Image
Physics

Physics

The domain of physics ranges from its origins in natural philosophy to the investigations of complex biological systems. Combining the power of mathematics with the art of precision experiments, Physics discovers the mechanisms that interconnect many different aspects of nature. A physics background with its emphasis on quantitative problem solving enhances future employment opportunities in scientific research and teaching, biomedical professions, biotech and environmental organizations, industrial research and development, electronics and engineering companies, informatics and computer-related enterprises, or financial institutions.

Department
Degree

Honours Bachelor of Science

Program Options

Major, Minor

Program Plans

Plan your degree with these academic and co-curricular program overviews.

Tip Sheets

Learn more about further education, applying to jobs & more!

Potential Career Options
  • Astrophysicist
  • Doctor
  • Professor
  • Nuclear physicist
  • Scientific photographer/Photojournalist
Career Centre

Admission Requirements

Admission Category
OUAC Code
TMW
Competitive Average
Mid to High 70s
Program Course Prerequisites
ENG4U, MCV4U, MHF4U, SPH4U

Regional Requirements

Admissions Requirements

Life in Physics

Buzz Around Campus

Mount Everest

On the afternoon of April 15, 2015, an earthquake rocked the Himalayas, causing widespread death and damage across Nepal, India and Tibet. The magnitude 7.8 quake—the strongest ever recorded in the region—rattled glaciers and ice falls along a ridge just to the west of Mount Everest.

Polar Bear

A major shift in western Arctic wind patterns occurred throughout the winter of 2017 and the resulting changes in sea ice movement are possible indicators of a changing climate, says Kent Moore, a professor of physics at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Tianyi Ma

A new study from the University of Toronto aims to a unravel the mystery of why some tuberculosis cases fail to respond to medical treatment.

Sample Courses

The analysis of vibrating systems and wave motion, introducing mathematical techniques such as complex numbers, eigenvalue problems, and Fourier series. Topics include: travelling waves; propagation of electromagnetic waves in materials.

An introduction to equilibrium thermodynamics with application to ideal and non-ideal systems: covering the concepts of work and heat, the laws of thermodynamics, internal energy, enthalpy and entropy, the chemical potential, and states of matter.

A modular practical course that develops the experimental and computational skills necessary to get deeper insight in physical phenomena. Selected physics experiments and modeling that illustrate important principles of physics are applied.

Other Programs to Consider

Astronomical Sciences

Astronomical Sciences

Astronomical Sciences studies the vast universe beyond Earth, discovering objects and phenomena that do not exist on Earth or in the solar system, such as planets orbiting other stars, black holes and forms of mass and energy that cannot be seen even though they form 95% of the universe. To study these objects, astronomical sciences integrates the methods and knowledge of all the other sciences.

Earth Science

Earth Science

Earth Science is the discipline that studies our planet and all of its natural environments. Our program offers training in both critical streams of Earth Science: Resources & Tectonics and Earth, Climate & Life. Through our program, students become well equipped to understand the causes and consequences of radical shifts already underway in Earth’s climate system.

Physics

Physics

The domain of physics ranges from its origins in natural philosophy to the investigations of complex biological systems.