Hey guys,

I'm currently in first year Life Sci and taking Physics 1B03 in second term. At first I was hesitant in wanting to take physics as a main stream of focus, but after doing some of the midterms I didn't think physics was too bad, so now I'm considering going into Biophysics for second year.

Does anyone in the program know what the program's like?

Thanks a lot!

Hi there

I think Biophysics is a brand new program.
If you look on the undergraduate calendar for 2012-2013, there is more information about the courses you'll be taking while in this program.

Here is the link: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca /calen...13/pg1617.html .
Hope this helps! : )

Oh cool, thanks!

But this program was relatively the same last year and it was called Honours Physics: Biophysical Specialization (or something along those lines). So I was just wondering what that program itself was like and how many people were in that specialization.

i dunno, it looks like the program itself went through a lot of restructuring? they seem to have introduced new BIOPHYS courses. but basically what I gather is that it's a kind of half and half degree of physics and biochemistry. i think the number of people in the program is really small... if it interests you then go for it. look around for when they'll offer an info night or something...

The whole biophysics thing has been restructured and is considered a new program. i know nothing more than that but it might be worth while to pursue this major.

Why not look into medical physics?

http://www.science.mcmaster. ca/med...urriculum.html

If I was in Science that would most definitely be my major!

Originally Posted by muons

Why not look into medical physics?

http://www.science.mcmaster. ca/med...urriculum.html

If I was in Science that would most definitely be my major!

I never really took Medical Physics and I like how Honours Biophysics incorporates Biochemistry, Math and Physics courses into their program. but I was just concerned about how difficult some of the courses (like Modern Physics) is gonna be and how people in the specialization/planning to take it feel about the program.

hmm never heard of this. far less bio involved than i would have guessed.

Don't let the bio in biophysics fool you. It's kinda the same as in chem bio where there is very little bio bio, you mostly only learn enough bio to be able to model it. I've taken (and dropped) a 4th year biophys course thinking there'd be more bio but turns out they just model bio things with a ton of math and physics. If you're looking for an EVEN mix of bio, physics, math this is not the place to find it.

I talked to Lauren Parker and she told me that first year biophysics was basically just a survey course covering general topics on biophysics and was less intense than PHYSICS 1BA3, 1BB3.
2nd year biophysics was a lab course, much alike BIOCHEM 2L06.