It is the study of the laws of nature that govern all physical phenomena from the smallest to the largest scales.
Physicists try to answer questions about why and how things work in our world. We develop creative new technologies and solve interesting problems. We see how the experiments we do and theories we develop work together consistently.
Here at Acadia, we offer a first-class degree in physics with small classes that are student focused. You will get to know your classmates and professors. Faculty and staff take the extra time and effort to ensure that your undergraduate experience will serve as an excellent launch point toward your future.
We would love to share the joy of physics with you. We want to help you prepare for a life and a future that is enriched by both the knowledge and the way of thinking you will gain from studying physics. Our graduates pursue an amazing range of careers. A physics degree is an excellent foundation for whatever your future has in store.
After your first year of study, paid student positions are available as help centre tutors and lab assistants. Following your second and third years, many opportunities exist for paid summer research projects. These may be either local or at an international research facility, such as CERN. Your project may form part of an undergraduate thesis.
You will have opportunities to take part in group work, teach in labs or the help centre, make class presentations, do summer research, and participate in conferences. All of these will help you gain the research and communication skills you need to pursue graduate studies or secure employment.
Acadia’s Department of Physics fosters a sense of community, and our faculty take great pride in our undergraduate students. Our program is based on creating an environment that is committed to your success. Our dedicated faculty members are consistently acknowledged for outstanding teaching. Interdisciplinary and combined degrees are common and encouraged within the Faculty of Science. In fact, they are possible across all faculties. You will graduate with excellent communication and teamwork skills, ready to pursue a vast range of careers and future studies.
FUTURE CAREERS
Computing and technology
Dentistry
Education
Electronics
Financial modelling
Geophysics
Law
Medical research
Medicine
Meteorology
Nuclear physics
Oceanography
Optical physics
Optometry
Particle physics
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must also satisfy the Bachelor of Science with Honours requirements outlined in the previous section of this calendar. Additionally, all courses for the Physics Honours program must completed be with a minimum grade of B
Program Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 81 credit hours (81h) in the Honours program as follows:
1. The Physics Core.
2. 21h Physics at the 3000/4000-level.
3. PHYS 407T/PHYS 408T or PHYS 4513 and 3h Physics at the 3000/4000-level.
4. MATH 1013, MATH 1023, MATH 2723, MATH 2753, MATH 3713, MATH 4753.
5. 3h from MATH 1333 or MATH 1323.
6. 6h from CHEM 1013/CHEM 1023, CHEM 1113/CHEM 1123, APSC 1413, APSC 2613, COMP 1113, COMP 1123.
PHYS 1513, PHYS 1523, PHYS 1543, PHYS 1553 and PHYS 1563 may not be offered to fulfill Major requirements.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
12 University Avenue,
WOLFVILLE,
Nova Scotia (NS),
B4P 2R6, Canada
Admission from High School
When planning their secondary school programs, students should note that a number of courses taken in the first university year have secondary school prerequisites. Generally, students continuing university work in subjects available in secondary school are advised to have senior year secondary school standing in those subjects.
Only academic (university preparatory) high school courses are acceptable for admission.
All students must present a penultimate (NS Grade 11 or equivalent) high school year course in mathematics
Required courses:
Admission from the International Baccalaureate Program
Students will be considered for admission using the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with a minimum score of 24. Students admitted to Acadia University with a score of 30 or higher on the IB Diploma will receive 30 credit hours (30h) of university credit.
Students who have completed IB courses but do not possess the diploma will be considered based on their coursework. Acadia gives individual credit for IB courses completed at the higher level with grades of 5, 6, or 7.
Additional Grade 12 courses necessary for specific programs
English Language Proficiency
TOEFL score is 80 (PBT 550) with a minimum score of 90 (PBT 580) with no subtest score below 20. Overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with no subtest score below 6.0), a CAEL score of 70 (with no subtest score below 60), a PTE Academic score of 61 (no subtest score below 60), Cambridge English: Advanced with a total of 176 (no subtest score below 169), and MELAB with an overall score of 80.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Students receive an intimate learning experience in an environment where all voices are heard.
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