Science Academic Programs and Plans

Advisors: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

The Chemical Physics program involves roughly equal parts of both of the traditional fields of chemistry and physics and is of relevance to students seeking to pursue a career in the fields of research and development, education, and/or technology support.

This program, which offers the Honours Chemical Physics courses integrated with five four-month work terms, 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 3B and 4A. Co-op program information 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. WatPD course information is located on the Professional Development program website.

Continuing in this program requires a 60% cumulative overall average and a 60% cumulative average in all Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics courses combined.

Successful completion of this program requires:

1. 22.0 units that include:
   • 5.25 PHYS units: PHYS 10, PHYS 121, PHYS 121L, PHYS 122, PHYS 122L, PHYS 124, PHYS 242, PHYS 242L, PHYS 335, PHYS 342, PHYS 359, PHYS 360A, PHYS 360B, and PHYS 364
   • 3.75 CHEM units: CHEM 100, CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, CHEM 123L, CHEM 209, CHEM 212, CHEM 250L, CHEM 350, and CHEM 350L
   • 0.5 CHEM unit: CHEM 310 or CHEM 313
   • 2.5 CHEM and PHYS elective units distributed as follows:
   • 0.5 unit from CHEM 254 or PHYS 358
   • 0.5 unit from PHYS 234 or CHEM 356
   • 0.5 unit from CHEM 400 (Topic: Intermediate Quantum Chemistry) or PHYS 434
   • 1.0 unit from CHEM 494A and CHEM 494B; or PHYS 437A and PHYS 437B
   • 2.5 MATH units: MATH 114, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 227, and MATH 228
   • 7.0 elective units distributed as follows:
   • 2.5 CHEM or PHYS elective units 300-level or higher
   • 4.5 elective units chosen from any 0.5 unit courses
   • 0.5 ENGL unit: ENGL 193/SPCOM 193
2. A minimum of four work terms, submission of a minimum of four satisfactory work reports, and credit in four WatPD courses (PD 1, PD 11 and any two additional PD courses).

Additional Program Conditions:

1. PHYS 121L can be replaced by PHYS 131L.
2. PHYS 122L can be replaced by PHYS 132L.
3. A maximum of 3.0 SCI units may be counted towards this program.
4. A maximum of two failures in CHEM lecture courses are allowed. Failure in more than two CHEM lecture courses will result in the requirement to withdraw from the academic plan. 

Notes

1. Year One recommended electives include: ENGL 109, ENGL 140R, and PHIL 215.
2. Year Two recommended electives include: CHEM 220, CHEM 221, CHEM 264, PHYS 256, and PHYS 263.
3. Year Three and Year Four recommended electives include: CHEM 310L, CHEM 400, PHYS 239, PHYS 334, PHYS 365, PHYS 391, PHYS 392, PHYS 435, and PHYS 454.
4. Not all of the courses offered in the CHEM 400 series (Special Topics in Chemistry) count towards this program. Students should consult their academic advisor for more information about which ones qualify.
5. Students wishing to take PHYS 434 in Year Four must first pass PHYS 334 as an elective.
6. Students wishing to take PHYS 435 in Year Four must first pass PHYS 335 in Year Three.

Recommended Course Sequence

Year One

CHEM 100 Introduction to Chemical Sciences
CHEM 120/CHEM 120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Chemical Reaction Laboratory 1
CHEM 123/CHEM 123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Chemical Reaction Laboratory 2
MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Science 
MATH 127 Calculus 1 for the Sciences
MATH 128 Calculus 2 for the Sciences
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (both terms) 
PHYS 121/PHYS 121L Mechanics/Mechanics Laboratory 
PHYS 122/PHYS 122L Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Waves, Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory 
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
One of ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 Communication in the Sciences
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year Two

CHEM 209 Introductory Spectroscopy and Structure
CHEM 212 Structure and Bonding
CHEM 250L Physical Chemistry Laboratory 1
CHEM 254 Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics
 or PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
MATH 227 Calculus 3 for Honours Physics
MATH 228 Differential Equations for Physics and Chemistry
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (fall and winter terms only)
PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
 or CHEM 356 Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 242/PHYS 242L Electricity and Magnetism 1/Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory
Three electives (1.5 units)

Year Three

CHEM 313 Main Group and Solid State Chemistry
 or CHEM 310 Transition Element Compounds and Inorganic Materials
CHEM 350/CHEM 350L Chemical Kinetics/Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (fall and winter terms only)
PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 360A Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 360B Modern Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 364 Mathematical Physics 1
Four electives (2.0 units)

Year Four

CHEM 400 Special Topics in Chemistry (Topic: Intermediate Quantum Chemistry)
  or PHYS 434 Quantum Physics 3
CHEM 494A Research Project followed by CHEM 494B Research Project 
  or PHYS 437A Research Project followed by PHYS 437B Research Project (continued)
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar (fall and winter terms only)
PHYS 335 Condensed Matter Physics
Six electives (3.0 units)