Advisors: R. Jayasundera, S. Idziak, J. Sanderson
The Honours Physics and Astronomy academic plan is intended for students with a strong interest in astronomy. The plan provides depth and breadth in physics equal to our current Honours Physics plan, but with additional depth in astronomy. The plan will allow graduates the flexibility to pursue jobs or graduate study in either physics or astronomy. The Honours Physics and Astronomy Academic Plan is in the form of a core of required courses, plus appropriate electives.
Continuation in Honours Physics and Astronomy requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a 60% cumulative physics average. In addition, students must have an average of at least 65% in the lecture courses PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 124, MATH 114, and MATH 127, MATH 128 (or equivalents) in order to continue into Year Two.
In order to graduate with an Honours Physics and Astronomy degree, the following requirements must be met:
- Successful completion of 19.0 lecture units plus 2.0 physics lab units.
- Mandatory (core) courses as listed below plus an additional 1.5 units of physics electives which must include both 1.0 unit of astronomy electives and 0.5 unit 400-level PHYS courses (neither PHYS 437A nor PHYS 437B may be counted towards this 0.5 unit).
- No more than 3.0 SCI-labelled units can be used.
- Completion of the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
Year One
Fall
CHEM 120/CHEM 120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 121/PHYS 131L Mechanics/Laboratory
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
CHEM 123/CHEM 123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 122/PHYS 122L Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
PHYS 175/PHYS 175L Introduction to the Universe/Laboratory
Year Two
Fall
MATH 227 Calculus 3 for Honours Physics
MATH 228 Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 236 Computational Physics 1
PHYS 256/PHYS 256L Geometrical and Physical Optics/Laboratory
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
PHYS 242/PHYS 242L Electricity and Magnetism 1/Laboratory
PHYS 270/PHYS 270L Astronomical Observations, Instrumentation and Data Analysis/Laboratory
PHYS 263 Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
One elective (0.5 unit)
Year Three
Fall
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
PHYS 363 Intermediate Classical Mechanics
PHYS 364 Mathematical Physics 1
One elective (0.5 unit)
Winter
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 334 Quantum Physics 2
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 370L Astronomy Laboratory
PHYS 375 Stars
Two electives (1.0 unit)
Year Four
Fall
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 474 Galaxies
PHYS 475 Cosmology
Three electives (1.5 units)
Winter
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
Five electives (2.5 units)
Note
Students in Year Four should normally take a total of 5.0 units. In addition to the required courses noted for Fall and Winter term, these must include an additional of 0.5 unit of 400-level physics electives and an additional 1.0 unit of physics electives.
Astronomy Electives
Two of: PHYS 275, PHYS 239, PHYS 476