Physics Career Planning and Skills Development

Module Identifier: PH12910
Module Title: Physics Career Planning and Skills Development
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Semester: Semester 2
Co-ordinator: Dr Tony Cook
Reading List: View on Aspire
Pre-Requisite: Entry requirements for honours Physics degree scheme
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Other Staff: Dr Tony Cook; Professor Simon Cox

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Group Poster:	15%
Semester Assessment	Skills Awareness Programme: Students are expected to undertake 4 exercises: 1) Complete a LinkedIn learning module on creating a strong on-line profile. 2) Create a LinkedIn profile. 3) Write a cover letter for a job application of their choice. 4) Contribute to a group discussion with a careers adviser.	15%
Semester Assessment	Individual Presentation:	20%
Semester Assessment	Procedural Programming:	25%
Semester Assessment	Spreadsheet:	25%
Supplementary Assessment	Group Poster:	15%
Supplementary Assessment	Skills Awareness Programme: Students are expected to undertake 4 exercises: 1) Complete a LinkedIn learning module on creating a strong on-line profile. 2) Create a LinkedIn profile. 3) Write a cover letter for a job application of their choice. 4) Contribute to a group discussion with a careers adviser.	15%
Supplementary Assessment	Procedural Programming:	25%
Supplementary Assessment	Individual Presentation:	20%
Supplementary Assessment	Spreadsheet:	25%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Analyse data using a spreadsheet to perform calculations.
Produce summaries and charts of the data in the spreadsheet analysis.
Write a program in a procedural computer language.
Apply software packages to prepare documents for presentation to a wide range of audiences.
Identify careers for Physicists and skills required for future employment.
Explain a topic in Physics in an oral presentation.
Recognise diversity, ethics and sustainability in the physical sciences.

Brief description

This module introduces the students to a range of software packages: word-processing software, presentation software, spreadsheets and procedural programming. It uses ideas in mathematics and physics to illustrate uses of the software and skills in the workplace.

Within the module the Careers Service provides a skills awareness programme as guidance for preparing job applications. Working in teams, students research careers available to graduates in Physics (examples will be given of careers of scientists from diverse backgrounds) and using the software introduced produce a poster on their findings. Students also prepare and deliver a short presentation on a topic in Physics on individual basis.

Content

Word-processing packages (such as Word, Latex): introduction, documents, formatting, mathematical expressions, bibliographical references.

Spreadsheets (such as Excel): overview, entering and formatting information, formulae and functions, manipulating, visualising a (large) dataset.

Procedural Programming.

Presentation packages (such as Powerpoint): for posters and for individual talks.

Skills awareness programme by the Careers Service, demonstrating how to prepare documents such as an introductory letter.

Group poster to highlight careers available to Physicists (examples given of careers of scientists from diverse backgrounda) and the skills acquired for these.

Individual presentation on a topic in Physics.

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Application of Number	Numerical concepts and techniques with spreadsheet.
Communication	Written communication in assignments. Oral communication in the presentations.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Encouraged throughout this skills-development module.
Information Technology	A variety of computer packages are used in the module.
Personal Development and Career planning	The module highlights the importance of personal development and career planning and includes skills awareness exercises
Problem solving	Problem solving skills are applied in the spreadsheet and procedural programming assignments and for the presentation of a topic in Physics.
Reflection	Ethics. Good practices in Science, Education and Employment
Research skills	Research skills are applied to investigate a topic in Physics and careers in Physics.
Subject Specific Skills	Procedural Programming. Problem solving in physics for the individual presentations.
Team work	Poster assignment is a group-work activity.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4