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. The major is designed with flexibility to allow students to explore a range of interconnected disciplines. Consultation with the faculty advisor is strongly encouraged to ensure course selection positions the students well for future career aspirations, such as graduate studies, other professional degrees, etc. 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 |
| MATH*1200 | Calculus I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1080 | Physics for Life Sciences | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives or restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health 1 | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| MATH*1160 | Linear Algebra I | 0.50 |
| MATH*1210 | Calculus II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1070 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 0.50 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| CHEM*2060 | Structure and Bonding | 0.50 |
| MATH*2270 | Applied Differential Equations | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2020 | Introduction to Biological and Medical Physics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CHEM*2070 | Structure and Spectroscopy | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2180 | Experimental Techniques in Physics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| CHEM*2820 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2330 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3170 | Radioactivity and Radiation Interactions | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3510 | Intermediate Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4070 | Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine | 0.50 |
| 1.00 electives | 1.00 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| IPS*3000 | Science Communication | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3230 | Quantum Mechanics I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4001 | Research in Physics (or 0.50 electives) 2 | 0.50 |
| 1.00 electives | 1.00 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| PHYS*4002 | Research in Physics (or 0.50 electives) 2 | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4540 | Molecular Biophysics | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives | 1.50 | |
Note:
- 1
BIOL*1080 Biological Concepts of Health can be taken at any point during Semesters 1-4.
- 2
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.
Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS*1300 | Programming | 0.50 |
| or CIS*1500 | Introduction to Programming | |
| MATH*2200 | Advanced Calculus I | 0.50 |
| or STAT*2040 | Statistics I | |
A minimum of 1.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://bsc.uoguelph.ca/Approved_electives
Credit Summary
(20.00 Total Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First year science credits | 4.50 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 – 8 | 9.00 | |
| Restricted electives | 1.00 | |
| Approved science electives (1.00 credits at the 4000 level plus 1.50 credits at the 3000 level or higher) | 2.50 | |
| Liberal Education electives | 1.00 | |
| Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students | 2.00 | |
| 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 | 4.50 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 – 8 | 9.00 | |
| Restricted electives | 1.00 | |
| Approved science electives (1.00 credits at the 4000 level plus 1.50 credits at the 3000 level or higher) | 2.50 | |
| Liberal Education electives | 1.00 | |
| Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. students. | 2.00 | |
| 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 |
| MATH*1200 | Calculus I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1080 | Physics for Life Sciences | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives or restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 2 - Winter | ||
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| MATH*1160 | Linear Algebra I | 0.50 |
| MATH*1210 | Calculus II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1070 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 0.50 |
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health (or 0.50 restricted electives) | 0.50 |
| Semester 3 - Fall | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| CHEM*2060 | Structure and Bonding | 0.50 |
| COOP*1100 | Introduction to Co-operative Education | 0.00 |
| MATH*2270 | Applied Differential Equations | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2020 | Introduction to Biological and Medical Physics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 - Winter | ||
| CHEM*2070 | Structure and Spectroscopy | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2180 | Experimental Techniques in Physics | 0.50 |
| 0.50 restricted electives | 0.50 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*1000 | Co-op Work Term I | 0.50 |
| Semester 5 - Fall | ||
| CHEM*2820 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| PHYS*2330 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3170 | Radioactivity and Radiation Interactions | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives | 0.50 | |
| 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*3230 | Quantum Mechanics I | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives | 1.50 | |
| Semester 7 - Winter | ||
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| PHYS*3510 | Intermediate Laboratory | 0.50 |
| PHYS*4070 | Clinical Applications of Physics in Medicine | 0.50 |
| 1.00 electives | 1.00 | |
| 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*4540 | Molecular Biophysics | 0.50 |
| 2.00 electives | 2.00 | |
Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A minimum of 1.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://bsc.uoguelph.ca/Approved_electives | ||
| 2. BIOL*1080 Biological Concepts of Health is required for graduation; recommended to be taken in semesters 1-4. | ||
| 3. Select one of the following: | ||
| CIS*1300 | Programming | 0.50 |
| CIS*1500 | Introduction to Programming | 0.50 |
| 4. Select one of the following: | ||
| MATH*2200 | Advanced Calculus I | 0.50 |
| STAT*2040 | Statistics I | 0.50 |