X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Theoretical Physics (THPY)

Department of Physics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major may wish to consult the Faculty Advisor. Since some of the required courses are not offered every semester, students entering the Major in Theoretical Physics should plan their program in consultation with the Faculty Advisor.

Major (Honours Program)

This major requires the completion of 20.00 credits. At least 1.00 of these credits must be obtained from the completion of Arts and/or Social Science courses.

Semester 1
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
IPS*1500 [1.00] Integrated Mathematics and Physics I
MATH*1160 [0.50] Linear Algebra I
One of:
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080 [0.50] Biological Concepts of Health
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
Students who are lacking one 4U /grade 12 course in Biology, Chemistry or Physics must take the equivalent introductory course in first semester. The required first-year science courses in that subject should be completed according to the revised schedule of studies available at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS
Semester 2
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
CIS*1500 [0.50] Introduction to Programming
IPS*1510 [1.00] Integrated Mathematics and Physics II
One of:
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080 [0.50] Biological Concepts of Health
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
Note: students who have taken physics courses other than IPS*1500 or PHYS*1080 in Semester 1 and IPS*1510 or PHYS*1010 in Semester 2, may proceed to semester 3 with the permission of the Department of Physics
Semester 3
MATH*2200 [0.50] Advanced Calculus I
MATH*2270 [0.50] Applied Differential Equations
PHYS*2240 [0.50] Thermal Physics
PHYS*2330 [0.50] Electricity and Magnetism I
0.50 Arts or Social Science electives
Semester 4
MATH*2210 [0.50] Advanced Calculus II
PHYS*2180 [0.50] Experimental Techniques in Physics
PHYS*2310 [0.50] Mechanics
PHYS*2340 [0.50] Electricity and Magnetism II
0.50 electives*
Semester 5
IPS*3000 [0.50] Science Communication
PHYS*3130 [0.50] Mathematical Physics
PHYS*3230 [0.50] Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS*3400 [0.50] Advanced Mechanics
0.50 electives*
Semester 6
NANO*3600 [0.50] Computational Methods in Materials Science
PHYS*3000 [0.50] Optics: Fundamentals and Applications
PHYS*3510 [0.50] Intermediate Laboratory
PHYS*4040 [0.50] Quantum Mechanics II
0.50 electives*
Semester 7
PHYS*4120 [0.50] Atomic and Molecular Physics
PHYS*4180 [0.50] Advanced Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS*4240 [0.50] Statistical Physics II
Two of:
PHYS*4001 [0.50] Research in Physics
PHYS*4500 [0.50] Advanced Physics Laboratory
0.50 electives*
0.50 electives*
Semester 8
MATH*3260 [0.50] Complex Analysis
PHYS*4130 [0.50] Subatomic Physics
PHYS*4150 [0.50] Solid State Physics
One of:
PHYS*4002 [0.50] Research in Physics
0.50 electives*
0.50 electives*
*Restricted Electives

Students must complete 2.00 credits from the following list:

CIS*2500 [0.50] Intermediate Programming
MATH*2000 [0.50] Proofs, Sets, and Numbers
MATH*2130 [0.50] Numerical Methods
MATH*3100 [0.50] Differential Equations II
MATH*3130 [0.50] Abstract Algebra
MATH*3160 [0.50] Linear Algebra II
MATH*3200 [0.50] Real Analysis
MATH*3240 [0.50] Operations Research
Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

5.00 - First year science credits

11.00 - Required science courses semesters 3 – 8

2.00 - Restricted electives

1.00 - Arts and/or Social Science electives

1.00 - Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students. , could be less if restricted electives do not count as science

Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120