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Courses
OFFICES:
General Administration– 1110-113 Urey Hall Addition
Graduate Student Affairs– 1110-121 Urey Hall Addition
Undergraduate Student Affairs– 1110-115 Urey Hall Addition
Chair's Office–1110-113 Urey Hall Addition
Web site: http://physics.ucsd.edu/
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BiophysicsSee "Physics" for more information. The Department of Physics offers an undergraduate and graduate program which prepares students for a career in biophysics and which leads to the following degrees: B.S. in physics with specialization in biophysics A grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in the upper-division major program is required for graduation. All courses (lower- and upper-division) required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in any course to be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements. In exceptional cases, students with a grade-point average in the major of 2.5 or greater may petition to have one grade of D accepted. The Undergraduate ProgramPhysics Major with Specialization in BiophysicsThis program leads to a bachelor of science degree. As a terminal degree, it is an excellent education for students who wish to work in the biotechnology industry, and provides an ideal background for students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in biological or biomedical fields.This program is intended for students with a strong interest in bringing the concepts and technical advances from the physical sciences to bear on issues in biology. The curriculum is chosen to prepare students as rigorously trained but broad-minded generalists, so that they may attack problems in the biological, biochemical, and biomedical sciences with the tools and confidence that come from rigorous training in the physical sciences. The curriculum for Physics Major with Specia-lization in Biophysics is designed to allow premedical students to complete all necessary courses for admission to medical schools. The lower-division program for physics majors with specialization in biophysics includes basic courses in biology and chemistry as well as physics. Although the sequence Physics 4A through 4E is strongly recommended, students have the choice of petitioning the department to substitute the sequence Physics 2A through 2D. The following courses are required for the physics major with specialization in biophysics:
The upper-division program includes advanced courses in physics, including
two core lecture courses and one core laboratory course in biophysics,
as well as organic chemistry.
Additional electives, to achieve a count of twelve upper-division courses
in the major, may be selected from biology, chemistry, and physics. Three
additional upper-division courses, in any subject, are required in order
to satisfy UCSD requirements.
Premedical students will need to take two additional quarters of organic
chemistry (Chemistry 140B and 140C), one quarter of organic chemistry
laboratory (Chemistry 143A), and one quarter of an upper-division biology
course. In addition, some medical schools also require a quarter of biochemistry
(Biology BIBC 100 or Chemistry 114A). The premedical requirements may
be used to satisfy elective requirements for upper-division courses.
As a guide to prospective students, we consider a schedule of required
classes for a Muir College student.
Suggested Schedule
Research in biophysics is being actively pursued in several departments
(e.g., physics, chemistry, and biology), which also offer courses in or
relevant to biophysics.
Biophysics students will receive their M.S. and C.Phil. degrees in physics.
Only their Ph.D. will be in physics (biophysics).
The Ph.D. program consists of graduate courses, apprenticeship in research,
teaching experience, and thesis research.
Entering students are assigned a faculty adviser to guide them in their
program. Many students spend their first year as teaching assistants or
fellows and begin apprentice research in their second year. When a student's
association with a research area and research supervisor is well established,
a faculty research progress committee is formed with the responsibility
of conducting an annual review of progress and, at the appropriate time,
initiating the formation of a doctoral committee. After three years of
graduate study, or earlier, students complete the departmental examinations
and begin thesis research. There is no foreign language requirement.
An entrance test covering undergraduate physics is given to entering
students during the first week of orientation to give better guidance
to students in their graduate program. The results are not entered in
the student's file. Entering students are encouraged, but not obliged,
to bring the results to the first meeting with their academic adviser.
Entering students may elect to take the departmental examination instead
of taking the entrance test.
Students are required to pass a departmental examination, advanced graduate
courses, a qualifying examination, teaching reqirement, and a final defense
of the thesis as described below.
1. Departmental Examination
Biophysics students are required to take a departmental examination
after completing two years of graduate work at UCSD. The examination is
on the level of material usually covered in upper-division courses and
the graduate courses listed below:
Fall Winter Spring The examination is offered twice a year, at the beginning of the fall
and spring quarters, and lasts two days, four hours per day. The examination
may be repeated once, the next time it is offered.
Biophysics students take the departmental examination after completing
two years of graduate work.
2. Advanced Graduate Courses
Biophysics students are required to pass five courses (with a grade
of C or better) from biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or physics in consultation
with their adviser no later than the end of the third year of graduate
work. At least three of these courses must be graduate courses. A 3.0
average in four of the five courses is required. (In lieu of the course
requirement, students may petition to take an oral examination covering
three areas of physics.)
3. Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy
In order to be advanced to candidacy, students must have met the departmental
requirements and obtained a faculty research supervisor. At the time of
application for advancement to candidacy, a doctoral committee responsible
for the remainder of the student's graduate program is appointed
by the Graduate Council. Members of the research progress committee are
usually included as members of the doctoral committee. The committee conducts
the Ph.D. qualifying examination during which students must demonstrate
the ability to engage in thesis research. Usually this involves the presentation
of a plan for the thesis research project. The committee may ask questions
directly or indirectly related to the project and questions on general
physics which it determines to be relevant. Upon successful completion
of this examination, students are advanced to candidacy and are awarded
the Candidate of Philosophy Degree.
4. Instruction in Physics Teaching
All graduate students are required to participate in "Instruction
in Physics Teaching" under the supervision of a professor as part
of their training for future careers. Students will participate in teaching
recitation sections, problem sessions, or laboratory sections. Students
are required to take a total of two units of Physics 500.
5. Thesis Defense
When students have completed their theses, they are asked to present
and defend them before their doctoral committees.
In accordance with university policy, the Department of Physics has
established the following time limits for progress to the Ph.D. A student's
research progress committee helps ensure that these time limits are met.
Please refer to listings in the Departments of Biology,
Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Physics.
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Copyright
2001, The Regents of the University of California. Last modified July
13, 2001.
Reflects information in the printed 2001-2002 General Catalog. Contact individual departments for the very latest information. |
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