Physics Minor
Everything around you is influenced or governed by physics — the study of matter, energy, and their interactions with one another. Physics seeks to understand the way the universe “works,” from the smallest neutrinos to the structure of the cosmos. It is the foundation of all other natural sciences, including chemistry, biology, oceanography, geography, and radiography.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers six B.A. and two B.S. degree tracks:
- B.A. Tracks
- Physics
- Astronomy
- Computational Physics
- Energy
- Medical and Biological Physics
- Quantitative Finance
- B.S. Tracks
- Physics
- Astrophysics
Consider a B.A. degree if you’re interested in physics but want to apply your training toward a wider variety of career paths after graduation. Students who completed this program have launched careers as lab researchers, application engineers, data scientists, and financial analysts, among other occupations. Some have also pursued an advanced degree in physics, medical physics, business, law, or computer science.
Consider a B.S. degree if you intend to pursue graduate study in physics, astronomy, or a related field, or a career practicing physics.
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must:
- take at least nine hours of their minor "core" requirements at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the minor core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for minor or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
The minor in physics consists of five courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| PHYS 118 |  Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity 1, H, F | 4 |
| PHYS 119 | Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta 2, H, F | 4 |
| Three additional courses chosen from ASTR 202, ASTR (numbered above 300), and PHYS (numbered above 200). Each course must be 3 credit hours or more. | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Prerequisite, MATH 231; pre- or corequisite, MATH 232; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
- 2
Prerequisites, MATH 232 and PHYS 118; pre- or corequisite, MATH 233; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
Astronomy (ASTR) and Physics (PHYS) course descriptions.
See the program page here for special opportunities.
Department Programs
Majors
Minors
Graduate Programs
Physics Advisor (Astrophysics and Astronomy Majors and Minors with Last Names Beginning with A-L)
Andrew Mann
Physics Advisor (Students with Last Names Beginning with N-R, and Astrophysics and Astronomy Majors and Minors with Last Names Beginning with M-Z)
Dan Reichart
Physics Advisor and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies (Students with Last Names Beginning with S-Z)
Jennifer Weinberg-Wolf
