Science Academic Programs and Plans

Advisors: See Faculty of Science, academic advisors.

The Honours Co-operative Mathematical 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 Honours Co-operative Mathematical Physics program is designed for physics students who are mathematically inclined and wish to concentrate their effort in theoretical studies.

The "core plus electives" structure of the Honours Co-operative Mathematical 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).

Continuation in Honours Co-operative Mathematical Physics requires a cumulative overall average of 60% and a  combined cumulative Physics and Math average of 65%.

Students can transfer into Year Two of this program from Honours Physics if they have grades of 80% or higher in MATH 114, MATH 127, and MATH 128 and a minimum 65% Physics average.

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

1. 21.0 units that include:
   • 7.25 PHYS units: PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 124, PHYS 131L, PHYS 132L, PHYS 234, PHYS 236, PHYS 242, PHYS 263, PHYS 342, PHYS 358, PHYS 359, PHYS 363, PHYS 434, and PHYS 442
   • 2.5 MATH units: MATH 136, MATH 137, MATH 138, MATH 235, and MATH 237
   • 3.0 AMATH units: AMATH 231, AMATH 250, AMATH 332, AMATH 351, AMATH 353, and AMATH 373
   • 1.0 STAT unit: STAT 230 and STAT 231
   • 1.25 CHEM units: CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, and CHEM 123
   • 0.5 ENGL unit: ENGL 193/SPCOM 193
   • 5.5 elective units distributed as follows:
     • 1.5 PHYS or AMATH lecture units at the 300-level or higher
     • 1.5 program elective units chosen from: PHYS 444, PHYS 454, PHYS 476, AMATH 361, AMATH 456, or AMATH 463
     • 2.5 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:

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 334 may substitute AMATH 373.
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 437A is a recommended elective 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
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 121 Mechanics
PHYS 131L Mechanics Laboratory
MATH 136 Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics
MATH 137 Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics
One of ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 Communication in the Sciences

Winter

CHEM 123 Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics
PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 122 Waves, Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 132L Waves, Electricity, Magnetism and Measurement Laboratory
PHYS 124 Modern Physics
MATH 138 Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year Two

Fall

PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 236 Computational Physics 1
MATH 235 Linear Algebra 2 for Honours Mathematics
MATH 237 Calculus 3 for Honours Mathematics
AMATH 250 Introduction to Differential Equations
One elective (0.5 unit)

Spring

PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
PHYS 242 Electricity and Magnetism 1
PHYS 263 Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
AMATH 231 Calculus 4
STAT 230 Probability

Year Three

Spring

PHYS 342 Electricity and Magnetism 2
PHYS 358 Thermal Physics
PHYS 363 Intermediate Classical Mechanics 
AMATH 351 Ordinary Differential Equations 2
STAT 231 Statistics

Winter

PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics
One of AMATH 332/PMATH 332 Applied Complex Analysis
AMATH 353 Partial Differential Equations 1
AMATH 373 Quantum Theory 1
One elective (0.5 unit)

Year Four

Fall and Winter

PHYS 10 Physics Seminar
PHYS 434 Quantum Physics 3
PHYS 442 Electricity and Magnetism 3
Three PHYS or AMATH electives 300-level or higher (1.5 units)
Three program electives (1.5 units)
Two electives (1.0 unit)