Department of Physics
Minor in Physics
Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 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. Three (3) additional credit hours:
- Any PHYS-P 300–399 except PHYS-P 301
- Any PHYS-P 400–499
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. 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.
- Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. 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.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
PHYS
subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
- NULL:
Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward minor requirements:
- PHYS-E 250
- Any PHYS-P 100–199
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Physics (PHYSBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Physics (PHYSBS)
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.