Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Alternative primary groupings
06 - Physical and life sciences and technologies
40. - Physical sciences
This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the scientific study of inanimate objects, processes of matter and energy, and associated phenomena.
40.08 - Physics
This subseries comprises instructional program classes 40.0801 to 40.0899.
40.0801 - Physics, general
This instructional program class comprises any general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behaviour of the matter-energy continuum. These programs include courses in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
Illustrative example(s)
- experimental physics
- physics
Exclusion(s)
- astrophysics(40.0202)
- biophysics(26.0203)
- engineering physics(14.1201)
- physics teacher education(13.1329)
- soil physics(01.1202)
40.0802 - Atomic/molecular physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of the behaviour of matter-energy phenomena at the level of atoms and molecules. These programs include courses in chemical physics, atomic forces and structure, molecular orbital theory, magnetic resonance, molecular bonding, phase equilibria, quantum theory of solids, and applications to the study of specific elements and higher compounds.
Illustrative example(s)
- atomic physics
- molecular physics
Exclusion(s)
- molecular biophysics(26.0206)
- nuclear physics(40.0806)
- particle physics(40.0804)
40.0804 - Elementary particle physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of the basic constituents of sub-atomic matter and energy, and the forces governing fundamental processes. These programs include courses in quantum theory, field theory, single-particle systems, perturbation and scattering theory, matter-radiation interaction, symmetry, quarks, capture, Schroedinger mechanics, methods for detecting particle emission and absorption, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Illustrative example(s)
- elementary particle physics
- particle physics
Exclusion(s)
- atomic physics(40.0802)
- molecular biophysics(26.0206)
- nuclear physics(40.0806)
40.0805 - Plasma and high-temperature physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of properties and behaviour of matter at high temperatures, such that molecular and atomic structures are in a disassociated ionic or electronic state. These programs include courses in magnetohydrodynamics, free electron phenomena, fusion theory, electromagnetic fields and dynamics, plasma and non-linear wave theory, instability theory, plasma shock phenomena, quantitative modelling, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Illustrative example(s)
- high-temperature physics
- plasma physics
Exclusion(s)
- atmospheric physics(40.0403)
- atomic physics(40.0802)
- nuclear physics(40.0806)
- particle physics(40.0804)
40.0806 - Nuclear physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behaviour of atomic nuclei. These programs include courses in nuclear reaction theory, quantum mechanics, energy conservation, nuclear fission and fusion, strong and weak forces, nuclear modelling, nuclear decay, nucleon scattering, pairing, photon and electron reactions, the physics of nuclear effects, statistical methods, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Illustrative example(s)
- nuclear physics
Exclusion(s)
- atomic physics(40.0802)
- medical nuclear physics - residency(61.2605)
- nuclear engineering(14.2301)
- particle physics(40.0804)
- plasma physics(40.0805)
40.0807 - Optics/optical sciences
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of light energy, including its structure, properties and behaviour under different conditions. These programs include courses in wave theory, wave mechanics, electromagnetic theory, physical optics, geometric optics, quantum theory of light, photon detecting, laser theory, wall and beam properties, chaotic light, non-linear optics, harmonic generation, optical systems theory, and applications to engineering problems.
Illustrative example(s)
- atmospheric and space optics
- electro-optics
- optical science
- optics
- optics physics
Exclusion(s)
- dispensing optician(51.1801)
- optical engineering(14.1003)
- optometric assistant(51.1802)
- optometry(51.1701)
- orthoptics(51.1804)
- photonics technology(15.0304)
- physiological optics(26.0909)
40.0808 - Condensed matter and materials physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. These programs include courses in low-temperature and solid-state physics, x-ray physics, liquids and soft materials, including the study of semiconductors, metals, superliquids, magnets, superconductors, glasses, gels, polymers, colloids, neural networks, and macromolecules.
Illustrative example(s)
- condensed-matter physics
- low-temperature physics
- materials physics
- solid-state physics
- supra-conductivity physics
Exclusion(s)
- atmospheric physics(40.0403)
40.0809 - Acoustics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behaviour of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions. These programs include courses in wave theory, the acoustic wave equation, energy transformation, vibration phenomena, sound reflection and transmission, scattering and surface wave phenomena, singularity expansion theory, ducting, and applications to specific research problems such as underwater acoustics, crystallography, and health diagnostics.
Illustrative example(s)
- acoustical physics
- acoustics
- acoustics physics
Exclusion(s)
- acoustic engineering(14.9999)
- sound engineering(15.0307)
40.0810 - Theoretical and mathematical physics
This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the scientific and mathematical formulation and evaluation of the physical laws governing, and models describing, matter-energy phenomena, and the analysis of related experimental designs and results. These programs include courses in classical and quantum theory, relativity theory, field theory, mathematics of infinite series, vector and coordinate analysis, wave and particle theory, advanced applied calculus and geometry, analyses of continuum, cosmology, and statistical theory and analysis.
Illustrative example(s)
- computational physics
- mathematical physics
- quantum mechanics
- quantum physics
- theoretical physics
Exclusion(s)
- computational geophysics(40.0603)
- mathematical sciences(27.0301)
- mathematics(27.0101)
- physical chemistry(40.0506)
- scientific computing(30.3001)
- theoretical chemistry(40.0511)
40.0899 - Physics, other
This instructional program class comprises any program not listed above that relates to Physics.
Illustrative example(s)
- electrodynamics
- other physics
Exclusion(s)
- chemical physics(40.0508)
- cosmology(40.1101)
- engineering physics(14.1201)
- geophysics(40.0603)
- physics teacher education(13.1329)
- soil physics(01.1202)
- Date modified: