# Changing field **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568 "2015-01-22T14:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kurdo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@kurdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurdo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/1 "2015-01-22T14:32:11Z")
Hi I have a BA in English language teaching. can I apply for Master in Physics and then do my Phd in Physics. what are the good and bad sides? Is it normal? what are your advices. I like physics alot. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/2 "2015-01-22T14:38:54Z")
Reported for forum change. Until it’s moved, [here’s](https://sharepoint.washington.edu/phys/grad/EMSP/Pages/default.aspx?gclid=COmA-Yvpp8MCFZCVfgodVR0ATg) what the University of Washington says about their Master’s program: > [@](#): > > The undergraduate background of prospective students should include intermediate-level physics courses, or equivalent courses in other physical sciences or engineering fields. Applicants who are unsure of their preparation may take core courses as Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) students, with credits transferable if they later matriculate in the MS degree program. > > Students completing the Professional MS program do not normally enter the UW Physics PhD program. Also, as a part time program, it does not support applications for US student visas; applicants must already be US residents. So you’ll have to complete the core classes, if you haven’t already. These would include a year of Calculus-based Physics, a year of Chemistry, a year of Calculus, and other science-based classes to get to a BS in the field you choose. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/3 "2015-01-22T14:56:42Z")
What that means in plain language is that you’ll have to take and pass a bunch of prerequisite coursework in physics just to qualify for admission to the program. So essentially you’ll pay for about a year’s worth of classes that don’t necessarily even count toward your degree. This isn’t uncommon really… back when I was getting out of undergraduate with a computer science degree, I looked into getting a MS in Information Technology, and found out that I’d basically have to take a full semester of prerequisiste business courses just to qualify for admission to the business graduate program at my university. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/4 "2015-01-22T15:02:18Z")
> [@bump](#): > > What that means in plain language is that you’ll have to take and pass a bunch of prerequisite coursework in physics just to qualify for admission to the program. So essentially you’ll pay for about a year’s worth of classes that don’t necessarily even count toward your degree. > > This isn’t uncommon really… back when I was getting out of undergraduate with a computer science degree, I looked into getting a MS in Information Technology, and found out that I’d basically have to take a full semester of prerequisiste business courses just to qualify for admission to the business graduate program at my university. A friend of mine switched her major from one thing to something pretty different (music to Lit IIRC). It ended up making her a 5 year college student since she basically had to redo a year of school to get back on track. I changed my major twice. CompSci to Physics to Math. Luckily they’re all so closely related (and I never really did anything for Comp Sci for the major) that it involved very little extra work and I still graduated in 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/5 "2015-01-22T15:02:35Z")
I have an MSc in Neuroscience despite the nearest thing I had prior to that being high-school Biology (that I almost failed). I wasn’t really sure what they’d make of my application, but they just gave me a list of preparation materials and an unconditional acceptance. I think this is typical in England, and much of Europe. Masters courses are not so competitive to get on to, and as you’re a bit older, and are paying for it out your own pocket (or your employer is), it’s just assumed you know what you’re doing. I suspect the situation in the US might be different because of the huge amounts of money involved. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/6 "2015-01-22T15:03:05Z")
Since the OP is looking for advice, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/7 "2015-01-22T15:11:09Z")
> [@kurdo](#): > > Hi > I have a BA in English language teaching. > can I apply for Master in Physics and then do my Phd in Physics. what are the good and bad sides? Is it normal? what are your advices. I like physics alot. Those are some interesting capitalization, punctuation & plurality choices for somebody with a BA in English. And then there’s “alot”. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/8 "2015-01-22T15:12:12Z")
It’s certainly possible. Edward Witten majored in history and went to grad school for applied mathematics before eventually switching to physics. But anybody without a good undergraduate background in physics is going to need to do a lot of catch-up to be eligible for graduate study. The best thing to do is probably look at the program requirements for various schools that you would be interested in, and finding a way to take those classes. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/9 "2015-01-22T16:45:09Z")
Since I haven’t seen it mentioned yet, I will add that there are precious few jobs out there for PhD physicists. The OP might want to research job prospects, if they are thinking of getting a job after graduation. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/10 "2015-01-22T16:59:42Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Those are some interesting capitalization, punctuation & plurality choices for somebody with a BA in English. And then there’s “alot”. I’m hearing that last part in ‘Dumb and Dumber’ voices… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/11 "2015-01-22T17:39:14Z")
o/` What do you do with a BA in English? o/` ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/12 "2015-01-22T17:58:36Z")
OP said the degree was in English language teaching (i.e. education with emphasis in English–I’m assuming it’s an ESOL thing.) That’s pretty different from a straight English degree. ---
**Author:** ![kurdo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@kurdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurdo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/13 "2015-01-22T22:22:26Z")
Thanx your answered helped me alot 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kurdo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@kurdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurdo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-field/710568/14 "2015-01-22T22:24:25Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > It’s certainly possible. Edward Witten majored in history and went to grad school for applied mathematics before eventually switching to physics. But anybody without a good undergraduate background in physics is going to need to do a lot of catch-up to be eligible for graduate study. The best thing to do is probably look at the program requirements for various schools that you would be interested in, and finding a way to take those classes. Thanx your answer helped me alot 🙂