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Physics Minor
Program type:
Minor
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
3-4 Semesters
Credit Hours:
18
From quantum mechanics to astrophysics, Physics can show you not only how the world
works, but why.
A minor in physics provides a more nuanced understanding of the basic mechanics of
the universe while helping to provide a stronger foundation for a wide range of STEM
fields.
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a Physics Minor?
In the Department of Physics, we provide you the flexibility to pursue a minor in Physics with the most relevant coursework for your career goals. Topics include:
- Laws of mechanics (how objects move)
- Mathematical methods of physics
- Physics of electrons, photons, atoms and nuclei
- Principles of electricity and magnetism
- Properties of heat and energy
- Quantum mechanics
- Statistical and thermal physics
- The physics of materials
These courses also will help hone your analytical, math and communication skills for careers working with students, clients and co-workers with backgrounds in other fields. As you progress toward your degree, you can specialize in condensed matter physics, optics, astrophysics or computer-based physics.
Physics Minor Highlights
UNT's experienced Physics faculty are actively involved in path-finding research.
Our undergraduate physics students often participate in pathfinding research projects.
Because of this research activity, undergraduates are often involved in groundbreaking
projects conducted in our state-of-the-art facilities.
The low student-to-faculty ratio in upper-level courses allows you to receive personal
attention from faculty members and to interact closely with your peers.
You can meet others who share your interest in physics through the Society of Physics
Students. The organization conducts field trips and invites guest speakers to meetings.
The department’s weekly Physics Colloquium presents research overviews and descriptions
of work by leading professionals in the field.
UNT Physics students have a wide range of available physics jobs while studying for
their undergraduate degree.
Physics Minor Courses You Could Take
Electricity and Magnetism (3 hrs)
Electric fields, dc and ac circuits, magnetic fields and magnetic induction. Electric
and magnetic properties of matter.
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences (3 hrs)
Application of advanced mathematical techniques to the solution of problems in physics.
Vector spaces, complex analysis, matrices, linear transformations, vector calculus,
Fourier series and integrals, the Laplace transformation, and special functions.
Physical Optics (3 hrs)
Huygens’ principle and application to geometrical optics; interference phenomena;
Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction; polarization; electromagnetic theory of light
and interaction with matter. Part of the instruction will be in a laboratory setting.
Physics, Computation and Software Applications (3 hrs)
A basic survey of selected topics at the intersection of computer science, engineering
and physics. Student will learn computer programming for applications in physics as
well as the physics underlying computation and its physical implementation.
Quantum Mechanics (3 hrs)
Origins of the modern theory of atomic structure; Schroedinger’s formulation of non-relativistic,
single-particle quantum mechanics and application to simple systems; the one-electron
atom.
Modern Physics (3 hrs)
Relativity, quantum physics, atomic structure, properties of matter and nuclear physics.
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