Program description
Physics is the science which explores and identifies basic principles governing the structure and behaviour of matter, the generation and transfer of energy, and the interaction of matter and energy. Knowledge of physics is essential in other natural sciences, such as chemistry and geology, and to professions such as engineering, medicine, and dentistry.
Astronomy, the other focus of this department, examines the universe, the earth and the planets, as well as phenomena such as quasars, pulsars, comets and asteroids. A planetarium and an astronomical observatory are part of this program. Medical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many environments.
Program options
Degree options
B. Sc. Bachelor of Science, General - Physics & Astronomy – 3 years
B. Sc. Bachelor of Science, Honours Physics and Astronomy – 4 years
B. Sc. Bachelor of Science, Major Physics and Astronomy – 4 years
B. Sc. Bachelor of Science, Physics and Astronomy Joint and Double 4 Year Honours Degrees
B. Sc. Bachelor of Science, Honours (Joint Physics and Computer Science) (Cooperative Option) – 5 years
Interesting courses and unique opportunities
Interesting courses
- Plagues and People
- Optics and lasers
- Nuclear Physics and Applied Nuclear Science
- Phenomenology of Galaxies
Professional opportunities
- Manager
- Administrator
- Engineer (process and instrumentation development, software development)
- Quantitative Analyst (finance / banking)
- Computer scientist
- Teacher / Instructor
Students who go on to complete Ph.D. studies aim to eventually become professional physicists engaged in research (pure or applied) in: Industrial and government laboratories; Hospitals; Universities
Admission requirements & prerequisites
Direct entry option
- Manitoba high school graduation, with five full credits at the Grade 12 level, in courses designated S, G or U.
- A minimum 85% average over the following, with no less than 60% in each course:
- English 40S
- Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S (recommended) or Applied Mathematics 40S
- Biology 40S, Chemistry 40S, Computer Science 40S, or Physics 40S
This entry option is open to high school students or high school graduates who have not completed any university or college courses. Specific program requirements will vary; details of these requirements are available on each program’s application page.
Advanced entry option
24 credit hours in U1 (or an approved bachelors program)
This entry option is open to students who have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of university level study. Specific program requirements will vary; details of these requirements are available on each program’s application page.
High school prerequisites
High school prerequisites: Depending on major, may include Biology 40S, Chemistry 40S, Physics 40S, Pre-Calculus Math or Applied Math 40S
Many programs will require or recommend specific high school courses over and above their admission requirements. These high school prerequisites are not always required to enter the program, but they must be completed to enrol in certain university courses within it. If a student does not have a particular prerequisite when they enter the program, they may complete an equivalent upgrading course at university that will satisfy the prerequisite requirement.
More details on admission requirements, application dates and how to apply is available on the Faculty of Science apply for admission page.
What is unique about this program at the U of M?
The Physics and Astronomy Department, which celebrated its centenary in 2004, is a medium-sized research intensive department. Graduates from its various programs currently hold prestigious positions in institutions in North America and Europe. The expertise of its 22 full-time faculty members is recognized by the role they play in numerous committees of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and the granting arm of NATO, and those of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP). At present they attract in excess of $2.5 million in annual funding from a variety of sources including NSERC, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), both the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Canadian Space Agency among others. These funds help underwrite the support offered to graduate students in numerous areas, both experimental and theoretical, ranging from studies in the subatomic and atomic regimes, through large biological molecules to macroscopic, highly correlated systems, and medical physics.
Important links
Faculty of Science
Physics and Astronomy Department Homepage
Graduate Programs
