Overview of the Physics Ph.D. Program
The first 15 months of a physics PhD program at UCI is roughly the same
for all students, regardless of their area of research interest. One
exception is that students interested in condensed matter have a choice
between the regular Physics PhD program and the interdisciplinary Chemical and Materials Physics Program
(CHaMP) program. The following table gives an overview of a typical
first 15 months in either of these programs (items in common are
highlighted in blue):
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Physics PhD
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Physics PhD with CHaMP Concentration
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| Jul-Sep |
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Summer Research [ optional ]
Qualifier Exams [ optional ]
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Summer Research [ optional ]
Laboratory Skills (206) [ required, 4 weeks long ]
Chemistry for Physicists (207) [ required, 4 weeks long ]
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| Oct-Dec |
Classical Mechanics (211)
Quantum Mechanics (215A)
Mathematical Physics (212A)
Teaching or Grading
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Classical Mechanics (211) or Hydrodynamics (222)
Quantum Mechanics (215A)
Computational Methods (229A)
Teaching or grading
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| Jan-Mar |
Qualifier Exams [ recommended ]
Electromagnetic Theory (213A)
Quantum Mechanics (215B)
Computational Physics (223)
Teaching or Grading
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Electromagnetism (228)
Quantum Mechanics (215B or Chem-231B)
Thermodynamics and Intro. to Statistical Mech. (Chem-232A)
Teaching or Grading
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| Apr-Jun |
Electromagnetic Theory (213B)
Statistical Physics (214A)
extra course appropriate to research area
Teaching or Grading
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Intro to Condensed Matter Physics (133)
Molecular Spectroscopy (Chem-231C)
Advanced Topics in Statistical Mechanics (Chem-232B)
Teaching or Grading
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| Jul-Sep |
Summer Research [ optional ]
Qualifier Exams [ recommended ]
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CHaMP Qualifier Exams [ June ]
Summer Research [ optional ]
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The process of finding an advisor for summer research or a thesis
project is primarily the student's responsibility; however, we offer a
weekly informal presentation (with free pizza) where first-year
students hear about the research opportunities available. Click here for more information about the Department's research programs.
Students are allowed to transfer between the Physics and CHaMP PhD
programs as long as all requirements for the new program are met. The
main differences between the two programs, other than their course
requirements, are that:
- CHaMP students are required to complete a written Master's thesis
based on a research project supervised by an advisor and evaluated by a
thesis committee. Physics students are not required to write a Master's
thesis, but will be awarded a Master's degree on the basis of their
first-year courses and qualifier exam if they request it.
- The CHaMP qualifying exam is normally taken at the beginning
of the summer after the first-year of courses, and covers the first
year course material.
- For more details regarding the Physics Qualifying Exam, please refer to the Graduate Studies Handbook, which can be found at:
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