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    * Honours BSc Geology-Physics

  Honours BSc Geology-Physics

      120 Units

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      * Program Requirements

          Geology is a modern, dynamic and diverse science that involves investigating the composition and evolution of Earth and other planetary bodies.

          Geologists and Earth scientists study the Earth, including its chemical, physical and biological evolution. Our programs teach students how to analyze Earth materials, probe the Earth from surface to core and model the processes that produced and shape its oceans and continents. The Ottawa region is a natural laboratory where students investigate resources (water, metals, minerals, petroleum), hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, landslides) and a variety of geological environments.

          The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers programs in geology and, along with the Department of Physics, a program in geology-physics. These programs balance field-based learning with theoretical and analytical investigations directly relevant to the needs of society. The final year involves an independent research project or equivalent units (credits) in advanced courses in the discipline.

          The honours requirements meet the professional accreditation requirements of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and l’Ordre des géologues du Québec.

          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                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        BIO 1131                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Organismal Biology                                      3 Units
        CHM 1311                                                                                                                                                              Principles of Chemistry                                                 3 Units
        EVS 1101                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Environmental Science                                   3 Units
        GEO 1111                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Earth Systems                                           3 Units
        GEO 1115                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Earth Materials                                         3 Units
        ITI 1120                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Computing I                                             3 Units
        MAT 1320                                                                                                                                                              Calculus I                                                              3 Units
        MAT 1322                                                                                                                                                              Calculus II                                                             3 Units
        MAT 1341                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Linear Algebra                                          3 Units
        PHY 1121                                                                                                                                                              Fundamentals of Physics I                                               3 Units
        PHY 1122                                                                                                                                                              Fundamentals of Physics II                                              3 Units
        Compulsory courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        GEO 2020                                                                                                                                                              Field Studies I                                                         3 Units
        GEO 2163                                                                                                                                                              Introduction to Mineralogy                                              3 Units
        GEO 2165                                                                                                                                                              Sedimentology and Stratigraphy                                          3 Units
        GEO 2321                                                                                                                                                              Structural Geology and Tectonics                                        3 Units
        MAT 2322                                                                                                                                                              Calculus III for Engineers                                              3 Units
        MAT 2384                                                                                                                                                              Ordinary Differential Equations and Numerical Methods                   3 Units
        PHY 2311                                                                                                                                                              Waves and Optics                                                        3 Units
        PHY 2361                                                                                                                                                              Modern Physics                                                          3 Units
        Compulsory courses at the 3000 level                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        GEO 3191                                                                                                                                                              Applied Geophysics                                                      3 Units
        GEO 3382                                                                                                                                                              Geochemistry                                                            3 Units
        PHY 3380                                                                                                                                                              Physics of the Earth                                                    3 Units
        One option from the following:                                                                                                                                        9 Units                                                               
        Option 1: Honours Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
          GEO 4010                                                                                                                                                            Honours Project                                                                
        Option 2: Honours Project Substitution                                                                                                                                                                                                      
          3 optional course units in Geology (GEO) or Physics (PHY) at the 4000 level                                                                                                                                                               
          6 optional course units in Geology (GEO) or Physics (PHY) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                                                                                       
        Optional courses                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
        3 optional course units from:                                                                                                                                         3 Units                                                               
          CHM 2330                                                                                                                                                            Physical Chemistry: Introduction to the Molecular Properties of Matter         
          CHM 2353                                                                                                                                                            Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry                                                
        6 optional course units from:                                                                                                                                         6 Units                                                               
          PHY 2104                                                                                                                                                            Introduction to Circuit Theory and Electronics                                 
          PHY 2323                                                                                                                                                            Electricity and Magnetism                                                      
          PHY 2333                                                                                                                                                            Mechanics                                                                      
        3 optional course units in geology (GEO) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                                    3 Units                                                               
        3 optional course units in physics (PHY) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                                    3 Units                                                               
        3 optional course units in Geology (GEO) or Physics (PHY) at the 3000 or 4000 level                                                                                   3 Units                                                               
        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 1  12 Units                                                              
        15 elective course units                                                                                                                                              15 Units                                                              
        Total:                                                                                                                                                                120 Units                                                             
        

        Note(s)

        1 A language course at the 1000 or 2000 level is strongly recommended.

        Students who take the Geology-Physics Program and wish to become registered members of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario must take 21 units in Earth Sciences from among the optional courses in order to satisfy the requirements of the professional association.

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