Science Academic Plans

Advisors: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

The Honours Co-operative Physics program offers courses integrated with five four-month work terms, and extends over four and two-thirds years. Students work and study in alternate terms starting at the end of the 2A term. There is a double work term between terms 2B and 3A. Co-op program information and requirements are located in the Co-operative Education and Career Action (CECA) section of this Calendar and in the Science Faculty work-term report guidelines. Professional Development Program (WatPD) course information is located on the Professional Development Program website.

The "core plus electives" structure of the Honours Physics program allows students to take a wide variety of course combinations. With judicious selection of elective courses, students can deepen their knowledge of theoretical or experimental physics, or emphasize particular aspects of the subject, such as optics, condensed matter physics, astrophysics, or biophysics. Physics students can (subject to timetable restrictions) also use their elective courses to gain expertise in other subjects (e.g., business administration, computing, electrical engineering, or philosophy).

Continuing in Honours Co-operative Physics requires both a cumulative overall average and a cumulative Physics average of 60%. 

In order to graduate with an Honours Co-operative Physics degree, the following requirements must be successfully completed:

1. 22.0 units that include:
   • 9.5 PHYS units: PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 124, PHYS 131L, PHYS 132L, PHYS 232L, PHYS 234, PHYS 236, PHYS 242, PHYS 242L, PHYS 256, PHYS 256L, PHYS 260L, PHYS 263, PHYS 334, PHYS 342, PHYS 358, PHYS 359, PHYS 360A, PHYS 363, PHYS 364, and PHYS 365
   • 2.5 MATH units: MATH 114, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 227, and MATH 228
   • 1.25 CHEM units: CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, and CHEM 123
   • 0.5 SCCOM unit: SCCOM 100
   • 8.25 elective units distributed as follows:
     • 2.5 PHYS lecture units that must include at least 1.5 units at the 400-level
     • 0.25 PHYS lab unit at the 300- or 400-level
     • 5.5 units chosen from any subject, with a maximum of 1.5 lab units
2. Enrolment in PHYS 10 when offered
3. Co-operative education requirements that include:
   
   • A minimum of four work terms
   • Four WatPD courses that must include PD 1, PD 11, and two PD elective courses
   • Four work-term reports:
     • One completed as part of PD 11
     • Three completed in required WKRPT courses: WKRPT 200S, WKRPT 300S, and WKRPT 400S

Additional Program Condition:

Notes

1. Year One CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, and CHEM 123 may be replaced by Year One BIOL or EARTH courses.
2. PHYS 437A and PHYS 437B may not count toward the 1.5 PHYS lecture units at the 400-level.
3. Students wishing to pursue graduate studies should consult with a Physics advisor and a graduate officer in order to choose electives that provide them with the desired background for their choice of graduate program and/or school.
4. PHYS 434, PHYS 442, and PHYS 437A are recommended electives for students wishing to pursue graduate studies.

Recommended Course Sequence

Year 1

Fall

Winter

CHEM 123 Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 122 Waves, Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 132L Mechanics, Waves and Measurement Laboratory
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year 2

Fall

Spring

Year 3

Spring

Winter

PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 334 Quantum Physics 2
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 365 Mathematical Physics 2
One PHYS lab elective 300-level or higher (0.25 unit)
Two electives (1.0 unit)

Year 4

Fall and Winter