Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

When applying for the Physics Program, the applicant must choose between two degrees: Physics or Physics Education. The Physics degree prepares graduates for a career in research, while the Physics Education degree prepares physics teachers for primary and secondary schools. The two degrees have different curriculum structure.

Students can take courses from both degree types, as one holds classes in the afternoon and the other in the evening. This way, after graduating from one of the degrees, they can apply for returning admission to qualify in the second degree.

In both degrees, core courses in General Physics, Calculus and Chemistry are offered in the early stages, accompanied by laboratory practice. By the end of the program, students in the Physics degree may develop a project in one of the department’s research groups. Students in the Physics Education degree, in their turn, take specific courses on the Teaching of Physics and engage in teaching internships in primary or secondary schools.

All Physics students are encouraged to pursue graduate studies. The master’s or doctoral degree is a requirement to work in research laboratories and institutes and to become a university professor.

The field of work for the physicist is broad. They can find work opportunities in the field of medicine, particularly in the areas of ultrasound and radiation, and in industries, in the development of products and machinery. As the Physics Program provides graduates with in-depth knowledge of mathematics and computer science, they also find working opportunities in the field of data processing, among others.