Minor in Physics

Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Physics  

Upon completing the minor in Physics, students will be able to:  

  1. Acquire and demonstrate a solid foundation of knowledge in physics. This includes: basic mechanics, basic electromagnetism, Maxwell's equations in differential form, waves, inteference and diffraction, special relativity, the Schroedinger equation, and the wave formulation of quantum mechanics.  
  2. Acquire and demonstrate knowledge in a number of advanced physics topics of their choosing.   

Requirements for the Minor in Physics

Students pursuing the minor in Physics must complete:

  • A minimum of 29 credit hours to satisfy minor requirements.
  • A minimum of 26 credit hours to satisfy the Core Requirements.
  • A minimum of 3 additional credit hours from departmental (PHYS) course offerings at the 300-level or above.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Physics29

Minor Requirements

Core Requirements
Select 1 from the following: 14
MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
and MECHANICS DISCUSSION
HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Select 1 from the following: 24
ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB)
and ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM DISCUSSION
HONORS ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB)
MATH 101SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 33
or MATH 105 AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I
MATH 102SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II 33
or MATH 106 AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II
MATH 211ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA3
or MATH 221 HONORS CALCULUS III
MATH 212MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS3
or MATH 222 HONORS CALCULUS IV
or MATH 232 HONORS MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS
PHYS 201WAVES, LIGHT, AND HEAT3
PHYS 202MODERN PHYSICS3
Elective Requirement
Select 3 additional credit hours from departmental (PHYS) course offerings at the 300-level or above. 43
Total Credit Hours29

Footnotes and Additional Information

Policies for the Minor in Physics 

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the minor in Physics should be aware of the following program restrictions:

  • As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.
  • Students pursuing the major in Astronomy may not declare the minor in Physics.
  • Students pursuing the major in Astrophysics may not declare the minor in Physics.
  • Students pursuing the major in Chemical Physics may not declare the minor in Physics.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the minor in Physics should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:

  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Physics and Astronomy website: https://physics.rice.edu/

Opportunities for the Minor in Physics 

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Physics and Astronomy website: https://physics.rice.edu/