Minors
Science, Mathematics and Engineering Minors
The School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering offers several minors in many academic departments, all of which can support and enhance a variety of different degree programs. Whether students are working towards careers in science or non-science fields, a stronger understanding of the natural world, mathematics and statistics, or engineering offers many advantages in the workplace and problem solving in any environment.
Browse minors by Department.
Atmospheric Science and Physics
Minor in Environmental Science
Non-majors can select a minor in Environmental Science. The Environmental Science minor is designed for students who wish to explore and receive a comprehensive education in a natural science that covers topics and issues of local, national, and global importance on air, soil, and water resources.
| Course Listing | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| METR 1325 | Natural Hazards | 4 |
| ENSC 1410 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENSC/BIOL 3410 | Soil Conservation and Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/METR | Advanced Elective | 3 |
| ENSC/BIOL 4460 | Research in Water Quality | 4 |
BIOL 1401 can substitute for ENSC 1410. METR 3340, METR 3345 and METR 4315 can be used to satisfy the advanced elective.
Total hours in minor: 19 hours
Minor in Geology
The Geology minor requires 20 hours of coursework. It was designed to give prepare students for future work in geology, whether in their careers or graduate school. It prepares students by supplying a good foundation and work in important areas of intersection with Geology, such as water, the environment, and soil.
| Course Listing | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 1401 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 1402 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 3411 | Hydrogeology | 4 |
| GEOL 3450 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 3460 | Geomorphology | 4 |
Minor in Meteorology
The Meteorology minor will provide students with a comprehensive education in the dynamics of the earth's atmosphere, weather analysis, and weather forecasting. The minor includes course work on the impact of air pollution on people and the environment, the threat of changing climate due to global warming as well as severe weather, and world climates. Meteorology is an interdisciplinary program and includes application in mathematics, hydrology, physics, and chemistry for academic research in the following areas: weather modeling and forecasting, air pollution studies, hydrology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications in meteorology, and education. Students should take additional courses in mathematics, especially calculus courses, as part of the preparation in operational meteorology, because these mathematics courses are necessary for successful completion of the upper-division Meteorology courses.
Requirements
22 hours of the following:
- METR 1430 Meteorology
- METR 3310 Radar Meteorology
- METR 3320 Forecasting I
- METR 3330 Forecasting II
- METR 3335 Severe Weather
- METR 3340 Hydrology
Choose one of the following:
- METR 3356 Synoptic Meteorology
- METR 3360 Satellite Meteorology
Minor in Physics
The Minor in Physics program is designed to enhance students who major in other subject areas, especially in mathematics, sciences, and engineering. Please see the respective page for program requirements.
Requirements
17 hours, to include:
- PHYS 2305/2105 Physics I and Lab
- PHYS 2306/2103 Physics II and Lab II
- PHYS 3310 Modern Physics and Mathematical Physics
- PHYS 3320 Classical Dynamics
One of the following:
- PHYS 4330 Classical Electrodynamics
- PHYS 4340 Quantum Physics I
- CHEM 4431/4431L Physical Chemistry and Lab
Minor in Engineering Physics
The minor requires the following 9 hours:
| Course Listing | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 2305 | Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 2105 | Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 2306 | Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 2106 | Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGR 3350 | Statics and Dynamics | 1 |
Plus any two out of the three course options listed below:
- ENGR 3455 Strength of Materials and Laboratory
- ENGR 4375 Thermodynamics
- ENGR 4470 Fluid Mechanics and Laboratory
Total hours in minor: 15-17 hours
Students may substitute ENGR 4399 Special Topics in Engineering for one of the upper-level engineering course options only with permission from the chair of the Engineering Department
Biology
Minor in Biology
Requirements: 17 semester hours
BIOL 1403: Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity
BIOL 1402: Unity of Life and Laboratory
BIOL 9 additional upper-division hours in Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Minor in Biochemistry
Required Courses (26 hours):
CHEM 1301 - Chemical Principles I
CHEM 1101 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I
CHEM 1302 - Chemical Principles II
CHEM 1102 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II
CHEM 2311 - Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2111 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2312 - Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 2112 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 4351 - Biochemistry I
CHEM 4251 - Biochemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 4352 - Biochemistry II
CHEM 4252 - Biochemistry II Lab
One of the following Elective Course (2-3 hours):
CHEM 4353 - Molecular Biochemistry
CHEM 4354 - Enzymology
CHEM 4260 - Advanced Chemical Research
Total Hours: 28-29 hours
Minor in Chemistry
Required Courses (16 hours):
CHEM 1301 - Chemical Principles I
CHEM 1101 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I
CHEM 1302 - Chemical Principles II
CHEM 1102 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II
CHEM 2311 - Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2111 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2312 - Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 2112 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Any CHEM 3000 or 4000 level course (10 hours)
Total Hours: 26 hours
Computer Information Systems
A minor in Computer Information Systems (CIS) can be a valuable addition to any major since nearly all fields of study and organizations today employ computer technology in some way.
Requirements
- 15 hours of CIS courses
6 credit hours or more must be upper division (3000-4999) courses
There is much flexibility in selecting from the CIS courses to meet your specific areas of interests in programming, computer networking, emerging technology and cybersecurity.
Recommended Course Clusters for the Minor in Computer Information Systems
Cluster 1 – Networking and Security
- CIS 2328: Hardware and Systems Software
- CIS 2340: Introduction to Operating Systems
- CIS 2335 Computer Networks
- CIS 3340 Windows Client-Server Networks
- CIS 3353: Computer Systems Security
Cluster 2 – Telecommunications
- CIS 2328: Hardware and Systems Software
- CIS 2340: Introduction to Operating Systems
- CIS 2335 Computer Networks
- CIS 3367 Networks and Telecommunications
- CIS 3380 Emerging Technology
Cluster 3 – Networking and Telecommunications
- CIS 2328: Hardware and Systems Software
- CIS 2340: Introduction to Operating Systems
- CIS 2335 Computer Networks
- CIS 3340 Windows Client-Server Networks
- CIS 3367 Networks and Telecommunications
Cluster 4 – Linux Networks and Telecommunications
- CIS 2328: Hardware and Systems Software
- CIS 2340: Introduction to Operating Systems
- CIS 2335 Computer Networks
- CIS 2350: UNIX/Linux Operating Systems
- CIS 3325: Linux Networks
- CIS 3367 Networks and Telecommunications
Cluster 5 – Database Programming
- CIS 2330 – Programming Languages I
- CIS 2333 – Scripting Languages
- CIS 2368 – Website Development I
- CIS 3300 – Programming Languages II
- MIS 3363 – Design and Implementation of Databases and Systems
Cluster 6 – Website Development
- CIS 2330 – Programming Languages I
- CIS 2333 – Scripting Languages
- CIS 2368 – Website Development I
- CIS 3300 – Programming Languages II
- CIS 3365 – Website Development II
Cluster 7 – Website Programming
- CIS 2330 – Programming Languages I
- CIS 2333 – Scripting Languages
- CIS 2368 – Website Development I
- CIS 3365 – Website Development II
- CIS 4375 – Creating Dynamic Websites
Cluster 8 – Programming
- CIS 2330 – Programming Languages I
- CIS 2333 – Scripting Languages
- CIS 2368 – Website Development I
- CIS 3300 – Programming Languages II
- CIS 4330 – Object Orientated Programming
Mathematics and Statistics
Minor in Actuarial Science
Students who are pursuing majors in other subject areas may elect to get a minor in actuarial science. Students who are pursuing a degree (BA or BS) in mathematics may also use this minor to fulfill the "minor requirement".
Required Courses (18 hours):
BFIN 3321 - Principles of Financial Management
BFIN 3325 - Money and Capital Markets
BFIN 3326 - Risk Management and Insurance
MATH 3331 - Foundations of Probability and Statistics
MATH 3332 - Foundations of Statistical Inference
MATH 4333 - Regression Analysis
Minor in Mathematics
Students who are pursuing majors in subject areas other than mathematics may elect to get a minor in mathematics.
The requirement for a minor in mathematics include:
18 semester hours of mathematics courses, to include MATH 2312, 2313, and at least 9 hours of upper division courses.
Minor in Statistics
Students who are pursuing majors in other subject areas may elect to get a minor in statistics. Students who are pursuing a degree (BA or BS) in mathematics may also use this minor to fulfill the "minor requirement".
Required Courses (15 hours):
MATH 2312 - Calculus I
MATH 2313 - Calculus II
MATH 3331 - Foundations of Probability and Statistics
MATH 3332 - Foundations of Statistical Inference
MATH 3333 - Application of Statistical Methods I
Elective Course (3 hours):
MATH 4333 - Regression Analysis
MATH 4335 - Computational Statistics and its Applications
MATH 2312 and MATH 2313 may be double-counted toward a BS or BA degree in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics. The other courses listed above may not be double-counted toward a BS or BA in Mathematics when used toward a minor in Statistics.
The upper division courses listed here are not to be double counted toward either BS or BA in mathematics.
Nutrition
Minor in Nutrition
Students who are pursuing majors in subject areas other than nutrition may elect to get a minor in Nutrition.
The requirement for a minor in Nutrition includes:
NUTR 2341 and at least 9 hours of other NUTR courses, 6 hours of which must be in upper-division courses (3000 and above). Seminar, Practicum, and 1000-level courses do not meet the requirements for a minor.