Distinguishing features of physics at Mount Allison include a challenging and innovative curriculum taught within a supportive, personal atmosphere.
Many of our courses, including the first year courses, are taught using an experiential physics approach (learn physics by experiencing physics.) In these courses you will spend most of your time in collaborative student groups, discovering and applying physics directly in a hands-on and minds-on fashion.
Programs
We offer:
- major and honours programs in physics
- combined honours in mathematics and physics
- combined honours in computer science and physics
- minors in physics and astronomy
Please consult the Academic Calendar for program requirements. Flow-charts on program specific courses are below.
Honours
University regulations require that you apply for honours by December of your third year by filling out the declaration to pursue honours form.
In order to apply for honours:
- your current cumulative GPA must be at the minimum standard required for honours (see section 10.10.4 of the Academic Calendar for details.)
- you must also arrange for a supervisor — you should talk to potential faculty supervisors in research area(s) of interest to you (see the undergraduate research section of the opportunities for students page for more information on faculty research interests)
Courses
While all courses specifically required on degree programs are offered every year, elective courses are usually offered once every second year.
One feature of our Department is that many courses, including Physics 1041 and 1051, are taught by an experiential physics approach, which means you learn physics through collaborative, experiential learning activities.
You can check out a recommended course sequence on the flow and outline charts below. Please e-mail any potential conflicts/comments you may have to physics@mta.ca.
Please consult the Academic Calendar for a full list of courses and their descriptions.
Program advisor
A program advisor provides information and advice on your selection of courses and degree requirements.
The program advisor for physics is Dr. Ralf Bruening
Graduate studies advisor
For current Mount Allison undergraduate students: advice and information on applying to graduate school, graduate scholarships, the GRE, etc., please contact David Fleming.
Course rotation
CORE COURSES
FALL
1051 General Physics I
2251 Classical Waves
2801 Data Acquisition & Analysis
3101 Electricity and Magnetism
3361 Digital Signal Processing & Electronics
3821 Quantum Mechanics
WINTER
1041 Physics for the Life Sciences
1551 General Physics II
2811 Modern Physics
3451 Methods of Mathematical Physics
2811 Modern Physics
ROTATIONAL COURSES
Fall even
1031 Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
3581 Medical Physics
3701 Thermodynamics
Fall odd
1021 Solar System Astronomy
3411 Numerical Analysis
4201 Solid State Physics
Winter odd
1401 The Physics of Music and Sounds
3001 Astrophysics
3751 Energy & the Environment
4101 Electromagnetic Theory
4851 Fundamental Particles
Winter even
3021 Life in the Universe
3201 Statistical Mechanics
4311 Modern Optics
4411 Classical Mechanics & Relativity (currently changing)
4831 Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Physics/Chemistry 3231- Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy offered at the discretion of the Dept. of Chemistry
Rotational courses listed are tentative. Please check Self Serve to ensure that a course is being offered in any particular year.