Science Academic Plans

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 below 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 grades 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:

1. Successful completion of 21.25 units.
2. Mandatory (core) courses as listed below.
3. No more than 3.0 "SCI-labelled" units can be used.
4. Completion of the English Language Proficiency requirement.

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

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Fall

Winter

Year Two

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Fall

Winter

Year Three

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Fall

Winter

Year Four

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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 300- or 400- level PHYS courses, although 0.5 of these units can be 300- or 400-level Applied Mathematics course.

Note to all Honours Mathematical Physics Students

Students intending to continue to Graduate School after completing their undergraduate degree program may wish to choose electives that will give them the desired background for their 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: PHYS 256, PHYS 437A, PHYS 444, PHYS 454 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 being pursued. Students should consult with an undergraduate advisor and our graduate officer regarding other electives needed for their choice of graduate program.

Elective Choices

The "core plus electives" structure of the Honours Mathematical Physics and Honours Co-operative Mathematical Physics Academic Plans allows a great variety of combinations of courses to be taken. By judicious selection of elective courses, students can deepen their knowledge of theoretical or experimental physics, or emphasize particular aspects of the subject, for example optics, condensed matter physics, astrophysics or biophysics. It is also possible (subject to timetable restrictions) for physics students to use their elective courses to gain expertise in other subjects, for example business administration, computing, electrical engineering or philosophy. The departmental Undergraduate Advisors are available to assist any student who wishes to select a particular set of elective choices.