Why CS Physics?
The Major Physics and Computer Science is designed to give motivated students the opportunity to combine the two fields in a way that will distinguish them from the graduates of either field by itself. The two disciplines complement each other, with physics providing an analytic problem-solving outlook and basic understanding of nature, while computer science enhances the ability to make practical and marketable applications, in addition to having its own theoretical interest. Graduates of this program may be able to present themselves as being more immediately useful than a pure physics major, but with more breadth than just a programmer. They will be able to demonstrate their combined expertise in the Special Project course which is the centrepiece of the final year of the program.
Choosing the Right Program
There are two different programs for people who want to do a Joint Physics and Computer Science degree. There is a Major program and an Honours program. There is a lot of overlap between the content of these two programs, but the Honours program has a higher credit requirement and requires students to take more honours courses as opposed to normal courses. Honours courses generally require more time than their major equivalents and are intended to prepare the student for graduate school. Both options include a one semester long research project at the end. Although honours students get priority in signing up for honours courses, students in Major programs can also register for honours courses.
Regardless of which program you choose, your basic prerequisites will include COMP 206, COMP 250, COMP 302, COMP 350, MATH 240, PHYS 241, PHYS 257, and PHYS 258. However, the Honours program lets you pick complementary courses along with your required courses and some of these options are required courses in the Major program. For the research project at the end of the degree, the Major program requires PHYS 489 while the Honours program lets you choose between COMP 400 and PHYS 479. PHYS 489 is meant to be a project combining both physics and computer science while PHYS 479 is more physics-based and COMP 400 is more computer science-based.
The Honours program gives you more freedom than the Major program, giving you 15 complementary credits, but the fact that it is 81 total credits as opposed to the 66 credits required for the Major program leaves little room for elective courses. If you're ever in doubt about course selection, ask a departmental advisor (this is a different person from the faculty advisor that U0s are assigned to, and they will know a lot more specific information about your program).
Surviving Physics and CS
The advantage of a joint program like CS Physics is that there are lots of different resources from both departments! Trottier 3090 is home to the CSUS Helpdesk for help with your computer science courses, and there are advisors from both departments to help with course selection and any issues you may have. Additionally, this degree requires a fair amount of math, for which you can go to Burnside 911 for help.
Additionally, both departments have a wide variety of cool talks and colloquia. The student societies for both computer science (CSUS) and physics (MSPS) organize and advertise all sorts of events and resources throughout the year. Be sure to subscribe to the CSUS listserv for a heads up on different events in SOCS!
For specific questions, feel free to email the , or .