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2018-2019

The Undergraduate Calendar

 

 

Science Academic Plans

Physics and Astronomy

Honours Physics
Advisors: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

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 experience in other subjects (e.g., business administration, computing, electrical engineering, or philosophy).

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

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

  1. 22.0 units that include:
  2. Enrolment in PHYS 10 when offered

Additional Program Conditions:

A maximum of 3.0 SCI units may be counted towards this program.

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 One


    Fall
    CHEM 120 Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
    CHEM 120L Chemical Reaction Laboratory 1
    MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science
    MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
    PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
    PHYS 121 Mechanics
    PHYS 131L Mechanics Laboratory
    SCCOM 100 Communication in the Sciences

    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 Waves, Electricity, Magnetism and Measurement Laboratory
    PHYS 124 Modern Physics
    One elective (0.5 unit)

    Year Two


    Fall
    MATH 227 Calculus 3 for Honours Physics
    MATH 228 Differential Equations For Physics and Chemistry
    PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
    PHYS 232L Measurement Laboratory
    PHYS 236 Computational Physics 1
    PHYS 256 Geometrical and Physical Optics
    PHYS 256L Optics Laboratory
    One elective (0.5 unit)
    Winter
    PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
    PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
    PHYS 242 Electricity and Magnetism 1
    PHYS 242L Electricity and Magnetism Lab
    PHYS 260L Intermediate Physics Laboratory
    PHYS 263 Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
    Two electives (1.0 unit)

    Year Three


    Fall
    PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
    PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
    PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
    PHYS 360A Modern Physics Laboratory 1
    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 365 Mathematical Physics 2
    One PHYS lab elective 300-level or higher (0.25 unit)
    Two electives (1.0 unit)

    Year Four


    Fall and Winter
    PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
    Three PHYS electives 400-level (1.5 units)
    Two PHYS electives (1.0 unit)
    Four electives (2.0 unit)

     


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