Program Overview

Introduction to the Concentration in Chemical, Applied, and Materials Physics

The Concentration in Chemical, Applied, and Materials Physics (ChAMP) is an interdisciplinary program between condensed matter physics and physical chemistry. This program is designed to eliminate the barrier between these two disciplines and provide students with a broad interdisciplinary education in the applied physical sciences.

Program Overview

The ChAMP program is open to students with a B.S. in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, or Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Upon admission to the program, students are assigned two faculty advisors, one from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and one from the Department of Chemistry, to provide guidance on curriculum and career planning.

Doctor of Philosophy Requirements

The curriculum for the ChAMP program includes:

• A summer session to assimilate students with different undergraduate backgrounds
• Formal shop, laboratory, and computational courses
• A sequence on current topics to bridge the gap between fundamental principles and applied technology
• A course to develop communication skills The required courses include 10 core courses and three electives, which are listed below.

Core Courses

• Complete Core Courses:
  • CHEM 206 Advanced Data Acquisition and Analysis
  • CHEM 208 Math Methods
  • CHEM 266 Current Topics in Chemical, Applied, and Materials Physics
• Select one of the following Computation/Machine Learning courses:
  • CHEM 229A Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences
  • CHEM 250 Computational Chemistry
  • PHYSICS 223 Machine Learning and Statistics
• Select one of the following Quantum Mechanics courses:
  • CHEM 231A Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics
  • PHYSICS 215A Quantum Mechanics
• Select one of the following ChAMP Chemistry courses:
  • CHEM 231B Applications of Quantum Mechanics
  • CHEM 264 Analytical Methods for Organic Nanomaterials
  • CHEM 231C Molecular Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 263 Materials Chemistry
• Select one of the following Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics courses:
  • CHEM 232A Thermodynamics and Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
  • CHEM 232B Advanced Topics in Statistical Mechanics
  • PHYSICS 214A Statistical Physics
• Select one of the following Communication courses:
  • CHEM 273 Technical Communication Skills
  • PHY SCI 220 Science Communication Skills
  • PHYSICS 250 Physics and Astronomy Communications Skills
• Select one of the following Classical Mechanics/Electromagnetism courses:
  • CHEM 228 Electromagnetism
  • CHEM 230 Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetic Theory
  • PHYSICS 213A Electromagnetic Theory
• Select one of the following ChAMP Physics courses:
  • PHYSICS 133 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
  • PHYSICS 238A Condensed Matter Physics
  • PHYSICS 239A Plasma Physics
  • PHYSICS 214C Many Body Theory
  • PHYSICS 230A Biophysics of Molecules and Molecular Machines

Electives

Electives (three of the following must be taken):

• CHEM 213 Chemical Kinetics
• CHEM 225 Polymer Chemistry: Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers
• CHEM 232C Non-Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics
• CHEM 233 Nuclear and Radiochemistry
• CHEM 237 Mathematical Methods in Chemistry
• CHEM 243 Advanced Instrumental Analysis
• CHEM 248 Electrochemistry
• CHEM 249 Analytical Spectroscopy
• CHEM 267 Photochemistry
• EECS 285B Lasers and Photonics
• ENGRMSE 259 Transmission Electron Microscopy
• PHYSICS 134A Physical and Geometrical Optics
• PHYSICS 211 Classical Mechanics
• PHYSICS 215B Quantum Mechanics
• PHYSICS 222 Continuum Mechanics
• PHYSICS 230B Biophysics of Molecules and Molecular Machines
• PHYSICS 238B-238C Condensed Matter Physics and Condensed Matter Physics

Additional Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to the core ChAMP requirements, students are expected to complete the following Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry requirements:

• Completion of the second-year Examination requirement
• Completion of the Oral Examination requirement for Advancement to Candidacy
• Completion of the teaching requirement
• Completion of six quarters in residence at UCI
• Submission of an acceptable doctoral dissertation

Master of Science in Chemistry

The requirements for the Master of Science in Chemistry include:

• Completion of 10 core courses and three electives that make up the required coursework for the Ph.D. program with a grade of B or better
• Completion of the teaching requirement
• Completion of three quarters in residence at UCI
• Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination