Physics Programs (BSc)

Chair
Thad A. Harroun

Professors Emeriti
John E. Black, Shyamal K. Bose, Bozidar Mitrovic, Stuart M. Rothstein (Chemistry)

Professors
Peter Berg, David A. Crandles, Thad Harroun, Fereidoon S. Razavi, Maureen Reedyk, Kirill Samokhin

Associate Professors
Edward Sternin

Assistant Professor
Gavin Hester, Jasneet Kaur, Ganesh Ramachandran, Barak Shoshany

Participating Faculty
Stephen Anco (Mathematics), Amir Mofidi (Engineering), Alexandre Odesskii (Mathematics), Pouria Ramazi (Mathematics), Thomas Wolf (Mathematics), Tony Yan (Chemistry), Alonso Zavafer (Engineering).

Adjunct Professors
Tapash Chakraborty, Josef Dubicki, John Katsaras, Reinhard Kremer, Jerry Sokolowski, Ole Steuernagel, Heping Xu

Academic Advisors
David A. Crandles, Edward Sternin

Senior Laboratory Supervisor
Ivana Komljenovic Metcalf

Laboratory Demonstrator
Fulvio (Phil) Boseglav

General Information

Administrative Assistant, Academic
Courtney Lee
905-688-5550, extension 3412
Mackenzie Chown B210
physics@brocku.ca

The department offers four-year programs of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Physics, a BSc Honours Co-op option in Physics, a BSc with Major Physics and a three-year BSc Pass degree program. Students may take a single major in Physics or a combined major with Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science or Mathematics.

The core of the program is designed to provide an understanding of the principles and fundamental interactions of classical and quantum physics as well as many applications in technology and everyday life. It is possible for non-Physics degree students to take advanced courses, provided they have the physics and mathematics required in the year 1 Physics program. An experimental physics path of PHYS 2P30  and PHYS 3P92  or a modern physics path of PHYS 2P50  and PHYS 3P91  are possible.

The Physics Co-op program combines academic and work terms over a four and one-half year period. Students spend two years in an academic setting, where they acquire the necessary background prior to taking the first work placement. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Physics Co-op students are assessed an annual administrative fee (see the Schedule of Fees ).

Eligibility to continue is based on the student’s major average and non-major average. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average will be permitted to continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Physics Co-op program, but may continue in the Physics stream.

All students in the Co-operative Education program are required to read, sign and adhere to the terms of the Student Regulations Waiver and Co-op Student Manuals (brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-manuals) as articulated by the Co-op Programs Office. In addition, eligibility to continue in the co-op option is based on the student’s major average and non-major average, and the ability to demonstrate the motivation and potential to pursue a professional career.

Each four-month co-operative education work term must be registered. Once students are registered in a co-op work term, they are expected to fulfill their commitment. If the placement accepted is for more than one four-month work term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from or terminate a work term without permission from the Director, Co-op Program Office.

The Physics Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have honours standing and who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.

The department also offers a Minor in Physics program. The goal of this program is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of various branches of physics and their applications. The selection of courses is tailored to the needs and interests of individual students with diverse backgrounds (philosophy, classics, business and finance, mathematics and other science programs). Students should consult one of the Undergraduate Student Advisors of the Physics Department (physics@brocku.ca or ext. 3412) to plan the sequence of courses most suited to their background and needs.

Program Notes

1. Students should consult a faculty advisor when planning years 3 and 4 of the BSc programs or year 3 of the BSc Pass program. 
2. CHEM 1P91 , CHEM 1P92 , MATH 1P05  and MATH 1P11  expect a certain level of achievement on relevant high-school courses and conduct placement tests early in the term. Students who do not meet the preparation requirements are able to enroll in alternate courses: CHEM 1P00 , MATH 1P20 , MATH 1P12  and MATH 2P12 , respectively, before continuing in the courses required for their program. As a result, the students may take more than four years and 20.0 credits to graduate. Students should contact an Academic Advisor for their program. 
3. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
   
   In 15 credit degree program a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
   
   In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.