Programs | BSC-OPSC

Physics and Ocean-Atmosphere Sciences

Published program structure, rebuilt as a static map with generated prerequisite-flow graphs.

Combined Major

Program type

36

Named courses in the published structure

26

Related prerequisite courses outside the named list

8

EOS courses named directly in the program

Published Description

Catalog text

This single degree program is composed of a selected combination of courses from the the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. Students complete this program in the Faculty of Science and must consult the Faculty Requirements.

Students should also refer to the Physics and Astronomy Requirements and the Earth and Ocean Sciences Requirements.

Program Notes

Catalog notes

Program notes

  • Most 400-level EOS classes are offered in alternate years. A schedule of when each class is offered is available on the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences website.
  • PHYS 460A and PHYS 460B are recommended for third- and fourth-year students.

Program Graph

Program requirements arranged by prerequisite flow.

The graph is driven by prerequisites from left to right (instead of year suggestions). The simplified view keeps the sequence readable while the full view is closer to the real data structure.

Simplified view: collapse recurring early-sequence options and keep the prerequisite flow readable.

Program legend Node colours show required courses, related prerequisites, and distinct option sets used in the program map. Required program courseRelated prerequisite courseYears 3 and 4 option A (choose 2)Years 3 and 4 option B (choose 1)
Physics and Ocean-Atmosphere Sciences program graph

Open current SVG

Additional program requirements

  • Complete 4.5 units of: electives (EOS 120 is a prerequisite to EOS 313)
  • Complete 3 units of: 300- or 400-level PHYS or EOS electives
  • Complete 7.5 units of electives

Contact Hours

Per-term contact hours by published section.

Each row shows the regular-term average per term, with summer field courses broken out separately.

Regular-term figures are averaged across the published terms in each section. Electives are simplified to 3-0-0 at minimum and 3-3-0 at maximum, scaled to the published unit count. Open a row to inspect the named courses and assumptions.

Program path

Physics and Ocean-Atmosphere Sciences

Published program requirements only.

Year 1Regular term avg 23-27.5 h/wkSummer field None

Regular-term totals are averaged across the published terms in this section.

all of the following46-55 h/wk
all of12 h/wk
CHEM101Fundamentals of Chemistry from Atoms to Materials
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
CHEM102Chemical Reactivity Fundamentals with Environmental Applications
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
1 of5 h/wk
CSC110Fundamentals of Programming IMin
calendar 3-2-05 h/wk
CSC111Fundamentals of Programming with Engineering ApplicationsMax
calendar 3-2-05 h/wk
all of the following8 h/wk
1 of4 h/wk
MATH100Calculus IMin
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
MATH109Introduction to CalculusMax
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
all of4 h/wk
MATH101Calculus II
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
1 of the following12 h/wk
all ofMinMax12 h/wk
PHYS120Physics I
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
PHYS130Physics II
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
all of12 h/wk
PHYS110Introductory Physics I
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
PHYS111Introductory Physics II
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
Complete 4.5 units of: electives (EOS 120 is a prerequisite to EOS 313)9-18 h/wk

Electives are simplified to 3-0-0 at the low end and 3-3-0 at the high end, scaled to the published unit count.

Year 2Regular term avg 21.5 h/wkSummer field None

Regular-term totals are averaged across the published terms in this section.

all of the following43 h/wk
all of5 h/wk
EOS340Atmospheric Physics
calendar 3-0-25 h/wk
all of11 h/wk
MATH200Calculus III
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
MATH204Calculus IV
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
MATH211Matrix Algebra I
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
all of24 h/wk
PHYS215Introductory Quantum Physics
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
PHYS216Introductory Electricity and Magnetism
calendar 3-0-14 h/wk
PHYS229Introduction to Experimental Physics
calendar 2-4-06 h/wk
PHYS248Computer Assisted Physics
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
PHYS317Thermodynamics
calendar 3-1-15 h/wk
all of3 h/wk
STAT260Introduction to Probability and Statistics I
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
Years 3 and 4Regular term avg 18-24.25 h/wkSummer field 6 h/wk

Regular-term totals are averaged across the published terms in this section. The calendar publishes this as one combined section rather than separate year totals. Summer field courses are listed separately instead of being folded into the regular-term average.

all of the following78-103 h/wk
2 of12-13 h/wk
EOS311Biological OceanographyMin
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
EOS312Introductory Chemical OceanographyMax
calendar 3-4-07 h/wk
EOS313Introductory Geological OceanographyMinMax
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
all of9 h/wk
EOS401Oceanographic Field School
summer fieldassumed 3-3-06 h/wk
EOS431Physical Oceanography
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
1 of3-6 h/wk
EOS433The Physics of ClimateMin
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
EOS451Introductory Dynamic MeteorologyMax
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
all of6 h/wk
MATH342Intermediate Ordinary Differential Equations
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
MATH346Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
all of21 h/wk
PHYS321AClassical Mechanics I
calendar 3-1-15 h/wk
PHYS323Quantum Mechanics I
calendar 3-1-15 h/wk
PHYS325Optics
calendar 3-3-06 h/wk
PHYS326Electricity and Magnetism
calendar 3-1-15 h/wk
all of6 h/wk
PHYS411Time Series Analysis
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
PHYS426Fluid Mechanics
calendar 3-0-03 h/wk
Complete 3 units of: 300- or 400-level PHYS or EOS electives6-12 h/wk

Electives are simplified to 3-0-0 at the low end and 3-3-0 at the high end, scaled to the published unit count.

Complete 7.5 units of electives15-30 h/wk

Electives are simplified to 3-0-0 at the low end and 3-3-0 at the high end, scaled to the published unit count.

Related Courses

Prerequisite courses outside the named program list.

These courses are not listed directly in the published program requirements, but they appear in the prerequisite chains that make the flow map readable.

CHEM091CHEM150CSC226CSC349AECE216ELEC216EOS110EOS120EOS314EOS325MATH102MATH110MATH120MATH122MATH151MATH201MATH205MATH208MATH248PHYS102PHYS102APHYS102BPHYS112PHYS301PHYS340PHYS441