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Suggested sequence of courses for fall entry

For students starting a 4-year (120-credit) program in Physics, see below for your Year 0 suggested sequence 

BSc Major

YEAR 1: 21 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
MAST 218
Multivariable Calculus I
MAST 219
Multivariable Calculus II
PHYS 232
Methods of Theoretical Physics I
PHYS 230
Experimental Physics I 
PHYS 245
Classical Mechanics
PHYS 236
Numerical Methods in Physics with Python  
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
PHYS 367
Modern Physics and Relativity
General Education
(3 credits outside science)
General Education
(3 credits outside science)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 1 with PHYS 289 Honours Research Experience I.

YEAR 2: 15 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
PHYS 253
Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 252
Optics
PHYS 334
Thermodynamics
PHYS 335
Methods of Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 377
Quantum Mechanics I
Elective (3 credits)
Suggested: PHYS 260  Introductory Biophysics
Elective (3 credits)
Suggested: PHYS 355 Electronics
Elective (3 credits)
Suggested: PHYS 330 Experimental Physics II
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 2 with PHYS 389 Honours Research Experience II.

YEAR 3: 9 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
3 PHYS credits 
chosen with academic advisor
PHYS 354
Electricity and Magnetism II
Elective (3 credits) Suggested:
PHYS 440 Computational Methods in Physics with Python
PHYS 435
Statistical Physics
Elective (3 credits) Suggested:
PHYS 443 Quantitative Human Systems Physiology
Elective (3 credits) Suggested:
PHYS 445 Principles of Medical Imaging
PHYS 468 Condensed Matter and Nanophysics
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
Elective (3 credits) Suggested:
PHYS 478 Quantum Mechanics II
PHYS 498 Advanced Topics in Physics: Quantum Field Theory
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

BSc Specialization or Honours,
Option A: Physics

YEAR 1: 24 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
MAST 218
Multivariable Calculus I
MAST 219
Multivariable Calculus II
PHYS 232
Methods of Theoretical Physics I
PHYS 230
Experimental Physics I 
PHYS 245
Classical Mechanics
PHYS 236
Numerical Methods in Physics with Python
PHYS 253
Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 367
Modern Physics  and Relativity
General Education
(3 credits outside science)
General Education
(3 credits outside science)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 1 with PHYS 289 Honours Research Experience I.

YEAR 2: 24 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
PHYS 330
Experimental Physics II
PHYS 252
Optics
PHYS 334
Thermodynamics
PHYS 335
Methods of Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 355
Electronics
PHYS 354
Electricity and Magnetism II
PHYS 377
Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 435
Statistical Physics
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 2 with PHYS 389: Honours Research Experience II.

Students wishing to take PHYS 498: Advanced Topics in Physics: Quantum Field Theory in year 3 should take PHYS 478: Quantum Mechanics II in year 2. 

YEAR 3: 18 PROGRAM CREDITS (21 FOR HONOURS)

FALL WINTER
PHYS 345
Advanced Classical Mechanics
PHYS 468
Condensed Matter and Nanophysics
PHYS 459
Solid State Physics 
PHYS 478
Quantum Mechanics II

3 PHYS credits chosen with Academic Advisor (see also winter options)

Recommended:

PHYS 440
Computational Methods in Physics with Python

3 PHYS credits chosen with Academic Advisor (see also fall options)

Recommended:

PHYS 445
Principles of Medical Imaging

PHYS 498
Advanced Topics in Physics: Quantum Field Theory

Specialization Students:

PHYS 497
Specialization Research Project

Honours Students:

PHYS 496*
Honours Research Project

Specialization Students:

General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

Honours Students:

PHYS 496 (continued)*
Honours Research Project

General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
  General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

*Note: PHYS 496 is a two-term course that is to be taken either in Summer 1/Summer 2 or in Fall/Winter. 

BSc Specialization or Honours, Option B: Biophysics

YEAR 1: 24 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
BIOL 266
Cell Biology
MAST 219 
Multivariable Calculus II
MAST 218
Multivariable Calculus I
PHYS 236
Numerical Methods in Physics with Python
PHYS 232
Methods of Theoretical Physics I
PHYS 260
Introductory Biophysics
PHYS 245
Classical Mechanics
PHYS 367
Modern Physics and Relativity
General Education
(3 credits outside science)
General Education
(3 credits outside science)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 1 with PHYS 289 Honours Research Experience I.

YEAR 2: 24 PROGRAM CREDITS

FALL WINTER
PHYS 230
Experimental Physics I
PHYS 252
Optics
PHYS 253
Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 335 
Methods of Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 334
Thermodynamics
PHYS 354
Electricity and Magnetism II
PHYS 377
Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 330
Experimental Physics II
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

Honours students can replace a general elective in Year 2 with PHYS 389 Honours Research Experience II.

YEAR 3: 18 PROGRAM CREDITS (21 HONOURS)

FALL WINTER
One course from List 1 or List 2 (see below) PHYS 435
Statistical Physics

PHYS 497
Specialization Research Project

OR

PHYS 496*
Honours Research Project 

One course from List 2 (see below) if not taken in the fall, otherwise additional course from List 1
One course from List 1 (see below)

General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)
General Education
(3 credits outside physics)

*Note: PHYS 496 is a two-term course that is to be taken either in Summer 1/Summer 2 or in Fall/Winter. 

List 1 List 2
Three courses from this list:
  • PHYS 345 Advanced Classical Mechanics
  • PHYS 355 Electronics
  • PHYS 370 Nonlinear Dynamic, Chaos, Fractals
  • PHYS 440 Computational Methods in Physics with Python
  • PHYS 445 Medical Imaging
  • PHYS 459 Solid State Physics 
  • PHYS 468 Condensed Matter and Nanophysics
  • CHEM 235 Physical Chemistry - Chemical Reactions
  • CHEM 271 Biochemistry
  • CHEM 431 Computational Chemistry

(Note: the above courses may be offered in the fall or winter term. Refer to the schedule builder.)

One course from this list:

  • PHYS 443 Quantitative Human Systems Physiology
  • BIOL 261 Genetics
  • BIOL 340 Plant Biology
  • BIOL 371 Principles of Microbiology
  • BIOL 341 Plant Physiology

(Note: the above courses may be offered in the fall or winter term. Refer to the schedule builder.)

Students starting a 4-year (120-credit) program in Physics

YEAR 0: 30 PROGRAM CREDITS

FIRST SEMESTER SECOND SEMESTER
CHEM 205
General Chemistry I (3 credits)
CHEM 206 (Pre-Requisite: CHEM 205)
General Chemistry II (3 credits)
MATH 203
Differential and Integral Calculus I (3 credits)
MATH 205 (Pre-Requisite: MATH 203)
Differential and Integral Calculus II (3 credits)
MATH 204
Vectors and Matrices (3 credits)
PHYS 205 (Pre-Requisite: PHYS 204)
Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)
PHYS 204
Mechanics (3 credits)
PHYS 206 (Pre-Requisite: PHYS 204)
Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics (3 credits)
BIOL 201
Introductory Biology (3 credits)
PHYS 224 (Pre-Requisite: PHYS 204)
Experimental Mechanics (1 credit)
PHYS 225 (Pre-Requisite: PHYS 205)
Experimental Electricity and Magnetism (1 credit)
PHYS 226 (Pre-Requisite: PHYS 206)
Experimental Waves, Optics and Modern Physics (1 credit)

Biophysics Minor

The Minor in Biophysics consists of 24 credits chosen from the courses below.

Mandatory MAST 218: Multivariable Calculus I
Mandatory PHYS 252: Optics
Mandatory PHYS 260: Introductory Biophysics
One course chosen from: PHYS 232: Methods of Theoretical Physics I
BIOL 266: Cell Biology
One course chosen from: PHYS 236: Numerical Methods in Physics with Python
PHYS 253: Electricity and Magnetism I
Three courses chosen from PHYS 334: Thermodynamics 
PHYS 443: Quantitative Human Systems Physiology
PHYS 445: Principles of Medical Imaging
PHYS 460: Chemical Aspects of Biophysics
PHYS 461: Membrane Biophysics

Some courses are not offered every term. Please consult the schedule builder or an Academic Advisor to confirm course availability. 

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