BSc or BA (120 credit hour) Concentrated Honours in Physics

Students who want a challenging program resulting in a broad and in-depth background in Physics, including an independent research experience, may want to enroll in an Honours program. Students interested in eventually pursuing graduate studies are particularly encouraged to consider Honours. Honours students complete a minimum of 54 credit hours above the 1000 level in the Physics courses listed below with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and write a research-based Honours thesis. The thesis requirement is satisfied through completion of PHYC 4800.03/PHYC 4850.03.

A Co-op option is available for students enrolled in a BSc Concentrated Honours in Physics.

Admission to Honours

Students must apply for admission to Honours programs. Students considering Honours in Physics should consult with a Physics Undergraduate Advisor early in their second year.

Departmental requirements

In addition to fulfilling the requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations and College of Arts and Science Degree Requirements sections, students in a Concentrated Honours program in Physics must complete the following courses:

1000 level

• PHYC 1190.03/PHYC 1290.03: Introduction to Physics or PHYC 1310.03/PHYC 1320.03: Physics In and Around You
• MATH 1000.03: Differential and Integral Calculus I/MATH 1010.03: Differential and Integral Calculus II
• CHEM 1011.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Structure and Reactivity/CHEM 1012.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Energy and Equilibrium
• MATH 1030.03: Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra I

Or Integrated Science Program (options above)

2000 level

• PHYC 2060.03: Oscillations and Waves/PHYC 2150.03: Physics Tools: Experiment
• PHYC 2515.03: Modern Physics/PHYC 2510.03: Electricity and Magnetism
• MATH 2001.03: Intermediate Calculus I
• MATH 2120.03: Methods for Ordinary Differential Equations
• PHYC 2050.03: Computer Simulation in Science

3000 and 4000 level

• PHYC 3000.03: Experimental Physics I/PHYC 3010.03: Experimental Physics II
• PHYC 3640.03: Quantum Physics I/PHYC 3590.03: Advanced Classical Mechanics
• PHYC 3200.03: Thermodynamics/PHYC 3210.03: Statistical Mechanics
• MATH 3120.03: Differential Equations/PHYC 3100.03
• PHYC 4151.03: Quantum Physics II
• PHYC 4160.03: Mathematical Methods of Physics
• PHYC 4800.03/PHYC 4850.03: Honours Research Project
• An additional six credit hours of 3000 or 4000 level PHYC courses, other than PHYC 3160.03, PHYC 3170.03, PHYC 3330.03, PHYC 4540.03: Synoptic Meteorology I, PHYC 4550.03: Synoptic Meteorology II

* Up to 30 credit hours of general electives may be chosen from the Faculty of Engineering.

Honours Qualifying Exam

The Honours Qualifying Exam grade is the average of best ten grades obtained in 3000 and 4000 level Honours courses.