Information on this page generally applies to students who are interested in taking first year physics courses.

Physics Requirement for Programs in the Faculty of Science

Physics Requirement for Programs in the Faculty of Applied Science

Requirements for Programs in Other Faculties

First Year Courses - Registration Information

Physics Requirement for Programs in the Faculty of Science

• All students admitted to the Faculty of Science are required to have Mathematics 12, and at least Physics 11, from B.C. Secondary School, or equivalent.
• All Science students must have a minimum of Physics 12 or PHYS 100 to graduate. In addition 6 credits of either PHYS or CHEM are required in all Science programs. 
• The regular First Year Physics Program for students in the physical sciences constitutes PHYS 101 and 102, or PHYS 107,108 and 109, or SCIENCE 1. These combinations all satisfy the first year prerequisites of all programs in Physics and Astronomy, although for Honours programs you need a grade of 68% or better, while you need 60% or better in first year Physics and Mathematics to enter the Majors programs.
• UBC recognizes enriched secondary school programs such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP). These provide excellent preparation for but are not a replacement for PHYS 101+102 or PHYS 107+108+109, which are needed in most higher level courses in Physics.
• Students with a broad interest in science and the relationships between various scientific disciplines may wish to consider registering in the Coordinated Science Program (CSP). The program consists of two options with Chemistry, Math, Physics, and Computer Science or Biology. The course instructors work together to coordinate their teaching and to integrate the concepts of these four disciplines. CSP students attend their lectures together and have a home base that creates a social nucleus for group and study activities.
• SCIENCE 1 is multi-disciplinary package, which integrates the essential material in first year Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. In addition to the entrance requirements which must be satisfied by all students in the Faculty, a grade of B or better in Grade 12 in all four subjects is required. The Physics content of SCIENCE 1 is considered to be equivalent to PHYS 107, 108 and 109 or PHYS 101 and 102. SCIENCE 1 is particularly well suited for Students planning to enter the Honours Biophysics program.
• The entrance requirements for PHYS 107 are an A in Physics 12 or PHYS 100, and an A in Mathematics 12. If you qualify and wish to continue in the physical sciences, you are advised to choose either SCIENCE 1 or PHYS 107, 108 and 109, particularly if you plan to enter an Honours program.
• The entrance requirement to PHYS 101 is Physics 12 or PHYS 100. Science students with a 3 credit requirement of first year Physics may satisfy this requirement with PHYS 101. If your program requires PHYS 101 and 102, or PHYS 107, 108 and 109, and you don't have Physics 12, you should see a First Year Physics advisor as early as possible.
• Depending on your background and the program, it may be hard to complete the first year requirements by the end of  the first  winter session  ending in May. In this case you may need to take PHYS 101 and/or PHYS 102 in the following summer Session. If you haven't completed the first year Physics requirements by the end of the summer after the first year it is still possible to complete the Physics Major in four years, since some of the second year Physics courses do not require PHYS 102. In the case of the Physics Honours or the Astronomy Major programs, the second year Physics courses all require PHYS 102 or 108.
• Students with Physics 12 may audit PHYS 100 to refresh their knowledge and skills, space permitting, but may not take the course for credit.
• If you are in a program with a 6 credit requirement of Physics and have Physics 12 you would normally satisfy the requirement with either Science I or, PHYS 101 and 102, or PHYS 107, 108 and 109. Some programs allow you to replace PHYS 102 with PHYS 330. You should consult the Calendar or a Program Advisor for your chosen program.
• ASTR 201, 202 and PHYS 216, 330, 404, 405 and 438 have only PHYS 101 or PHYS 107 as a prerequisite. Other upper level physics and astronomy courses available to Faculty of Science students require PHYS 102, PHYS 108 or SCIENCE 1. PHYS 404 and 405 require 3rd year standing in the Faculty of Science. PHYS 330 cannot be taken for degree credit by Physics and Majors, and ASTR 310, 311, and PHYS 340, 341, 343 are not for credit in the Faculty of Science. PHYS 343 is directed towards elementary school teachers or for students considering this career. PHYS 340 has not been given the last few years. ASTR 101/102 provide an introductory survey of modern astronomy and features a multi-media oriented laboratory.

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Physics Requirement for Programs in the Faculty of Applied Science

The choices are simpler for applied science students. If you are registered as a first year Applied Science student, the first year physics courses that you must take are PHYS 153 and 170. After the first year you select one of the many Applied Science programs. One of them, Engineering Physics, is described in detail in this brochure. Some students transfer to Applied Science after one (or more) years of Science. If you plan to do this you should consult with the Office of the Dean of Applied Science. In general, the combinations PHYS 101 and 102, or 107, 108 and 109, or SCIENCE 1 will give you an exemption from PHYS 153. Some students transfer the other way, and students with PHYS 153 will be given credit for PHYS 101 and 102.

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Requirements for Programs in Other Faculties

• The Faculty of Land and Food (formerly Agricultural Sciences)has no faculty-wide Physics requirement, although some programs require 6 credits of first year Physics (Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science) whereas others (Plant Production and Protection and Human Nutrition) require 3 credits of Physics (PHYS 101 or an equivalent)
• You may enter the Faculty of Forestry either from first year Science or directly from Secondary School. In the former case the Physics requirement is the same as for the Science Faculty; in the latter case see Calendar for details.
• The Faculty of Arts does not have any Physics or Astronomy requirement per se, but you may satisfy the general Science requirement by any Physics or Astronomy courses for which you qualify. All Physics and Astronomy courses require MATH 12 or equivalent except PHYS 340, 341, and 343 and ASTR 310 and 311.
• Physics and Astronomy courses which do not have a Physics 12 requirement include ASTR 101, 102, PHYS 100, 340, 341 and 343. In the case of PHYS 100, non Science students need second year or higher standing to register without Physics 11, and you cannot take PHYS 100 for credit if you have Physics 12.

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First Year Registration Information

Registration Information PHYS 100, 101, 102, 107, 108, 109

PHYS 100 is only offered in term 1 of the winter session.

PHYS 101 is offered three time a year- term 1 and term 2 of the winter session and term 1 of the summer session

PHYS 102 is offered twice a year- term 2 of the winter session and term 2 of the summer session.

PHYS 107 is only offered in term 1 of the winter session. PHYS 108 and its associated lab course PHYS 109 are only offered in term 2 of the winter session.

Note: Students taking Physics 12 in the summer wanting to register for PHYS 101 in the fall term are required to show documentation proof (ie. course registration receipt) that they will complete their course before the start of term. Please send in documentation via email to Dr. Fran Bates at ug-p...@phas.ubc.ca  to secure a space in the course. Upon completion of Phys 12, a final transcript is required to confirm the registration in PHYS 101.

Registering for a laboratory

PHYS 100, PHYS 101, PHYS 102 and PHYS 107 all have integrated laboratory instruction that is required for the course.  You will need to register for both a lecture and laboratory section in the same term. Some of the laboratory sections fill very quickly during registration.  If you are unable to register in a laboratory that fits your schedule, you should register on the laboratory waitlist - L1W (term 1) or L2W (term 2).  Once you register in the waitlist section, an advisor will look at your timetable and place you in a suitable lab section as soon as a space becomes available. You should check your registration routinely to see if you have been placed in a regular section. Do not register in a laboratory section that conflicts with your timetable!  All students taking PHYS 108 are strongly advised to also register for the associated 1 credit lab course (PHYS 109) since a lab component is required for most upper level lab courses in the sciences. Students intending to pursue any of the Physics and Astronomy specializations definitely require the PHYS 109 lab.

First Laboratory Session

There is no lab in the first week of scheduled classes. All laboratories start in the second week of classes for both terms 1 and 2. PHYS 101 and PHYS 102 require a laboratory manual, available from the UBC Bookstore. PHYS 100, PHYS 101, and PHYS 102 have alternating laboratories and tutorials. You will need to check the Vista site to see if you have a laboratory or a tutorial first.

Section Changes

You may be able to use the switch function of the on-line registration system to change laboratory or lecture sections.  You may request specific section changes by filling in a Section Change Request Web Form. Alternately for a laboratory section change, you should just register in the laboratory waitlist section.  The priority for these section changes is to resolve course conflicts.

Registration Inquiry Contact

If you have other registration concerns with regards to PHYS 1XX courses, you may contact the First Year Physics Advisor Dr. Fran Bates at ug-p...@phas.ubc.ca.

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