uwloo

AMATH 373Quantum Theory 1

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Applied Mathematics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Critical experiments and old quantum theory. Basic concepts of quantum mechanics: observables, wavefunctions, Hamiltonians, and the Schroedinger equation. Uncertainty, correspondence, and superposition principles. Simple applications to finite and extended one-dimensional systems, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, and hydrogen atom.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • AMATH271 - Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics (0.50)
      • PHYS263 - Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00155780 / 30MW 14:30–15:50
LEC 701226615 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

64% liked it57% easy75% useful

From 14 ratings and 7 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This course is tedious, and you will learn very similar content to PHYS 234. I have heard that Quantum Theory 2/3 are so much better, so looking forward for that

    Mar 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Maybe the biggest joke of a class I have ever experienced, the professor cared so little that most of the class gave up. He was either late by 20 minutes every day or didn't show up at all. He left the single TA to manage the entire class by himself. The lectures and content was all taken from Griffiths verbatim, and he never replied to a single email. Really disappointing class especially for a course meant to deepen your understanding of quantum, you basically had to do everything yourself.

    May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Had a horrific experience with the prof but the course was ok. We (primarily) used Griffiths, pretty standard stuff. A bit of overlap with PHYS 234 depending on who you had, but with program changes this may not even be relevant soon. Should've been much more enjoyable.

    May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Avoid Joseph Emerson's stupid ass at all cost! A week in, nothing about this class is right. Classroom: axx; Learn page: empty; the prof: always late, unprepared and dis-organized. He is not ready to work, right now he's simply failing our expectations and wasting my 4.5K. I hope everything will improve coz he does seem nice and have a very reasonable excuse. Will update: did not improve only worsened

    Jan 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • development of phys 234. I took it with graeme smith and he made lectures incredibly fun. easy class if you understood phys 234. final was tough but it was curved.

    May 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

28 posts and comments in 24 threads mention AMATH 373, November 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Winter 2024

Winter 2023

Fall 2022

Mathematical physics BM vs BS 2 points, 5 comments

“Hi, I'm entering my final year of high school and as such I began looking at applications for programs I want to join (mostly physics related). …”

u/jollymaker: “They are essentially the same program the only difference will be the upper-year class requirements. You also may have mathematicians teaching some of your classes compared to physicists in the …”

u/void_nemesis: “… There's only a few differences, like AMATH 271 vs PHYS 263 (classical mechanic) and PHYS 334 vs AMATH 373 (the second quantum course you take), but both sides can take the classes.”

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Spring 2022

Mathematical physics Course blueprint recommendations 3 points, 21 comments

“Hey everyone, I’m going into the mathematical physics program at Waterloo next year and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on a sort of blueprint I could follow for courses because …”

u/Yu-Li: “… request) 2B Fall: AMATH 231 AMATH 251 AMATH 271 PMATH 351 PHYS 358 3A Winter AMATH 353 AMATH 373 PMATH 352 PMATH 365 / PMATH 343 PHYS 242 First coop term Do your first research coop PHYS 342 3B Fall AMATH 473 AMATH 351 PMATH 347 PHYS 442 (get override request) PHYS 475 (get …”

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Fall 2020

Winter 2020

PHYS 334 Vs AMATH 373 4 points, 1 comment

u/WillzOnYou: “I have to take one and need to decide which one. They seem a bit different in terms of content so if anyone has past notes and or assignments for either that they could dm me to help decide I would appreciate it.”

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Fall 2019

Why does economics give BA? 0 points, 36 comments

u/Su1tani: “can we give science majors bmaths too for taking math114”

u/Su1tani: “ok but over the next 4 years im taking MATH 136, MATH 137, MATH 138, MATH 235, MATH 237, AMATH 231, AMATH 250, AMATH 332, AMATH 351, AMATH 353, AMATH 373, STAT 230 and STAT 231, and im still getting just a BSc....”

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Winter 2019

How are the physics professors here? 2 points, 34 comments

“I'm in first year and haven't come across any great professor apart from Richard Epp. Are the upper year professors also bad?”

u/cabbagemeister: “Out of the professors I've had some sort of interactions with: Top Tier: Avery Broderick (Stars, Planets), Richard Epp (121/124/263), Eduardo Martin-Martinez (GR) Good Tier: Rajibul Islam (optics, …”

u/cabbagemeister: “… in SCI) AMATH 361 Continuum Mechanics (replaces PHYS363 and can be taken as an elective) AMATH 373 Quantum Theory 1 (also in SCI) You should be taking PHYS434 and PHYS442 even if you're in the math faculty as they are often required/recommended for grad school.”

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Spring 2018

Winter 2018

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar