2 answers
Dan
Student
Tomball, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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How do you manage a difficult major and a minor?
I am planning to major in physics and have a lot of interests in other fields, like film, math, computer science, and engineering. I am not sure how signing up for a minor works and what it looks like.
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2 answers
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
240
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Dan,
Being good at many things makes you more useful as a person. Physics and mathematics are intricately linked to engineering, computer science and to some extent the film industry - technology & equipment used. Your long-term aspirations for studying physics (vision) definitely influences your choice of other fields of study for a minor. Studying physics gives you an opportunity to get involved in extending the boundaries of knowledge - new discoveries and innovations. You can also use existing knowledge to develop new applications and/or improve existing one.
Just be mindful that pursuing a couple of disciplines simultaneously can thinly spread out your effort - this may affect the quality of your performance. Staggering them can be helpful when necessary.
Best of luck in your studies.
Being good at many things makes you more useful as a person. Physics and mathematics are intricately linked to engineering, computer science and to some extent the film industry - technology & equipment used. Your long-term aspirations for studying physics (vision) definitely influences your choice of other fields of study for a minor. Studying physics gives you an opportunity to get involved in extending the boundaries of knowledge - new discoveries and innovations. You can also use existing knowledge to develop new applications and/or improve existing one.
Just be mindful that pursuing a couple of disciplines simultaneously can thinly spread out your effort - this may affect the quality of your performance. Staggering them can be helpful when necessary.
Best of luck in your studies.
Kelly Donnellan
Associate Professor
27
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Dan,
This is a great question, and honestly, it’s a really exciting place to be because it means you have a lot of interests.
Short answer: yes, you can absolutely major in something demanding like physics and still explore other fields, you just want to be thoughtful about how you structure it.
HOW MAJORS AND MINORS WORK
Your major (physics) will take up most of your time and credits.
A minor is:
- A smaller set of classes (usually 4–6 courses for 18-21 credits)
- A way to explore another interest
- Often built using your elective classes
You usually don’t have to declare a minor right away. Most students try a few classes first and then decide.
COLLEGE IS FOR EXPERIMENTING!
This is the time to try things on and see what actually fits. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. In fact, most people don’t.
You might start in one direction and shift, and that’s okay. I actually started in a completely different field and ended up in film.
WHY NOT BOTH?
There’s no rule that says you have to choose between analytical and creative thinking. You can absolutely do physics and something like film.
In fact, those ways of thinking complement each other:
- Physics builds problem-solving and analytical skills
- Film (or other creative fields) builds storytelling, creativity, and perspective
That combination can actually make you stronger in both areas.
Think of it less as STEM and more as STEAM, where the arts are part of the equation. Creativity is often what drives innovation.
HOW TO MANAGE IT
Physics is a challenging major, so the key is balance:
- Prioritize your major requirements first
- Use electives to explore other interests
- Add a minor if it fits comfortably
- Be honest with yourself about your workload
It’s also okay to:
- Take a class just because you’re curious
- Decide a minor isn’t the right fit
- Change direction as you learn more
FINAL THOUGHT
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with physics, explore your other interests, and see what actually sticks.
College is one of the few times you get to experiment, so take advantage of it.
You can absolutely be both analytical and creative. In fact, that combination can set you apart.
I encourage you to stay open, curious, and intentional with your choices and in doing so, you can build a path that reflects all sides of who you are.
This is a great question, and honestly, it’s a really exciting place to be because it means you have a lot of interests.
Short answer: yes, you can absolutely major in something demanding like physics and still explore other fields, you just want to be thoughtful about how you structure it.
HOW MAJORS AND MINORS WORK
Your major (physics) will take up most of your time and credits.
A minor is:
- A smaller set of classes (usually 4–6 courses for 18-21 credits)
- A way to explore another interest
- Often built using your elective classes
You usually don’t have to declare a minor right away. Most students try a few classes first and then decide.
COLLEGE IS FOR EXPERIMENTING!
This is the time to try things on and see what actually fits. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. In fact, most people don’t.
You might start in one direction and shift, and that’s okay. I actually started in a completely different field and ended up in film.
WHY NOT BOTH?
There’s no rule that says you have to choose between analytical and creative thinking. You can absolutely do physics and something like film.
In fact, those ways of thinking complement each other:
- Physics builds problem-solving and analytical skills
- Film (or other creative fields) builds storytelling, creativity, and perspective
That combination can actually make you stronger in both areas.
Think of it less as STEM and more as STEAM, where the arts are part of the equation. Creativity is often what drives innovation.
HOW TO MANAGE IT
Physics is a challenging major, so the key is balance:
- Prioritize your major requirements first
- Use electives to explore other interests
- Add a minor if it fits comfortably
- Be honest with yourself about your workload
It’s also okay to:
- Take a class just because you’re curious
- Decide a minor isn’t the right fit
- Change direction as you learn more
FINAL THOUGHT
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with physics, explore your other interests, and see what actually sticks.
College is one of the few times you get to experiment, so take advantage of it.
You can absolutely be both analytical and creative. In fact, that combination can set you apart.
I encourage you to stay open, curious, and intentional with your choices and in doing so, you can build a path that reflects all sides of who you are.