This minor may only be completed by students admitted to Elementary Education options leading to certification in K-9 or Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence. A minor is not required to complete the K-9 certification program, but students may elect to complete one.
Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level.
The Department of Physics is housed in the College of Letters & Science. Students may wish to consult with an undergraduate advisor in the physics department to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study.
To meet with a physics advisor, email physics-advisors@wisc.edu.
Upon completion, the subject area of the minor will be posted on the UW-Madison transcript. Students will not receive an additional certification or license in the subject area as was possible prior to fall, 2022 program admission. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not offer content licenses in association with the K-9 educator license.
This minor may only be declared by students completing Elementary Education certification in either K-9 or Middle-Childhood-through-Early-Adolescence. The declaration form is located on the School of Education's Undergraduate Admissions page and can be submitted at any time after admission into the program.
Complete a minimum of 22 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all Physics minor coursework taken on the UW–Madison campus.
Introductory Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following First Introductory Courses: | 5-6 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| A Modern Introduction to Physics 1 | ||
| Statics and Dynamics | ||
| Statics and Dynamics | ||
| Select one of the following Second Introductory Courses: | 5 | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| A Modern Introduction to Physics | ||
| Select one of the following Third Introductory Courses: | 3-4 | |
| A Modern Introduction to Physics | ||
| Modern Physics for Engineers | ||
| Introduction to Solid State Electronics | ||
| Introduction to Modern Physics | ||
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Any combination of courses can be used to satisfy the three introductory course requirements, but students may not transfer into the PHYSICS 247, PHYSICS 248, PHYSICS 249 sequence from another introductory sequence.
Additional Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSICS 307 | Intermediate Laboratory-Mechanics and Modern Physics | 2 |
| PHYSICS 311 | Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 321 | Electric Circuits and Electronics | 4 |
| Select physics electives, if necessary, to total 22 credits | ||