Department of Physics
Minor in Physics
Students on Summer 2019, Fall 2019, or Spring 2020 requirements PHYSMIN
Requirements
The minor requires at least 19 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Physics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
- PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: Mastery of high school trigonometry; or MATH-M 026
- Description
- Newtonian mechanics, wave motion, heat, and thermodynamics. Application of physical principles to related scientific disciplines, especially life sciences. Intended for students preparing for careers in the life sciences and the health professions. Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 221, PHYS-P 201, or PHYS-P 221.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Corequisites
- MATH-M 211 or consent of instructor
- Notes
- First semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one 2-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take PHYS-P 221 in the fall semester of the freshman year
- Description
- Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, heat and thermodynamics.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 221, PHYS-P 201, or PHYS-P 221.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- Consent of department
- Notes
- P or C: MATH-M 211 or equivalent
- Description
- First semester of a calculus-based sequence in introductory physics, intended primarily for highly motivated and well prepared students. Covers the material of P221 and supplementary topics. Course fee required.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 221, PHYS-P 201, or PHYS-P 221.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Physics II. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
- PHYS-P 222 Physics II
- PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-H 221, PHYS-P 201, PHYS-P 221, or high school equivalent
- Notes
- Three lectures, one discussion section, and one two-hour laboratory period each week
- Description
- Electricity and magnetism; geometrical and physical optics; introduction to concepts of relativity, quantum theory, and atomic and nuclear physics.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 222, PHYS-P 202, or PHYS-P 222.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
PHYS-P 222 Physics II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-H 221 or PHYS-P 221; or PHYS-P 201 and consent of instructor
- Corequisites
- MATH-M 212 or consent of instructor
- Notes
- Second semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended for science majors.Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one 2-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take PHYS-P 222 in the spring semester of the freshman year
- Description
- Primarily electricity, magnetism, and geometrical and physical optics.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 222, PHYS-P 202, or PHYS-P 222.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-H 221; or PHYS-P 221 and consent of department
- Description
- Second semester of a calculus-based sequence in introductory physics, intended primarily for highly motivated and well prepared students. Covers the material of PHYS-P 222 and supplementary topics. Course fee required.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of PHYS-H 222, PHYS-P 202, or PHYS-P 222.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Physics III. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 301 Physics III
- PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
PHYS-P 301 Physics III
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-H 222 or PHYS-P 222; or PHYS-P 202 and consent of instructor
- Notes
- Third semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence.Intended for science and mathematics majors. Three lecture-discussion periods each week
- Description
- Special theory of relativity; introduction to quantum physics; atomic, nuclear, condensed matter, and elementary particle physics.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-P 301 and PHYS-P 331
- Notes
- R: PHYS-P 332 concurrently
- Description
- The Schroedinger equation with applications to problems such as barrier transmission, harmonic oscillation, and the hydrogen atom. Discussion of orbital and spin angular momentum and identical particles. Introduction to perturbation theory.
- Fall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Modern Physics Laboratory. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
- PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
- PHYS-P 460
PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- P or C: PHYS-P 301
- Description
- Fundamental experiments in physics with emphasis on modern physics. The course aims to develop basic laboratory skills and data analysis techniques.
PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- PHYS-P 301 and PHYS-P 309
- Notes
- R: PHYS-P 453 and PHYS-P 454 concurrently
- Description
- Advanced laboratory for senior physics majors. Experimental investigations and selected topics in nuclear, atomic, and solid state physics.
- Elective. One (1) additional course for at least three (3) credit hours from the Physics Electives list.
- Any PHYS-P 300–399 except PHYS-P 301
- Any PHYS-P 400–499
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Exceptions to minor requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.