May 01, 2026

2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Physics Minor

Campus: Knoxville

Prerequisites

A physics minor consists of 16 hours.

Complete A, B, C, D, or E below:

A

PHYS 135* - Introduction to Physics for Physical Science and Mathematics Majors I 4 Credit Hours

B

PHYS 137* - Honors: Fundamentals of Physics for Physics Majors I 5 Credit Hours

C

EF 151* - Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours
and
EF 152* - Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours

D

EF 157* - Honors: Physics for Engineers I 4 Credit Hours
and
EF 158* - Honors: Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours

E

PHYS 221* - Elements of Physics I 4 Credit Hours

Complete A, B, C, or D below:

A

PHYS 136* - Introduction to Physics for Physical Science and Mathematics Majors II 4 Credit Hours

B

PHYS 138* - Honors: Fundamentals of Physics for Physics Majors II 5 Credit Hours

C

PHYS 231* - Fundamentals of Physics: Electricity and Magnetism 3 Credit Hours

D

PHYS 222* - Elements of Physics II 4 Credit Hours

Minor Requirements

Complete:

PHYS 251 - Fundamentals of Physics: Waves, Optics, and the Breakdown of Classical Physics 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 252 - Fundamentals of Physics: Quantum Physics and Applications 4 Credit Hours

Select 8 hours:

ASTR 217* - Honors: Introductory Astronomy 4 Credit Hours
ASTR 218* - Honors: Introductory Astronomy 4 Credit Hours
ASTR 305 - Applied Astronomy through Science Fiction 3 Credit Hours
ASTR 411 - Stellar Structure and Stellar Evolution 3 Credit Hours
ASTR 421 - General Relativity, Black Holes, and Cosmology 3 Credit Hours
ASTR 490 - Special Topics in Astronomy 1-3 Credit Hours
PHYS 293 - Introduction to Research and Independent Study 1-3 Credit Hours
PHYS 301 - Linear Algebra and Complex Analysis for Physicists 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 311 - Mechanics I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 312 - Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 321 - Thermal Physics 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 341 - Introduction to Nuclear Physics 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 342 - Structure of Matter 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 361 - Electronics Laboratory 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 393 - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 405 - Science, Technology, and Public Policy 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 411 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 412 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 421 - Modern Optics 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 431 - Electricity and Magnetism I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 432 - Electricity and Magnetism II 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 451* - A Survey of Contemporary Physics 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 461* - Modern Physics Laboratory 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 490 - Senior Seminar 1-3 Credit Hours
PHYS 491 - Foreign Study 3-15 Credit Hours
PHYS 492 - Off-Campus Study 3-15 Credit Hours
PHYS 493 - Research and Independent Study 1-3 Credit Hours
PHYS 494 - Special Topics in Physics 1-3 Credit Hours
- No more than 6 credit hours of PHYS 293 , PHYS 393 , and PHYS 493 , can be applied to the minor
* Meets Volunteer Core Requirement