Advisor: Professor W.-K. Liu
The Honours Mathematical Physics Academic Plan leading to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree is in the form of a core of required physics and mathematics courses, plus appropriate electives. The electives available in all years allow students to strengthen complementary areas of interest whether in some specific field in Physics or in some other subject area. Some examples are described above under the heading "Elective Choices." This plan is designed for physics students who are mathematically inclined and wish to concentrate their effort in theoretical studies.
Continuation in Honours Mathematical Physics requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a 65% Physics and Math average. Students from Honours Physics may transfer into this program in their Year Two if they have marks of 80% or higher in MATH 127, MATH 128, and MATH 114 in Year One and a minimum 65% Physics average.
In order to graduate with an Honours Mathematical Physics Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, the following requirements must be met:
- Successful completion of 21.25 units.
- Mandatory (core) courses as listed below.
- No more than 3.0 "SCI-labelled" units can be used.
- Completion of the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE).
Legend
+ Year One chemistry may be replaced by Year One biology or earth sciences courses. Note that all students in Year One Science are required to have units from at least two different disciplines from the Faculty of Science (see "Science Academic Plans").
* PHYS 334 which is offered in the fall may be substituted for AMATH 373 to permit students to take a physics elective in the winter semester.
Year One
Fall
CHEM 120/120L+ Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 121/131L Mechanics/Laboratory
MATH 136 Linear Algebra 1
MATH 137 Calculus 1
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
CHEM 123/123L+ Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 122/132L Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
MATH 138 Calculus 2
One elective (0.5 unit)
Year Two
Fall
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 236 Computational Physics 1
MATH 237 Calculus 3
MATH 235 Linear Algebra 2
AMATH 250 Introduction to Differential Equations
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
PHYS 242 Electricity and Magnetism 1
PHYS 263 Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
AMATH 231 Calculus 4
STAT 230 Probability
Year Three
Fall
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
PHYS 363 Intermediate Classical Mechanics
AMATH 351 Ordinary Differential Equations
STAT 231 Statistics
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 359 Statistical Physics
AMATH 373 Quantum Theory 1*
AMATH/PMATH 332 Applied Complex Analysis
AMATH 353 Partial Differential Equations 1
Year Four
Students in Year Four should normally take a total of 5.0 units, which must include PHYS 10, PHYS 442, PHYS 434, and three of PHYS 444, PHYS 454, PHYS 476, AMATH 361, AMATH 463, AMATH 456. In addition, 1.5 units of electives must be selected from third- or fourth- year physics courses, although 0.5 of these units can be a third or fourth year Applied Mathematics course.
Notes to all Honours Mathematical Physics Students
Students intending to continue to Graduate School: If you are planning to undertake graduate work after completing your undergraduate degree program you may wish to choose electives that will give you the desired background for your choice of graduate program and school. Examples of recommended electives include the following:
- for graduate work in Physics: PHYS 256, PHYS 437A and PHYS 454
- for graduate work in Experimental Physics: PHYS 391, PHYS 392
- for graduate work in Theoretical Physics: electives listed under (1), PHYS 444 and PHYS 475
- for graduate work in Biophysics: PHYS 437A, PHYS 280, PHYS 380, one or both of PHYS 395 and PHYS 396
Students intending to do graduate work in Biophysics, Astrophysics, Condensed Matter, Quantum Computing, Optics or other areas should note this list is not exhaustive and elective course selection depends on the graduate program you plan to pursue. You may wish to consult with an undergraduate advisor and our graduate officer regarding other electives needed for your choice of graduate program.