Engineering physics programs prepare people to use math and science to solve problems in physics. Students learn about conductivity. They learn how heat and cold affect materials. They also learn how to apply physics to molecules and particles.

Imagine constructing a wheel and axle out of individual atoms. Or designing a computer chip that uses light instead of electricity. These projects are at the very frontiers of engineering. They and many like them depend on knowledge of engineering physics.

In the science of physics, you study motion, matter, energy, and force. You learn how to apply mathematical formulas to describe and predict physical behavior. For example, you learn how to calculate the path a cannonball will take when fired at a certain angle with a certain amount of force. In modern physics, you learn the limits of the classical formulas. It turns out that an electron does not move according to the same principles as a cannonball.

Thus you get a good background in theory and research. Then you apply this background to cutting-edge engineering problems. You might try to improve a laser or use radiation to alter the properties of a material. You do experiments and gather data to compare various ways of achieving an engineering goal. You run simulations on computers.

A bachelor's degree in this field can open many doors for employment. Usually four or perhaps five years of full-time study beyond high school will earn you this degree. About 100 colleges in the U.S. offer this major.

In addition, traditional master's and doctorate degrees are offered in this field. In general, master's degrees take two years to complete, and doctorate degrees take another three to five.