Biological and Medical Physics (BMPH)
Department of Physics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The program emphasizes the application of physics to biology and medicine. It provides an excellent background for careers in the expanding interdisciplinary research laboratories of government and industry, as well as a starting point for a career in medical physics. Completion of the program at an appropriate level will qualify a student to pursue post-graduate studies in biophysics, medical physics and related areas of physics.
Major Requirements (Honours)
This is a major within the degree: Bachelor of Science.
Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major may wish to consult the Faculty Advisor. This major requires the completion of 20.00 credits as follows:
Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS/.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1040 | General Chemistry I | 0.50 |
| CIS*1300 | Programming | 0.50 |
| Select 1.00 credits from the following: 1 | ||
| IPS*1500 | Integrated Mathematics and Physics I | 1.00 |
| MATH*1080 & PHYS*1080 | Elements of Calculus I and Physics for Life Sciences | 1.00 |
| MATH*1200 & PHYS*1080 | Calculus I and Physics for Life Sciences | 1.00 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| MATH*1160 | Linear Algebra I | 0.50 |
| Select 1.00 credits from the following: 2 | ||
| IPS*1510 | Integrated Mathematics and Physics II | 1.00 |
| MATH*1090 & PHYS*1070 | Elements of Calculus II and Physics for Life Sciences II | 1.00 |
| MATH*1210 & PHYS*1010 | Calculus II and Introductory Electricity and Magnetism | 1.00 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| MATH*2200 | Advanced Calculus I | 0.50 |
| MATH*2270 | Applied Differential Equations | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2240 | Thermal Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2330 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2180 | Experimental Techniques in Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2310 | Mechanics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2340 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 0.50 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| IPS*3000 | Science Communication | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3130 | Mathematical Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3230 | Quantum Mechanics I | 0.50 |
| 1.00 electives 3 | 1.00 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| NANO*3600 | Computational Methods in Materials Science | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3510 | Intermediate Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4040 | Quantum Mechanics II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4540 | Molecular Biophysics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives 3 | 0.50 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| PHYS*3170 | Radioactivity and Radiation Interactions | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4500 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4001 | Research in Physics (or 0.50 electives) | 0.50 |
| ENGG*4040 | Medical Imaging Modalities (or 0.50 electives) 3, 4 | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| PHYS*4002 | Research in Physics (or 0.50 electives) 3 | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4070 | Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine (or 0.50 electives) 3, 4 | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives 3 | 1.50 | |
- 1
IPS*1500 Integrated Mathematics and Physics I is recommended
- 2
IPS*1510 Integrated Mathematics and Physics II is recommended
- 3
At least 1.00 credits of Liberal Education electives are required. In addition, students are required to complete 1.50 credits from either List A or List B below.
- 4
Either ENGG*4040 Medical Imaging Modalities or PHYS*4070 Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine must be completed.
Note: PHYS*4001 Research in Physics and PHYS*4002 Research in Physics will be projects in biological or medical physics, some of which may be in areas outside the Department of Physics.
List A: Biological Physics Stream
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| BIOC*4050 | Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure | 0.50 |
| BIOC*4580 | Membrane Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| NANO*4100 | Biological Nanomaterials | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3000 | Optics: Fundamentals and Applications | 0.50 |
List B: Medical Physics Stream
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOM*2000 | Concepts in Human Physiology | 0.50 |
| BIOM*3200 | Biomedical Physiology | 1.00 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*3230 | Immunology | 0.50 |
| PATH*3610 | Principles of Disease | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3000 | Optics: Fundamentals and Applications | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4130 | Subatomic Physics | 0.50 |
| ZOO*2090 | Vertebrate Structure and Function | 0.50 |
Credit Summary
(20.00 Total Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First year science credits | 5.00 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 – 8 | 9.50 | |
| Restricted electives (from List A or List B) | 1.50 | |
| Liberal Education electives | 1.00 | |
| Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students | 3.00 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Co-op Requirements (Honours)
This is a major within the degree: Bachelor of Science.
The Co-op program in Biological and Medical Physics is a five year program, including five work terms. Students must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/).
Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academic Semester 1 | Academic Semester 2 | Off |
| 2 | Academic Semester 3 COOP*1100 | Academic Semester 4 | COOP*1000 Work Term I |
| 3 | Academic Semester 5 | COOP*2000 Work Term II | COOP*3000 Work Term III |
| 4 | Academic Semester 6 | Academic Semester 7 | COOP*4000 Work Term IV |
| 5 | COOP*5000 Work Term V | Academic Semester 8 | N/A |
Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.
For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Education web site.
Credit Summary
(22.50 Total Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First year science credits | 5.00 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 – 8 | 9.50 | |
| Restricted electives (from List A or List B) | 1.50 | |
| Liberal Education electives | 1.00 | |
| Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students. | 3.00 | |
| Co-op Work Terms | 2.50 | |
| Total Credits | 22.5 | |
Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Recommended Program Sequence
Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS/.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 - Fall | ||
| BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1040 | General Chemistry I | 0.50 |
| CIS*1300 | Programming | 0.50 |
| Select 1.00 credits from the following: 1 | ||
| IPS*1500 | Integrated Mathematics and Physics I | 1.00 |
| MATH*1080 & PHYS*1080 | Elements of Calculus I and Physics for Life Sciences | 1.00 |
| MATH*1200 & PHYS*1080 | Calculus I and Physics for Life Sciences | 1.00 |
| Semester 2 - Winter | ||
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| MATH*1160 | Linear Algebra I | 0.50 |
| Select 1.00 credits from the following: 2 | ||
| IPS*1510 | Integrated Mathematics and Physics II | 1.00 |
| MATH*1090 & PHYS*1070 | Elements of Calculus II and Physics for Life Sciences II | 1.00 |
| MATH*1210 & PHYS*1010 | Calculus II and Introductory Electricity and Magnetism | 1.00 |
| Semester 3 - Fall | ||
| COOP*1100 | Introduction to Co-operative Education | 0.00 |
| MATH*2200 | Advanced Calculus I | 0.50 |
| MATH*2270 | Applied Differential Equations | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2240 | Thermal Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2330 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 - Winter | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2180 | Experimental Techniques in Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2310 | Mechanics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2340 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 0.50 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*1000 | Co-op Work Term I | 0.50 |
| Semester 5 - Fall | ||
| PHYS*3130 | Mathematical Physics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3230 | Quantum Mechanics I | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives 3 | 1.50 | |
| Winter Semester | ||
| COOP*2000 | Co-op Work Term II | 0.50 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*3000 | Co-op Work Term III | 0.50 |
| Semester 6 - Fall | ||
| IPS*3000 | Science Communication | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3170 | Radioactivity and Radiation Interactions | 0.50 |
| ENGG*4040 | Medical Imaging Modalities (or 0.50 electives) 4 | 0.50 |
| 1.00 electives 3 | 1.00 | |
| Semester 7 - Winter | ||
| NANO*3600 | Computational Methods in Materials Science | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3510 | Intermediate Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4040 | Quantum Mechanics II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4540 | Molecular Biophysics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives 3 | 0.50 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*4000 | Co-op Work Term IV | 0.50 |
| Fall Semester | ||
| COOP*5000 | Co-op Work Term V | 0.50 |
| Semester 8 - Winter | ||
| PHYS*4500 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4070 | Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine (or 0.50 electives) 3,4 | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives 3 | 1.50 | |
- 1
IPS*1500 Integrated Mathematics and Physics I is recommended
- 2
IPS*1510 Integrated Mathematics and Physics II is recommended
- 3
At least 1.00 credits of Liberal Education electives are required. In addition, students are required to complete 1.50 credits from either List A or List B below.
- 4
Either ENGG*4040 Medical Imaging Modalities or PHYS*4070 Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine must be completed.
List A: Biological Physics Stream
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| BIOC*4050 | Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure | 0.50 |
| BIOC*4580 | Membrane Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| NANO*4100 | Biological Nanomaterials | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3000 | Optics: Fundamentals and Applications | 0.50 |
List B: Medical Physics Stream
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOM*2000 | Concepts in Human Physiology | 0.50 |
| BIOM*3200 | Biomedical Physiology | 1.00 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*3230 | Immunology | 0.50 |
| PATH*3610 | Principles of Disease | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3000 | Optics: Fundamentals and Applications | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4130 | Subatomic Physics | 0.50 |
| ZOO*2090 | Vertebrate Structure and Function | 0.50 |