Graduates from the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Astronomy have little difficulty in finding positions in industry, government, finance, technology, scientific research and education. The demand for individuals well-trained in statistics, physics and in applied mathematics is greater than the available supply.
Doing research in mathematics and/or teaching mathematics at a university requires an advanced degree. However, many people with a bachelor's or master's degree work in research groups with engineers or scientists. Many software engineers or computer systems analysts entered the field with degrees in mathematics.
The government often hires mathematicians and statisticians (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of the Census, NSA, Department of Defense, etc.).
Consultancies such as Deloitte, KPMG and PwC, as well as major insurance firms such as Prudential and Standard Life hire mathematics majors for careers in actuarial science, one of the most lucrative and in-demand fields in the industry.
Many mathematics majors go into banking and finance. The logical and analytical skills fostered through the study of mathematics are attractive to a wide range of employers, investors and clients.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports:
Explore Mathematics Related Careers
Professional Societies
AMS American Mathematical Society
MAA Mathematical Association of America
SIAM Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics
ASA American Statistical Association
AWM Association for Women in Mathematics
NAM National Association of Mathematicians
Our Physics and Astronomy undergraduates leave UMSL with the tools and skills necessary to create their own opportunities and obtain jobs in a wide variety of environments.
If your goal is to continue in graduate school for a Master's or Ph.D. degree program, you will have opportunities in other physics departments, as well as engineering schools and other disciplines. If your goal is to enter industry, there are many opportunities here in St. Louis, as well as regionally and nationally. Here in St. Louis our students have taken positions at a number of nationally known companies. A short list of some of these companies include:
Monsanto/Bayer
Ralston Purina
Anheuser-Busch
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGIA)
Emmerson
Boeing
Industry leaders like physics and astronomy majors because they can improvise, think on their own, and can adapt to many different technical job situations.
Physics is an incredibly broad field, involving many different branches and subsections. From classical mechanics, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics, to interdisciplinary fields such as agrophysics, astrophysics, geophysics, and computational physics, there are many avenues available for physics and astronomy majors to explore. Learn more about all the different fields in physics.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports:
American Institute of Physics: Society of Physics Students, view physicist profiles and discover all the many opportunities available to physics majors.
UMSL Career Services, 278 MSC
Handshake is a FREE employment website that connects talented student and alumni job seekers to employers looking to recruit interns, part-time, and full-time hires.
American Astronomical Society learn about careers in astronomy, where astronomers work, where the jobs are and more.
