Why You Should Minor in Physics
So, what good is a minor in Physics?
This is like asking, "What good is breathing?"
But seriously, there are several reasons to earn a minor in Physics as part of one's studies.
- One may wish to study physics as a cognate area for a technical or quantitative field such as mathematics or economics. The mathematical modelling of physical systems is an efficacious means of skills-building and preparation for advanced work in the particular discipline.
- One may wish to study physics as a cognate area for philosophy or theology. The modern sciences grew from Natural Philosophy and, of the sciences, Physics remains most close in spirit to these disciplines. Both the content — Nature's wonder and economy — and the process — model building — can be of considerable worth and utility to those who study philosophy and theology. Those whose sights are set on obtaining advanced degrees will find the study of physics especially beneficial.
- Some intend to proceed from Ave into a technical career, perhaps engineering or one of the many applied sciences. Persons with these intentions should take the minor in order to acquire the content knowledge and training which will facilitate their further studies or direct entry into technical fields.
- An often overlooked, but rewarding, career is Patent Law. [There was a fella who worked as a patent clerk in Bern (Switzerland) about a hundred years ago. Things turned out rather well indeed for that chap.]
- There is strong demand for secondary school teachers of mathematics and the physical sciences. The minor programme in physics prepares and equips one to teach the content of high school and AP physics courses.
- Students intending to go to graduate school in biology will do well to take as many of the physics course offerings as their schedule permits. Modern biology relies heavily on experimental techniques and equipment, as well as theoretical and computational tools, that were originally designed and constructed to advance physics investigations.
- Music is nothing more than the propagation of correlated wavelike disturbances through a fluid medium. Music majors , take note!
And finally, there are those who just think that
Physics is really cool. These people should take PHYS classes for the sheer joy of it!
