Hi everyone,
I am in Australia and our universities are based on the British higher education system, not the American… However I still think I will get some good responses as my question is regarding a choice of complementary minor (and not the logistics of two different styles of higher education systems).
In short I am commencing a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Physics, which I am able to extend with added astronomy and undergraduate research units. I am required to pick a minor. My two candidates for a minor are either Applied Maths or GIS/Remote Sensing.
The Applied Maths minor has two units taken in the first year of studies (covering single variable function study and differential/integral calculus, introductory differential equations, linear algebra, complex numbers and the like) followed by two units taken in the second year of studies (one covering multivariable calculus and another covering more advanced aspects of ordinary differential equations and linear algebra). As a physics major I am required to take the first three of these units, and should I take the fourth unit (differential equations) this would make a minor in applied maths.
As my interests are in observational astronomy, and my other free spaces are filled with astronomy and astronomy undergraduate research units. I am neither overly excited nor allergic to mathematics - I view it as a necessary ‘tool’ for physics as many physics students do and enjoy/treat it as such.
I am interested in a bit of GIS/remote sensing as it connects to planetary science well, and I feel this would be useful should I wish to pursue planetary astronomy once I am a postgraduate.
What are people’s thoughts for the minor? Add the additional math unit and take the minor in applied math? OR take only the necessary math as electives and do a minor in GIS/remote sensing?
Keen to hear some people’s perspectives.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Mark in the land down under 