizations in Canada and abroad are preceded by a list of directories that can help to find more volunteer opportunities. Examples of potential employers in Canada and abroad have been compiled in light of events held in partnership with employers, searches in company directories and well-established rankings.

Volunteer opportunities

In addition to providing an opportunity to apply theories and knowledge learned during your university studies outside the classroom, in real world situations, volunteering is a way to help the community and its many organizations. The Community Service Learning also allows students to contribute to their community by participating in projects that are related to their program of study.

Directories

 

Canada Abroad

Potential employers

The following examples of employers can offer internships or employment opportunities related to students’ program of studies. The examples are presented according to geographic location: Ottawa and Gatineau, Ontario, Quebec and other provinces.

In Canada

Ottawa/Gatineau Region Ontario

 

Quebec Other provinces and territories

 

Abroad

The requirements for working abroad consider factors like administrative laws, professional standards and work permits in some countries. To learn about requirements in various countries, visit Skill Clear or MyWorldAbroad (registration with a @uOttawa.ca email is required to use MyWorldAbroad).

Established globally North America (excluding Canada)

 

South America Europe

 

Asia Africa

Oceania Others

Job search resources

The job search resources are designed to stimulate networking activities, develop marketing strategies and facilitate access to job postings. Networking events offer employers the opportunity to learn about the available workforce, and they give students a chance to be considered in the recruitment process. Career Development Centre offers helpful tips on networking, interview preparation techniques and different tools that can also be used to help with the preparation of resumés and cover letters.

Professional organizations

Examples of professional organizations, presented by location, provide essential information on professional development opportunities and networking activities, the examples can also provide access to publications and job opportunities.

Canadian Provincial and territorial

 

American International

Job search sites

Here are a few websites posting jobs available in Canada and abroad related to this field of study.

Canadian International

General Job Search Websites