Science Academic Plans

The Materials and Nanosciences plan (acronym: MNS) is an interdisciplinary plan offered jointly by the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Both materials science and nanoscience have been very active research areas during the past few decades, and are now having major impact in diverse fields, ranging from manufacturing to materials technology to nanomedicine to renewable energy to information technology. This academic plan is aimed at students interested in learning about and working in these high-tech fields. This plan complements the Nanotechnology Engineering plan offered through the Faculty of Engineering. It is, however, designed for students who are more motivated by and interested in the fundamental building blocks of materials and devices, both at macroscopic and nanometer scales. This plan has two themes, one associated with inorganic and organic materials, the other with biomaterials. Both Regular and Co-operative versions of this plan are available.

The Honours Materials and Nanosciences academic plan meets admission requirements for graduate programs in Chemistry, and would be particularly suitable for admission into Nanoscience and Nanotechnology graduate programs. It is also intended for students who wish to find employment in industries associated with such fields as alternative energy sources, information technology, emerging materials, and biomedical therapies and diagnostics.

This Academic Plan, which offers the Honours Materials and Nanoscience courses integrated with five four-month work terms, extends over four and two-third years. Students work and study in alternate terms starting at the end of 2A term. There is a double work term between terms 3B and 4A. For students studying in the co-op format, detailed information on co-op program requirements is located in the Co-operative Education and Career Action section of this Calendar and in the Science Faculty work term report guidelines. Information on WatPD courses is located on the Professional Development website.

Continuation in the Honours Co-operative Materials and Nanosciences plan requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative overall Science average of 60%.

Successful completion of this program requires:

1. 22.0 units that include:
   
   • 4.5 CHEM units: CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, CHEM 123L, CHEM 209, CHEM 237, CHEM 237L, CHEM 266, CHEM 266L, CHEM 254, and CHEM 356
   • 4.0 MNS units: MNS 10 (non-credit course), MNS 101, MNS 102, MNS 201L, MNS 211, MNS 221, MNS 321, MNS 322, and MNS 331
   • 3.5 PHYS units: PHYS 121, PHYS 121L, PHYS 122, PHYS 132L, PHYS 232L, PHYS 242, PHYS 280, and PHYS 342
   • 1.5 units of CHEM, MNS, and PHYS courses as follows:
     
     • PHYS 380 or PHYS 461
     • CHEM 350 or CHEM 357
     • MNS 410 or MNS 431
   • 2.5 MATH units: MATH 114, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 227, and MATH 228
   • 6.0 elective units, as follows:
     • 4.0 units of Program electives (Courses not listed under Program electives may also qualify as program electives, subject to academic advisor approval)
     • 2.0 units of any 0.5 unit courses
   • A minimum of four successful work terms, submission of a minimum of four satisfactory work reports and credit in four WatPD courses (PD1, PD11 and two other PD courses).
   • Completion of the English Language Proficiency Requirement

Recommended Course Sequence

Year One Fall

Year One Winter

Year Two Fall

Year Two Spring

Year Three Winter

Year Three Winter

Year Four Fall

Year Four Winter

List of Program Elective

BIOL 130 Introductory Cell Biology
BIOL 239 Genetics
BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Microbiology
BIOL 309 Analytical Methods in Molecular Biology
CHEM 250L Physical Chemistry laboratory 1
CHEM 267 Basic Organic Chemistry 2
CHEM 310 Transition Metals/Inorganic Materials
CHEM 333 Metabolism 1
CHEM 340 Introduction to Computational Chemistry
CHEM 400 Special Topics in Chemistry
CHEM 430 Special Topics in Biochemistry
CHEM 494A Research Project and CHEM 494B Research Project
PHYS 256 Geometrical and Physical Optics
PHYS 334 Quantum 2
PHYS 335 Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 360A Modern Physics, Laboratory 1
PHYS 391 Electronics
PHYS 392 Scientific Measurement and Control
PHYS 396 Biophysics of Imaging
PHYS 437A Research Project and PHYS 437B Research Project
STAT 202 Introduction to Statistics for Scientists

Note

Not all of the courses offered in the CHEM 400 series (Special Topics in Chemistry) can be counted towards the Honours Materials and Nanosciences program. Students should consult the academic advisor for information about which courses can be counted.