Students who complete this minor will be prepared to use computer modeling and numerical methods to provide understanding of physical and chemical processes and to make predictions regarding the outcomes of such processes. Such capabilities have a broad range of applicability in areas that are as diverse as, for example, economics, criminal justice and sociology.
Minor Requirements
A total of 5 computational physical science minor courses, no more than one of which fulfills a requirement of the student's major, must be completed to meet the requirements of this minor. A student must earn:
- a grade of C or better in each of the 5 courses
- an average grade of 2.33 (C+) or better in the aggregate of the 5 courses and
- pass the computational physical science minor comprehensive examination.
PH 321 Formal Logic as well as 4 courses from among the two categories below
(A) computer science related
(B) physical science
No more than 3 courses may be from any one category. Note that a student who is enrolled in an affiliated major:
- Computer Science (including CS with Business and CS with Mathematics)
- Chemistry
- Physics
may use only one course from the corresponding category for the Computational Physical Science minor. Clarifying examples are listed below for a variety of majors including non-science majors.
Students that have not completed Classical Physics I-II, but are interested in this minor should get permission from the director of the minor.
(A) Computer Science and Related Courses
- CS112 Computing II (prerequisite: CS111 Computing I)
- CS115 Discrete Math I
- CS213 Data Structures and Algorithms (prerequisite: CS112 Computing II)
- CS220 Computer Architecture (prerequisite: CS112 Computing II)
- CS223 Computer Logic Design (prerequisite: CS220 Computer Architecture)
- CS310 Advanced Algorithmic Analysis (prerequisite: CS213 Data Structures & Algorithms)
- CS311 Theory of Computation (prerequisite: CS116 Discrete Math II)
- CS343 Programming Paradigms (prerequisite: CS112 Computing II)
- CS355 Computer Graphics (prerequisite: CS213 Data Structures & Algorithms)
- CS360 Artificial Intelligence (prerequisite: CS213 Data Structures & Algorithms)
- MA370 Introduction to Numerical Methods (prerequisite: MA220 Vector Anal. & Diff. Eq.)
- MA480 Topics in Math: 3D computation and Visualization (no prerequisite)
(B) Physical Science Courses
- CH280 Physical Chemistry I (prerequisite: MA180 Calc II, pre/corequisite PS131 Class. Physics I)
- CH281 Physical Chemistry II (prerequisite: CS280 Physical Chemistry I)
- CH310 Analytical Chemistry II: Instrumental Analysis (prerequisite: CS280 P. Chemistry I)
- CH380 Physical Chemistry III (prerequisite: CS281 Physical Chemistry II)
- PS231 Modern Physics (prerequisite: PS132 Classical Physics II)
- PS241 Statics
- PS242 Dynamics (prerequisite: PS132 Classical Physics II)
- PS243 Strength of Materials
- PS245 Electrical Circuits (prerequisite: PS132 Classical Physics II)
- PS346 Thermodynamics (prerequisite: PS132 Classical Physics II)
- PS347 Fluid Dyanmics (prerequisite PS131 Classical Physics I and MA220 Vector Analysis and Differential Equations)
- PS380 Electricity and Magnetism (prerequisite PS133 Classical Physics II and MA 220 Vector Analysis and Differential Equations)
- PS383 Quantum Mechanics (prerequisites PS131-132 required, PS231 recommended or permission of instructor)
- PS386 Mathematical Methods of Physics (prerequisites MA310 Linear Analysis and PS242 Dyanamics or permission of the instructor)