Ralph J. Cicerone, Dean
180 Physical Sciences I
Academic Counseling: (714) 824-6507
World Wide Web: http://www.physsci.uci.edu/
Department of Earth System Science
Department of Physics and Astronomy
The School of Physical Sciences offers both professional training and general education in the Departments of Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy. The faculty, active in research and graduate education, are at the same time vitally concerned with undergraduate teaching. Curricula of the School are designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of students ranging from those with little technical background who seek insight into the activities and accomplishments of physical scientists to those seeking a comprehensive understanding that will prepare them for creative research in physical science.
Over the course of the past century and a half, physics, chemistry, and mathematics have evolved into interdependent but separate intellectual disciplines. This development is reflected in the departmental structure of the School of Physical Sciences. In the same period, these fundamental disciplines have moved into domains of abstraction unimagined by early scientists. This trend to abstraction with its concomitant increase in understanding of the physical universe provides the major challenge to the student of the physical sciences. Mathematics, physics, and chemistry, while providing the foundation of the technology that dominates contemporary civilization, underlie to an ever-increasing extent the new developments in the biological and social sciences. Earth system science is grounded in the traditional physical sciences while breaking new paths in the quantitative study of changes in the global environment.
Chemistry: B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Earth System Science: M.S., Ph.D.
Mathematics: B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Physics: B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Honors
Criteria used by the School of Physical Sciences in selecting candidates for honors at graduation are as follows: Approximately 1 percent will be awarded summa cum laude, 3 percent magna cum laude, and 8 percent cum laude. Honors are awarded on the basis of a student's performance in research, cumulative grade point average, and performance in upper-division courses in the major. A general criterion is that students must have completed at least 72 units in residence at a University of California campus. Students who have on file recorded acts of academic dishonesty shall be excluded by the Associate Dean from consideration for academic honors at graduation. The School of Physical Sciences also grants special honors to students who have distinguished themselves by their work in their major subject.
Each department offers courses that are of value to nonmajors and majors in the sciences. The programs for majors are designed to meet the needs of students planning careers in business or industry, of students planning advanced professional study, and of students planning graduate work that continues their major interest. Introductory courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics meet the needs of students majoring in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering and are also appropriate for students in other disciplines who seek a rigorous introduction to the physical sciences. In addition, a number of courses within the School have few or no prerequisites and are directed particularly toward students majoring in areas remote from the sciences.
Students who choose a major in the School of Physical Sciences have a variety of academic advising and counseling resources available to them. In addition to faculty advisors, there is a Chief Academic Advisor in each department who is responsible for interpreting degree requirements, reviewing student petitions, and assisting with special advising problems. An academic advising and counseling staff, employed in the Associate Dean's Office, is available to serve a broad range of student advising needs. In consultation with their faculty advisor or an academic counselor, students should plan a course of study leading to a major in one of the departments of the School. In carrying out this major, students may often concentrate very heavily in a second department within the School or in some other school. Occasionally students choose to pursue a double major. Permission to do so may be sought by a petition submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean of Physical Sciences.
All initial courses of study for majors include mathematics through calculus, and calculus is a prerequisite for much of the upper-division work in each major. A student interested in any of the physical sciences should continue mathematical training beyond these prerequisite courses. Furthermore, students interested in either physics or chemistry usually will include work in both of these subjects in their undergraduate careers.
Students in the physical sciences are urged to acquire a working knowledge of computer programming at an early stage of their University studies. This can be accomplished by taking Information and Computer Science 21, Engineering E10, Engineering ECE11, or Physics 9.
The majority of graduates continue their education beyond the Bachelor's degree level. Many pursue advanced academic degrees in preparation for careers in scientific or medical research, engineering, or postsecondary education. Some students enter professional school in areas such as medicine, dentistry, law, or business administration. Students who choose not to continue their studies beyond the baccalaureate level most frequently find employment in private business or industry. In addition to technical areas directly related to their major fields of study, students often enter careers in less obviously related fields such as computing, systems analysis, engineering, journalism, marketing, or sales.
The Career and Life Planning Center provides services to UCI students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on resume preparation, job search, and interview techniques. See the Career and Life Planning Center section for additional information.
Education Abroad Program
Upper-division students have the opportunity to experience a different culture while making progress toward degree objectives through the Education Abroad Program (EAP). EAP is an overseas study program which operates in cooperation with host universities and colleges throughout the world. See the Center for International Education section for additional information.
3-2 Program
Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics majors who are interested in a career in management may wish to apply for entry into the Graduate School of Management's 3-2 Program. Students normally apply for this program early in their junior year. See the Graduate School of Management section for further information.
Interdisciplinary Minors
These interdisciplinary minors are available to all UCI undergraduates. A brief description follows; detailed information is included in the Interdisciplinary Studies section of the Catalogue.
The minor in Global Peace and Conflict Studies addresses international violence, the threat of war, paths to cooperation in global and regional security, and international economic and environmental matters.
The minor in Global Sustainability trains students to understand the changes that need to be made in order for the human population to live in a sustainable relationship with the resources available on this planet.
University Requirements: See pages 5155.
School Requirements: None.
Departmental Requirements: Refer to individual departments.
A program of course work and research leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees is offered in the Departments of Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy.
