X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Physics (PHYS)

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 Honours Physics should plan their program in consultation with the Department of Physics Faculty Advisor.

Major (Honours Program)

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

Semester 1*
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
CIS*1300 [0.50] Programming
IPS*1500 [1.00] Integrated Mathematics and Physics 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
IPS*1510 [1.00] Integrated Mathematics and Physics II
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 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 Liberal Education electives
Semester 4
PHYS*2180 [0.50] Experimental Techniques in Physics
PHYS*2310 [0.50] Mechanics
PHYS*2340 [0.50] Electricity and Magnetism II
1.00 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
One of:
MATH*3260 [0.50] Complex Analysis
0.50 electives
Semester 7+
PHYS*4500 [0.50] Advanced Physics Laboratory
PHYS*4180 [0.50] Advanced Electromagnetic Theory
One of:
PHYS*4240 [0.50] Statistical Physics II
0.50 electives
One of:
PHYS*4001 [0.50] Research in Physics
0.50 electives
0.50 electives **
Semester 8+
One of:
PHYS*4002 [0.50] Research in Physics
0.50 electives**
2.00 electives **

+ students going on to graduate school in physics should take PHYS*4001/2, PHYS*4120, PHYS*4130, PHYS*4150, PHYS*4240

** At least 1.00 credits must be from the restricted electives listed below.

Restricted Electives
PHYS*4120 [0.50] Atomic and Molecular Physics
PHYS*4130 [0.50] Subatomic Physics
PHYS*4150 [0.50] Solid State Physics
Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

5.00 - First year science credits

8.50 - Required science courses semesters 3 – 8

1.00 - Restricted electives

1.50 - Approved Science electives

1.00 - Liberal Education electives

3.00 - Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students

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.

Minor (Honours Program)

A minor in Physics requires 5.00 credits in interdisciplinary physical science or physics courses including:

PHYS*2180 [0.50] Experimental Techniques in Physics
PHYS*2310 [0.50] Mechanics
PHYS*2330 [0.50] Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS*2340 [0.50] Electricity and Magnetism II

A maximum of1.00 credits from the following courses may be used towards the minor:

PHYS*1010 [0.50] Introductory Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
PHYS*1080 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences
PHYS*1130 [0.50] Physics with Applications
IPS*1510 [1.00] Integrated Mathematics and Physics II

A minimum of 1.00 credits are required at the 3000 or 4000 level.

NOTE:PHYS*1300, PHYS*1600 and PHYS*1810 may not be taken for credit toward this minor.

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