(Also see GWPI Red Book) The Master of Science degree in physics may be pursued within one of three program options: the research, co-operative, or coursework option. Admission and degree requirements are outlined in the following information.
Admission requirements for students admitted to the master's of science program at Waterloo are as follows:
- An Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Science with at least a B standing (75%)
- Three letters of reference, two of which normally are from academic sources.
- Proof of competency in English (for applicants whose native tongue is other than English). A score of at least 550 (213 on the computerized versions) is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and 4.0 on the TWE. See Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification for acceptable tests of English.
- GRE Physics Subject test score for all applicants who have completed their post-secondary education outside of Canada.
Students who do not meet the requirements outlined above may be considered for admission to a transitional, probationary or qualifying program depending on their academic background. (See Graduate Studies Calendar - Academic Regulations - Categories of Admission to the Master's Program.)
Application Deadline: Applications to the Master's program should be made as early as possible.
Students in the Master of Science program in physics may choose either the master's research paper, co-operative or coursework option. Degree requirements are as follows.
Four one-term courses* acceptable for graduate credit and a thesis based on some original research are required. The subject of research must be approved by the candidate's supervisor and the thesis must be read and approved by the supervisor and two other faculty members. Part of the research may be conducted off-campus at a collaborating laboratory. The supervisor based at that laboratory will be an associate member of (GWPI) and there will also be an on-campus co-supervisor.
For all except those in biophysics** the four courses must include at least one of PHYS 701 (Quantum Mechanics 1), PHYS 704 (Statistical Physics 1) and PHYS 706 (Electromagnetic Theory). One of the four courses may be an undergraduate course approved by the student's supervisor and the Graduate Officer. If it is a Physics course it must be at the 4th year level.
An acceptable thesis on a research topic must be submitted. Detailed specifications of the format of the thesis are available from the appropriate Graduate Office. Acceptance of the thesis requires the approval by an Examining Committee following an oral defence of the thesis.
A student in the physics graduate program as a Master's candidate, who shows a particular aptitude for research, may be permitted under certain circumstances to transfer to the Ph.D. program without writing an MSc thesis. (See the Graduate Secretary for complete details)
Students normally enter the Co-op MSc program in September. The first term of the program is spent taking two courses (for all except those in biophysics** one of these courses must be chosen from PHYS 701 , 704 and 706 ), performing the duties of a teaching assistant and also interviewing with Co-operative Education and Career Services and with prospective work term employers. Satisfactory performance in this phase of the program will allow the student to spend the next two terms working in an industrial or government laboratory. Upon completion of the work terms, the student must submit a work report as discussed in the following description of the co-op PhD program.
The student shall take a minimum of two additional graduate courses and complete, under the supervision of a (GWPI) faculty member, a research project which may include research performed during the work terms. A thesis based on the research must be written and presented for approval by the student's supervisor and two additional members of (GWPI).
** Exception: In place of the core physics course biophysics students may choose any course approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate Officer.
Seven one-term courses (0.50 unit weight) acceptable for graduate credit and a Master's Research Paper milestone (see the Graduate Officer for details) are required. The research paper will have to be approved by the candidate's Supervisory Committee. The seven courses must include PHYS 701 (Quantum Mechanics 1), PHYS 704 (Statistical Physics 1) and PHYS 706 (Electromagnetic Theory). [Exception: biophysics students need take only one of PHYS 701, PHYS 704 and PHYS 706.] Two of the courses may be undergraduate courses approved by the advisor and the Graduate Committee. If they are Physics courses they must be at the 4th year level.
The above option is recommended for those planning careers requiring a broad non-specialized knowledge of physics (for example, high school teaching).
An average of at least 70% must be obtained in the required courses. A minimum grade of 60% is required for a pass in each course. No more than two courses, of the first four taken, can have averages of less than 70%.
It is required that the student meet with his/her Supervisory Committee within the first six months of registration (within first four months in the case of students doing the coursework option) and subsequently at least once every six months. While one meeting in a year must be a formal one, the other meeting may be held informally; in the latter case, apart from the student and the supervisor, the meeting must involve at least one other member of the Committee.
* A one-term course is defined as a graduate course of three lecture hours per week for one term with unit weight 0.5. Other graduate courses with two lecture hours per week for two terms, and certain undergraduate courses, are classed as equivalent to one-term courses. All programs must be approved by the Physics Graduate Studies Committee.
A one-term course is defined as a graduate course of three lecture hours per week for one term with unit weight 0.5. Other graduate courses with two lecture hours per week for two terms, and certain undergraduate courses, are classed as equivalent to one-term courses. All programs must be approved by the Physics Graduate Studies Committee.
Department of Physics and Astronomy Homepage