Computer Science and Physics

[whoareyou]

I'm currently in grade 11 going into grade 12 this fall and I'm trying to plan out my post secondary path. I wanted to know if there were any programs at Waterloo (specifically or any other Canadian university) that combines physics and computer science. I'm unsure how course selections work but I really enjoy math, physics, and computer science so I was trying to find a way to combine these into one specific program.

[Insectoid]

Physics and computer science are deeply intertwined- you need to know some of one to do well in the other. At Lakehead, CS students have to take physics first year, and physics students have to take first year CS. If you ever want to get into video game design or something you'll need much more advanced physics, while general application development requires only basic physics at best. Most schools will let you 'zoom in' on what you're interested in at the upper years, so you can choose to take additional physics courses instead of business if you want (or just load up on more CS courses).

I dunno how much physics waterloo requires for CS students, since it's run by the math department, but it's likely you'll have to take one or more introductory courses.

[DemonWasp]

If you take Computer Science at UW you will not be required to take any Physics courses. At best, they would help you fulfill a requirement, but it's one of many options. You are, of course, free to take as much Physics as you can satisfy course prerequisites for (and this mostly involves taking a lot of calculus).

If you really want to go completely crazy, you can do a "Double-Honours Bachelor of Math, Honours Mathematical Physics, Honours Computer Science" program. Speaking from personal experience, don't go down that route unless you're seriously 150% convinced that you love physics more than you love sleep*.

* Specifically I've given up on physics and I'm not even sure I want to finish my BMath Honours CS degree anymore. My experience may be atypical.

[whoareyou]

I'm not sure how university actually works, but can you take Mathematical Physics and Computer Science o-o ?

[apython1992]

McGill offers a Joint-Major Physics and Computer Science program - something I deeply considered before deciding math and physics. You can check out a detailed program description and course listing for it here. Go to the physics section and find the Major Physics and Computer Science program.

[whoareyou]

I think that double major isn't for me. I'm more interested in mathematical physics, which is why I was wondering if you can combine those two programs at Waterloo. If I understand the whole major/minor thing, would it be possible to major in compsci and minor in mathematical physics?

[apython1992]

If you are more interested in mathematical physics, why do you want to major in CS? Mcgill has a joint honours math and physics program, and you can minor in cs. That is actually what I am doing. And sorry for only talking about mcgill, I just don't know enough about other universities to speak for them.

[whoareyou]

So it is possible to major in mathematical physics and minor in compsci (@ waterloo)? And that program at mcgill sounds very, very, very interesting! Is the physics at mcgill more on the math side, or like labs and experimental?

[apython1992]

McGill physics prepares students for careers in theoretical physics, so it is more mathematical in nature (though you will still have labs). This is even more pronounced with the joint math and physics program. Like I said, I can't speak for Waterloo but with some searching on their website you can hopefully find program calendars.

If you want to look more closely at the Joint Math and Physics program, that information is in the calendar I linked a couple of posts back. The program is in the Physics department, called "Joint Honours Mathematics and Physics".

[Brightguy]

Insectoid @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:05 pm wrote:

Physics and computer science are deeply intertwined- you need to know some of one to do well in the other.

I know some physics but I don't think it's ever really helped me with CS.

[Insectoid]

Well, to be fair it's only deeply intertwined with game and simulation programming- you won't use it much at all for networking or application programming. However, taking physics helps to teach you to break down problems into their smallest parts. A lot of students I know have no idea where to begin, even on small assignments. Some students just naturally pick it up, however others need the extra help from physics.

Math courses, in my experience, have little to do with breaking down problems into small chunks and everything to do with applying formulas. First-year programming courses teach syntax, rather than problem solving. Physics fills the gap for those who need it.

So, to amend my previous statement quoted by Brightguy; early study of computer science benefits greatly from study of physics, which also prepares you for game and simulation programming should you choose that path.

[whoareyou]

For the joint major at mcgill, do you know if you need to take the freshman program because i noticed that it only goes up to U3 (3 years?) and U1 starts with courses like MATH 2XX (the 2 i guess is for second year?)

[Homer_simpson]

I'm not too sure about mcgill but i know that yorku offers double major in physics and compsci http://www.physics.yorku.ca/undergrad/PDF/PAHandbook.pdf (page 32). Its worth noting that YorkU is not as well known for its sciences as uoft or waterloo, butit is much easier to secure an undergraduate research position at a lab since there is less competition.
good luck on ur studies.

[apython1992]

If you're coming from an ontario high school without IB or FB or AP or anything like that, you need to do the U0 freshman science program (yeah, it starts at U0). I did IB, which means I'm classified for registration as a U1 student, but I still have to do mostly U0 science freshman courses this year. So you would take mostly 100-level courses. All of the programs themselves start at U1, after you complete the U0 freshman program.