Physics is the most fundamental of the natural sciences, with many career paths. If you enjoy science but are not sure where Physics can lead you, ask us!
Some career paths:

• Semiconductor industry
• Energy management
• Medical imaging
• Weather research
• Technical analyst
• Telecommunications

We offer four-year programs of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Physics, with possible Concentrations in:

• Quantum Materials,
• Applied Physics,
• Theoretical Physics,
• Astrophysics

Our recommended schedule could look like this. Talk to us about what interests you, and we can help guide you in choosing a pathway to reach your potential!

Year 1

Your choice of electives in year 1 could include Programming, Engineering Design, or even the second term of Chemistry.
By choosing your Humanities or Social Science credits carefully, you could be on your way to a Minor in a field such as Philosophy, Economics, or History!

Year 2

In year two, your electives could be in Physics, or build towards a Minor in another science.

Year 3

In your third year, you will have developed a sense of what areas of Physics interest you. You may choose to take courses that lead to a Concentration in Applied Physics, Quantum Materials, Theoretical Physics or Astrophysics.

For a full list of what courses you can choose from, please see the Academic Calendar.

Year 4

In your final year, we encourage all Honours students to undertake a real research project, in materials science, biophysics, or physics education.
You also have flexibility to complete the courses of your Concentration, as well the courses of your Minor

Do you see yourself as a researcher? We do!

Here are the titles of Honours Thesis from the last five years from students just like you.

2026

• Lindsay Tait, “Artifical Spin Ice on Polyhedra“, 2026.
• Owen Sellars, “Evaluating Pedagogical Changes in First Year Physics“, 2026.
• Sam Studdy, “Frustration and Order-by-Disorder in Close-Packed Solids“, 2026.
• Sophie Della Manna, “Introductory Electronics for Scientists: Effect of high integration on critical thinking lab skills and attitudes in undergraduate physics students“, 2026.
• Justus McRae, “Optical Properties of β-Arsenic (III) Telluride in the Ultraviolet and Visible Spectra“, 2026.

2025

• Hubert Fuks, “Exact Analytical Solutions to the Euler Fluid Equationss“, 2025.
• Ross Booker, “Exploring the quantum properties of Dysprosium Phosphate“, 2025.
• Justin Fetalvero, “Finding the LRL vector of an Isotropic Oscillator and Properties of Other Hidden Conserved Quantities“, 2025.
• Ariane Allas, “High Entropy Oxide Thin Films“, 2025.
• Kevin Stefanchuk, “Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Performance Optimization and Water Splitting Cell Design“, 2025.
• Ethan Flynn, “Observing the Effects of Cesium Doping of a R4Ag2BiBr9 Perovskite-like Material“, 2025.

2024

• Hitenkumar Bhupendrabhai Patel, “Proton Exchange Membranes using Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride“, 2024.
• Cameron Dyrseth, “Quantum Localization in Incommensurates“, 2024.
• Cole Ross, “The Impact of VMAT, SBRT, and SRS Treatments on Medical Linear Accelerators and Shielding Calculations“, 2024.
• Matthew Schweinbenz, “Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitrides for Anion Exchange Membranes“, 2024.

2023

• Nick Holditch, “Comparison of the Persistent omology of Protein Peptide Backbone Cɑ and N Atoms in a Molecualr Dynamic Simulation“, 2023.
• Ozzie Graham, “Designing a UV-VIS Spectroscopy System to Determine Absolute Reflectance“, 2023.

2022

• Yude Zeng, “Entropy Stabilized Oxides with Four and Five Magnetic Cations“, 2022.
• Alicia Savelli, “Exploring the Possibility of Faster-Than-Light Travel“, 2022.
• Sara Hesse, “Imaging and Analysis of Porous Silicon as an Infrared Filter“, 2022.
• Jared Wogan, “PyOGRe: A Python Object-Oriented General Relativity Package“, 2022.

Student life in the Physics Department is one of community.

Physics and Biophysics students have all-hours access to our student social and space – for lunch, games, and homework! Just use your student card to enter.

There is an active student-led Physics Club that organizes games, study times, peer tutoring, and occasional field-trips.

There is a Co-op option for the Honours Physics BSc, and it only adds one term to the full length of the degree.

Your preparation for Co-op begins in the Spring term of year 2, and successfull applicants will typically take their placements Winter of year 3 and Fall of year 4.

When you return, you’ll undertake a real science research project in the Spring/Summer of your fourth year, and complete your course work in the Fall of year 5.

Some recent Co-op placements of Brock Physics students:

• Canadian Hydrographic Service
• Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
• Government of Ontario (Ontario Public Service)
• L-3 Communications
• Wescam
• Niagara Region
• Tornado Medical System

Biophysics is the study of how the principles of physics apply to living systems. It uses ideas like energy, forces, electricity, and thermodynamics to understand biological processes such as how cells function, how muscles move, and how nerve signals travel.

Biophysics students can join the Biophysical Society of Canada for free.

What do Biophysicists do?

• Data analysis and structure of DNA
• Computer modeling of biomolecules
• Neuroscience
• Bioengineering, Nanotechnologies, Biomaterials
• Medical imaging and Health Physics

Biophysicists study living systems using the tools and ideas of physics to understand how life works at a deeper, quantitative level. In practice, they might:

• Investigate how proteins fold and function
• Study how electrical signals travel through neurons
• Use imaging techniques (like MRI or microscopy) to look inside cells and tissues
• Model biological processes using math and computer simulations
• Develop medical technologies such as diagnostic tools or drug delivery systems

Overall, they connect physics and biology to solve problems in medicine, health, and understanding life itself.

Your schedule starts out quite full, as you build a foundation in Physics, Biology and Chemistry.

Year 1

In your second year, you have flexibility to choose to explore several areas of Biology, with room for electives in Neuroscience, Kinesiology, or Psychology.

Year 2

In your third year, you will begin to see the connections between concepts in physics and chemistry within living things.

Year 3

In your final year, you will choose a research project from many researchers in Physics, Chemistry, or Biology.

Year 4

There is a high demand for qualified science and mathematics teachers in Ontario, driven by a widening teacher shortage and a specific need for STEM specialists, particularly at the secondary level.

At Brock, you can earn combined BSc and BEd degrees in :

• Physics
• Physics (with Chemistry as second teachable subject)
• Physics (with Math as second teachable subject)
• Chemistry (with Physics as second teachable subject)

In the Physics Department, we support and develop our future teachers though particpation in

• Peer tutoring
• Numerous science outreach events with all ages
• Physics Education Research (PER)

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for more about this highly competitive program

Adding a Minor in Physics can be a really smart move because it builds powerful ways of thinking that apply almost everywhere.

• Physics is highly versatile and interdisciplinary.
• Physics gives you a strong quantitative foundation.
• Physics builds problem-solving and analytical skills
• Physics gives you an apprication for how the universe works.

Here are the recommended introductory courses for a Minor in Physics. We recommend the sequence 1P91 and 1P92 with laboratory, however the sequence of 1P21 and 1P22 (without laboratory) is possible.

• PHYS 1P91 – Introductory Physics I with Laboratory
• PHYS 1P92 – Introductory Physics II with Laboratory
• Two and one-half credits from:
  • ASTR 1P01 – Introduction to Astronomy I
  • ASTR 1P02 – Introduction to Astronomy II
  • PHYS credits numbered 2(alpha)00 or above

Note that many year-2 Physics courses require having taken MATH 1P01 and 1P02, or MATH 1P05 and 1P06.