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).
Program Structure
Because the pre-requisites for the required courses are sometimes confusing, they are included in square brackets after each course name.
- MATH 11000 – Applied Differential Calculus (half-semester course)
- MATH 11200 – 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-201 AND one of PHYS-301, PHYS-302, PHYS-304, 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. (CHEM or PHYS 40100) by the end of the junior year.
- For students who begin in CHEM 11100, the required CHEM 31900 will count as their upper-level Chemistry elective.
- 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), Mechanics (PHYS 30100), Thermal Physics (PHYS 30200), and Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 30400).
- 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 30100/30200/30400/35000 before starting PHYS 40100.
- Chemical Physics majors cannot use S/NC grading option for the required courses.
- Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major.