Physics and Astronomy

Customize your Bachelor of Science degree

You can specialize with a minor in astrophysics or biophysics or choose to add additional areas of interest from across campus by including a minor or option as part of your degree.

By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore careers in astronomy and work for different types of employers as your career interests evolve. 

With a Physics and Astronomy degree, you can use your passion for physics and space to pursue careers as an astronomer, aerospace scientist, or a researcher in theoretical physics, astrophysics, as well as data analysis for space and atmospheric institutes.

You can start preparing for your career during your undergrad, visit our Beyond Ideas website to learn about how Harmohit got a head start to his career with all the resources offered in Physics and Astronomy.

Graduates

• Astronomer - The National Research Council's Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
• Aerospace Scientist - NASA
• Researcher - Canadian Space Agency
• Hazard Analyst/Modeller - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

Learn about the future of careers in science.

What's the difference between astronomy and astrophysics? Which of the two does the program focus on?

Astronomy is more about observational physics: what you can see and observe within an entity (including our vast universe). Astrophysics uses observational physics to propose new theories and tests them through mathematical modelling. In Physics and Astronomy, you'll learn both but will focus more on observational physics.

What kind of things do you do in the astronomy labs? Do you use the observatory?

You'll use telescopes, star maps, and other instruments in your astronomy labs, and yes, one lab does use the observatory, which you can also use when it's open to the public.