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Program Requirements

The Major Physics and Computer Science is designed to give motivated students the opportunity to combine the two fields in a way that will distinguish them from the graduates of either field by itself. The two disciplines complement each other, with physics providing an analytic problem-solving outlook and basic understanding of nature, while computer science enhances the ability to make practical and marketable applications, in addition to having its own theoretical interest. Graduates of this program may be able to present themselves as being more immediately useful than a pure physics major, but with more breadth than just a programmer. They will be able to demonstrate their combined expertise in the Special Project course which is the centrepiece of the final year of the program.

Program Prerequisites

Students entering Physics programs from the Freshman program must have successfully completed the courses below or their equivalents. Quebec students must have completed the DEC with appropriate science and mathematics courses.

• CHEM 110 General Chemistry 1 (4 credits)

  Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; McKeague, Maureen; Huot, Mitchell (Fall)

  • Fall

  • Prerequisites/corequisites: College level mathematics and physics or permission of instructor; CHEM 120 is not a prerequisite

  • Each lab section is limited enrolment

• CHEM 120 General Chemistry 2 (4 credits)

  Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Chemistry : A study of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Huot, Mitchell; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Sewall, Samuel Lewis; Wiseman, Paul (Winter)

  • Winter

  • Prerequisites/corequisites: College level mathematics and physics, or permission of instructor: CHEM 110 is not a prerequisite

  • Each lab section is limited enrolment

• PHYS 131 Mechanics and Waves (4 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The basic laws and principles of Newtonian mechanics; oscillations, waves, and wave optics.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Ragan, Kenneth J (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures; 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours laboratory in alternate weeks; tutorial sessions

  • Corequisite: MATH 139 or higher level calculus course.

  • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking PHYS 101, or who have taken CEGEP objective 00UR or equivalent.

  • Laboratory sections have limited enrolment

• PHYS 142 Electromagnetism and Optics (4 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The basic laws of electricity and magnetism; geometrical optics.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Guo, Hong (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory in alternate weeks; tutorial sessions

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 131.

  • Corequisite: MATH 141 or higher level calculus course.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking PHYS 102, or who have taken CEGEP objective 00US or equivalent.

  • Laboratory sections have limited enrolment

One of:

• BIOL 111 Principles: Organismal Biology (3 credits)

  Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the phylogeny, structure, function and adaptation of unicellular organisms, plants and animals in the biosphere.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Hendry, Andrew; Bell, Graham; Cristescu, Elena; Hargreaves, Anna (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 2 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UK or equivalent; or BIOL 115.

  • This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00UK

  • Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.

• BIOL 112 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 credits)

  Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Biology (Sci) : The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Dent, Joseph Alan; Schöck, Frieder (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory

  • Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.

  • This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00XU

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CEGEP objective 00XU or equivalent;or BIOL 115; or AEBI 122

MATH 133 and either MATH 140/141 or MATH 150/151.

• MATH 133 Linear Algebra and Geometry (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Systems of linear equations, matrices, inverses, determinants; geometric vectors in three dimensions, dot product, cross product, lines and planes; introduction to vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, bases. Linear transformations. Eigenvalues and diagonalization.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Bélanger-Rioux, Rosalie; Bibby, Sean; Chinis, Jake; Li, Wanlin; Alfieri, Antonio (Fall) Fortier, Jérôme (Winter) Leroux-Lapierre, Alexis (Summer)

  • 3 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial

  • Prerequisite: a course in functions

  • Restriction A: Not open to students who have taken MATH 221 or CEGEP objective 00UQ or equivalent.

  • Restriction B: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 123, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

  • Restriction C: Not open to students who are taking or have taken MATH 134.

• MATH 140 Calculus 1 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of functions and graphs. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Trudeau, Sidney; Nazari Zahraei Motlagh, Erfan; Sabbagh, Magid (Fall) Kelome, Djivede (Winter) Abdenbi, Brahim (Summer)

  • 3 hours lecture, 1 hour tutorial

  • Prerequisite: High School Calculus

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MATH 120, MATH 139 or CEGEP objective 00UN or equivalent

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics

  • Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited

• MATH 141 Calculus 2 (4 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : The definite integral. Techniques of integration. Applications. Introduction to sequences and series.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Macdonald, Jeremy; Albanese, Michael (Fall) Bibby, Sean; Fortier, Jérôme; Cavallo, Alberto (Winter) Sabbagh, Magid; Barill, Gavin (Summer)

  • Prerequisites: MATH 139 or MATH 140 or MATH 150.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MATH 121 or CEGEP objective 00UP or equivalent

  • Restriction Note B: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

  • Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited

• MATH 150 Calculus A (4 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Functions, limits and continuity, differentiation, L'Hospital's rule, applications, Taylor polynomials, parametric curves, functions of several variables.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial

  • Students with no prior exposure to vector geometry are advised to take MATH 133 concurrently. Intended for students with high school calculus who have not received six advanced placement credits

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UN or equivalent

  • Restriction Note B: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics

  • MATH 150 and MATH 151 cover the material of MATH 139, MATH 140, MATH 141, MATH 222

• MATH 151 Calculus B (4 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Integration, methods and applications, infinite sequences and series, power series, arc length and curvature, multiple integration.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Roth, Charles (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lecture; 2 hours tutorial

  • Each Tutorial section is enrolment limited

  • Prerequisite: MATH 150

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UP or equivalent

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 122, except by permission of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MATH 152

U1 Required Courses (21 credits)

• COMP 250 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction, recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity, establishing correctness of programs), Data structures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps, hash tables), Recursive and non-recursive algorithms (searching and sorting, tree and graph traversal). Abstract data types, inheritance. Selected topics.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Langer, Michael (Fall) Langer, Michael (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisites: Familiarity with a high level programming language and CEGEP level Math.

  • Students with limited programming experience should take COMP 202 or equivalent before COMP 250. See COMP 202 Course Description for a list of topics.

• MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Allen, Patrick; Lumley, Allysa (Fall) Trudeau, Sidney (Winter) Trudeau, Sidney (Summer)

  • Prerequisite: MATH 141. Familiarity with vector geometry or Corequisite: MATH 133

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP course 201-303 or MATH 150, MATH 151 or MATH 262.

• MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Kelome, Djivede (Fall) Darmon, Henri (Winter)

  • Fall and Winter

  • Prerequisite: MATH 133 or equivalent

  • Restriction: Not open to students in Mathematics programs nor to students who have taken or are taking MATH 236, MATH 247 or MATH 251. It is open to students in Faculty Programs

• MATH 240 Discrete Structures (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Introduction to discrete mathematics and applications. Logical reasoning and methods of proof. Elementary number theory and cryptography: prime numbers, modular equations, RSA encryption. Combinatorics: basic enumeration, combinatorial methods, recurrence equations. Graph theory: trees, cycles, planar graphs.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Macdonald, Jeremy; Hanson, Eric (Fall) Macdonald, Jeremy; Love, Jonathan (Winter)

  • Fall and Winter

  • Corequisite: MATH 133.

  • Restriction: For students in any Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Software Engineering programs. Others only with the instructor's permission. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 235.

• PHYS 230 Dynamics of Simple Systems (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Translational motion under Newton's laws; forces, momentum, work/energy theorem. Special relativity; Lorentz transforms, relativistic mechanics, mass/energy equivalence. Topics in rotational dynamics. Noninertial frames.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Guo, Hong (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisite: CEGEP Physics or PHYS 131.

  • Corequisite: MATH 222

  • Restriction: Not open to students taking or having passed PHYS 251

• PHYS 257 Experimental Methods 1 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Introductory laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Introduction to computers as they are employed for laboratory work, for data analysis and for numerical computation. Previous experience with computers is an asset, but is not required.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Vachon, Brigitte (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 6 hours of laboratory and classroom work

  • Corequisite: PHYS 230 or PHYS 251

• PHYS 258 Experimental Methods 2 (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Advanced laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Computers will be employed routinely for data analysis and for numerical computation, and, particularly, to facilitate the use of Fourier methods.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Cooke, David (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 6 hours of laboratory and classroom work

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 257

U2 Required Courses (24 credits)

• COMP 206 Introduction to Software Systems (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Comprehensive overview of programming in C, use of system calls and libraries, debugging and testing of code; use of developmental tools like make, version control systems.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: D'silva, Joseph; Vybihal, Joseph P (Fall) D'silva, Joseph; Vybihal, Joseph P (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: COMP 202 or COMP 250

• COMP 251 Algorithms and Data Structures (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to algorithm design and analysis. Graph algorithms, greedy algorithms, data structures, dynamic programming, maximum flows.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Waldispuhl, Jérôme; Sarrazin Gendron, Roman (Fall) Becerra, David (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: COMP 250

  • Corequisite(s): MATH 235 or MATH 240.

  • COMP 251 uses mathematical proof techniques that are taught in the corequisite course(s). If possible, students should take the corequisite course prior to COMP 251.

  • COMP 251 uses basic counting techniques (permutations and combinations) that are covered in MATH 240 but not in MATH 235. These techniques will be reviewed for the benefit of MATH 235 students.

  • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 252.

• COMP 302 Programming Languages and Paradigms (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Programming language design issues and programming paradigms. Binding and scoping, parameter passing, lambda abstraction, data abstraction, type checking. Functional and logic programming.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Kavanagh, Ryan; Pientka, Brigitte (Fall) Si, Xujie (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite(s): COMP 250 and (MATH 240 or MATH 235 or MATH 318 or COMP 230 or PHIL 210)

• COMP 350 Numerical Computing (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Computer representation of numbers, IEEE Standard for Floating Point Representation, computer arithmetic and rounding errors. Numerical stability. Matrix computations and software systems. Polynomial interpolation. Least-squares approximation. Iterative methods for solving a nonlinear equation. Discretization methods for integration and differential equations.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Chang, Xiao-Wen; Lu, Qincheng (Fall)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisites: MATH 222 and MATH 223 and one of: COMP 202, COMP 208, COMP 250; or equivalents.

  • Restrictions: Students cannot receive credit for both COMP 350 and MATH 317.

• MATH 314 Advanced Calculus (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Derivative as a matrix. Chain rule. Implicit functions. Constrained maxima and minima. Jacobians. Multiple integration. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. Fourier series with applications.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall) Macdonald, Jeremy (Winter)

  • Prerequisites: MATH 133, MATH 222

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 248 or MATH 358.

• MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Paquette, Courtney (Fall) Bélanger-Rioux, Rosalie (Winter) Roth, Charles (Summer)

  • Prerequisite: MATH 222.

  • Corequisite: MATH 133.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 325.

• PHYS 232 Heat and Waves (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamics of P-V-T systems and simple heat engines. Free, driven, and damped harmonic oscillators. Coupled systems and normal modes. Fourier methods. Wave motion and dispersion. The wave equation.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Caron-Huot, Simon (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisites: CEGEP Physics or PHYS 142, and CEGEP chemistry or CHEM 120, and PHYS 230.

  • Restriction: Not open to students taking or having passed PHYS 253

• PHYS 241 Signal Processing (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Linear circuit elements, resonance, network theorems, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, feedback, integrated circuits.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Reisner, Walter (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 2 hours lectures; 3 hours laboratory alternate weeks

  • Prerequisite: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142.

U3 Required Courses (21 credits)

• COMP 360 Algorithm Design (3 credits)

  Offered by: Computer Science (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Computer Science (Sci) : Advanced algorithm design and analysis. Linear programming, complexity and NP-completeness, advanced algorithmic techniques.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Hambardzumyan, Lianna; Hatami, Hamed (Fall) Robere, Robert (Winter)

  • 3 hours

  • Prerequisite: Either COMP 251 or COMP 252, and either MATH 240 or MATH 235 or MATH 363.

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 362.

• MATH 323 Probability (3 credits)

  Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sample space, events, conditional probability, independence of events, Bayes' Theorem. Basic combinatorial probability, random variables, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions. Independence of random variables. Inequalities, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022

  Instructors: Sajjad, Alia; Stephens, David (Fall) Sajjad, Alia; Nadarajah, Tharshanna (Winter) Kelome, Djivede (Summer)

  • Prerequisites: MATH 141 or equivalent.

  • Restriction: Intended for students in Science, Engineering and related disciplines, who have had differential and integral calculus

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 356

• PHYS 331 Topics in Classical Mechanics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Forced and damped oscillators, Newtonian mechanics in three dimensions, rotational motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, small vibrations, normal modes. Nonlinear dynamics and chaos.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Gervais, Guillaume (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 230

  • Corequisite: MATH 315

  • Restriction: Not open to students having passed PHYS 451 or PHYS 351

• PHYS 339 Measurements Laboratory in General Physics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : Introduction to modern techniques of measurement. The use of computers in performing and analysing experiments. Data reduction, statistical methods, report writing. Extensive use of computers is made in this laboratory; therefore some familiarity with computers and computing is an advantage.

  Terms: Winter 2022

  Instructors: Reisner, Walter (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 6 hours

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 241 or permission of instructor

• PHYS 340 Majors Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : The electrostatic field and scalar potential. Dielectric properties of matter. Energy in the electrostatic field. Methods for solving problems in electrostatics. The magnetic field. Induction and inductance. Energy in the magnetic field. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell's equations. The dipole approximation.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Lee, Eve J (Fall)

  • Fall

  • 3 hours lectures

  • Prerequisites: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142, MATH 222

  • Corequisite: MATH 314

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have passed PHYS 242 or PHYS 350

• PHYS 346 Majors Quantum Physics (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : De Broglie waves, Bohr atom. Schroedinger equation, wave functions, observables. One dimensional potentials. Schroedinger equation in three dimensions. Angular momentum, hydrogen atom. Spin, experimental consequences.

  Terms: Fall 2021

  Instructors: Vachon, Brigitte (Fall)

  • Fall

  • Prerequisite: PHYS 230 and PHYS 232, or PHYS 251

  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHYS 357, PHYS 446, or PHYS 457.

  • 3 hours lectures

• PHYS 489 Special Project (3 credits)

  Offered by: Physics (Faculty of Science)

  Overview

  Physics : A project incorporating aspects of both physics and computer science, under the joint supervision of the two departments. The Physics aspect may be either laboratory-based or theoretical in nature. The Computational aspect will involve the development and implementation of algorithms arising from the investigation.

  Terms: Fall 2021, Winter 2022

  Instructors: Hanna, David (Fall) Hanna, David (Winter)

  • Winter

  • 6 hours

  • Restriction: Only open to students in their final year of the Joint Major in Physics and Computer Science after consultation with the adviser(s) for the program