Programs:
Joint Major:Joint Honours:Undergraduate Research:More information: |
Frequently Asked Questions about Physics Programs at McGill
Major, Honours and Joint Degree ProgramsWhat is the difference between the Honours Physics and Major Physics programs?Both the Major and honours Physics degrees will give you sufficient preparation for graduate school. About half of our students are in the Honours program. It is more challenging than Major Physics, both in terms of required credits and material covered. Honours students also take Honours math classes, which are proof-based, unlike their major counterparts, which focus on teaching mathematical tools. Some students thrive on the more focused and theoretical approach in Honours programs, while some students find it overwhelming or find they enjoy breadth over depth. It is hard to know which camp you fall into until you try. One option is to start off as a Physics major in U1 and then transfer into the Honours program in U2 if you are doing well in all of your classes. Details on how to do this are on the bottom of this page. How do I apply for an Honours Physics degree?There is no special application process for the Honours Program. If you are interested in Honours Physics, you should apply to the Physical, Earth, Math and Computer Science group when you submit an application to McGill. You will be able to select Honours Physics as a degree program yourself on Minerva when you first register for U1 courses. If you are currently a U1 student and want to transfer into the Honours program, you should speak to a Physics advisor. To remain in the Honours Physics program, you must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in your required and complementary courses each academic year, and cannot have a grade in any individual required or complementary course below a C. Can I start out in the Major Physics program and then transfer to Honours?Yes. Physics Major students may enter the Honours program after their first year if they have passed all of the following courses with a C or better, and obtained a GPA of 3.5 or better in these courses:
Should I do an Honours Physics or Major Physics degree?Both the Major and Honours Physics degrees will give you sufficient preparation for graduate school. Advantages of a Major Physics degree:
Advantages of an Honours Physics degree:
How manageable the workload is in Honours degrees depends a lot on your outside commitments, your background preparation, and your study skills. With that said, Honours degrees in Physics are some of the most difficult programs at McGill. Some students thrive on the more focused and theoretical approach in Honours programs, while some students find it overwhelming or find they enjoy breadth over depth. It's hard to know which camp you fall into until you try. Should I do a Joint Honours Physics and Mathematics degree?We usually recommend the Joint Honours in Physics and Mathematics degree only to students who really love both subjects equally. If you do have a preference, it is almost always better to concentrate in one area. The joint honours program is designed to give you sufficient preparation to go onto graduate study in either Math or Physics. In general, the type of math that you learn in advanced honours Math courses is not that useful for Physics — you have to really love the proof-based math on its own. The course load for this program is also quite high — you will only get 9 elective credits (3 courses), which means there is little room for you to explore other interests. How manageable the workload in the Joint Honours Physics and Mathematics degree depends a lot on your outside commitments, your background preparation, and your study skills. With that said, this is one of the most difficult programs at McGill. Some students thrive on the more proof-based and theoretical approach in the program, while some students find it overwhelming. It's hard to know which camp you fall into until you try. What degree should I do if I want to be a theoretical physicist?There is no one Physics degree at McGill that will lead to being a theoretical physicist. With that said, the extra required Math and Physics courses in the Honours program can be advantageous to aspiring theorists. However, the Honours Physics program does not provide much formal training in computer science. Increasingly, Physics theory involves creating computer models to simulate physical phenomena. This requires both a strong understanding of the underlying Physics and Mathematics, as well as an ability to write code that will go into the models. Also, in our experience, many students think they want to be theorists because it is the closest to what they are used to (doing pen and paper calculations in the classroom) or they find undergraduate Physics labs to be tedious. However, many change their mind when they get more exposure to actual Physics research (where you can’t look up the answer in the back of the book!). The easiest way to find out if you want to be a theorist or experimentalist is to test it out by doing a few different research projects as an undergrad. Do you have an astronomy program?No, we don't have an undergraduate degree program in astronomy at McGill. However, Astrophysics, astronomy, and cosmology represent a major strength of our department, with the McGill Space Institute next door to the Physics building, facilitating a good deal of cross-pollination with research groups in other fields. Undergraduate programs in astronomy are rare in North America. Most professional astronomers have undergraduate degrees in Physics (or a related field), and choose to specialize in astronomy or astrophysics in graduate school. As part of our new Major Physics program, students have the opportunity to take several astronomy courses (including PHYS 320, PHYS 321 and PHYS 521) as part of their degree program. Additionally, Major and Honours students can take research courses for credit, doing projects with any of the astrophysics groups. This provides real research experience and generates recommendation letters, arguably the most important element of a future application. Good students can also usually find paid summer internships and fellowships as well. How do I apply for a minor in Physics?There is no special application for a Physics minor on our end. You should be able to register yourself on Minerva. However, if you are in a Faculty outside of Arts or Science, you may need permission from your faculty to add the minor. The Physics minor is 18 credits, which cannot overlap with any other programs. While the minor contains no mathematics courses, many Physics courses have Math pre- or corequisites. This is usually not a problem for Science or Engineering students, but students in programs that do not have required math courses (like Arts or Music) may have to complete additional Physics and Math classes to meet the prerequisites in the minor. Should I study Math, Physics or Engineering?Engineering is a pre-professional degree, whereas Math and Physics are not. If you study Engineering, you have a clear career path — at the end you will be qualified to be an engineer. On the other hand, Physics and Math are more general, problem-solving degrees. Unless you go on to graduate school, there is no one career path for students with undergraduate degrees in Physics or Math. Physics focuses on questions of “why”, while Engineering focuses on questions of “how”” Mathematicians see the beauty in pure math, physicists see math as a tool to do Physics, engineers see Physics as a tool to do Engineering. See: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/purity.png. Think about your long-term goals, values and interests when deciding on what to study. Is a Joint Physics and Computer Science degree sufficient preparation for graduate study?Probably not. While the Joint Physics and Computer Science major is a great preparation for a job after graduation, there are just not enough Physics or Computer science classes to prepare you for graduate-level coursework. The Joint Honours Physics and Computer Science program, on the other hand, is enough preparation for further study in either field. Degree StructureI am confused about how degree programs work at McGill or need a comprehensive guide to Bachelor of Science degrees at McGill. Where should I start?The faculty of Science put together an excellent Undergraduate handbook. It has the answer to most student questions. How are degree programs structured at McGill?Since McGill students come from many different education systems, our degrees are built to be flexible to accommodate varying levels of preparation. A Bachelor of Arts degree at McGill is 120 credits. This is divided as follows:
Students entering U1 will usually have 30 credits from CEGEP, advanced standing, or the U0 foundation program, so students entering U1 usually need to take 90 credits to complete their degree. Since students usually take 15 credits (5 courses) per semester, degree programs are designed to be completed in 3 years. Some fraction of those credits will count towards your degree program (for example, 63 credits for Major Physics or 78 for Honours Physics) and the rest are electives (any course you want from the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Arts). Can I take 4 courses per semester?Yes. To complete your Physics degree in three years starting in U1, you will likely have to take 5 (3-credit) courses per term. However, since it is still considered full-time at McGill, many students opt to do 4 courses per term. This will likely delay your graduation by a year. Since this requires a bit of advanced planning to make sure that you are not missing any prerequisites, it is a good idea to sit down and plan out a 4-course-per-term, 4-year schedule in advance. You may also want to talk to an advisor about your plans. What is the difference between a complementary course and an elective course?Required course: Course required for your degree program. No choice in course selection. Included in your degree program credits. Complementary course: Course required for your degree program. Some choices in course selection (usually from a list of approved complementary courses). Included in your degree program credits. Elective course: Course not required for your degree program (Major Physics or Honours Physics), but used to meet the credit requirements for a BSc (120 credits). Can be any course from the Faculty of Arts or Faculty of Science (and a limited number from other Faculties). What is the difference between a prerequisite and a co-requisite?Prerequisite courses have to be taken before a course. Co-requisite courses can be taken at the same time. What courses should I take as electives?Electives can be any courses in the Faculty of Arts or Faculty of Science for which you have the prerequisites, and from which you are not explicitly excluded. You can also take a limited number of courses from other Faculties. If you would like to take courses that are directly useful for your course of study, we would recommend taking:
Can I do a minor in another subject?Yes. In the Faculty of Science, you are required to complete 120 credits to receive a BSc. Usually, you will get 30 credits from CEGEP or the U0 foundation program, so students entering U1 usually need to take 90 credits to complete their degree. Some fraction of those credits will count towards your degree program (for example, 63 credits for Major Physics or 78 for Honours Physics) and the rest are electives. You can use your elective courses however you want, including using them for minors offered by many faculties, including the faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts. If you want more help planning the big-picture aspects of your degree, it can be useful to talk to your SOUSA advisor. Physics advisors can help with Physics program-specific stuff, the SOUSA office advisors are better at helping you with everything else. Can I go over 120 credits?Yes. There is a 120 credit limit for BSc degrees at McGill. Usually, you will get 30 credits from CEGEP or the U0 foundation program, so students entering U1 usually need to take 90 credits to complete their degree. Luckily, you can go over this 120 credit limit as long as you don’t begin your last semester with >= 120 credits. So, for example, you could begin your last semester with 119 credits, take 5, 3-credit courses and finish with 134 credits without problems. If you do end up hitting 120 credits at the beginning of a semester, you can still finish your degree, you will just need special permission to register from the Faculty of Science (SOUSA) advisors. They will only approve degree program courses (including courses needed for minors, but no electives). If you come in with advanced standing credits from International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement examinations, GCE A-Levels or French Baccalaureate programs, the credits do not count towards your credit limit — so you can (but do not have to) complete 120 credits at McGill. Physics Degree Problems and AdviceI am having issues when I try to register for a course. What should I do?The Faculty of Science outlines many common registration issues in their Undergraduate Handbook. Most of these issues can be resolved by contacting the department offering the course. In the case of Physics courses, you should email Louise Decelles (chairsec dot physics at mcgill dot ca). I need/want to take a course, but it is full. What should I do?If you need to get into a full course or you have other registration issues and the course is required for your degree program, you should contact the relevant program advisor in the department that runs the course. In the case of classes run by the Physics department, you should email Louise Decelles (chairsec dot physics at mcgill dot ca). If the course is full, but is not required for your degree program, you should join the waitlist (if one exists) or keep an eye on Minerva to see if a spot opens up. There is a lot of shuffling that goes on during the add/drop period, so it may make sense to attend the first few classes of a full course in case you can get in. I am an Honours student. Can I take non-Honours math courses?Yes, but only if you are in U1. We allow U1 Honours Physics students to take non-Honours versions of Math courses to resolve scheduling issues. This can be necessary, if, for example you enter U1 without MATH 222 - Calculus 3, or you want to take a math class during the summer semester. I failed a course or am in danger of failing a course. What should I do?In general, the earlier you reach out for help, the easier it will be to resolve your issues and get access to the appropriate resources. If you are struggling in a course, your first step should be to talk to your course instructor and/or TAs. Ask them for tips on how to improve your grades and how to study for exams. Professors want you to do well in their courses and learn the material! However, they are unlikely to be sympathetic to demands for higher grades, especially if you have not earned them. It is usually much better to withdraw from a course than to fail the course. In both circumstances, you won’t get credit for the course, but a withdrawal will not hurt your GPA. Since students withdraw from courses for a variety of reasons, a few withdrawals on your transcript will not look bad. You can withdraw yourself from courses on Minerva. Please make a note of the withdrawal deadline for the semester in your calendar (usually the 6th week of classes). Permission to withdraw from a course after the withdrawal deadline will be granted only under exceptional circumstances (and will not be granted because you are doing unsatisfactory work in a course). See the Faculty of Science Student Handbook for more information on course withdrawals. If you fail a course (you received a "D", a conditional pass, or "F"), you have three options (1) repeat the course, (2) substitute another course for the one you took, or (3) apply to write a supplemental examination. See the Faculty of Science Student Handbook for more information on what to do if you fail a course. If the course is required for your degree program, supplemental exams are a great option. If you are in the Honours program, and your supplemental grade is a C or better, you may remain in the honours program. The year-CGPA (which must stay 3 or above) will be determined as per McGill’s CGPA calculation, averaging pre- and post-supplemental grades. Note that you must apply for a supplemental examination soon after the term ends. See the deadlines here. What things can I do to get the most out of my Physics degree and improve my grades?Go to your professor’s office hours and ask questions. If you can’t make it during their office hours, send them an email to set up an appointment. This may seem intimidating at first, but the more you do it the easier it will get. Professors want you to come to their office hours — that is why they set aside the time! It is very boring to sit in an empty office when no students are coming in to see you. Come prepared with your questions about the class or ask them for recommendations about how to study for midterms and exams. If you don’t have any questions, ask them about their research. Professors love to talk about that! Also, it can be very helpful to form a study group. Don’t just copy each other’s homework answers — that is both intellectually dishonest and doesn't actually teach you that much. However, most professors are happy for you to collaborate on general problem solving strategies for problem sets and other assignments. Often the best way to learn something is to teach it to others. This also helps when reviewing for midterms and exams. Incoming StudentsI am an incoming student, how do I get started at McGill and learn more about how my degree program will work?There is a lot of good information on McGill’s website for Newly Admitted Students. Also be sure to check out the excellent Faculty of Science Undergraduate handbook. I am coming in with a French Baccalaureate. Will I begin as a U0 or U1 student?In our experience, students who come in with a French Bacc end up somewhere between U0 and U1. McGill may give them advanced standing, but they may still lack some of the prerequisite courses for U1 Physics classes. Many students end up spending 3 ½ or 4 years to complete their degrees. How do I get an exemption for classes (like MATH 222 - Calculus 3) that I took in CEGEP?You should automatically receive an exemption on your transcript – no need to apply. If, for some reason, this does not happen, you should talk to the Faculty of Science Advisors (SOUSA) office, who handle exemptions and transfer credits. I took a University-level course but did not receive credit or an exemption from McGill. Do I still have to take the course?If you feel that you've completed the equivalent of one or more university-level science courses, you may be eligible to write admission placement exams in biology, chemistry, math, or physics to prove that you know the material. If you pass the exam, you will receive an exemption from the course, but no course credit. More information here. These exams are typically held twice a year, in early January and late August. I am an incoming U1 student. I want to do an Honours program, but I have not yet completed MATH 222 - Calculus 3. What should I do?If you are entering U1 without MATH 222 - Calculus 3, you should follow the course sequence outlined here. If you would like to begin one of our Joint Honours programs, you will likely need at least one extra semester at McGill to catch up on your required coursework. Please see an advisor to help you plan your schedule. I only have credit for PHYS 101/102 instead of 131/142. Can I begin U1 Physics classes?Yes. PHYS 101/102 are sufficient preparation for U1 Physics courses, but PHYS 131/142 are an even better preparation. You are welcome to begin a Physics degree with just PHYS 101/102, with the understanding that you may have to occasionally fill in some gaps on your own that you missed in your intro courses. There should be no issues registering for subsequent courses. What is the difference between PHYS 101/102 and 131/142?PHYS 101/102 and PHYS 131/142 cover a similar range of topics, but the PHYS 131/142 sequence uses some calculus (although sparingly) and explores topics in more depth. If you are planning on enrolling in a Physics program in U1, we strongly recommend that you take PHYS 131/142. How large are Physics classes at McGill?
Intro U0 courses at McGill are quite large. For example, PHYS 131 (Intro Mechanics with Calculus) has an enrollment cap of 550 students. Things get much smaller once you begin your degree program in U1: with classes ranging from 50-70 students for required classes and under 40 students in upper-level complementary courses. Can I do research as an Undergraduate?Yes. One advantage of McGill Physics is the relative ease of doing research as an undergraduate. You can either take research courses for credit during the academic year, or do paid (or for credit) work over the summer. We require students in almost all of our programs to do at least one research project to fulfill their degree requirements. The most common time to do a research project is the summer between U2 and U3, but you can begin doing research as soon as your second semester at McGill. We often have around 70 students in our summer undergraduate research program, almost all of them from McGill. Research, Graduate School, and JobsHow do I get started doing research as an Undergraduate?It is possible to get involved with research at McGill, both for credit and during paid summer internships and fellowships. The most common time to do a research project is the summer between U2 and U3, but you can begin doing research as soon as your second semester at McGill. There are two types of research courses at McGill: Fulfill degree requirements:
Can only be used as an elective:
For both paid and for-credit research courses, you will be in charge of finding a research supervisor. You are not expected to come up with a project on your own, and professors usually have a list of projects in mind for undergrads. If you do have something in mind, you can usually work with a professor to design a project. In general, professors are looking for enthusiasm (and coding skills) when evaluating potential undergraduate researchers. Sometimes, you will need subject-matter knowledge to be useful, so some professors will only take on U2 or U3 students. You should reach out to a handful of supervisors the semester before you want to start a project. A good template to follow can be found here. Think about what classes you liked and why, then have a look at the Physics Department’s website to see which professors do research in the areas that interest you. You can also have a look at past summer projects, to get an idea of which professors frequently supervise undergrads and what types of projects our students do. When contacting potential supervisors:
How do I register for PHYS 396?To register for PHYS 396- Undergraduate Research Project, you first have to find a research supervisor who is willing to take you on for a PHYS 396 project. Then, working with your supervisor, you should fill out the form found here. Send the form to Prof. Dominic Ryan (dominic at physics dot mcgill dot ca) for approval. After that, you should contact Louise Decelles (chairsec dot physics at mcgill dot ca) who will register you for the course. Is an Honours degree necessary if I want to go to grad school?No. Both Major Physics and Honours Physics programs are sufficient preparation for graduate studies (perhaps with the exception of the joint major in Physics and Computer Science). In fact, Major Physics degrees at McGill are similar to Honours Physics degrees at many other Canadian Universities. Major Physics programs allow you more room in your schedule to take research courses during the academic year. This can be helpful for grad school applications, since letters of recommendation from research supervisors are arguably the most important part of the application. Honours Physics programs are more mathematical and allow you to study Physics in more depth. They also give you more access to advanced, 500-level coursework. This also is sometimes helpful for grad school applications. Will a McGill Physics degree prepare me for graduate school?Yes. Both Major Physics and Honours Physics programs are sufficient preparation for graduate studies. About 2/3 of McGill Undergraduates go on to grad school after they leave McGill. McGill Physics provides both a rigorous undergraduate curriculum in Physics and many opportunities to get research experience as an undergrad. What kinds of things do grad schools look for in applications?Every school does graduate admissions differently, so it is hard to say anything that is universally true. However, in general, potential supervisors or graduate admissions committees are looking for students who will be able to succeed in graduate-level classes and who will be able to succeed in independent research. Evidence for these qualities include your transcript (to assess your background preparation), your GPA (to assess academic aptitude and study skills), if you have done research as an undergrad, and your letters of recommendation (to assess if you are intellectually curious and if you did a good job in your research projects). The most important part of your application is usually your letters of recommendation, which is why it is important to become involved in research as an undergraduate as soon as possible. How much does Physics grad school cost?Most graduate programs in STEM subjects (including Physics) will not only pay your University's tuition for you, they will also give you a stipend to live on. Usually this stipend is not a lot, but it is enough to rent an apartment and buy food. This includes MSc programs in Canada. Beware of unfunded graduate programs, unless you are independently wealthy or the program will lead to a good-paying job immediately after graduation. Should I go to grad school?It is easy to continue onto more school because of momentum. You likely have been in school continuously since you were at least 5 or 6 years old, so more school can be tempting (because getting a job can be scary), but is it what you want? You can get intellectually challenging jobs that allow you to interact with smart people with just a BSc. These jobs also usually pay much better and have better hours than academia. You should consider going to grad school only if you really want to do original research, become a subject-matter expert in a narrow area and/or interact with world-class researchers as peers. A student lifestyle can be fun in your early 20s, but can get less fun as you are nearing 30. By that time, your friends who got jobs will start buying houses and cars, putting money in a retirement fund, and having families. None of this is impossible as a graduate student, it’s just a lot harder to do on a grad student stipend. Going to grad school is also not worth it if you will be miserable, but view doing a PhD as a sacrifice you are willing to make to work in academia. While every job will have its ups and downs, the small chance that you will become a tenured professor is not worth damaging your mental or physical health. One way to find out if you like doing research is to do a variety of research projects while you are an undergraduate. You should also take the opportunity to talk to the students and postdocs in your group about their grad school experiences and academic careers. What kinds of jobs can I get with a Physics degree?Unlike Engineering, Physics is not a pre-professional degree, and there is no one career path for students with degrees in Physics. For example, getting a PhD does not necessarily lead to being a Physics professor — while some fraction of people will get academic positions, many others will be successful in many different private-sector and government jobs. Physics is a degree that gives you excellent training in curiosity-driven problem solving. Many employers value this kind of training and appreciate the unique perspective that Physics graduates bring to other fields. The fields in which physicists can work in academia, government and the private sector are varied. Some examples include (but are not at all limited to):
COVID-19 QuestionsSince the Fall semester will be remote, what happens to labs?McGill is committed to making sure that our students complete their academic programs in full and in a timely manner even with remote delivery in the Fall semester. This includes making sure that classes are accessible no matter where you are (and what time zone you are in) We currently have a group of faculty members working on plans to allow students to do Physics labs remotely in the Fall. While none of these plans have been finalized, we are committed to giving you an experience that meets the learning goals of the class and teaches important experimental techniques. This may involve experiments that can be done at home, remote learning platforms, simulations, and/or technicians performing the experiment on your behalf, either synchronously or asynchronously. For an idea of what this may look like, see this video published by McGill. The end of my semester was chaotic, and I’m not sure if I learned everything that I should have. What should I do?Since the WInter 2020 semester has been disrupted for everyone, you should receive more information about skills self-assessment tools and review materials from McGill sometime this summer. We are working on ways to make sure you learned all of the necessary material and give you ways to make it up if you did not. |