Physics
What makes the world go ‘round? Physicists are the key.
We offer a unique learning environment with one-on-one interaction with Physics professors.
In fact, the student-to-professor ratio in the Department of Physics at Laurentian University is currently ranked as one of the best in the country.
Our students are immersed in an international and vibrant physics community and can do world-class research beginning in the first year on campus or in nearby facilities that include SNOLAB and the Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North. With all these reasons, our students have the best chance of meeting and exceeding their academic goals.
More information about the on-going research and activities can be found on the website of the Department of Physics.
Academic Advisor
Eduardo Galiano-Riveros
Telephone: 705.675.1151
Office: Secretary: Curtis St. Jean, 705.675.1151 x 2220, cy_stjean@laurentienne.ca
Delve into the science that explains the world around us.
Physics is the study of matter, energy, space and time, and of the relations between them. It describes the universe at various levels (particles, nuclei, atoms, solids, liquids, living objects, planets, stars, galaxies) and challenges and extends our understanding about all existing things.
Apply fundamental concepts into cutting-edge technologies.
Physicists of today are involved in all aspects of the modern technologies. The wealth of concepts offered in the program form individuals with multiple capabilities, highly desired in both academic research and industry. This includes, but is not limited to, critical thinking to solve problems, software development, advanced mathematical tools, as well as data science and analysis.
Specialize your studies.
As physics covers a vast spectrum of diverse environments, it provides a broad and solid base for many fields of research and offers infinite career opportunities. At Laurentian, physics students can also articulate their studies with majors and minors in other streams, for example:
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Computer science
- Mathematics
- Biomedical physics
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Three or four-year (Honours) programs lead to a Bachelor of Science in Physics
- Physics faculty members are engaged in astroparticle physics research at SNOLAB, a world-class and world-renowned research facility that helps scientists understand the origins and nature of the universe. This lab, located 25 kilometres from the main Sudbury campus and two kilometres underground, is one of the world’s premier laboratories for the study of dark matter, neutrinos and supernovas. Interested students can complete a fourth-year undergraduate thesis in this area.
- Interested students can include 12 credits of health physics courses and complete a fourth-year undergraduate thesis in this area.
- The program features courses in electricity and magnetism, mechanics, thermodynamics, theoretical physics, and quantum mechanics.
- Research funding provides for summer job opportunities in particle astrophysics, medical physics, and theoretical physics. Part-time research assistantships are also possible during the terms.
- A Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy are also available.
Ontario High School Applicants
1 grade 12 English U/M course
1 grade 12 4U Advanced Functions
1 grade 12 U/M Science course
1 additional grade 12 U/M Math or Science course
2 other grade 12 U/M courses
A minimum overall average of 70% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.
Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
For Current Students
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics
Total 120 credits
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Specialization in Physics
First Year
CHMI 1006E/F General Chemistry I*
CHMI 1007E/F General Chemistry II
COSC 1046E Computer Science I
COSC 1047E Computer Science II
MATH 1036E/F Calculus I**
MATH 1037E/F Calculus II
MATH 1057E/F Linear Algebra I
PHYS 1006E/F Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E/F Introductory Physics II
3 elective credits#
*Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1041.
**Students lacking grade 12 4U Advanced Functions or who have attained a grade of less than 60% must first take MATH 1912.
Second Year
PHYS 2006E Introduction to Electricity and Electronics
PHYS 2016E Modern Physics
PHYS 2017E Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2117E Experimental Physics
PHYS 2137E Modern Optics
PHYS 2406E Mechanics I
PHYS 2407E Mechanics II
MATH 2037E/F Advanced Calculus
MATH 2066E/F Introduction to Differential Equations
STAT 2246E/F Statistics for Scientists
Third Year
PHYS 3017E Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 3036E Classical Thermodynamics
PHYS 3107E Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 3116E Advanced Laboratory I
PHYS 3416E Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 3466E Theoretical Classical Physics
12 elective credits#
Fourth Year
PHYS 4067E Instrumentation
PHYS 4115E Research and Thesis (6 credits)
PHYS 4406E Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 4417E Advanced Quantum Mechanics
15 elective credits#
#Elective credits selection. A total of 30 elective credits must be chosen according to the following:
- Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the Academic Advisor;
- Maximum of 21 credits at 1000 and/or 9100 level courses;
- Minimum of 12 credits from the Arts;
- Minimum of 15 credits must be chosen from lists A and B with a minimum of 6 credits from list A.
List A
PHYS 4106E Topics in Theoretical Physics
PHYS 4426E Introductory Solid State Physics
PHYS 4437E Statistical Thermodynamics
PHYS 4457E Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHYS 4707E Advanced Laboratory Project
PHYS 4816E Computational Physics II
PHYS 4995E Directed Studies in Physics
List B
PHYS 1905E General Astronomy
PHYS 2506E Medical Radiation Physics
PHYS 2606E Biophysics of Fluids
PHYS 2616E Physics of Hearing and Vision
PHYS 3046E Mechanical Properties of Solids and Fluids
PHYS 3306E Radiobiology and Radiation Protection
PHYS 3506E Physics of Medical Imaging
PHYS 3507E Physics of Radiation Therapy
PHYS 3606E Chaos and Dynamical Diseases
PHYS 3616E Use of Lasers and Fibre Optics in Health Sciences
PHYS 3706E Physics Laboratory Project II
PHYS 3816E Computational Physics I
PHYS-3906E Topics in Astronomy and Space Science
PHYS-3907E Astronomy Research Project
PHYS-3916E Foundations of Astronomy and the Physical Sciences
CHMI 3536E/F Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy
CHMI 3537E Introduction to Quantum Chemistry
CHMI 4576E Statistical Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics
CHMI 4597E Computer-Aided Molecular Simulations and Chemical Design
COSC/MATH 3416E Numerical Methods I
GEOL 4956E Geophysics
MATH 3046E Complex Analysis
MATH 3236E Probability and Statistics
MATH 4067E Mathematical Theory of Dynamical Systems
MATH 4166E Methods of Applied Mathematics
** Many of these courses are not offered each year, please consult your academic advisor for proposed course offerings
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Major in Physics
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II
36 upper year Physics credits from the following: *
PHYS 2006E Introduction to Electricity and Electronics
PHYS 2016E Modern Physics
PHYS 2017E Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2117E Experimental Physics
PHYS 2137E Modern Optics
PHYS 2406E Mechanics I
PHYS 2407E Mechanics II
PHYS 3017E Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 3036E Classical Thermodynamics
PHYS 3046E Mechanical Properties of Solids and Fluids
PHYS 3107E Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 3116E Advanced Laboratory I
PHYS 3416E Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 3466E Theoretical Classical Physics
PHYS 4067E Instrumentation
PHYS 4106E Topics in Theoretical Physics
PHYS 4137E Advanced Modern Optics
PHYS 4406E Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 4417E Advanced Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 4426E Introductory Solid State Physics
PHYS 4437E Statistical Thermodynamics
PHYS 4457E Nuclear and Particle Physics
maximum 9 credits from the following:
PHYS 2506E Medical Radiation Physics
PHYS 2606E Biophysics of Fluids
PHYS 2616E Physics of Hearing and Vision
PHYS 2626E Environmental Biophysics
PHYS 3306E Radiobiology and Radiation protection
PHYS 3506E Physics of Medical Imaging
PHYS 3507E Physics of Radiation Therapy
PHYS 3606E Chaos and Dynamical Diseases
PHYS 3616E Use of Lasers and Fibre Optics in Health Sciences
GEOL 4956E Geophysics
MATH 1036E** Calculus I
MATH 1037E Calculus II
12 credits from the Humanities and/or Social Sciences
60 elective credits#
* Students must take these courses in sequence and respect the course prerequisites as indicated in the course description.
** Students lacking grade 12 4U Advanced Functions or who have attained a grade of less than 60% must first take MATH 1912.
# Students must complete either a minor (24 credits) or a second major (42 credits) from the courses not used in the Physics major.
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Bachelor of Science (General) in Physics
Total 90 credits
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Concentration in Physics
First Year
CHMI 1006E/F General Chemistry I*
CHMI 1007E/F General Chemistry II
COSC 1046E Computer Science I
COSC 1047E Computer Science II
MATH 1036E/F Calculus I**
MATH 1037E/F Calculus II
MATH 1057E/F Linear Algebra I
PHYS 1006E/F Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E/F Introductory Physics II
3 elective credits#
*Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1041.
**Students lacking grade 12 4U Advanced Functions or who have attained a grade of less than 60% must first take MATH 1912.
Second Year
PHYS 2006E Introduction to Electricity and Electronics
PHYS 2016E Modern Physics
PHYS 2017E Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2117E Experimental Physics
PHYS 2137E Modern Optics
PHYS 2406E Mechanics I
PHYS 2407E Mechanics II
MATH 2066E/F Introduction to Differential Equations
STAT 2246E/F Statistics for Scientists
3 elective credits#
Third Year
PHYS 3036E Classical Thermodynamics
PHYS 3116E Advanced Laboratory I
PHYS 3416E Introductory Quantum Mechanics
21 elective credits#
#Elective credits selection. A total of 27 elective credits must be chosen according to the following:
- Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the Academic Advisor;
- Maximum of 21 credits at 1000 and/or 9100 level courses;
- Minimum of 12 credits from the Arts;
- Minimum of 9 credits must be chosen from the list below,
List of Physics Electives
PHYS 2506E Medical Radiation Physics
PHYS 3017E Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 3046E Mechanical Properties of Solids and Fluids
PHYS 3107E Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 3306E Radiobiology and Radiation Protection
PHYS 3466E Theoretical Classical Physics
PHYS 3506E Physics of Medical Imaging
PHYS 3507E Physics of Radiation Therapy
PHYS 3606E Chaos and Dynamical Diseases
PHYS 3616E Use of Lasers and Fibre Optics in Health Sciences
PHYS 3706E Physics Laboratory Project II
PHYS 3816E Computational Physics I
PHYS 3906E Topics in Astronomy and Space Science
PHYS 3907E Astronomy Research Project
PHYS 3916E Foundations of Astronomy and the Physical Sciences
PHYS 4067E Instrumentation
PHYS 4406E Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 4417E Advanced Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 4426E Introductory Solid State Physics
PHYS 4437E Statistical Thermodynamics
PHYS 4457E Nuclear and Particle Physics
PHYS 4816E Computational Physics II
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Minor in Physics
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II
18 upper year Physics credits from the following: *
PHYS 2006E Introduction to Electricity and Electronics
PHYS 2016E Modern Physics
PHYS 2017E Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2117E Experimental Physics
PHYS 2137E Modern Optics
PHYS 2406E Mechanics I
PHYS 2407E Mechanics II
PHYS 3017E Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 3036E Classical Thermodynamics
PHYS 3046E Mechanical Properties of Solids and Fluids
PHYS 3107E Theoretical Physics II
PHYS 3116E Advanced Laboratory I
PHYS 3416E Introductory Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 3466E Theoretical Classical Physics
PHYS 4067E Instrumentation
PHYS 4106E Topics in Theoretical Physics
PHYS 4137E Advanced Modern Optics
PHYS 4406E Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 4417E Advanced Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 4426E Introductory Solid State Physics
PHYS 4437E Statistical Thermodynamics
PHYS 4457E Nuclear and Particle Physics
maximum 6 credits from the following:
PHYS 2506E Medical Radiation Physics
PHYS 2606E Biophysics of Fluids
PHYS 2616E Physics of Hearing and Vision
PHYS 2626E Environmental Biophysics
PHYS 3306E Radiobiology and Radiation protection
PHYS 3506E Physics of Medical Imaging
PHYS 3507E Physics of Radiation Therapy
PHYS 3606E Chaos and Dynamical Diseases
PHYS 3616E Use of Lasers and Fibre Optics in Health Sciences
GEOL 4956E Geophysics
* Students must take these courses in sequence and respect the course prerequisites as indicated in the course description.
Note: Students who wish to complete a minor in Physics must also complete MATH 1036/1037 as these courses are prerequisites for many upper year PHYS courses.
List of Faculty Members
Sessional Faculty:
P.E. Legault : Planetarium Director
B. Aharmim : Sessional Member
C. MacDonald: Sessional Member
K.W. Leszczynski Ph.D. (Manitoba) : Sessional Member
S. Kaluzienski : Laboratory Technologist
Gennady Chitov
Department of PhysicsJacques Farine
Department of Physics
Ubirajara Ferraiolo Wichoski
Department of Physics
Eduardo Galiano-Riveros
Department of Physics
Rizwan Haq
Department of Physics
Christine Kraus
Department of Physics
Robert Leclair
Department of Physics