Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
2014-15 SGS Calendar
Physics
Faculty Affiliation
Arts and Science
Degree Programs Offered
Physics—MSc, PhD
Collaborative Programs
The following collaborative programs are available to
students in participating degree programs as listed
below:
1. Astrophysics
 Physics, MSc
2. Biomedical Engineering
 Physics, MSc, PhD
3. Environmental Studies
 Physics, MSc, PhD
4. Earth Sciences and Physics
 Physics, MSc, PhD
5. Optics
 Physics, MSc
Overview
The Department of Physics offers graduate programs
leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of
Philosophy degrees. The department carries out
research in experimental and theoretical physics in
the following fields: atmospheric physics, geophysics,
quantum optics, condensed matter physics,
subatomic physics and astrophysics, and
biological physics. The department has close ties with
the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
(CITA). This association enables our students to work
and consult with leading theorists who are appointed
to, or who are visiting, CITA.
Students are admitted under the General Regulations
of the School of Graduate Studies. The department
provides financial support for one year of the MSc and
four years of the PhD program (five years for directentry PhD).
Contact and Address
Web: www.physics.utoronto.ca
Email: grad@physics.utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-2945
Fax: (416) 978-1547
Department of Physics
University of Toronto
Room 315, McLennan Physical Labs
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A7
Canada
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Degree Programs
Physics
Master of Science
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General
Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.
Applicants must also satisfy the Department of
Physics' additional admission requirements stated
below.
 An appropriate bachelor's degree with a final-year
average equivalent to at least a University of
Toronto mid-B.
 Proof of English-language proficiency for applicants
whose first language is not English.
Program Requirements
 Students normally complete program requirements
in one of three ways:
o Option 1: Coursework plus MSc Research
Report: graduate lecture courses (3.0 full-course
equivalents [FCEs]) and a Research Report,
which consists of a 6000-series research course
appropriate to the field of specialization (1.0 FCE)
and PHY 3400Y (1.0 FCE).
o Option 2: Coursework plus MSc Research
Project: graduate lecture courses (2.0 FCEs), a
6000-series research course appropriate to the
field of specialization (1.0 FCE), and a Research
Project, which consists of a 7000-series seminar
course appropriate to the field of specialization
(1.0 FCE) and PHY 3400Y (1.0 FCE).
o Option 3: Coursework plus MSc Research
Thesis: graduate lecture courses (2.0 FCEs) and a
thesis. Selection of the program is made by the
student and faculty advisor in consultation with the
Associate Chair.
 All MSc students are expected to attend the weekly
general colloquium conducted by the department.
 The MSc program is full-time.
 Residence requirement is one year.
Program Length
3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence:
F/W/S)
Time Limit
3 years full-time
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
Doctor of Philosophy
Minimum Admission Requirements
 Applicants are admitted under the General
Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.
Applicants must also satisfy the Department of
Physics' additional admission requirements stated
below.
 An appropriate University of Toronto master's
degree with an average of at least B+ or
demonstrated comparable research competence.
 Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose
first language is not English.
 Outstanding applicants may be considered directly
from undergraduate programs. Normally, these
applicants will have an undergraduate average of A
or higher.
Program Requirements
 The core of the PhD program is an original
investigation, the results of which are embodied in a
thesis. Lecture courses constitute a subsidiary but
important part of the program. Consult the
department for details.
 Complete 4.0 FCEs graduate lecture courses and a
thesis. Course credit will normally be given towards
the PhD for all graduate lecture courses taken
during a master's program in this department.
Students who have completed an appropriate MSc
elsewhere and are entering the PhD program will
generally be given a course credit of up to 2.0 FCEs
graduate lecture courses towards their PhD course
requirement.
 Complete a qualifying oral examination. Students
entering the PhD program with a master's degree
must complete the qualifying examination within
eight months; students entering with a bachelor's
degree must complete the examination within 20
months. Students who fail at the first attempt have
the opportunity to take the examination again within
a time period specified by the examination
committee.
 All PhD students are expected to attend the weekly
general colloquium conducted by the department.
 The PhD program is full-time.
Introductory Courses
PHY 1460H
Nonlinear Physics
PHY 1483H
Relativity Theory I
PHY 1484H
Relativity Theory II
PHY 1485H
Advanced Classical Optics
PHY 1487H
Quantum Theory of Solids I
PHY 1489H
Introduction to High Energy Physics
PHY 1491H
Current Interpretations of Quantum
Mechanics
PHY 1492H
Physics of the Earth
PHY 1493H
Seismology
PHY 1494H
Geophysical Imaging: EM and
Potential Fields
PHY 1495H
Geophysical Research Methods
PHY 1496H
Experimental Applied Geophysics
PHY 1498H
Introduction to Atmospheric Physics
General Courses
PHY 1500H
Statistical Mechanics
PHY 1510H
Electromagnetism
PHY 1520H
Quantum Mechanics
PHY 1530H
Fluid Mechanics
PHY 1540H
Mathematical Methods in Physics
PHY 1600H
Effective Communication for
Physicists
Specialized Courses
PHY 2108H
Special Topics in Physics I
PHY 2109H
Special Topics in Physics II
Program Length
PHY 2202H
Atomic and Molecular Physics
4 years full-time; 5 years direct-entry
Time Limit
PHY 2203H
Quantum Optics I
6 years full-time; 7 years direct-entry
PHY 2204H
Quantum Optics II
Course List
PHY 2205H
Special Topics in Quantum Optics I
PHY 2206H
Special Topics in Quantum Optics II
PHY 2208H
Nonlinear Optics
All courses are not given every year. Please check
the departmental brochure or website for course
availability.
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
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Degree and Diploma Programs by Graduate Unit
PHY 2211H
Quantum Information Theory
PHY 2609H
Planetary Physics
PHY 2212H
Entanglement Physics
PHY 2701H
Biological Physics
PHY 2303H
Quantum Theory of Solids II
PHY 2702H
Molecular Biophysics
PHY 2313H
Special Topics in Condensed Matter
Physics I
PHY 2703H
Cellular Biological Physics
PHY 2704H
Cellular Dynamics
PHY 2314H
Special Topics in Condensed Matter
Physics II
PHY 2705H
Special Topics in Biological
Physics I
PHY 2706H
Special Topics in Biological Physics
II
JGP 4170H
Geotectonics
PHY 2315H
Advanced Statistical Mechanics
PHY 2321H
Many Body Physics I
PHY 2322H
Many Body Physics II
PHY 2401H
Cosmology and Black Holes
PHY 2403H
Quantum Field Theory I
Report Course for MSc Students
PHY 3400Y+
Selected Topics in Physics
+
Extended course. For academic reasons,
coursework is extended into session following
academic session in which course is offered.
PHY 2404H
Quantum Field Theory II
PHY 2405H
Experimental High Energy Physics
PHY 2406H
Special Topics in Particle Physics I
PHY 7001Y+
Atmospheric Physics Seminar
PHY 2407H
Special Topics in Particle Physics II
PHY 7002Y+
Biophysics Seminar
PHY 2408H
Phenomenology of the Standard
Model
PHY 7003Y+
Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
PHY 2502H
Climate System Dynamics
PHY 7004Y+
Geophysics Seminar
PHY 2504H
Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics
PHY 7005Y+
Quantum Optics Seminar
PHY 2505H
Atmospheric Radiative Transfer and
Remote Sounding
PHY 7007Y+
Subatomic Physics and
Astrophysics Seminar
PHY 2506H
Data Assimilation and Retrieval
Theory
PHY 2509H
Special Topics in Atmospheric
Physics I
Seminar Courses
+ Extended
course. For academic reasons,
coursework is extended into session following
academic session in which course is offered.
Research Courses
PHY 6011Y
Research in Atmospheric Physics
PHY 6021Y
Research in Biophysics
PHY 6031Y
Research in Condensed Matter
Physics
PHY 2510H
Special Topics in Atmospheric
Physics II
PHY 2601H
Special Topics in Geophysics I
PHY 2602H
Special Topics in Geophysics II
PHY 6041Y
Research in Geophysics
PHY 2603H
Inverse Theory
PHY 6051Y
Research in Quantum Optics
PHY 2604H
Planetary Dynamo Theory
PHY 6071Y
PHY 2605H
Exploration Seismology
Research in Subatomic Physics and
Astrophysics
2014-2015 School of Graduate Studies Calendar
www.sgs.utoronto.ca/calendar
Physics
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