Program Overview

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Physics and Astronomy, Ph.D.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers opportunities for graduate study in several experimental and theoretical fields of contemporary interest, leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Overview

The Ph.D. program in Physics and Astronomy is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the principles of physics and astronomy, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research in a specialized area.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide. Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.

Physics and Astronomy Ph.D. Admission Requirements

The normal procedure to be a candidate for a Ph.D. degree is to complete an M.Sc. degree first. However, students with an honours degree from the University of Manitoba or equivalent may be accepted directly into the Ph.D. program. International students entering the Ph.D. program are strongly encouraged to write and obtain a minimum grade of 650 on the GRE physics subject examination prior to applying for the Ph.D. program.

Degree Requirements

The main program of studies is selected from one of the major fields of research, and is supplemented by an ancillary program which takes into account the student's interests and breadth of experience. Ancillary subjects must be chosen from a field of physics distinct from the major area of study or from other departments (e.g., Mathematics) offering suitable courses.

• Students must pass a candidacy exam and submit a thesis which describes their research work and which will be examined according to the general regulations.
• Where admission to the Ph.D. is directly from an Honours Bachelor degree or equivalent, a minimum of 24 credit hours plus a thesis is required.
• The coursework must include a minimum of 18 credit hours at the 7000-level or higher with the balance of the coursework at the 3000-level or higher.
• A maximum of 48 credit hours of coursework is allowed toward the Ph.D. program.

Progression Charts

Thesis Program

• Year 1:
  • GRAD 7300: Research Integrity Tutorial (0 hours)
  • GRAD 7500: Academic Integrity Tutorial (0 hours)
  • Courses at the 7000 level (12 hours)
• Year 2:
  • GRAD 8010: Doctoral Candidacy Examination (0 hours)
• Years 3-4:
  • GRAD 8000: Doctoral Thesis (0 hours)

Comprehensive Program in Medical Physics

• Year 1:
  • GRAD 7300: Research Integrity Tutorial (0 hours)
  • PHYS 7390: Radiation Protection (3 hours)
  • PHYS 7360: Medical Radiation Physics (3 hours)
  • GRAD 7500: Academic Integrity Tutorial (0 hours)
  • Term 2:
    • PHYS 7370: Radiation Therapy Physics (3 hours)
    • PHYS 7470: Methods in Medical and Health Physics 2 - (Radiotherapy and Radiation Biology) (3 hours)
    • BME 7012: Foundation of Physiology (2 hours)
    • ANAT 7014: Functional Human Anatomy (2 hours)
• Years 1-2:
  • Select up to 12 credit hours of additional elective courses
• Year 2:
  • Term 1:
    • PHYS 7380: Radiation Biology (3 hours)
    • PHYS 7400: Linear Systems for Imaging (3 hours)
    • PHYS 7422: Physics of X-ray Imaging (3 hours)
  • Term 2:
    • PHYS 7410: Diagnostic Methods (3 hours)
    • PHYS 7430: Physics of Nuclear Medicine (3 hours)
    • PHYS 7460: Methods in Medical and Health Physics 1 - (Medical Imaging and Radiation Protection) (3 hours)
    • GRAD 8000: Doctoral Thesis (0 hours)
    • GRAD 8010: Doctoral Candidacy Examination (0 hours)

Expected Time to Graduate

The expected time to graduate is 4 years.

Courses

Astronomy

• ASTR 7020: Cosmology and Black Holes (3 hours)
• ASTR 7100: High-Energy Astrophysics (3 hours)
• ASTR 7200: Radio Astronomy (3 hours)
• ASTR 7400: Magnetohydrodynamics, Astrophysical Plasmas, and the Interstellar Medium (3 hours)

Physics

• PHYS 7010: General Relativity 1: A Relativistic Theory of Gravity (3 hours)
• PHYS 7250: Seminar course in Advanced Physics (6 hours)
• PHYS 7260: Mass Spectroscopy (3 hours)
• PHYS 7360: Medical Radiation Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7370: Radiation Therapy Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7380: Radiation Biology (3 hours)
• PHYS 7390: Radiation Protection (3 hours)
• PHYS 7400: Linear Systems for Imaging (3 hours)
• PHYS 7410: Diagnostic Methods (3 hours)
• PHYS 7422: Physics of X-ray Imaging (3 hours)
• PHYS 7430: Physics of Nuclear Medicine (3 hours)
• PHYS 7440: Advanced Topics in Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7460: Methods in Medical and Health Physics 1 - (Medical Imaging and Radiation Protection) (3 hours)
• PHYS 7470: Methods in Medical and Health Physics 2 - (Radiotherapy and Radiation Biology) (3 hours)
• PHYS 7500: Condensed Matter Physics 1 (3 hours)
• PHYS 7510: Condensed Matter Physics 2 (3 hours)
• PHYS 7530: Physics of Magnetism (3 hours)
• PHYS 7540: Statistical Mechanics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7550: Advanced Statistical Mechanics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7560: Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7570: Nuclear Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7580: Advanced Topics in Nuclear Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7590: Electromagnetic Theory (3 hours)
• PHYS 7600: Applied Electromagnetism (3 hours)
• PHYS 7630: Particle Physics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7660: Astronomy 1: The Phenomenology of Galaxies (3 hours)
• PHYS 7670: Astronomy 2: Galactic Dynamics (3 hours)
• PHYS 7680: Astrophysics 1: Stars (3 hours)
• PHYS 7690: Astrophysics 2: Interstellar Matter and Galaxies (3 hours)
• PHYS 7700: Research Project in Medical Health Physics (0 hours)
• PHYS 7710: Quantum Optics (6 hours)
• PHYS 7720: Quantum Mechanics 1 (3 hours)