Physics
Why is our world the way it is? How can we understand and explain what we observe around us, from the smallest sub-atomic particles to the largest galaxies? How can we apply this understanding to manipulate our world? Studying physics gives insight into the fundamental laws of nature.
But an education in physics gives so much more. The rigorous training our students receive in analyzing and understanding complex problems is of considerable value to many future career directions. While many of our graduates have found careers in universities and in the high tech sector as research and development scientists, others have used their physics degrees as a spring board for careers in finance, administration, medicine, management and education. The wide range of career opportunities is perhaps larger than for any other scientifically trained group.
Physicists have revolutionized the way we live our lives. From original ground breaking discoveries, to the development of new and revolutionary technologies, and their aptitude to transfer these technologies whether experimental or modeling to other fields such as biology or the world of financee. Our professors and our graduates are an important part of this chain. Many of our professors have also been recognized as superb teachers and have been widely recognized as world-class researchers in their respective fields of expertise.
The research conducted by the professors in the Department of Physics is concentrated in several sub-specialties, including the physics of biological and complex systems, condensed matter physics, photonics, and the physics of geomaterials. Depending upon their choice of program, undergraduate students will have the opportunity to take courses and participate in research projects in these specialized areas.
In addition to the Honours BSc with Specialization in Physics, we offer four other Honours BSc programs. The first is the Specialization in Physics-Mathematics, which provides enriched mathematics training within a physics program. The second is the Specialization in Physics with Computational Physics Option, which allows students to combine a solid physics background with training in computer and computational science. The third is the Specialization in Photonics, which gives students a solid training in physics and a more applied and industry related training in photonics. The fourth is the specialization in Biological Physics, which trains students to apply the rigorous training in physics to various areas of life sciences. We also offer a Major in Physics that may form the core of an Honours BSc when combined with a major or a minor in another discipline in the Faculty of Science, or in another faculty.
The Department of Physics also has a strong graduate program, leading to a MSc or PhD degree. Pursuit of these advanced degrees gives students the opportunity to work on cutting edge science within a research group led by one or more of the professors affiliated with our Department.