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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics

Minor in Physics

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements PHYSMIN

Students who have a deep interest in physics, but do not plan to major in the field, should consider pursuing a physics minor. The minor provides a solid background in all the main topics of contemporary physics, with the flexibility to study an area of particular interest (quantum physics, electromagnetism) in depth. It is aimed at those students who seek a more detailed and technical understanding of the fundamental laws that underlie all physical phenomena.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 19 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Physics I. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
    • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
    • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
  2. Physics II. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
    • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
    • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
  3. Physics III. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 301 Physics III
    • PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
  4. Modern Physics Laboratory. One (1) course:
    • PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
    • PHYS-P 460 Modern Optics
  5. Elective. Three (3) additional credit hours:
    • PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics
    • PHYS-P 314 Introduction to Medical Physics
    • PHYS-P 317 Signals and Information Processing in Living Systems
    • PHYS-P 318 Scattering Methods in Materials Science
    • PHYS-P 321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics
    • PHYS-P 325 Computing Skills for Physical Scientists
    • PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I
    • PHYS-P 332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II
    • PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
    • PHYS-P 350 Applied Physics Instrumentation Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 371 Radiation Science Fundamentals
    • PHYS-P 400 Analog and Digital Electronics
    • PHYS-P 408 Current Research in Physics
    • PHYS-P 410 Computing Applications in Physics
    • PHYS-P 411 Computing Applications in Physics II
    • PHYS-P 425 Introductory Biophysics
    • PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
    • PHYS-P 442 Analytical Mechanics II
    • PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
    • PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
    • PHYS-P 454 Modern Physics
    • PHYS-P 455 Quantum Computing I
    • PHYS-P 456 Quantum Computing II
    • PHYS-P 460 Modern Optics
    • PHYS-P 470 Introduction to Accelerator Physics
    • PHYS-P 472 Radiation Oncology Physics
    • PHYS-P 478 Radiation Biophysics
  6. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. 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
    Exclusions

    The following courses cannot be applied toward minor requirements:

    • PHYS-E 250
    • PHYS-P 101 Physics in the Modern World
    • PHYS-P 105 Basic Physics of Sound
    • PHYS-P 108 Audio Technology Acoustics Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 109 Introductory Acoustics Laboratory
    • PHYS-P 110 Energy
    • PHYS-P 111 Physics of Extraterrestrial Life
    • PHYS-P 120 Energy and Technology
    • PHYS-P 125 Energy in the 21st Century
    • PHYS-P 133 Physics for Future Leaders
    • PHYS-P 150 How Things Work
    • PHYS-P 151 21st Century Physics
    • PHYS-P 199 Physical Science through Inquiry
    • PHYS-Q 202

    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.