BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology
Course code: WD180
What is the BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology course?
The BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology is a four-year honours degree course, including a six-month work placement in industry. This is an inter-disciplinary course which provides students with an understanding of the physics underlying modern technologies such as semiconductors, optics/photonics, alternative energy, and sensor systems. It is designed to provide students with strong and complementary skills in the areas of physics, engineering, mathematics and programming. Graduates will develop a range of transferable skills that are valued and much sought after by industry.
Why are Physics and Technology important?
- Physics is the fundamental science that drives modern technologies – iPods, mobile phones, fibre-optics, medical imaging systems, smart sensors, and a host of other devices and systems are all applications of physics.
- Physicists are actively involved in research aimed at better understanding and protecting our environment – investigating alternative energy sources and building models to determine tomorrow’s weather and predicting the effects of global warming.
- Knowledge of the physics that underpins modern technological developments allows us to conceive of previously unforeseen devices and applications.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this degree will find employment in industry and research in a range of sectors including:
- Semiconductors
- Telecommunications/Photonics
- Alternative Energy
- Medical Physics
- Biomedical Devices
- Meteorology
- Software Development
- Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
- Teaching
- Biomedical Devices
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
Work Placement
Students undertake a work placement in industry (or in a research group) that will give them experience of working in an industrial/research environment. The placement allows the student to develop valuable professional skills within an organization e.g. working as part of a team, having responsibility for various tasks, and meeting deadlines. Recent placement opportunities for physics students have included Analog Devices, Genzyme and FeedHenry (Ireland); ESA (European Space Agency, Noordwijk, the Netherlands); and NPrime (Sheffield, UK).
Follow on Study
Opportunities exist for graduates to continue to postgraduate studies at masters level (both taught and research) or PhD level by research at WIT and other institutions. Graduates may proceed onto a number of taught masters courses at WIT:
MSc in Computing (Communications Software)
MEng in Electronic Engineering
MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering
MEng in Innovative Technologies.
Course Outline
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Mechanics and Waves Science Universe and Society I Introductory Physics Engineering Mathematics Programming Fundamentals I Materials Science & Engineering I |
Electromagnetism, Solid State & Modern Physics Data Acquisition Physics for Scientists Maths Calculus Programming Fundamentals II Science and Society |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Advanced Mechanics & Waves Electromagnetism & Physical Optics Electronic Devices & Systems Ordinary Differential Equations Algorithms Physics for Games |
Science Universe and Society II |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Atomic, Quantum and Solid State Device Physics Electromagnetism, Physical Optics and Photonics Special Relativity and Nuclear Physics Advanced Engineering Maths Data Communications Semiconductor Fundamentals |
Work Placement |
Year 4: Semesters 7 and 8
Topics of study in semesters 7 and 8 include:
Semiconductor Device Physics, Advanced Optics, Control Systems, Computational Physics, Alternative Energy, Photonics Applications and Research Project.
Students choose one elective in each semester
(Modules include Theory and Applications of DSP, Advanced Materials and Process Selection, Embedded Operating Systems and Data Mining)
Course Facts
Course Title: BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology
Course Code: WD180
Course Level: 8
Duration: 4 years
Course Entry
Leaving Certificate:
- Number of subjects at grade D or better: 6
- Number of subjects at higher level grade C or better: 2
Required Subjects:
- English/Irish: OD3/HD3
- Mathematics: OB1/HD1
See also
BSc (Hons) in Physics for Modern Technology Course Brochure
(PDF, 198KB)
For further information
Course Leaders:
Dr. Claire Keary
e-mail: ckeary@wit.ie
Tel: +353 -51 -834087
Ms Catherine Walsh
e-mail: cwalsh@wit.ie
Tel: +353 -51 -302639
