Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Physics provides students with a deep understanding of the discipline of physics and to the fundamental physical laws at play in the world around us –and in the universe as a whole. The minor complements other majors where additional physics knowledge beyond the introductory level is beneficial. It prepares students to apply scientific methodology, to think critically and quantitatively, and to understand the experimental and theoretical methods used in modern physics.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in Physics, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Physics, and the Bachelor of Science Degree in Astrophysics. The minor is not available to students pursuing teacher certification through the Disciplinary Teaching Minor in Physics.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Admission to the minor requires approval by the Physics and Astronomy undergraduate program director to ensure students are informed of the minor requirements, and have adequate preparation, including the math prerequisites.
 
Requirements for the Minor in Physics

Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits from the following:

1.	One of the following (5 credits):
	(a)	PHY	173	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					5
	(b)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					4
		PHY	191	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I					1
	(c)	PHY	191	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I					1
		PHY	193H	Honors Physics I – Mechanics					4
	(d)	LB	273	Physics I					4
2.	One of the following (5 credits):
	(a)	PHY	174	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					5
	(b)	PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					4
		PHY	192	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II					1
	(c)	PHY	192	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II					1
		PHY	294H	Honors Physics II – Electromagnetism					4
	(d)	LB	274	Physics II					4
3.	The following course (3 credits):
	PHY	215	Thermodynamics and Modern Physics						3
4.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
	PHY	431	Optics I						3
	PHY	440	Electronics						4
	PHY 451 may be substituted for PHY 431 or PHY 440.
5.	The following course (4 credits):
	CMSE	201	Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I						4