The Physics Specialist Program offers rigorous training in the full spectrum of core physics subfields, as well as their numerous important applications. Practical courses treat the experimental and computational aspects and complement the lecture courses. Physics concerns many of the most fundamental questions in our scientific understanding of the universe. What is the nature of matter and energy at the smallest scales? What are the physical processes that govern the Earth’s climate? What is the nature of light and how can it be controlled? How do the collective properties of solids emerge from those of individual atoms? How do biological processes organize themselves to maintain their survival? What is the structure and evolution of the Earth and the other planets? How can quantum information be used for computation? Physics seeks answers to these questions using a combination of theory, computation and precise experimental work, and the results find application across all of science.
Consult the Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies), Department of Physics.
This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program.
Students in this program have the option to request enrolment in the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream. Students can apply for the ASIP stream after Year 1 (Year 2 entry) or after Year 2 (Year 3 entry, starting Fall 2024). Full details about ASIP, including student eligibility, selection and enrolment, are available in the ASIP section of the Arts & Science Academic Calendar. Please note that the majority of students enter ASIP in Fall term of Year 2. Space is more limited for Year 3 entry. Students applying for Year 3 entry must have been admitted to the Physics Specialist in the Summer after Year 2.
(13.5 credits, including 1.0 credit at the 400-level)
First Year: (2.5 credits)
( MAT135H1, MAT136H1)/ MAT137Y1/ MAT157Y1, MAT223H1/ MAT240H1, PHY131H1/ PHY151H1, PHY132H1/ PHY152H1
(The courses MAT137Y1, MAT223H1, PHY151H1, PHY152H1 are recommended.)
Second Year: (4.0 credits)
MAT237Y1/ MAT257Y1/ MAT235Y1, MAT244H1/ MAT267H1, PHY224H1, PHY250H1, PHY252H1, PHY254H1, PHY256H1
(The courses MAT237Y1, MAT244H1 are recommended.)
Second or Third Year: (0.5 credit)
PHY324H1
Third Year: (3.0 credits)
1. APM346H1, MAT334H1/ MAT354H1, PHY350H1, PHY354H1, PHY356H1
2. Additional 0.5 credit from PHY 300-level courses/ PHY 400-level courses/ JPE395H1/ JPE493H1, excluding JPH311H1, JPH441H1
Third or Fourth Year: (3.5 credits)
1. PHY424H1
2. 1.0 credit from PHY450H1, PHY452H1, PHY454H1, PHY456H1, PHY460H1
3. PHY405H1/ PHY407H1/ PHY408H1/ PHY426H1/ PHY478H1. See Note 2.
4. 1.0 credit, including at least a 0.5 PHY credit at the 400-level, from PHY 300-level courses/ PHY 400-level courses/ JPE395H1/ JPE493H1, excluding JPH311H1, JPH441H1
5. Ethics and Social Responsibility Requirement: The Physics course JPH441H1 meets this requirement as well as any of the following courses: HPS200H1/ ENV222H1/ ENV333H1/ ESS205H1/ PHL273H1/ VIC172Y1/ AST310H1. See Note 3.
Students in this program have the option to complete the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream.
Notes:
1. Students are encouraged but not required to enrol in the independent study and project courses such as PHY371Y1, PHY478H1, etc.
2. PHY479Y1 (Undergraduate Research Project) satisfies Requirement 3 in Third or Fourth Year and counts as a 0.5 credit at the PHY 400-level for Requirement 4 in Third or Fourth Year. Students may use MAT351Y1 instead of APM346H1 for Requirement 1 in Third Year.
3. Requirement 5 in Third or Fourth Year represents a 0.5 credit with a significant emphasis on "Ethics and Social Responsibility", in the context of the physical sciences. Students may use the CR/NCR option towards any of the courses listed in Requirement 5. Another Arts & Science course with a significant emphasis on "Ethics and Social Responsibility", in the context of the physical sciences, may be substituted subject to approval from the Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies).
4. The requirement for an integrative, inquiry-based activity is satisfied by the required course PHY424H1.
