A minor allows you to pursue interests in an area of knowledge outside of your major
field of study, diversify your chosen field, and customize your education, making
you a more versatile and well-rounded student. A well-chosen minor can demonstrate
intellectual curiosity and preparation for specialized or competitive graduate programs.
Some minors can focus on communication, global awareness, or ethics—skills increasingly
valued by employers in every field. A student may minor in any subject, provided the title of the minor differs from the
title of the student’s major or major concentration. To pursue a minor, you must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program and file a Curriculum Add/Drop Form to inform the Registrar's Office of your interest in the minor. We recommend that you begin your minor studies as
early as possible in your academic career.
Whether building an educational depth in physics, understanding the life cycles of massive objects in the universe, or controlling individual atoms and molecules, our minors in the Department of Physics equip you with advantages in scientific careers in technology, business, government, healthcare fields, as well as many other industries. A physics minor will strengthen your knowledge in the fundamental laws of the universe—from the smallest scales (nanotechnology minor) to the largest (astrophysics minor). Our highly flexible physics minor lets you tailor your minor to the areas of physics you find most interesting.
Minors in the Department of Physics:
Astrophysics
Do you frequently find yourself staring skyward on starry nights? Are you fascinated by the physics of our universe? A minor in astrophysics brings together your interests in the mechanical, electromagnetic, thermodynamic, quantum, and relativistic properties of galaxies, stars, and planets.
Nanoscale Sciences and Engineering (Nanotechnology—Interdisciplinary)
Galileo wrote that physicists “measure what can be measured, and make measurable what cannot be measured.” The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology seeks to understand, control, and exploit the novel physical properties displayed by matter at the nanoscale. This minor will give you the necessary multidisciplinary background in physics, chemistry, biology, instrumentation, and application-specific areas.
Physics
Explore the origins of our universe, deepen your understanding of the workings of microscopic phenomena, and find new connections between your major and the broad physics curriculum. A minor in physics affords students the opportunity to explore many areas of study; over half of the minor’s total credits are reserved for elective courses.
