Advisors: See Faculty of Science, Academic Advisors.
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 Co-operative Physics and Astronomy Academic Plan is in the form of a core of required courses, plus appropriate electives.
Continuation in Honours Co-operative Physics and Astronomy requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a 60% cumulative physics average.
In order to graduate with an Honours Co-operative Physics and Astronomy Bachelor of Science (BSc) 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 of 400-level PHYS courses (neither PHYS 437A nor PHYS 437B may be counted towards this 0.5 unit).
- Completion of the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
- For detailed information on co-op program requirements, please see the Co-operative Program Evaluation information and the Co-operative Education and Career Action section of the undergraduate calendar.
Legend
+Year-One CHEM may be replaced by Year-One BIOL or EARTH courses.
Year 1A (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)
Year 1B (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 2A (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)
Year 2B (Spring)
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 3A (Spring)
PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
PHYS 363 Intermediate Classical Mechanics
PHYS 364 Mathematical Physics 1
One PHYS lab elective at the 300- or 400-level (may also be taken in 3B or Year 4) (0.25 unit)
One elective (0.5 unit)
Year 3B (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 4A (Fall)
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 474 Galaxies
PHYS 475 Cosmology
Three electives (1.5 units)
Year 4B (Winter)
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
Five electives (2.5 units)
Note
Students must include one, 400-level PHYS-labeled elective course (0.5 unit), and two additional PHYS-labeled electives (1.0 unit) as part of the eight elective courses in Year Four.
Astronomy Electives
Two of: PHYS 275, PHYS 239, PHYS 476
Note to all Honours Co-operative Physics and Astronomy Students
Students intending to pursue graduate studies may wish to choose electives that will give them the desired background for their choice of graduate program and school. It is recommended that these students take PHYS 437A, PHYS 434, and PHYS 442.