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:
- 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 ENGL unit: ENGL 193/SPCOM 193
- 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
- Enrolment in PHYS 10 when offered
- Co-operative education requirements that include:
Additional Program Condition:
A maximum of 3.0 SCI units may be counted towards this program.
Notes
- Year One CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, and CHEM 123 may be replaced by Year One BIOL or EARTH courses.
- PHYS 437A and PHYS 437B may not count toward the 1.5 PHYS lecture units at the 400-level.
- 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.
- PHYS 434, PHYS 437A, and PHYS 442 are recommended electives for students wishing to pursue graduate studies.
Recommended Course Sequence
Year 1
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
One of ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 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 2
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)
Spring
PHYS 234 Quantum Physics 1
PHYS 242 Electricity and Magnetism 1
PHYS 242L Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory
PHYS 260L Intermediate Physics Laboratory
PHYS 263 Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
Two electives (1.0 unit)
Year 3
Spring
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 4
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 units)