The administrative roots of Engineering Physics can be traced back to 1946 when three students W.E. Matheson, D.L. Pitman, and D.J. Rose, returned to UBC after World War II to complete their engineering degrees. They believed that technologies from WWII suggested that the field of physics would require more engineers. Accordingly, they proposed forming a new program combining engineering and physics to Dean John N. Finlayson (Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science from 1936-1950). Dean Finlayson agreed and asked the trio to consider a curriculum. Thus, their suggestions became the underpinnings of Engineering Physics. This new discipline was included within the Faculty of Applied Science but was run by the Department of Physics. These three students became the first graduating class of Engineering Physics in 1947.
Although often referred to informally as the Department of Engineering Physics, Engineering Physics is not technically considered a Department. It is more appropriately referred to in the UBC Calendar as the Engineering Physics Program. Coursework within Engineering Physics leads to a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics. Based on a solid foundation of physics, math and engineering principles, students graduating from Engineering Physics play a critical role in taking new ideas from concept to practical use at the cutting edge of new technologies.
In the years after its initial creation, Engineering Physics continued to grow, and in 1972 Professor Robert Parsons was appointed the Director of Engineering Physics. In 1978, Professor Boye Ahlborn was appointed as Director. Two years later, in 1980, Professor Edward Auld was appointed Director of Engineering Physics, a position he held for 18 years until 1998.
In 1998, Professor Jeff Young was appointed Director, a position he held until 2006 when Professor Andre Marziali became the Director.
Over the years, Engineering Physics students have been involved in many different successful endeavours. For example, in 1981, students Geof Auchinlech and Andre Godoroja produced a design report for APSC 459, which led to a contract to retrofit the Vancouver Planetarium entertainment system. In 1983, graduate student Richard McMahon developed sophisticated computer technology. He formed a successful company, Techware Systems Corporation, to commercialize his product. In 1988, Engineering Physics received a Fund for Excellence grant from the Provincial Government to form the Engineering Physics Project Lab. In 1997, the same year that Engineering Physics hosted a 50th Anniversary celebration attended by over 200 alumni, graduate Bjarni Tryggvason, Canadian Astronaut, orbited the space station and tested his motion isolation system, part of which had been developed in the Engineering Physics Project Lab. As of 2013, Engineering Physics is a fully accredited Engineering Program administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and is a part of the Faculty of Applied Science.