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Science and Engineering – Physics and Astronomy Print

Note: the following BSc and Honours BSc degree requirements do not apply to students in the space science stream of Specialized Honours physics and astronomy - for requirements for that stream, refer to Space Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section.

i) With the exception noted above, all BSc and Honours BSc degree candidates must complete the program core: SC/PHYS 1010 6.00; SC/PHYS 2010 3.00; SC/PHYS 2020 3.00; SC/PHYS 2040 3.00; SC/PHYS 2060 3.00; SC/PHYS 3040 6.00. (Note: all program core courses require mathematics prerequisites or corequisites.)

ii) All BSc and Honours BSc degree candidates must comply with general regulation 4 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) by completing the following (in addition to SC/PHYS 1010 6.00 from the program core):

iii) All BSc and Honours BSc degree candidates, in accordance with their declared programs, must comply with general regulation 5 or 6 (refer to the Faculty of Science and Engineering Regulations Governing Undergraduate Degree Requirements section) and, in so doing, must also satisfy the course, credit and standing requirements specified below.

Bachelor Program

To graduate in a bachelor program. A minimum overall grade point average of 4.00 (C) is required in order to be eligible to graduate with a BSc degree (bachelor program).

Students may follow a stream emphasizing physics or astronomy.

Students in both streams must take the following courses:

  • the program core, as specified in i) above;
  • the Faculty of Science and Engineering general education and 1000-level science requirements, as specified in ii) above;
  • SC/MATH 2015 3.00; SC/MATH 2271 3.00.

In addition, there are the following stream-dependent course requirements:

Physics Stream

Astronomy Stream

Honours Programs

To graduate in an Honours program requires successful completion of all Faculty requirements and departmental required courses and a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all courses completed, subject to the exception in the note below.

Note: in addition, a minimum cumulative credit-weighted grade point average of 5.00 (C+) over all biology courses completed is required to declare, proceed and graduate in (i) the Honours Double Major program where biology is the other major, and (ii) the Honours Major/Minor program where biology is the major. (The minimum 5.00 (C+) biology grade point average is not required where biology is the minor.)

Specialized Honours Program

Students may follow a stream emphasizing physics, applied physics or astronomy.

Students in all three streams must take the following courses:

In addition, there are the following stream-dependent course requirements:

Physics Stream

Applied Physics Stream

Astronomy Stream

The Department of Physics and Astronomy also offers a Specialized Honours BSc degree stream in space science whose degree requirements are specified in a separate entry in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Programs of Study section.

Honours Major, Honours Double Major and Honours Major/Minor Programs

An Honours Major in physics and astronomy may be taken stand-alone or combined with an Honours Major in another subject area in an Honours Double Major BSc degree program, or with an Honours Minor in another subject area in an Honours Major/Minor BSc degree program. Possible subject combinations are listed under Undergraduate Degree Programs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Undergraduate Degree and Certificate Programs section.

Early planning of courses in all combined programs is strongly advised so that the necessary prerequisites for courses in both departments are met.

  • The Faculty of Science and Engineering general education and 1000-level science requirements, as specified in ii) above and including courses appropriate for the second major or the minor;
  • the physics and astronomy Honours Major requirements below;
  • the course requirements for the second major or the minor;
  • additional elective credits, chosen in consultation with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as required for an overall total of at least 120 credits, including at least 42 credits at the 3000 or higher level.

Honours Major

Students may follow a stream emphasizing physics or astronomy.

Students in both streams must take the following courses:

Note: the following courses are required as prerequisites or corequisites for the courses above: SC/MATH 1013 3.00; SC/MATH 1014 3.00; SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2015 3.00; SC/MATH 2271 3.00.

In addition, there are the following stream-dependent course requirements:

Physics Stream

Astronomy Stream

Honours Minor

Students may follow a stream in physics or a stream in astronomy in the minor subject area.

Students in both streams must take the following courses:

Note: the following courses are required as prerequisites or corequisites for the courses above: SC/MATH 1013 3.00; SC/MATH 1014 3.00; SC/MATH 1025 3.00; SC/MATH 2015 3.00; SC/MATH 2271 3.00.

In addition, there are the following stream-dependent course requirements:

Physics Stream

Astronomy Stream

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