Duluth campus

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Duluth Campus

Physics Minor

UMD-Physics & Astronomy
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Physics, University of Minnesota Duluth, 371 Marshall W Alworth Hall, 1023 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812 (218-726-7124; fax: 218-726-6942)
Email: umdphys@d.umn.edu
Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/physics/grad/
  • Program Type: Graduate minor related to major
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2023
  • Length of program in credits (master's): 6
  • Length of program in credits (doctoral): 12
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
The Physics minor provides a background in the fundamental and specialized Physics topics for interdisciplinary-minded students whose majors are in other disciplines.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.00.
Special Application Requirements:
Students interested in the minor are strongly encouraged to confer with their major field advisor and director of graduate studies, and the Physics director of graduate studies regarding feasibility and requirements.
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grading basis must be taken A-F. The minimum cumulative GPA for courses applied to the minor is 3.00.
Minor Coursework (6 to 12 credits)
Master’s students select 6 credits, and doctoral students select 12 credits in consultation with the Physics director of graduate studies. Other courses can be chosen with approval by the Physics director of graduate studies. No more than 1 credit of PHYS 5090 can be applied to the minor.
PHYS 5033 - Introduction to Particle Physics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5041 - Optics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5052 - Computational Methods in Physics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5053 - Data Analysis Methods in Physics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5061 - Experimental Methods (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5063 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5071 - Quantum Computation (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5090 - Physics Seminar (1.0 cr)
PHYS 5501 - Advanced Classical Mechanics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5511 - Electrodynamics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5521 - Quantum Mechanics I (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5522 - Quantum Mechanics II (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5531 - Introduction to Solid State Physics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5541 - Fluid Dynamics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5561 - Astrophysics I Stellar Astrophysics (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5562 - Astrophysics II: Galaxies and the Universe (3.0 cr)
PHYS 5591 - Independent Study (1.0-3.0 cr)
PHYS 5594 - Physics Research (1.0-3.0 cr)
PHYS 5595 - Special Topics in Physics (2.0-4.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
Students may not complete the program with more than one sub-plan.
Masters
Doctoral
  
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PHYS 5033 - Introduction to Particle Physics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Prerequisites: 2021, 2022, MATH 3280, 3298
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
A survey of particle physics, including physics beyond the Standard Model. Topics include symmetries and conservation laws, quark models, quantum electrodynamics and chromodynamics, Feynman diagrams, and neutrino oscillations. prereq: 2021, 2022, MATH 3280, 3298
PHYS 5041 - Optics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Fundamentals of physical optics. prereq: 2022
PHYS 5052 - Computational Methods in Physics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
Applications of numerical methods to problems in classical and quantum physics, emphasizing ordinary and partial differential equations. Computer modeling of physical systems and experimentation with simulations of physical systems. prereq: 2021, 1 sem programming, Math 3280
PHYS 5053 - Data Analysis Methods in Physics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
Problems of data analysis in the context of dynamical models. Emphasis will be placed on large datasets that arise in astrophysics, particle dynamics, physical oceanography and meteorology. (2 hr lect & 2 hr lab) prereq: 2012 or 2015 or 2018 and 2016, 1 sem programming, lab or field experience beyond 2012/2015 and 2016
PHYS 5061 - Experimental Methods
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Instruction and practice in methods of experimental physics; microcomputer-based data acquisition; vacuum techniques. prereq: 2033 and 3061
PHYS 5071 - Quantum Computation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Prerequisites: Math 3280 or PHYS 2021 or graduate student
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Quantum mechanics in Heisenberg formalism, Quantum information theory, Shor's factoring algorithm, Grover's search algorithm, quantum communication and quantum cryptography. prereq: Math 3280 or PHYS 2021 or graduate student
PHYS 5090 - Physics Seminar
Credits: 1.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Preparation and presentation of oral reports on approved physics topics, research projects, and journal articles. prereq: Sr or grad student
PHYS 5501 - Advanced Classical Mechanics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations for discrete systems, canonical transformations, nonlinear dynamics, and chaos theory. prereq: 4001
PHYS 5511 - Electrodynamics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Maxwell's equations, relativity and electrodynamics, radiation and scattering of electromagnetic waves, relativistic particles in electromagnetic fields, and radiation reaction. prereq: 4011
PHYS 5521 - Quantum Mechanics I
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Prerequisites: 4021
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
Schrodinger equation, operator formulation, angular momentum, symmetries. prereq: 4021
PHYS 5522 - Quantum Mechanics II
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Identical particles, perturbation theory, scattering, interaction with electromagnetic field. prereq: 5521
PHYS 5531 - Introduction to Solid State Physics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
Solid structure, thermal, and electronic properties of solids and solid surfaces. prereq: 4021, 4031
PHYS 5541 - Fluid Dynamics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
Analytic and numeric treatment of dynamics of fluids. Rotating, stratified fluids, with applications in limnology, oceanography, and meteorology. prereq: 2022 or 2001, Math 3280
PHYS 5561 - Astrophysics I Stellar Astrophysics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: AST 5561/PHYS5561
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Fall Even Year
The application of physical laws to the understanding of astrophysical onjects: celestial mechanics, energy transport, stellar structure and evolution, the interstellar medium, and stellar remnants. prereq: AST 2050 and PHYS 2021
PHYS 5562 - Astrophysics II: Galaxies and the Universe
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
The application of physical laws and processes to the understanding of physics objects: galactic structure and dynamics, large scale structure and cosmology. pre-req: AST 2050 and PHYS 2021
PHYS 5591 - Independent Study
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: S-N or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Special studies, useful in individual graduate programs, not available in regular course offerings. prereq: Consent of director of graduate studies, instructor consent
PHYS 5594 - Physics Research
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: S-N or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Physics Research prereq: instructor consent
PHYS 5595 - Special Topics in Physics
Credits: 2.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Topics not covered in regular curriculum. Topics announced before course offered. pre-req: Physics BS or Engineering Phys or Physics MS student, minimum 60 credits or instructor consent