Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics (Co-op Optional)

at University of Ottawa Canada

The period known as the European Middle Ages has endowed the Western world with a rich architectural, musical, poetic, theological, literary and linguistic heritage. Our vision of the world has its origins in the Long Medieval period, so studying this era that starts at the end of Antiquity and reaches the Modern times introduces you to your past in all its dimensions: linguistic, cultural, historical, political, philosophical and religious. These multidisciplinary programs include courses in history, philosophy, music, theatre, English, French, Italian, and Latin literatures.

The Major in Visual Arts allows you to have the same range of course experiences as the BFA– including compulsory practical and theoretical courses but offers a greater number of electives so that you might pursue a broader range of interests. Majors can combine their degree with either a Minor or a second Major. It is an excellent preparation if you wish to pursue careers in such fields as fine arts education, project or communications officer in artistic organizations, artist agent, conservator, or curator.

Geology is a modern, dynamic and diverse science that involves investigating the composition and evolution of Earth and other planetary bodies.

Geologists and Earth scientists study the Earth, including its chemical, physical and biological evolution. Our programs teach students how to analyze Earth materials, probe the Earth from surface to core and model the processes that produced and shape its oceans and continents. The Ottawa region is a natural laboratory where students investigate resources (water, metals, minerals, petroleum), hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, landslides) and a variety of geological environments.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers programs in geology and, along with the Department of Physics, a program in geology-physics. These programs balance field-based learning with theoretical and analytical investigations directly relevant to the needs of society. The final year involves an independent research project or equivalent units (credits) in advanced courses in the discipline.

The honours requirements meet the professional accreditation requirements of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and l’Ordre des géologues du Québec.

The Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting allows students to build a solid foundation in financial and managerial accounting, auditing and taxation. Students not only learn how to produce accurate financial statements, but also study more complex topics in accounting. 

As part of their program, students are able to specialize and take all the courses required to apply for Ontario's Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, or to be flexible and take a more general accounting stream. 

Recent discoveries and new technologies are revolutionizing the biological sciences, placing increasing emphasis on integrating knowledge across all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems.  Our programs give students both the intellectual tools and the hands-on experience they need to pursue careers in fields as diverse as conservation and endangered species; land-use management; ecotoxicology; academic, industry or government research; or health care.  Learning takes place through traditional classroom instruction, innovative laboratory projects with state-of-the-art technologies, field-based courses around the world, and a strong research program in which undergraduate students of all years are intensively mentored in a research lab.

The honours program in biology allows for in-depth study in one or more biological disciplines. Students can concentrate on a particular area by choosing one of three options: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology, or Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. This route includes a compulsory independent research project to equip students with advanced research, analysis and communication skills applicable to diverse careers.  Alternatively, they can pursue diverse interests by selecting a general course of study that includes a number of advanced courses, and they can gain work experience while studying through the Co-Operative Education Programs.

The study of public administration seeks to advance our understanding of how governments work and of their role in contemporary societies. It examines public management principles from various perspectives (administration, financial management, human resources, ethics, administrative reforms, governance, etc.) and the processes involved in designing public policies (policy cycle, roles of various stakeholders, ideologies, contextual factors, etc.). The program offers a high-quality education to students seeking a career in the public or para-public sectors, as well as those who seek to work in the private or non-profit sectors, or in government relations.

The School of Music at the University of Ottawa is the only school of its kind in Canada to offer a music and cognition program that focuses on special music education. Its partnership with the Lotus Centre for Special Music Education, which provides adapted music education for the special needs community, makes for a complete learning experience combining theory and practice. You can choose to complete a 90-hour practicum and gain experience in special music education classes and camps. Interested? Enrol in the school’s microprogram, an intensive eighteen-hour workshop for which you will be credited if you start the MA program.

The School of Music offers the Master of Music (MMus) with concentration in Composition, the Master of Music (MMus) with concentration in Performance and the Master of Arts (MA) in Music. Performance studies are offered in piano, collaborative piano, voice, orchestral instruments, guitar, and conducting.

Sociology involves the study of societies, specifically their institutions, cultures, and transformations. Sociologists seek to uncover the processes, rules, and norms that govern social relations. They seek to understand issues such as the origins and consequences of social inequalities and collective behaviours. In our programs, students have the opportunity to apply theoretical approaches to real-world cases and learn how to use research tools such as interviewing, discourse analysis, surveys, and statistical analyses. The connection between theory and research enables students to understand a range of contemporary social issues, such as poverty, ethnic relations, deviance, gender relations, international development, power, and technology.

Politics is omnipresent in our lives. Political science seeks to describe, analyze, understand and assess the principles and power relations that govern social life. It revolves as much around the structures and institutions that define these relations and principles as around the ideas and practices that drive them. It studies everything that influences political life and institutions (ideologies, groups, social movements, etc.) on a local, regional, national and international scale.

Our programs offer in-depth training in political science and encourage critical reflection on pivotal issues like citizenship, identity, political participation, globalization and development, governance and the state, and ethics and democracy. A discipline open to many theoretical and methodological approaches, political science constantly exchanges and shares with other fields. At the University of Ottawa's School of Political Studies, you build your knowledge in four subfields of political science: political thought, Canadian and Quebec politics, comparative politics, and international relations and global politics.