Program: Chemical Physics, Ph.D. - University of Nevada, Reno

University General Course Catalog 2012-2013

Apr 06, 2025

213 Chemistry Building
(775) 784-6041

Chemical physics is an interdisciplinary program offered by the College of Science. The program, which leads to the doctor of philosophy degree, provides students with a diverse curriculum covering the scope of contemporary chemical physics.

Students who are admitted to the program must satisfy the Ph.D. admission requirements of either the chemistry or physics department, as well as the general admission requirements of the Graduate School.

Candidates for the doctor of philosophy degree must satisfy the Graduate School requirements and complete a minimum of 72 credits, which include the following: 15 credits of core curriculum, 24 credits of research and dissertation, 2 credits of seminar, and 31 credit of elective courses (12 of these credits may be in independent study and 3 credits may be dissertation and 1 credit is for comprehensive examination. The 1 credit comprehensive examination does not count toward the 30 credits of required 700- level course work). Acceptable elective courses include any course approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee.

I. Doctor of Philosophy Core Curriculum

CHEM 755 - Statistical Thermodynamics (3 units) OR
PHYS 732 - Statistical Mechanics (3 units)
CHEM 757 - Quantum Chemistry (3 units) OR
PHYS 721 - Quantum Theory I (3 units)
PHYS 722 - Quantum Theory II (3 units)
PHYS 701 - Mathematical Physics (3 units)
CHEM 752 - Chemical Kinetics (3 units) OR
PHYS 702 - Classical Mechanics (3 units) OR
PHYS 725 - Laser Physics (3 units)

II. Additional Requirements

A. Comprehensive written and oral exam

All students enrolled in the program will be required to pass a comprehensive written and oral examination, based on material covered in the core courses listed above. The written portion of the comprehensive exam must be taken within one year of the student’s completion of the core curriculum (typically by the end of the second year). The oral portion of the comprehensive exam will be taken within one week of the written exam. Students who do not achieve satisfactory scores on the first comprehensive examination may retake both parts of the exam within six months of the first testing date.

B. Research

Once the comprehensive exam has been satisfactorily completed, students are expected to pursue a vigorous research program under the direction of one of the affi liated chemical physics faculty. Research areas supported by the faculty span a broad range of both experimental and theoretical chemical physics topics. Students complete their research programs by writing a dissertation, which must be approved by the graduate advisory committee before a degree is conferred.