Physics and Astronomy
- About
- First-year courses
- Upper-year courses
- Co-op
- Beyond University of Waterloo
- Important information
About
Waterloo's Physics program is one of the largest and most innovative in Canada. The honours physics and astronomy academic plan is intended for students with a strong interest in astronomy. The plan provides depth and breadth in physics equal to our current honours physics plan, but with additional depth in astronomy. The plan will allow graduates the flexibility to pursue jobs or graduate study in either Physics or Astronomy.
First-year courses
Beginning in first year, you'll have access to a large number and variety of state-of-the-art labs. Informal seminars and research lab tours can keep you current with the latest research being conducted by your professors.
| fall term | winter term |
|---|---|
| CHEM 120/120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter / Lab PHYS 121 Mechanics and Waves 1 PHYS 10 Physics Seminar PHYS 131L Mechanics and Waves Laboratory 1 MATH 114 Linear Algebra for Engineering MATH 127 Calculus 1 One elective |
CHEM 123/123L Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics / Lab |
Upper-year courses
Here is a list of some of our upper-year courses in physics.
- Differential Equations For Physics and Chemistry
- Computational Physics 1
- Geometrical and Physical Optics
- Astronomical Observations, Instrumentation and Data Analysis
- Astrophysics 1 - The Solar System
- Astronomy Labratory
- Statistical Mechanics
- Galaxies
- Cosmology
View a full list of upper year courses, or for a detailed list of all physics courses, review the Academic Calendar.
Co-op
Phsyics and Astronomy is available in both co-op and regular streams.
What is co-op?
In the second term of your second year, you are able to begin a co-op job. You will complete 4 months of co-op, then return for 4 months of school. This pattern will continue the rest of your stay at University of Waterloo.
More information on co-op.
As students begin to explore co-op, the following postitions may interest them:
- Research Assistant, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
- RADARSAT Operations Support Assistant, Canadian Space Agency
- Research Associate, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
- Scientific Data Analyst, Department of National Defence
Co-op earnings (Physics students)
| work term | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| earnings/week (avg $) | 545 | 585 | 619 | 661 | 673 |
Beyond University of Waterloo
As students graduate from the program, they may consider these careers:
- Researcher, Canadian Space Agency
- Laboratory Manager, Remote Sensing
- Hazard Analyst/Modeller, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
To see what other careers physics students are following, check out the science careers list.
Important information
Visit the admissions requirements page for more information on what's required to be considered for admission to this program.
