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Astronomy & Physics program requirements

What the Astronomy & Physics Specialist requires, as the 2026-2027 Arts & Science Calendar states it, and every course it names.

Astronomy & Physics Specialist

  • Science program
  • 14.0 credits
  • Open enrolment
  • ASSPE0271

Enrolment

This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program. The full enrolment requirements are on the Calendar's page for this program.

Completion requirements

The Astronomy & Physics Specialist program combines rigorous training in the full spectrum of core physics subfields with their application in astronomy. Lecture courses are complemented by practical courses, and the program culminates in a supervised research project, where all the skills learned are used.

(14.0 credits, including at least 4.0 credits at the 300+ level, and at least 1.0 credit at the 400-level)

First Year:

11.0 credit from (MAT148H1, MAT149H1/ MAT137Y1)/ (MAT158H1, MAT159H1/ MAT157Y1) ((MAT148H1, MAT149H1/ MAT137Y1) recommended);

20.5 credit from MAT223H1/ MAT240H1 (MAT223H1 recommended);

31.0 credit from PHY131H1/ PHY151H1, PHY132H1/ PHY152H1 (PHY151H1, PHY152H1 recommended);

40.5 credit from CSC108H1/ CSC110Y1/ CSC148H1 or another course that gives a foundation in computer programming approved by the Undergraduate Chair.

Note 1(AST121H1 is encouraged, but not required)

Second Year:

11.0 credit of AST221H1, AST222H1;

21.0 credit from (MAT235H1, MAT236H1)/ MAT235Y1/ MAT237Y1/ MAT257Y1 (MAT237Y1 recommended);

31.5 credit of PHY250H1, PHY252H1, PHY256H1

40.5 credit from MAT244H1/ MAT267H1 (MAT244H1 recommended);

Third Year:

10.5 credit of AST320H1;

20.5 credit from AST325H1/ AST326Y1;

31.5 credit of PHY224H1, PHY254H1, PHY354H1

41.0 credit from APM346H1, PHY356H1, MAT224H1, MAT327H1, MAT334H1, MAT363H1, STA257H1

Fourth Year:

11.0 credit from AST425Y1/ (AST424H1, and 0.5 credit from lines 2 or 3 below; see notes);

20.5 credit of PHY350H1

30.5 credit from one of the following subject areas: Computer Science: CSC336H1, CSC385H1, CSC413H1, CSC456H1; Statistics: STA302H1, STA313H1; Mathematics: APM346H1, MAT327H1, MAT334H1, MAT363H1; Physics: PHY350H1, PHY354H1, PHY356H1, PHY357H1, PHY358H1, PHY385H1, PHY407H1, PHY408H1, PHY450H1, JPE395H1; Astronomy: AST430H1

41.0 credit from AST430H1, PHY450H1, PHY452H1, PHY454H1, PHY456H1, PHY460H1, PHY483H1, PHY484H1

50.5 credit from AST310H1, ENV222H1, ENV333H1, ESS205H1, HPS200H1, JPH441H1, PHL273H1, VIC172Y1, or another course with a significant emphasis on Social and Ethical Responsibility approved by the Undergraduate Chair.

Notes:

Note 1First-year students are encouraged, but not required, to take AST121H1.

Note 2Second-year students who wish to keep open the option of pursuing a physics specialist degree should consider taking PHY254H1 in 2nd year.

Note 3Third-year students are invited and fourth-year students are expected to attend the weekly departmental colloquia.

Note 4Third-year students can take AST424H1 (Introduction to Research) provided they have at least a B+ average in program courses.

Note 5Fourth-year students are encouraged to enrol in the independent research course AST425Y1, but this is guaranteed for students with at least a B+ average in the program courses and requires identifying a supervisor. Others who wish to take AST425Y1 should consult the course coordinator or the undergraduate chair.

Courses these requirements name

  • MAT148H1Calculus I with Proofs
  • MAT149H1Calculus II with Proofs
  • MAT137Y1Calculus with Proofs last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
  • MAT158H1Analysis 1A
  • MAT159H1Analysis 1B
  • MAT157Y1Analysis I last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
  • MAT223H1Linear Algebra I
  • MAT240H1Algebra I
  • PHY131H1Introduction to Physics I
  • PHY151H1Foundations of Physics I
  • PHY132H1Introduction to Physics II
  • PHY152H1Foundations of Physics II
  • CSC108H1Introduction to Computer Programming
  • CSC110Y1Foundations of Computer Science I
  • CSC148H1Introduction to Computer Science
  • AST121H1Twinkle, Sparkle, Brilliant Sky
  • AST221H1Stars and Planets
  • AST222H1Galaxies and Cosmology
  • MAT235H1Vector Calculus I
  • MAT236H1Vector Calculus II
  • MAT235Y1Multivariable Calculus last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
  • MAT237Y1Multivariable Calculus with Proofs
  • MAT257Y1Analysis II
  • PHY250H1Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHY252H1Thermal Physics
  • PHY256H1Introduction to Quantum Physics
  • MAT244H1Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
  • MAT267H1Advanced Ordinary Differential Equations
  • AST320H1Introduction to Astrophysics
  • AST325H1Introduction to Practical Astronomy
  • AST326Y1Practical Astronomy
  • PHY224H1Practical Physics I
  • PHY254H1Classical Mechanics
  • PHY354H1Advanced Classical Mechanics
  • APM346H1Partial Differential Equations
  • PHY356H1Quantum Mechanics I
  • MAT224H1Linear Algebra II
  • MAT327H1Introduction to Topology
  • MAT334H1Complex Variables
  • MAT363H1Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
  • STA257H1Probability and Statistics I
  • AST425Y1Research Topic in Astronomy
  • AST424H1Introduction to Astrophysical Research
  • PHY350H1Electromagnetic Theory
  • CSC336H1Numerical Methods
  • CSC385H1Microprocessor Systems
  • CSC413H1Neural Networks and Deep Learning
  • CSC456H1High-Performance Scientific Computing
  • STA302H1Methods of Data Analysis I
  • STA313H1Data Visualization
  • PHY357H1Nuclear and Particle Physics
  • PHY358H1Quantum Materials: from Atoms to Crystals
  • PHY385H1Introductory Optics
  • PHY407H1Computational Physics
  • PHY408H1Time Series Analysis
  • PHY450H1Relativistic Electrodynamics
  • JPE395H1Physics of the Earth
  • AST430H1Supervised Study in Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • PHY452H1Statistical Mechanics
  • PHY454H1Continuum Mechanics
  • PHY456H1Quantum Mechanics II
  • PHY460H1Nonlinear Physics
  • PHY483H1Relativity Theory I
  • PHY484H1Relativity Theory II
  • AST310H1Indigenous Methodologies for Astronomy
  • ENV222H1Pathways to Sustainability: An Interdisciplinary Approach
  • ENV333H1Ecological Worldviews
  • ESS205H1Confronting Global Change
  • HPS200H1Science and Values
  • JPH441H1Physical Science in Contemporary Society
  • PHL273H1Environmental Ethics
  • VIC172Y1Physical Sciences Today
Check your progress in Atlas Astronomy & Physics Specialist in the Calendar

Requirements are quoted from the 2026-2027 Arts & Science Calendar, which is the official version. Atlas is independent of U of T, so confirm important decisions with your department or college registrar. See how to read program requirements or browse every program.

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