Available Programs

The information contained on this Web page is the most up-to-date currently available. All recent changes to curriculum/degree requirements are incorporated here; by contrast, some of the information contained in the 2002/03 Calendar is out of date (current requirements will only appear in the 2003/04 version of the Registration Guide). If, however, you have any doubts, please contact any member of the Honours/Major Committee (R. M. Roshko, T.A. Osborn, P. D. Loly) or the departmental office (204-474-9817).

Honours Degree in Physics and Astronomy

This is the flagship program of the department. Students requiring a thorough and comprehensive grounding in the subject are encouraged to enroll in this degree program. In the current year (2001/02) this program offers considerably more flexibility than it has in the past, with the inclusion of several optional courses in Astrophysics/Astronomy for those students who might be interested in these areas. This degree program is a prerequisite for any student wishing to pursue a career in the area of Physics and Astronomy including further degree(s) in these or related scientific or engineering areas.

Joint Honours Degree in Physics and Astronomy and Mathematics

For those students with strong interests in both the physical and mathematical sciences wishing to be educated correspondingly, we offer a joint Physics and Astronomy/Mathematics degree program. This is a demanding program in terms of both credit hours and course content, containing many elements from both the Honours programs in Physics and Astronomy and Mathematics. It is, however, correspondingly somewhat lighter in its laboratory requirements. Such a program is particularly suited to students interested in establishing a career in theoretical physics.

Joint Honours Degree in Physics & Astronomy & Computer Science

This new program, offered for the first time in September, 2003, combines the core elements of an undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy with key elements of an honours degree in computer science. Students with a strong interest in physical science will additionally benefit from exposure to practical problem solving and computational methods as well as acquiring specific expertise in operating systems, data structures and scientific computing.

Major Degree in Physics and Astronomy

For those students seeking a broader educational experience with more choices outside a core of fundamental physics courses, a Major degree in Physics and Astronomy would be appropriate. This degree program is based primarily on a selection of courses from the Honours Physics program although the requirements are somewhat less extensive (this allows more choices of courses from other units). The program thus introduces the basic tenets of Physics and Astronomy at a more moderate pace.