Due Date: Saturday, December 5th, 2020.
SPH4U – Physics Career Research Project
In grade 12 physics, one of the requirements in the curriculum is that student explore a career pathway
that is related to physics.
Exploring career choices is one of the most important jobs you can do during the years you spend in
high school and college. Physics is integrated into many careers out there in the world and most people
do not realize it until they begin to pursue their desired career.
For this project, you are going to research a career in any of the science, technology, engineering, and
math areas in order to reach a better understanding to how some basic knowledge in physics can affect
your life and career choices.
Things to include in your project:
1. Overview – A one or two paragraph description of your career. This is what you would probably say
when someone asks you what you do for a living, i.e. expected duties, work conditions, work hours, type
of science background must you have (biology, chemistry, physics, geology), etc.
2. Key Requirements – These are skills and personality traits that are encouraged for the job. Ex. Oil field
employers typically look for people whom enjoy the outdoors over those whom prefer to sit in their
rooms playing video games, where as data consultants or research councils prefer people who can
remain focused on long, often tedious tasks.
3. Education
a) Subjects to study in high school – What courses do you need before you leave high school? Why
are those courses required? Are any of these unexpected?
b) Post secondary subject – college/university courses – what types of classes are you expected to
take to earn your degree or certificate (generic names with descriptions for the courses are sufficient).
You will need to look up courses on university/college pages (you may already be doing this anyway).
How long will it be expected to complete your degree/certificate? Justify which post secondary
institution would you attend for this career? (Why did you choose UofT, UWaterloo, UBC etc?)
c) Other certifications – Any other requirements needed to be ready for the job.
4. Companies - Provide a list of the names of at least 5 companies or organizations that can employ you.
e.g. CSA, CNRC, Suncor, Husky Energy, Cameco, Google, Blizzard, EA Games, Hospitals/clinics, Westjet,
Sasktel/Telus/etc., Vecima, City Hall, vet-med, Graham Const., CAF, environmental companies, etc.
Provide a brief summary of what each company does.
5. Median salary (provide a realistic range in pay that you would be expecting. For example,
writers/authors have a salary range between $13 827 and $72 660 where $13 827 would be the entry
level pay and $72 660 would be the expected pay of an experienced writer whom is good at what they
do. There are always outliers who get paid far more than the national averages for what they do, but
you cannot rely on being an outlier. Stick to being realistic, and provide evidence to your claim,
contact some of the companies that you listed and obtain a basic pay range.
6. Physics - How does your preferred career relate SPH3U and/or SPH4U? What are some concepts that
you have yet to learn in school? You will analyze in detail how these concepts in physics are integrated
into your profession. Even if you are planning on working in law or some other un-science related field,
you will still end up applying physics (phone, computers, vehicles, etc). Provide specific examples.
o For example: An optometrist, optometric technician, and an optometric assistant are all
people in the medical profession that require extensive in depth knowledge with energy,
power, and efficiency in SPH3U for these specific reasons … You would now explain some of
those concepts with great detail.
o For example: A pilot, whether it be commercial, military, or other, would require some
knowledge regarding kinematics and dynamics (forces, gravity, movement …) from the
SPH4U course for these reasons … You would now explain some of those concepts with
great detail.
o For example: Lawyers, paralegals, and judges may not directly require any specific science
class, however, they are in a field where their brain must be trained to absorb massive
amounts of information. Critical thinking skills are a must, and those are obtained from
physics. Plus, they often use cars to get to work, halogen lights illuminate their offices, they
use smart phones… Professions such as these may require some creative thinking in order
to link them to physics.
7. Conclusion A summary of your research.
• Justify whether you feel more or less confident with the class choices you have made
(would you have taken physics if you could do high school over again).
• Where do you expect to see yourself 4 years from now? What post secondary institution did
complete? How about 15 years from now? Who are you working for? Why did you choose that
company over the other 4 you sought out?
• Compare the information you gained about your career through your personal research
vs. through your interview. Does it line up with what you’ve discovered? Were there any
unexpected duties/responsibilities?
8. Format: - Typed, double spaced, font size 12, leave your margins at the default settings, and hand
in enclosed in a duotang or small binder. Label sections. Provide a works cited list for your research,
this includes the post secondary institutions whose courses you sought out, the companies you
contacted, and any books you used (MLA or APA will be just fine).
Who knows, your participation in this project may lead to a new future for you. If not, at least it will give
you a better idea of how to plan for your next few years.
SPH4U Career Project Due Date_____________________________
SPH4U Career NAME:_____________________________
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Knowledge All topics are All topics are Some information One or more topics
addressed and all addressed and most was overlooked; most were not
questions answered questions answered questions answered addressed.
with at least 2 with at least 2 with 1 sentence
relevant sentences sentences about about each.
about each. each.
Application Information clearly Information clearly Information clearly Information has
relates to the main relates to the main relates to the main little or nothing to
topic. It includes topic. It provides 1-2 topic. No details do with the main
several supporting supporting details and/or examples are topic.
details and/or and/or examples. given.
examples in every
section of the report.
Communication The student edited The student edited The student edited The student did
and organized the and organized the and organized the NOT edit or
transcript in a way transcript in a way transcript but the organize the
that made the that made the information was not transcript. Student
information clear and information clear. as clear as it should did not provide
interesting. have been. contact info.
Thinking All format Most paragraphs Paragraphs included No paragraph
requirements met. include introductory related information form. Font and
sentence, but were typically not spacing
explanations or constructed well. No requirements not
details, and more than 2 met. Sentence
concluding sentence. grammatical errors. structure below
No grammatical grade level.
errors. No works cited.
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SPH4U - Career Project Due Date_____________________________
List of careers:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science_careers.shtml
How to cite sources:
http://citationmachine.net
Suggested questions are listed below. PLEASE add questions related to your interests and concerns as
this is a very general and very unorganized list, in fact, some of these are bad questions for some
professionals as they are too generic.
Try to come up with specific questions that can relate back to physics.
1. How long have you worked in this occupation?
2. What other occupations did you work previously?
3. Can you describe your daily duties?
4. What do you like most about your job?
5. What do you like least about your job in this career area?
6. How did you get started in this line of work?
7. What type of training is needed for this occupation today?
8. Where did you train/get your education for this career position?
9. Can you describe your education process (what was your post secondary experience like)?
10. What changes in your occupation have you seen occur (roles/responsibilities)?
11. What are the most frequently recurring problems on your job?
12. What type of technology do you use? (computer hardware, software, etc.)
13. Would you recommend this job/career/position?
14. Do you see this job leading to a career in another job/career area?
15. What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in this line of work?
16. Would you choose this field if you had to do everything all over again?
17. What specific types of physics do you use on a daily basis?
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