uwloo

PHYS 474Galaxies

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Physics

When it runs

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

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Galaxy structure, formation and evolution. Dynamics and stellar populations; gas and dust; supermassive black holes; large-scale structure.

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)
    • Students must be in level 4A or higher
    • Enrolled in a program in Faculties of Mathematics or Science

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001721359 / 80MW 08:30–09:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

50% liked it39% easy57% useful

From 8 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Boring and uninspired course. Assignments had little to nothing to do with lecture content so classes were pretty skippable. Don't know why they make anyone take this course - content seems very irrelevant.

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Pretty easy for a physics course, but I still felt that it was rigorous enough that I left with a good understanding of the topics covered. I took it at the same time as PHYS 475, so it was pretty cool when topics mentioned in one course came up in the other. Definitely recommend.

    Sep 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

6 posts and comments in 6 threads mention PHYS 474, September 2015 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.

Winter 2022

Spring 2021

Online Classes Fall 2021 Question 1 point, 6 comments

“I'm a part time student working full time. Over the past few terms I was taking advantage of the fact that there were no scheduled lecture times for the courses I was taking. …”

u/aLostKey: “Dependent on both course and faculty. Post needs more info”

u/GGwarms: “It's Phys 474 and Chem 404, faculty of science”

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Fall 2020

Spring 2018

Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… 364 PHYS 380 PHYS 434 PHYS 437A PHYS 437B PHYS 442 PHYS 454 PHYS 460A PHYS 460B PHYS 461 PHYS 474 PHYS 475 PHYS 490 PHYS 491 PHYS 601 PHYS 602 PHYS 603 PHYS 604 PHYS 605 PHYS 611 PHYS 701 PHYS 704 PHYS 709 PHYS 767 PHYS 768 PHYS 771 PHYS 777 PHYS 781 PHYS 786 PHYS 788 PLAN 100 …”

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Fall 2015

Upper year physics syllabi and course material 7 points, 2 comments

u/phyzled: “… 2 - PHYS 359 Statistical Mechanics - PHYS 370L Astronomy Laboratory - PHYS 375 Stars - PHYS 474 Galaxies - PHYS 475 Cosmology - PHYS 335 Condensed Matter Physics - PHYS 360A/B Modern Physics Laboratory - PHYS 392 Scientific Measurement and Control - PHYS 444 Introduction to …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar