Module Information
Module Identifier
PH12910
Module Title
Physics Career Planning and Skills Development
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Entry requirements for honours Physics degree scheme
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Spreadsheet | 25% |
| 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 | Procedural Programming | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual Presentation | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Group Poster | 15% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Spreadsheet | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Individual Presentation | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Group Poster | 15% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Procedural Programming | 25% |
| 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% |
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.
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.
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