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    * Honours BSc Physics-Mathematics

  Honours BSc Physics-Mathematics

      120 Units

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          Why is our world the way it is? How can we understand and explain what we observe around us, from the smallest sub-atomic particles to the largest galaxies? How can we apply this understanding to manipulate our world? Studying physics gives insight into the fundamental laws of nature.

          But an education in physics gives so much more. The rigorous training our students receive in analyzing and understanding complex problems is valuable in many future careers. While many of our graduates have established careers in universities and in the high tech sector as research and development scientists, others have used their physics degrees as a springboard to careers in finance, administration, medicine, management or education. The range of career opportunities is perhaps wider than for any other students with a science education.

          Physicists have revolutionized the way we live our lives, with groundbreaking discoveries and new technologies, transferable to other fields such as biology or finance. Our professors and graduates are an important part of this chain. Many of our professors have also been recognized for their teaching and are seen as world-class researchers in their fields of expertise.

          The research conducted by the professors in the Department of Physics is concentrated in several sub-specialties, including the physics of biological and complex systems, condensed matter physics, photonics and the physics of geomaterials. Depending upon your choice of program, you have the opportunity to take courses and participate in research projects in these specialized areas.

          In addition to the Honours BSc in Physics, we offer three other Honours BSc programs. The first is in physics-mathematics, which provides enriched mathematics training within a physics program. The second is the option in photonics, which gives students a solid training in physics and a more applied and industry-related training in photonics. The third is the option in biological physics, which teaches students to apply a rigorous education in physics to various areas of life sciences. We also offer a Major in Physics that can form the core of an Honours BSc when combined with a major or a minor in another discipline in the Faculty of Science, or in another faculty. Finally, starting in fall 2016, we will offer a five-year integrated program in physics (BSc) and electrical engineering (BASc), jointly with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS). This unique program will offer a full education in physics and electrical engineering. Graduates will be sought after by industry and academia, as they will have the capacity to develop technology from a basic physics idea to the final product.

          The Department of Physics also has strong graduate programs, leading to an MSc or PhD. They give students the opportunity to work on cutting edge science in a research group led by one or more department professors.

          This program is offered in English and in French.

        Co-operative education is available with this program.

        The French immersion stream is available with this program.

      Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                                Title                                                      Units  
        Compulsory Courses at the 1000 level                                                                                                                                                                                         
        MAT 1320                                                                                                                                                            Calculus I                                                 3 Units
        MAT 1322                                                                                                                                                            Calculus II                                                3 Units
        MAT 1341                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Linear Algebra                             3 Units
        PHY 1112                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Computational Physics                      3 Units
        PHY 1121                                                                                                                                                            Fundamentals of Physics I                                  3 Units
        PHY 1122                                                                                                                                                            Fundamentals of Physics II                                 3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                                         
        MAT 2122                                                                                                                                                            Multivariable Calculus                                     3 Units
        MAT 2125                                                                                                                                                            Elementary Real Analysis                                   3 Units
        MAT 2141                                                                                                                                                            Honours Linear Algebra                                     3 Units
        MAT 2143                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Group Theory                               3 Units
        PHY 2104                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Circuit Theory and Electronics             3 Units
        PHY 2311                                                                                                                                                            Waves and Optics                                           3 Units
        PHY 2323                                                                                                                                                            Electricity and Magnetism                                  3 Units
        PHY 2333                                                                                                                                                            Mechanics                                                  3 Units
        PHY 2361                                                                                                                                                            Modern Physics                                             3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 3000 level                                                                                                                                                                                         
        PHY 3320                                                                                                                                                            Electromagnetic Theory                                     3 Units
        PHY 3341                                                                                                                                                            Theoretical Physics                                        3 Units
        PHY 3350                                                                                                                                                            Thermodynamics                                             3 Units
        PHY 3355                                                                                                                                                            Statistical Thermodynamics                                 3 Units
        PHY 3370                                                                                                                                                            Introductory Quantum Mechanics                             3 Units
        PHY 3902                                                                                                                                                            Physics and Applied Physics Laboratory I                   3 Units
        Compulsory Courses at the 4000 level                                                                                                                                                                                         
        PHY 4370                                                                                                                                                            Quantum Mechanics                                          3 Units
        Optional Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                             
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                3 Units                                                  
          MAT 1348                                                                                                                                                          Discrete Mathematics for Computing 1                              
          MAT 1362                                                                                                                                                          Mathematical Reasoning and Proofs                                 
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                3 Units                                                  
          MAT 2324                                                                                                                                                          Ordinary Differential Equations and the Laplace Transform         
          MAT 2384                                                                                                                                                          Ordinary Differential Equations and Numerical Methods             
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                3 Units                                                  
          MAT 2371                                                                                                                                                          Introduction to Probability                                       
          STA 2391                                                                                                                                                          Probability and Statistics for Engineers                          
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                                3 Units                                                  
          PHY 4382                                                                                                                                                          Introduction to Solid State Physics                               
          PHY 4906                                                                                                                                                          Physics Project                                                   
        6 optional course units in physics (PHY) at the 4000 or 5000 level                                                                                                  6 Units                                                  
        6 optional course units in mathematics (MAT) at the 3000 or 4000 level, excluding MAT 3320 2                                                                        6 Units                                                  
        Elective Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                             
        12 elective course units from the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Telfer School of Management  12 Units                                                 
        18 elective course units 3                                                                                                                                          18 Units                                                 
        Total:                                                                                                                                                              120 Units                                                
        

        Note(s)

        1

        MAT 1348 is a prerequisite for most second year computer science courses (CSI).

        2

        The following courses are recommended as particularly useful: MAT 3130, MAT 3155, MAT 3341, MAT 3395, MAT 4183, MAT 4387.

        3

        Out of the 18 elective course units, some breadth in other sciences is recommended, particularly CHM 1311.

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