Students interested in entering an Honours program should consult advisors in the department concerned before registering for their second year. Of the 120 credit units required for the B.Sc. Honours degree, at least 66 credit units must be at the senior level. Application for admission to Honours is not considered until successful completion of at least 60 credit units with a Cumulative Weighted Average of at least 70% overall and at least 70% in the subject of Honours. For further details, please see the Academic Information and Policies section.
No more than 6 credit units from one subject may be used in Requirements C1, C2, and the Junior Course Requirements in C3. An exception will be made to this rule to allow a student to choose to take 9 credit units in the same subject to fulfill the English Language Writing and Indigenous Learning Requirements (in the C1 College Requirement). Students who make this choice will be required to take 3 additional credit units of Fine Arts Program Type, Humanities Program Type, Social Science Program Type, or Arts and Sci No Program Type courses, in a different subject, within the C5 Electives Requirement.
C1 College Requirement (minimum 15 credit units)
English Language Writing
Choose 6 credit units from the following:
- ANTH 302.3
- ANTH 306.3
- ANTH 310.3
- ANTH 421.3
- CMRS 110.3
- CMRS 111.3
- CPSJ 203.3
- ENG 110.6
- ENG 111.3
- ENG 112.3
- ENG 113.3
- ENG 114.3
- ENG 120.3
- ENG 210.3
- ENG 211.3
- ENG 212.3
- ENG 213.3
- ENG 394.3
- ESL 116.3
- HIST 115.3
- HIST 125.3
- HIST 135.3
- HIST 145.3
- HIST 155.3
- HIST 165.3
- HIST 175.3
- HIST 185.3
- HIST 193.3
- HIST 194.3
- MUS 155.3
- PHIL 115.3
- PHIL 120.3
- PHIL 121.3
- PHIL 133.3
- PHIL 208.3
- PHIL 233.3
- POLS 236.3
- POLS 237.3
- PSY 323.3
- PSY 355.3
- RLST 280.3
- RLST 362.3
Indigenous Learning
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
- ANTH 202.3
- ANTH 480.3
- ARCH 350.3
- DRAM 111.3
- ENG 242.3
- ENG 243.3
- ENG 335.3
- ENG 338.3
- GEOG 465.3
- HIST 195.3
- HIST 257.3 (may only be used if taken in 2022-23 or later)
- HIST 266.3
- HIST 315.3
- HIST 316.3
- INDG 107.3
- LING 114.3
- LING 253.3
- PLAN 445.3
- POLS 222.3
- INDG — 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
Quantitative Reasoning
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
- MATH 110.3
- MATH 176.3
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
- MATH 116.3
- MATH 177.3
C2 Breadth Requirement (9 credit units)
Choose 9 credit units from the following areas with at least 3 credit units from one of Humanities or Social Sciences:
- ART 110.3
- ART 111.6
- ART 112.6
- ART 136.3
- ART 141.3
- ART 151.3
- ART 152.3
- ART 161.3
- ARTH 120.3
- ARTH 121.3
- DRAM 101.3
- DRAM 108.3
- DRAM 110.3
- DRAM 111.3
- DRAM 113.3
- DRAM 118.3
- DRAM 119.3
- DRAM 121.3
- MUS 101.3
- MUS 102.3
- MUS 104.3
- MUS 111.3
- MUS 112.3
- MUS 120.2
- MUS 121.2
- MUS 125.1
- MUS 133.3
- MUS 134.3
- MUS 155.3
- MUS 156.3
- MUS 175.3
- MUS 184.3
- Any senior-level fine arts course provided that the prerequisite is met.
- ARBC 114.3
- ARBC 117.3
- CHIN 114.3
- CHIN 117.3
- CLAS 110.3
- CLAS 111.3
- CMRS 110.3
- CMRS 111.3
- CREE 101.6
- CREE 110.3
- DENE 110.3
- ENG 110.6
- ENG 111.3
- ENG 112.3
- ENG 113.3
- ENG 114.3
- ENG 120.3
- ESL 115.3
- ESL 116.3
- FREN 103.3
- FREN 106.3
- FREN 122.3
- FREN 125.3
- FREN 160.3
- FREN 218.3
- GERM 114.3
- GERM 117.3
- GRK 112.3
- GRK 113.3
- HEB 114.3
- HEB 117.3
- HIST 115.3
- HIST 125.3
- HIST 135.3
- HIST 145.3
- HIST 155.3
- HIST 165.3
- HIST 175.3
- HIST 185.3
- HIST 193.3
- HIST 194.3
- HIST 195.3
- HNDI 114.3
- HNDI 117.3
- JPNS 114.3
- JPNS 117.3
- LATN 112.3
- LATN 113.3
- LING 110.3
- LING 113.3
- LING 114.3
- LIT 110.3
- LIT 111.3
- MUS 101.3
- MUS 111.3
- MUS 112.3
- PHIL 110.6
- PHIL 115.3
- PHIL 120.3
- PHIL 121.3
- PHIL 133.3
- PHIL 140.3
- RLST 111.3
- RLST 112.3
- RLST 113.3
- SNSK 114.3
- SNSK 117.3
- SPAN 114.3
- SPAN 117.3
- UKR 114.3
- UKR 117.3
- WGST 112.3
- Any senior-level humanities course provided that the prerequisite is met.
- CLAS 101, CLAS 103, CLAS 104, CLAS 105, CLAS 107 and CLAS 203 may not be used to fulfill the Humanities requirement.
- ANTH 111.3
- ARCH 112.3
- ARCH 116.3
- ECON 111.3
- ECON 114.3
- GEOG 130.3
- GEOG 150.3
- HLST 110.3
- INDG 107.3
- LING 111.3
- LING 112.3
- LING 113.3
- LING 114.3
- POLS 110.3
- POLS 111.3
- POLS 112.3
- PSY 120.3
- PSY 121.3
- SOC 111.3
- SOC 112.3
- WGST 112.3
- Any senior-level social science course provided that the prerequisite is met.
- Statistics courses in social sciences are not eligible for use in this requirement (e.g. PSY 233, PSY 234, SOC 225 and SOC 325).
- CPSJ 112.3
- CPSJ 203.3
- INTS 110.3
- INTS 111.3
- INTS 380.3
C3 Cognate Requirement (27 credit units)
Junior course requirements:
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Senior course requirements:
- MATH 164.3 or MATH 266.3
- MATH 379.3
- STAT 241.3
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
MATH 223.3 recommended
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
MATH 224.3 recommended
Choose 3 credit units from the following:
- MATH 331.3
- MATH 339.3
C4 Major Requirement (54 credit units)
- EP 253.1
- PHYS 115.3
- PHYS 117.3 or PHYS 125.3
- PHYS 223.3
- PHYS 230.1
- PHYS 231.1
- PHYS 252.3
- PHYS 323.3
- PHYS 356.3
- PHYS 371.3
- PHYS 383.3
- PHYS 490.0
Choose 27 credit units from the following:
At least 6 credit units must be at the 400-level.
- ASTR 213.3
- ASTR 214.3
- ASTR 310.3
- ASTR 312.3
- ASTR 411.3
- EE 221.3
- EP 228.3
- EP 271.3
- EP 317.3
- EP 325.3
- EP 353.2
- EP 354.2
- EP 417.3
- EP 421.3
- EP 428.3
- PHYS 255.3
- PHYS 322.3
- PHYS 402.3
- PHYS 403.3
- PHYS 404.3
- PHYS 422.3
- PHYS 452.3
- PHYS 453.2
- PHYS 456.3
- PHYS 461.3
- PHYS 470.3
- PHYS 471.3
- PHYS 472.3
- PHYS 473.3
- PHYS 481.3
- PHYS 482.3
- PHYS 491.3
- PHYS 493.6
- PHYS 498.3
- PHYS 499.6
A student may choose to complete a Specialization as part of the B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics. In this case the student must complete the Required Core Courses and the requirements for the chosen Specialization, and then choose additional courses from the above list as necessary to earn the minimum 48 credit units in the Major Requirement. A completed Specialization will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Specialization in Astronomy
At least 3 credit units must be taken in Astronomy courses at the 300-level or above.
- PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics or PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics research project in Astronomy
Choose 12 credit units (if you take PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics) or 6 credit units (if you take PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics) from the following list:
- ASTR 213.3 Astronomical Photometry
- ASTR 214.3 Astronomical Spectroscopy
- ASTR 310.3 Galactic Astronomy and Cosmography
- ASTR 312.3 Theoretical Models of Stars and Stellar Evolution
- ASTR 411.3 Gravitation and Cosmology
- PHYS 452.3 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
- PHYS 456.3 Electricity and Magnetism II
- PHYS 461.3 Physics of Plasmas and Fluids
ASTR or PHYS Special Topics Courses can be used with departmental approval.
Specialization in Atmospheric, Space, and Plasma Sciences
- PHYS 322.3 Introduction to Atmospheric Science and Meteorology
- PHYS 456.3 Electricity and Magnetism II
- PHYS 461.3 Physics of Plasmas and Fluids
- PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics or PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics research project in a subject of Atmospheric, Space, and Plasma Sciences
If you take PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics choose 3 credit units from the following list:
- ASTR 312.3 Theoretical Models of Stars and Stellar Evolution
- EP 325.3 Optical Systems Design
- EP 421.3 Advanced Optics
- PHYS 255.3 Concepts of Radiation Physics
- PHYS 452.3 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHYS Special Topics Courses can be used with departmental approval
Specialization in Materials Science
Students taking the Material Science Specialization must also take CHEM 112.3 General Chemistry I Structure Bonding and Properties of Materialsand CHEM 115.3 General Chemistry II Chemical Processes. These courses may be counted in Program Requirement C1 and/or Program Requirement C7.
- EP 317.3 Applied Physics of Materials
- EP 417.3 Advanced Materials Science with Applications
- PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics or PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics research project in Material Science
If you take PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics choose 6 credit units from the following list:
- EP 325.3 Optical Systems Design
- EP 353.2 Modern Physics Laboratory II
- EP 354.2 Modern Physics Laboratory III
- EP 271.3 Heat Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics
- EP 421.3 Advanced Optics
- PHYS 402.3 Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 403.3 Topics in Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 404.3 Techniques of Experimental Physics
- PHYS 453.2 Modern Physics Laboratory IV
- PHYS 461.3 Physics of Plasmas and Fluids
- PHYS 470.3 Solid State Physics
- PHYS 471.3 Synchrotron Physics
- PHYS 472.3 Particle Accelerator Physics and Synchrotron Radiation
- PHYS 481.3 Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 482.3 Quantum Mechanics III
PHYS Special Topics Courses can be used with departmental approval.
Specialization in Nuclear Science
- PHYS 255.3 Concepts of Radiation Physics
- PHYS 452.3 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
- PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics or PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics research project in Nuclear Science
If you take PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics choose 6 credit units from the following list:
- EP 353.2 Modern Physics Laboratory II
- EP 354.2 Modern Physics Laboratory III
- PHYS 402.3 Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 453.2 Modern Physics Laboratory IV
- PHYS 471.3 Synchrotron Physics
- PHYS 472.3 Particle Accelerator Physics and Synchrotron Radiation
- PHYS 481.3 Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 482.3 Quantum Mechanics III
PHYS Special Topics Courses can be used with departmental approval.
Specialization in Theoretical Physics
- ASTR 411.3 Gravitation and Cosmology
- PHYS 456.3 Electricity and Magnetism II
- PHYS 481.3 Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics or PHYS 497.15 Research Term in Physics research project in Theoretical Physics
If you take PHYS 493.6 Extended Research Project in Physics choose 3 credit units from the following list:
- MATH 211.3 Numerical Analysis I
- MATH 277.3 Vector Calculus II
- MATH 313.3 Numerical Linear Algebra
- MATH 314.3 Numerical Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations
- MATH 352.3 Elementary Differential Geometry
- MATH 433.3 Applied Group Theory
- MATH 438.3 Methods of Applied Mathematics
- MATH 452.3 Introduction to Modern Differential Geometry
- PHYS 402.3 Techniques of Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 403.3 Topics in Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 452.3 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
- PHYS 461.3 Physics of Plasmas and Fluids
- PHYS 470.3 Solid State Physics
- PHYS 482.3 Quantum Mechanics III
PHYS or MATH Special Topics Courses can be used with departmental approval.
C5 Electives Requirement (15 credit units)
Arts and Science courses, or those from other Colleges that have been approved for Arts and Science credit, to complete the requirements for 120 credit unit Honours program, of which at least 66 credit units must be at the 200-level or higher.
If you require further assistance, please contact the Arts and Science Undergraduate Student Office.
Recommended Sequence of Courses (B.Sc. Honours)
- 12 additional credit units
- CMPT 141.3 and CMPT 145.3
- CMPT 145.3
- MATH 110.3 and MATH 116.3
- PHYS 115.3 and PHYS 125.3
- 9 additional credit units
- EP 253.1
- MATH 164.3 or MATH 266.3
- MATH 223.3 or MATH 225.3 or MATH 276.3
- MATH 224.3 or MATH 226.3 or MATH 238.3
- PHYS 223.3
- PHYS 230.1
- PHYS 231.1
- PHYS 252.3
- STAT 241.3
- 3 additional credit units
- 9 additional credit units in senior PHYS, EP or ASTR courses
- MATH 331.3 or MATH 339.3
- MATH 379.3
- PHYS 323.3
- PHYS 356.3
- PHYS 371.3
- PHYS 383.3
- 12 additional credit units
- PHYS 490.0
- • 18 additional credit units in senior PHYS, EP, or ASTR courses