Link to the University of Waterloo home page
2013-2014

The Undergraduate Calendar

 

 

Science Academic Plans

Chemistry

Honours Co-operative Chemical Physics (Joint with Physics and Astronomy)
Advisors: Professors T. Leung (Chemistry) and W.K. Liu (Physics)

Chemical Physics roughly equal parts of both of the traditional fields of Chemistry and Physics.

Students wishing to follow this Academic Plan in the Co-operative system of study should first speak to Professor Liu (Physics), or Professor Leung (Chemistry), and consultation within the Co-operative Education and the Centre for Career Action.

Continuation in this Academic Plan requires a cumulative overall average of 60%. In addition, a 60% average must be obtained in all Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics courses attempted.

In order to graduate from this Academic Plan, the following requirements must be successfully completed:

  1. 22.75 units, including 2.75 laboratory units, plus either CHEM 494A/B or PHYS 437A/B.
  2. Students failing more than two Mathematics, Chemistry, or Physics courses will be required to withdraw from the Academic Plan. Students may petition for re-admission; such re-admission is at the discretion of the Chemistry or the Physics Undergraduate Committee. There must be exceptional circumstances to justify re-admission.
  3. At least six of the electives in this Academic Plan must be CHEM or PHYS courses at, or above, the third year level (300- or 400-level).
  4. No more than 3.0 "SCI-labelled" units will be allowed toward this Academic Plan.
  5. To obtain 2.75 lab units, students must take all of the required lab courses (2.5 units) plus another laboratory course of their choice (0.25 unit).
  6. Completion of the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE).

Year One


CHEM 120/120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
CHEM 123/123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (every term)
PHYS 121/121L Mechanics/Laboratory
PHYS 122/122L Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
Two electives (1.0 unit)

Students may elect to take PHYS 131L, 132L instead of PHYS 121L, 122L.


Recommended Year One Electives

ENGL 109, 140R
PHIL 215


Year Two


CHEM 209 Introductory Spectroscopy and Structure
CHEM 212 Structure and Bonding
CHEM 250L Physical Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 254 Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics
 or PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
MATH 227 Calculus 3 for Honours Physics
MATH 228 Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (every term)
PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
  or CHEM 356 Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 242/242L Electricity and Magnetism 1/Laboratory
Three electives (1.5 units)


Recommended Year Two Electives

CHEM 220/220L, 221, 224L, 264
PHYS 256, 256L, 263


Year Three


CHEM 313 Main Group and Solid State Chemistry
  or CHEM 310 Transition Element Compounds and Inorganic Materials
CHEM 350/350L Chemical Kinetics/Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (every term)
PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 360A Intermediate Laboratory
PHYS 360B Intermediate Laboratory
PHYS 364 Mathematical Physics 1
Five electives (2.5 units)

Students wishing to take PHYS 434 in Year Four must take PHYS 334 as an elective.
Students wishing to take PHYS 435 in Year Four must take PHYS 335 in Year Three.


Recommended Year Three and Year Four Electives

CHEM 310L, 313L, 450 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry
PHYS 239, 334, 391/391L, 392/392L, 365, 435, 454

Year Four


CHEM 450 Intermediate Quantum Chemistry 
 or PHYS 434 Quantum Physics 3
CHEM 494A Research Project followed by CHEM 494B Research Project 
 or PHYS 437A Research Project followed by PHYS 437B Research Project (continued)
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (each term)
PHYS 335 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
Six electives (3.0 units)


Recommended Year Three and Year Four Electives

CHEM 310L, 313L, 450 Special Topics in Physical Chemistry
PHYS 239, 334, 391/391L, 392/392L, 365, 435, 454


Office of the Registrar
University of Waterloo
2nd Floor, Needles Hall
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4567