Minor Requirements

The department offers two minors, physics and astronomy. Students considering one of these minors should work with a faculty member in the physics department as the minor is being planned, since some courses are not offered every year.

Requirements for the Physics Minor

The program for a minor in physics consists of the following:

• PHYS 140; 110 or 141; 145; 146; 240; 241. PHYS 130 and 135 may be substituted for 140 and 145 with permission of the department chair.
• One additional unit selected from physics courses numbered above 220.

This minor is open to students with all majors, but may be especially attractive to students in disciplines that have strong ties to physics, such as chemistry, mathematics, and biology. Other combinations of introductory courses may also be acceptable. Note: All courses in physics numbered above 220 have as prerequisites PHYS 140, 141, 145, 146, and MATH 111 and 112, unless otherwise noted.

Requirements for the Astronomy Minor

The program for a minor in astronomy consists of the following:

• PHYS 130 and 135 or 140 and 145; 110 or 141; 146; 106; 107.
• An additional .5 unit selected from all physics courses (see suggestions below).

There are several options for the choice of the fifth course. PHYS 240, 241 (Fields and Spacetime) and PHYS 245, 246 (Oscillations and Waves) provide further experience with the foundations of physics (note that these two courses have prerequisites in mathematics). Students with interests in instrumentation can choose PHYS 280, 281 (Electronics). Other options may include Independent Study and Special Topics courses related to astronomy. Note that College rules prohibit a student from receiving a minor in the same department as his or her major. Thus, a physics major may not elect to minor in astronomy.