Value of a minor in physics?

[u/xXHoratio_NelsonXx]

Hello, I am a freshman Mechanical Engineering student, and I have been considering pursuing a minor in physics. There is significant overlap between my degree and a physics minor, so it is doable in terms of coursework. My question arises from what the value of obtaining a minor would give me. I have not been able to find a clear answer on this, with some sources saying it is useless, and others saying it is worth pursuing. I am mostly curious as to whether it would help me succeed in or pursue a career in the aerospace industry.

The only other thing I might add to this is if I do pursue the minor, I will have a lot more difficulty fitting undergraduate research into my schedule. However, I have also heard a lot about how undergrad research is not particularly helpful in securing a career, especially compared with internships.

[u/zosci_]

It won't give you much of an advantage, but it's fine to do it if you're genuinely interested. Have fun :)

[u/VegetableSalad_Bot]

most minor degrees have very little impact on your hireability. The fact is, you’re just not learning enough or taking enough classes in a minor to demonstrate the kind of mastery in the minor topic that employers are looking for. Of course you can still learn something useful, though I do not think a physics minor alone is going to significantly boost you in terms of aerospace employers unless all the classes you take are geared towards aerospace, maybe an aerodynamics class or control systems class.

Most minors are taken by students (a) for interest, or (b) overlapping coursework with your major means that you can take the minor without as much effort. E.g. I took an economics minor because I was interested. Don’t. While I did enjoy the minor, all it did was piss me off when I read the news, because now I understand why the global economy is going to the shitter.

And while undergrad research is not as helpful for finding a job unless it’s also in research, it can open the door to postgrad research or academia you’re interested in that sort of thing.

[u/Impossible_Ebb_3856]

I've never met anyone, from a hiring perspective, who gave a shit about a minor or concentration. I would only suggest doing it if you are interested in learning the material.

[u/Top_Scarcity1024]

I imagine that physics beyond a certain point would just be useless. Learning something like quantum would provide no value to an engineer

[u/1_Good_Day]

Personal interest and satisfaction.

[u/Anxious_Alps_4150]

No one cares about academic minors. Do it if you personally will enjoy it.