Advisors: See Faculty of Science, Academic Advisor.
Geophysics is a broad field where mathematics and physics are combined to study the many incredible phenomena that happen inside, on the surface, and in the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets. In addition to mineral and energy exploration, geophysicists are involved in evaluating earthquake and volcano hazards, monitoring nuclear weapons treaties, assisting in managing and protecting groundwater resources, and studying geomagnetic phenomenon, such as the Aurora Borealis. Students in the geophysics program acquire a wide range of quantitative skills from their studies of Earth sciences, mathematics, and physics. Geophysicists are perennially in high demand by employers in all areas of Earth sciences from oil, gas, and base metal exploration to environmental monitoring and management, in both the public and private sectors.
Legend
* It is required that one course (0.5 unit) be taken from the Faculty of Arts. It is recommended that a course in oral or written communication be selected (e.g. SPCOM 223, ENGL 109, ENGL 129R, ENGL 140R, ENGL 209, ENGL 210E, ENGL 210F, or PHIL 145).
** Four courses (2.0 units) must be either a 200-level or higher course from BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, MATH, AMATH or CS, or be chosen from BIOL 120, BIOL 130, BIOL 150, CS 115, or CS 116. SCI-labelled and EARTH-labelled courses cannot be used to satisfy these core electives.
Year 1A Fall
CHEM 120/CHEM 120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
EARTH 121/EARTH 121L Introductory Earth Sciences/Laboratory
EARTH 123 Introductory Hydrology
MATH 127 Calculus 1
PHYS 121/PHYS 121L Mechanics/Laboratory
Year 1B Winter
CHEM 123/CHEM 123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
EARTH 122/EARTH 122L Introductory Environmental Sciences/Laboratory
MATH 106 Applied Linear Algebra 1
or MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
MATH 128 Calculus 2
PHYS 122/PHYS 122L Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
Year 2A Fall
EARTH 123L Field Methods in Hydrology
EARTH 231 Mineralogy
EARTH 235 Stratigraphic Approaches to Understanding Earth's History
EARTH 260 Applied Geophysics 1
MATH 227 Calculus 3 for Honours Physics
or CIVE 221 Advanced Calculus
Arts Core * (0.5 unit)
Year 2B Winter
EARTH 221 Geochemistry 1
EARTH 232 Petrography
EARTH 238 Introductory Structural Geology
MATH 228 Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry
or CIVE 222 Differential Equations
or ENVE 223 Differential Equations
One elective (0.5 unit)
Year 3A Fall
EARTH 458/EARTH 458L Physical Hydrogeology/Field Methods in Hydrogeology
STAT 202 Introductory Statistics for Scientists
Three core electives **(1.5 units)
Year 3B Winter
EARTH 333 Introductory Sedimentology
EARTH 358 Earth System Science
EARTH 390 Methods in Geological Mapping
EARTH 460 Applied Geophysics 2
One elective (0.5 unit)
One core elective **(0.5 unit)
Year 4A Fall
EARTH 436A Honours Thesis
or EARTH 499 Research Project
EARTH 461 Applied Geophysics 3
Two 300- or 400- level EARTH courses (1.0 unit)
One elective (0.5 unit)
Year 4B Winter
EARTH 436B Honours Thesis
or One 300- or 400-level EARTH course
EARTH 471 Mineral Deposits
One 200, 300- or 400-level EARTH course (0.5 unit)
Two 300- or 400- level EARTH courses (1.0 unit)
Note
EARTH 342 (Applied Geomorphology) or EARTH 440 (Quaternary Geology) is recommended.