Physics – Astrophysics specialization

General information

The Astrophysics specialization within the Physics program  allows students to gain a fundamental background in physics and astronomy that emphasizes the current advances and newest technologies in the field of astrophysics. This specialization will prepare students for graduate work and a wide variety of career options in astronomy and physics.

In addition to the regular program, a co-op program is also available. Students in Astrophysics interested in the co-op program , should refer to the Co-op education website for up-to-date information.

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

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

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)

• CSCI 2000U – Scientific Data Analysis
• MATH 2015U – Calculus III
• MATH 2060U – Differential Equations
• PHY 2010U – Electricity and Magnetism I
• PHY 2030U – Mechanics I
• PHY 2050U – Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
• PHY 2040U – Mechanics II
• PHY 2900U – Astronomy I
• PHY 3900U – Astronomy II
• STAT 2010U – Statistics and Probability for Physical Science

Year 3 (30 credit hours)

• Three electives*
• Senior Astrophysics elective*
• 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*
• Senior Astrophysics elective*
• Senior Physics elective*
• 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 30 elective credit hours including 6 credit hours in senior physics electives and six credit hours in Senior Astrophysics electives. Students not accepted to take both PHY 4410U  and PHY 4420U  must take an additional two Senior Science electives for a total of 36 elective credit hours. At least 18 elective credit hours must be in courses offered by the Faculty of Science including 12 credit hours in 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.

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

• PHY 4910U – Techniques of Modern Astrophysics
• PHY 4920U – Cosmology

**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
• STAT 3010U – Biostatistics
• 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