Chemical Physics Major
Goals for the Chemical Physics Major
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Develop solid foundations in, and reliable facility with, the principles of chemistry and physics. Recognize the physical situations each field is suited to address, and the interconnections between the two fields.
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Develop the ability to integrate concepts and techniques from chemistry and physics in the context of interdisciplinary problems associated with systems ranging from atomic nuclei to biological molecules.
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Develop strong quantitative skills and facility with the mathematical and computational techniques at the center of modern science. Learn to apply those skills in problem-solving contexts in chemistry and physics.
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Gain experience with laboratory practices throughout the curriculum with an emphasis on applying the scientific method, learning the skills of thoughtful experimental design, and exploring independent experimentation.
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Be prepared for postgraduate study and/or public/private sector employment in fields informed by the principles and methods of chemistry and physics.
Requirements for the Chemical Physics Major
A major in Chemical Physics includes:
- CHEM 105/CHEM 105P/CHEM 116 and CHEM 205, or CHEM 120
- PHYS 107 and PHYS 108 (1.0 unit)
- PHYS 205 (Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics with Computation, with Laboratory)
- MATH 215 (MATH 205 is a prerequisite for PHYS 208)
- PHYS 207 (Classical Dynamics) (includes wave phenomena)
- PHYS 208 (Intermediate Electromagnetism)
- PHYS 210 (Experimental Techniques) or CHEM 361
- CHEM 211 and CHEM 341
- CHEM 330 and CHEM 335
- One from among PHYS 302 (Quantum Mechanics), PHYS 305 (Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics), PHYS 308 (Electromagnetic Theory), PHYS 310 (Experimental Physics), PHYS 323H (Adv. Topics in Quant. Mech) (0.5 units), PHYS 331 (Modern Materials).
Students are encouraged to participate in research projects via CHPH 250 or CHPH 350 or CHPH 355/CHPH 365 or CHPH 360/CHPH 370.
Students planning to take the Chemistry GRE in their senior year should consider taking CHEM 212 and CHEM 361 in their junior year.
Students planning to take the Physics GRE in their senior year should consider taking PHYS 308 and PHYS 305 in their junior year.
If a student is considering pursuing graduate-level chemical theory/modeling, she is encouraged to take CHEM 309 in addition to the standard requirements.
Honors in Chemical Physics
To be admitted to the Honors Program, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all work in the major field above the 100 level not counting grades in independent research courses; students with a GPA below the cut-off should register for CHPH 355. If that course is completed successfully, a petition may be made on the student's behalf if her GPA in the major is between 3.3 and 3.5. The student must complete a significant research project culminating in an honors thesis and an oral examination (CHPH 370). See Academic Distinctions.