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Physics, Minor

Minor in Physics

The Minor in Physics is designed to provide a solid foundation in physics at the introductory level, followed by elective courses that will familiarize students with areas of modern physics and the concepts and techniques employed therein. The physics minor requires seven courses of at least 9 units each, of which four are prescribed and three are electives.

The minor is open to all students in the university, but students with non-calculus-based majors should be aware of the mathematics requirements for many physics courses (21-120, 21-122, and 21-259). Students are required to have successfully completed at least one of the required physics courses at Carnegie Mellon before declaring the minor, and should declare the minor no later than the add date of their final semester. Interested students should contact Dr. Gillian Ryan, Director of Undergraduate Affairs.

Course Requirements

Units
33-121Physics I for Science Students12
or 33-141 Physics I for Engineering Students
or 33-151 Matter and Interactions I
33-122Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students12
or 33-142 Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students
or 33-152 Matter and Interactions II
33-104Experimental Physics9
33-211Physics III: Modern Essentials10
33-xxxThree Qualifying Physics Electives or Physics Core Electives 127-36
Total Physics Minor Units70-79
1

The physics electives are decided after consultation with, and approval by, the Director of Undergraduate Affairs. Students may take courses from the Qualifying Physics List or additional courses from the Physics Core list, such as Quantum Physics or Electronics I.

Physics Electives

Physics Breadth Electives

Students pursuing a B.S. in Physics must take at least one course from the Physics Breadth Elective list to gain experience in a subfield of physics. Some tracks have this course prescribed, while others allow free choice from this list. All of these courses may also be taken as Qualifying Physics Electives, but they may not fulfill both requirements simultaneously. 

Units
33-224Stars, Galaxies and the Universe9
33-226Physics of Energy9
33-353Intermediate Optics12
33-355Nanoscience and Nanotechnology9
33-431Stars and Black Holes9
33-432Galaxies9
33-433Cosmology9
33-441Introduction to Biophysics10
33-444Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics9
33-448Introduction to Solid State Physics9
33-650General Relativity9
Total Physics Breadth Elective Units9-12

Qualifying Physics Electives

Students pursuing a B.S. in Physics must take at least three courses totaling at least 27 units from the Qualifying Physics Elective list, not including the 100-level courses. Some tracks have these courses prescribed, while others allow free choice from this list, enabling students to choose between broad and in-depth study.

Students pursuing a B.A. in Physics must take at least two courses totaling at least 18 units from this list and may take only one of the 100-level courses.

Students pursuing a Minor in Physics must take at least three courses totaling at least 27 units from this list or non-prescribed courses from the Physics Core list.

While all courses on the Physics Breadth Elective list are also on the Qualifying Physics Elective list, a course may not fulfill both requirements simultaneously. Certain courses are offered only in alternate years, as indicated.

33-114Physics of Musical Sound
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-115Physics for Future Presidents
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-120Science and Science Fiction
(B.A. and Minor only) a		9
33-224Stars, Galaxies and the Universe9
33-226Physics of Energy9
33-241Introduction to Computational Physics9
33-332Physical Mechanics II10
33-339Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II10
33-342Advanced Thermal & Statistical Physics10
33-350Undergraduate Research bVar.
33-353Intermediate Optics12
33-355Nanoscience and Nanotechnology9
33-431Stars and Black Holes9
33-432Galaxies9
33-433Cosmology9
33-441Introduction to Biophysics10
33-444Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics9
33-445Advanced Quantum Physics I9
33-446Advanced Quantum Physics II9
33-448Introduction to Solid State Physics9
33-451Senior Research bVar.
33-456Advanced Computational Physics9
33-499Supervised Reading bVar.
33-650General Relativity9
33-658Quantum Computation and Quantum Information Theory10
33-659Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics12
33-7xxPhysics Graduate Level Courses (see list below)
Total Qualifying Physics Electives Units27-37
a

Only one of these three courses (33-114, 33-115, and 33-120) may be used for the B.A. These classes may not be used as Qualifying Physics Electives for the B.S.

b

Only one of these three courses (33-350, 33-451, and 33-499) of 9 units may be used as a Qualifying Physics Elective. To be counted as a Qualifying Physics Elective, all 9 units must be taken in a single semester. Any exceptions must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Affairs.

Qualifying Physics Electives Recommended for Physics Graduate School

Students planning to undertake graduate studies in physics are strongly advised to take the following courses, which may count as Qualifying Physics Electives and STEM Electives.

Units
33-332Physical Mechanics II10
33-339Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II10
33-445Advanced Quantum Physics I9
33-446Advanced Quantum Physics II9

Physics Graduate Courses

These courses are intended for graduate students in physics, but may be taken by advanced undergraduates as Qualifying Physics or STEM Electives. Undergraduate students require special permission of both the course instructor and the Director of Undergraduate Affairs to register for these classes.

Units
33-731Stars and Black Holes12
33-732Galaxies12
33-733Cosmology12
33-755Quantum Mechanics I12
33-756Quantum Mechanics II12
33-757Classical Mechanics12
33-761Classical Electrodynamics I12
33-762Classical Electrodynamics II12
33-765Statistical Mechanics12
33-767Biophysics: From Basic Concepts to Current Research12
33-769Quantum Mechanics III: Many Body and Relativistic Systems12
33-770Field Theory I12
33-771Field Theory II12
33-779Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics12
33-780Nuclear and Particle Physics II12
33-783Solid State Physics12
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