Physics

General information

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics provides a solid education in classical and modern physics with emphasis on mathematics, numerical methods, programming and experiential learning as well as a basic foundation in biology and chemistry.

The program meets the rapidly increasing demand for graduates with knowledge and skills in technology-oriented fields such as energy, materials science, nanotechnology, microelectronics, health, photonics and communication technologies and astrophysics.

The Physics program offers optional specializations in Astrophysics , and Nanophysics .

The Faculty of Business and Information Technology offers a Finance minor  specifically for students in Physics.

Double major

The Faculty of Science offers separate Honours Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics for Science and Industry  and in Physics . Students with interest in both disciplines may wish to complete the academic requirements of both programs and be awarded a single degree, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics for Science and Industry  and Physics . Eligibility requirements and academic information can be obtained from the academic advising office.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U), and two of Biology (SBI4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), or Physics (SPH4U). In addition, a combined minimum 70 per cent average in math and science courses is required. It is recommended that all four MCV4U, SBI4U, SCH4U and SPH4U be taken. All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Program details and degree requirements

The requirements for the four-year Physics program are detailed in the following program map. In addition to the regular program, a co-op program is also available. Students interested in the co-op program  should contact the Faculty of Science Co-op Coordinator as early as the fall of their second year.

Although reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the following program map, course requirements and term offerings may change.

Year 1 (30 credit hours)

• CHEM 1010U – Chemistry I
• CSCI 1040U – Introduction to Programming for Scientists
• MATH 1020U – Calculus II
• MATH 2050U – Linear Algebra
• PHY 1020U – Physics II
• PHY 2060U – Modern Physics

• One of:

• BIOL 1010U – Biology I: Molecular and Cellular Systems ⁺ or
• BIOL 1011U – Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology

• One of:

• BIOL 1020U – Biology II: Diversity of Life and Principles of Ecology ⁺ or
• BIOL 1021U – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology or
• CHEM 1020U – Chemistry II

• One of:

• MATH 1000U – Introductory Calculus ⁺⁺ or
• MATH 1010U – Calculus I ⁺⁺

• One of:

• PHY 1010U – Physics I ⁺⁺ or
• PHY 1030U – Introductory Physics ⁺⁺

•  

  ⁺Students who wish to take upper-year Biology courses must take BIOL 1010U  and BIOL 1020U .

   

  ⁺⁺All students who have completed Grade 12 Advanced Functions (MHF4U) and Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) should take MATH 1010U  and PHY 1010U . Students without one of these high school courses or equivalent are directed to take MATH 1000U  and PHY 1030U .

Year 2 (30 credit hours)

• Two electives*
• CSCI 2000U – Scientific Data Analysis
• MATH 2015U – Calculus III
• MATH 2060U – Differential Equations
• PHY 2010U – Electricity and Magnetism I
• PHY 2030U – Mechanics I
• PHY 2040U – Mechanics II
• PHY 2050U – Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
• STAT 2010U – Statistics and Probability for Physical Science

Year 3 (30 credit hours)

• Three electives*
• Two Senior Physics elective*
• PHY 3010U – Statistical Mechanics
• PHY 3020U – Quantum Mechanics I
• PHY 3030U – Experimental Methods in Physics I
• PHY 3040U – Applied Partial Differential Equations
• PHY 3050U – Experimental Methods in Physics II

Year 4 (30 credit hours)

• Three electives*
• Two Senior Physics electives*
• PHY 3080U – Electricity and Magnetism II
• PHY 4010U – Condensed Matter
• PHY 4020U – Quantum Mechanics II

• One of:

• PHY 4410U – Physics Thesis Project I ** or
• Senior Science elective**

• One of:

• PHY 4420U – Physics Thesis Project II ** or
• Senior Science elective**

Note:

No more than 42 credit hours may be taken at the first-year level.

*Electives and breadth requirements

All students must complete 36 elective credit hours including 12 credit hours in a Senior Physics elective. Students not accepted to take PHY 4410U  and PHY 4420U  must take an additional two Senior Science electives for a total of 42 elective credit hours. At least 18 elective credit hours must be in courses offered by the Faculty of Science including 12 credit hours in a Senior Physics electives. The additional two Senior Science electives required for students who are not enrolled in thesis cannot be used to meet this requirement. In order to satisfy breadth requirements, no more than 18 elective credit hours may be in Physics (PHY) courses; at least 12 elective credit hours must be in courses outside the Faculty of Science. Students must take the remaining six elective credit hours in a general elective (offered by the Faculty of Science or outside the Faculty of Science).

**Thesis Project or Senior Science electives

Students in clear academic standing who have completed 90 credit hours of their program and six third-year required PHY courses may optionally apply to take a two-course sequence consisting of PHY 4410U – Physics Thesis Project I and PHY 4420U – Physics Thesis Project II.

Students not accepted to take the thesis courses must complete two additional Senior Science electives instead. A Senior Science elective is defined as any 3000- or 4000-level science course not specified in the program map, excluding SCIE and ENVS courses. A student meeting the above requirements who does not take PHY 4410U and PHY 4420U may optionally apply to take PHY 4430U – Directed Studies in Physics as one of the required Senior Science electives.

Opportunities for the Thesis Project and Directed Studies options are limited; students must apply through Science Advising by March 30 following completion of the first three years of the program.

Recommended Senior Science electives that students may choose to take include:

• CSCI 3010U – Simulation and Modelling
• CSCI 3070U – Analysis and Design of Algorithms
• CSCI 3090U – Computer Graphics and Visualization
• MATH 3040U – Optimization
• MATH 3050U – Mathematical Modelling
• MATH 3060U – Complex Analysis
• MATH 3070U – Algebraic Structures
• MATH 4050U – Partial Differential Equations
• PHY 3060U – Fluid Dynamics
• PHY 3510U – Biophysics
• PHY 4030U – Topics in Contemporary Physics I
• PHY 4040U – Solar Energy and Photovoltaics
• PHY 4060U – Topics in Contemporary Physics II
• PHY 4130U – Particle Physics
• PHY 4510U – Physics of Nanotechnology
• PHY 4920U – Cosmology
• STAT 3010U – Biostatistics

Program learning outcomes

The following outcomes outline the knowledge and skills students will have achieved upon completion of the program.