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What Physics Study is available at Macquarie?

... & Other Frequently Asked Questions

Why study Physics, Photonics or Astronomy? Why study at Macquarie? What jobs are there for graduates? Which first year course units should I take?

Here are some answers to these and other questions. Please contact us for further information.

Table of Contents

1. What is physics?
2. Why do a science degree?
3. Why study physics at Macquarie?
4. What jobs are there with Macquarie Physics/Optical Technology degree?
5. What degrees are available in Physics @ Macquarie?
6. What do physics students do in a typical week?
7. What study in physics is available at Macquarie for new students?
8. Which physics course units are most suitable for me?
9. Which HSC results do I need?
10. Can I study physics in my spare time?
11. What do Macquarie's 100-Level physics units contain?
12. Want more information about degree programs?

What is Physics?

According to the Macquarie dictionary physics is "the science dealing with natural laws and processes, and the states of matter and energy ...". The Oxford dictionary puts it simply as "the study of the relationship between matter and energy".
These definitions acknowledge physics as an all encompassing science, since indeed our universe is made up from just the two entities, matter and energy. The principles studied in physics underpin those of all the other sciences and technologies.

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Why do a science degree?

A physics degree, like science degrees of all kinds, including maths, computing, electronics, biology, chemistry, earth sciences etc., provides a broad education, teaching students to study and analyse problems with considerable rigour. A physics degree in particular, as well as throwing light on how our universe works, provides basic skills in problem solving that can be utilised in a wide range of career activities.

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Why study physics at Macquarie?

Macquarie's modular unit structure allow each student to design an individual degree program to best suit their own aspirations and talents. For example you can add as much or as little computing and electronics as you wish to your physics program, including units in the other sciences, humanities, arts, languages or business etc. Some students combine science and law.

Full details of our undergraduate programs

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What jobs are there with a Macquarie physics degree?

Macquarie physics graduates have gained a wide range of jobs in areas such as telecommunications, industrial physics, hospital physics, electronics, computing, quality control testing, banking, insurance, teaching, management, technical sales, the armed forces, etc.

In recent years the growing area of telecommunications has employed many Macquarie physics graduates for tasks which include optoelectronics, systems monitoring, management, and technical writing. Graduates from our Optical Technology program have a 100% employment record.

Some physics graduates stay on to do research and gain higher degrees, such as masters degrees or doctorates. Our main research areas are photonics, optical and laser physics; nanoscience and condensed matter physics; quantum science and technology; and astronomy and astrophysics.

Whatever career you choose, you can be confident in the knowledge that your Macquarie Physics degree has been accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics, and will be respected wherever it takes you.

Information about current research in the Macquarie physics department.

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What degrees are available in Physics @ Macquarie?

Many of the students studying 100-level physics are doing Bachelor of Science degrees with majors in either Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, or Photonics, and others are studying 100-level physics as supporting courses-units for degrees in the other sciences including maths, computing, electronics, biology, chemistry, earth sciences etc.

Click here for more details of our degree programs.

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What do physics students do in a typical week?

Most units of study in physics typically present you with three lectures each week, during which you are taken through the study material for the unit, a tutorial, at which you practice solving problems and have the chance to sort out your questions, and two or three hours in the laboratory, where you carry out carefully guided experiments. This leaves plenty of time for private study to review your notes and learn the art of problem solving.

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What study in physics is available at Macquarie for new students?

The units of work in physics that are available at 100-level (ie "first year") are PHYS140 Physics IA, PHYS143 Physics IB, PHYS149 Physics for Technology, PHYS159 Concepts in the Physical Sciences, ASTR170 Introductory Astronomy and ASTR178 Other Worlds: Planets and and Planetary Systems.

These course units are taken by students entering the university for the first time as well as by students in higher years who wish to add physics to the degree they are already doing in other subjects.

Full information on all course units and degrees available can be obtained in the Online University Handbook.

Click here for a listing and description of all physics units.

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Which Physics course units are most suitable for me?

If you wish to do a full first year physics course then you would take the two related units PHYS140 Physics IA (3 credit points) and PHYS143 Physics IB (3 credit points). These will provide you with a broad background in Physics, to either help you with other science courses you may be taking (such as electronics, chemistry, earth sciences, some aspects of biology and some of the Photonics and Astronomy programs) or to provide the necessary background to continue in Physics at second year (200-level). Some students who are majoring in one of the other sciences sometimes opt to take either both or just one of these two units.

If you are majoring in Biology or Earth Sciences or just wish to have a general introduction to the concepts in Physics you may consider taking PHYS159 Concepts in the Physical Sciences (3 credit points).

Another unit is PHYS149 Physics for Technology (3 credit points), which is suitable as a service unit for students taking a range of degrees, including BA/BSc in Computing & Information Systems, BSc in Computing, BeBus, BBA, BBA BIT, BBA BCIS, BSc in Bioinf, Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Environmental Science, BTech (Biotech), BTech ICSsy), BTech (Telecomm), and BTech (EnvGeo).

The astronomy units ASTR170: Introductory Astronomy and ASTR178: Other Worlds: Planets and Planetary Systems are both introductory units suitable for aspiring physicists/astronomers and non-scientists with an interest in astronomy alike. Both units gives a broad underpinning of basic astronomical and solar system subjects and concepts with minimal mathematical content. No prior knowledge of astronomy or physics is required.

 

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Which HSC Results do I need?

To take the "mainstream" physics units PHYS140 and PHYS143, as well as the Physics for Technology unit PHYS149, you merely require HSC Mathematics Band 4 or HSC 2-unit Mathematics with an average mark of 54% or greater. You needn't have studied physics before at school.

PHYS159, ASTR170, and ASTR178 have no formal HSC prerequirements.

Click here for more information .

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Can I study physics in my spare time?

PHYS140, PHY143 may be offered as evening units - subject to sufficient demand. These involve guided private-study of the subject material, and attending the University for one evening each week during term for tutorial/practical sessions.

Physics 159 may also be offered as both a Day and External unit - subject to sufficient demand. In the external version you are guided through a correspondence course, and attend the university for 5 days in two blocks during the term to carry out laboratory work. By arrangement some students combine a mixture of both Day and External modes.

Please contact us if you are interested in exploring the possibility of mixed mode or evening study.

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What do Macquarie's 100-Level physics units contain?

Here is some detail about the content of each course unit of work available in first year.

First Half Year	Second Half Year
PHYS140 Physics IA 3 Credit points.  3hrs lectures, 1hr tutorial, 3hrs lab work per week. Content description	PHYS143 Physics IB 3 Credit points.  3hrs lectures, 1hr tutorial, 3hrs lab work per week. Content description
PHYS149 Physics for Technology 3 Credit points. 3hrs lectures, 1hr tutorial, 3hrs lab work per week. Content description	PHYS159 Concepts in the Physical Sciences 3 Credit points.  3hrs lectures, 1hr tutorial, 2hrs lab work per week.  Content description
ASTR170 Introductory Astronomy 3 Credit points.  3hrs lectures, 1hr tutorial, 3hrs lab work per week. Content description	ASTR178 Other Worlds 3 Credit points.  3hrs lectures per week.  Content description

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