ChaMP Graduate Program (Chemical and Material Physics Program at UCI)

AdmissionA
Admission to the ChaMP Program (Chemical and Materials Physics) requires the successful completion of a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, and Engineering with a GPA of 3.1 or better. Additional criteria includes the applicant's undergraduate course record, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores in either physics, chemistry, or engineering.

While we intend to draw students from a broad base nationally and internationally, the concentration is also well suited for students returning after experience in industry. In the latter case, work experience in physical sciences may be used as basis for partial fulfillment of admission requirements.

Communication skills in English are required for admission. The verbal core on the GRE exam is a criterion for establishing this competence. Foreign students are additionally required to submit scores of Test of Spoken English (TSE).

Students may be admitted to the Ph.D. program following the successful completion of the M.S. degree in Chemical and Materials Physics. Satisfactory performance in the M.S. segment, approval of the M. S. advisory committee, and the consent of a Ph. D. research advisor chosen by the student, are requirements for admission.

Would you like an application for admission? Or do you have questions about admission to the program? Fill out the "I'm Interested!'' form.

Advising
Each M.S. student will be assigned two advisors, one from Physics & Astronomy and one from Chemistry, upon entering the program. Students are expected to meet regularly with their advisors for consultation on course and career planning. A Masters thesis advisor, of the student's choosing, typically made in the second year of studies, completes the advisory committee. The committee evaluates the Masters Thesis.

Each Ph.D. student must, by mutual agreement, choose a research advisor from the faculty in the Departments of Physics or Chemistry. The research advisor guides the thesis research. A faculty advisory committee of three follows the student progress, and administers the Candidacy and Dissertation examinations.

Masters Thesis:
A Masters Thesis is based on a research project supervised by an advisor, and evaluated by the student's committee. The M.S. Thesis need be of no specified length or format, but must report significant findings in readable, meaningful form, and must reveal the student's general grasp of the field and awareness of related work.

Qualifying Exam:
Students who pursue the Ph.D. will be required to take a Qualifying Examination by the end of the 2nd year.

Advancement to Candidacy:
A candidacy examination is expected to be completed within a year of starting the Ph.D. program. The examination is comprised of two parts: (a) a written report on a topic to be determined in consultation with the research advisor and (b) an oral report on research accomplished and plans for completion of the Ph.D. dissertation.

Dissertation:
A dissertation will be required without exception for the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. dissertation need be of no specified length or format, but must report results of an original piece of work in readable, meaningful form, at the same time revealing the student's general grasp of the field and awareness of related work. roughly, a criterion for acceptability will be that the dissertation - probably in condensed form - would be suitable for publication in a recognized journal. A final oral dissertation defense will be required of Ph.D. candidates.

Summer Session
In order to integrate students with chemistry and physics backgrounds, the ChaMP program begins in the summer with three preparatory courses: Physics for Chemists or Chemistry for Physicists, Math for Chemists, and a class in Laboratory Skills. The first of these is designed to develop concepts in classical mechanics and electromagnetics beyond the typical levels of exposure experienced by chemistry majors. The Laboratory Skills course integrates physics and chemistry students into one class, and develops the skills necessary to excel in modern laboratories.