A major in Chemical Physics consists of 16 courses including the introductory courses of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. The student can then choose to focus on either Chemistry or Physics while taking advanced courses in the other field (College Course Catalogue).
Chemical physics provides an interdisciplinary approach to the fields of chemistry and physics using mathematical techniques. The major allows students to explore the interface between chemistry and physics by studying structure, surfaces, bonding, atoms and molecules. By combining the methodologies and knowledge of physics and chemistry, many intriguing scientific questions can be addressed by a student with a strong predilection for mathematics and the physical sciences.
Program Structure
Consists of sixteen courses [pre-requisites for each course is added in square brackets]:
- MATH 11000 – Applied Differential Calculus (half-semester course)
- MATH 12000 – Applied Integral Calculus (half-semester course) [MATH-110]
- CHEM 11100 – General Chemistry I
- CHEM 11200 – General Chemistry II [CHEM-111]
- CHEM 31800 – Physical Chemistry I [CHEM-112 + MATH-110]
- CHEM 31900 – Physical Chemistry II [CHEM-112 + MATH-120]
- PHYS 11100 – Physics for the Physical Sciences I
- PHYS 11200 – Physics for the Physical Sciences II [PHYS-111]
- PHYS 20100 – Modern Physics [PHYS-112]
- Two credits from the following:
- CSCI 10000 – Scientific Computing OR CSCI 11000 – Imperative Problem Solving [CSCI-10x]
- MATH 21100 – Linear Algebra [MATH-120]
- MATH 22100 – Differential Equations [MATH-120 + CSCI-10x]
- Three elective Chemistry (at least one) or Physics (at least one) courses at the 200-level or above. PHYS-202 cannot be the only physics course.
- The Junior and Senior Independent Study sequence must be taken in the same department
- CHEM 40100 – Introduction to Independent Study [CHEM-212]
- CHEM 45100 – Senior Independent Study [CHEM-401]
- CHEM 45200 – Senior Independent Study [CHEM-451]
- or
- PHYS 40100 – Independent Study [PHYS-301 or PHYS-302 or PHYS-304 or PHYS-350]
- PHYS 45100 – Independent Study Thesis [PHYS-401]
- PHYS 45200 – Independent Study Thesis [PHYS-451]
Special Notes
- No minor is offered in Chemical Physics.
- Students may not double major in Chemical Physics and in any of the participating departments of Chemistry or Physics.
- Interested students should discuss plans with the chairperson of the Department of Chemistry or Physics.
- Any student who anticipates attending graduate school in chemistry or physics should take as many advanced Chemistry and Physics courses as can be scheduled.
- For students interested in Chemical Engineering, the Chemical Physics major is a natural basis for 3-2 engineering programs, which are described under Pre-Professional and Dual Degree Programs.
- Students in a 3-2 program must complete at least one of the 300-level elective courses and Junior I.S. by the end of the junior year.
- Chemical Physics majors cannot use S/NC grading option for the required courses.
- Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major.
- Examples of courses commonly taken as the elective Chemistry are: Organic Chemistry (CHEM 21100, CHEM 21200), Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 21500), Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 34000), and Principles of Biochemistry (BCMB 33100).
- Examples of courses commonly taken as the elective Physics courses are: Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences (PHYS 20200), Classical Mechanics (PHYS 30100), Thermal Physics (PHYS 30200), and Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 30400) or Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 35000).
- Students intending the Chemistry Independent Study sequence should complete CHEM 21100 and CHEM 31800 before starting CHEM 40100.
- Students intending the Physics Independent Study sequence should complete one of PHYS 30100, PHYS 30200, PHYS 30400, or PHYS 35000 before starting PHYS 40100.