Chemical Physics (CHPH)

Abstract

The Chemical Physics Program is a program of study and research leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees for students who wish to enter professional careers requiring an in-depth knowledge of both physics and chemistry. Students can choose research topics in biophysics, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials and nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering or meteorology.

The Chemical Physics Program is designed for students with undergraduate degrees in physics, chemistry, or engineering who are sufficiently well prepared in mathematics and the physical sciences to undertake graduate training in physics and physical chemistry. Formal course offerings in quantum mechanics,quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, statistical mechanics and biophysics prepare a student to explore the broad range of research topics at the University of Maryland. Research areas of the Chemical Physics faculty include: the study of single molecules as well as gases, surfaces, solids and polymers by means of laser-light and electron scattering, and nanomicroscopies; the study of dynamic phenomena from atom-molecule collisions to protein-folding and hydrodynamics; thermodynamics from phase transitions and critical phenomena to combustion; the statistical mechanical theory of phase transitions, fluid dynamics and non-equilibrium phenomena; the quantum mechanical theory of molecules and molecular dynamics; atmospheric physics and chemistry; and biophysics.

The Chemical Physics Program is sponsored by the Institute for Physical Science and Technology and seven academic departments: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials and Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Meteorology. The Chemical Physics Committee oversees the program and is made up of representatives from the sponsoring units with the Program Director as chair. The Chemical Physics Program Office administers the program and is affiliated with the Institute for Physical Science and Technology. A booklet describing Chemical Physics at Maryland, College Park, can be obtained from the Chemical Physics office upon request.

Admissions Information

The program is for students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry, physics or engineering. For those students with degrees in other disciplines, knowledge of calculus, differential equations, and vector algebra, as well as introductory mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and quantum mechanics is ordinarily expected.

Application Deadlines

Fall

Spring

Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines

Applications must be received by May 15 (February 1 preferred) .

Applications must be received by October 15 (October 1 preferred) .

International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

GRE General
GRE Subject (in Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics)
Three Letters of Recommendation
Test of Spoken English (TSE), required for international applicants

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	Applications must be received by May 15 (February 1 preferred) .	Applications must be received by October 15 (October 1 preferred) .

International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)

Admission to the program is generally limited to Ph.D. students. Students can earn a thesis or a non-thesis M.S. degree while working towards the Ph.D. degree. In order to earn a non-thesis M.S. degree in Chemical Physics, a student must complete 30 credit hours of course work, including CHEM 684 or ENCH 610, CHEM 687 or PHYS 603, CHEM 691, PHYS 622, PHYS 623, and an advanced laboratory course. A one-credit seminar in statistical physics and a one-credit seminar in chemical physics are also required along with a scholarly paper. The Ph.D. qualifying examination must be passed at the M.S. degree level.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. program requires: (1) a written qualifying examination, normally taken at the beginning of the second year; (2) attendance at 80% of the weekly seminars in statistical physics and chemical physics/physical chemistry; (3) an advanced laboratory course; (4) an advanced course outside of the student's main field of study; (5) a scholarly report in the area of intended thesis research; (6) a formal scientific presentation; (7) a formal research presentation with faculty attending (8) 12 credits of CHPH899 (Ph.D dissertation research) (9) a dissertation. Students must also satisfy all general requirements of the Graduate School.

Facilities and Special Resources

Incoming students are provided with private desk space and up to date computer facilities. There is a wide array of advanced equipment associated with the various research groups in the Program including scanning probe microscopes, high resolution spectrographs, ultra-short high-power lasers, multi-coincidence electron scattering spectrometers, and a fully equipped light-scattering laboratory.

Financial Assistance

Teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified students. There are also University and Chemical Physics Fellowships and fellowships in Biophysics (in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health) and Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science (in cooperation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology).

Contact Information

Requests for further information concerning the Chemical Physics Program can be obtained by writing to:

Professor Michael A. Coplan, Director
4247 Computer & Space Sciences Building
MD 20742
Telephone: (301) 405-4780
Fax: (301) 314-9363
coplan@umd.edu

http://www.chemicalphysics.umd.edu/

Courses: CHPH

Related Programs and Campus Units

Biophysics