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Physics Minor

A student minoring in physics must complete 27 quarter hours in physics. Either the Principles of Physics sequence or the General Physics sequence, but not both, are required of all minors. PHYS 310 Modern Physics I and PHYS 314 Modern Physics Laboratory I are required of all minors. For students also completing the BSE, these requirements are modified as below:

  1. For BSE students with a concentration in Electrical Engineering or a concentration in Computer Engineering the following modifications apply:
    • If the student has satisfactorily completed ENGR 332 Thermodynamics as a substitution for PHYS 313 Thermodynamics, the total required quarter hours for a minor are reduced by 3 quarter hours. 
    • If the student has received departmental certification of satisfactory knowledge of PHYS 401 after satisfactory completion of ENGR 451 the total required quarter hours for a minor are reduced by 4 quarter credit hours. 
    • If the student has received departmental certification of satisfactory knowledge of PHYS 312 and PHYS 315 by satisfactory completion of ENGR 312 and ENGR 315, respectively, the total required quarter hours for a minor are reduced by 3 and 1 quarter credit hours, respectively.
  2. For BSE students with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering the following modifications apply:
    • If the student has satisfactorily completed ENGR 332 Thermodynamics and PHYS 259: Independent Study: Thermodynamics for one credit, it will be considered the equivalent of PHYS 313 Thermodynamics,and  the total required quarter hours for a minor are reduced by 4 quarter credits.

Because of the unique nature of the professional curriculum of the engineering degree, any physics course taken to meet any requirement for the BSE degree is considered a cognate and therefore can be simultaneously counted toward the credit requirements for a physics minor.

As a result of overlap in course content of ENGR 312, ENGR 315, and ENGR 332 with physics courses, these courses may be simultaneously counted toward both a BSE degree and a physics minor.