Biophysics
See Physics for more information.
OFFICES:
General Administration 1110-113 Urey Hall Addition
Graduate Student Affairs 1110-121 Urey Hall Addition
Undergraduate Student Affairs 1110-115 Urey Hall Addition
Chairs Office 1110-113 Urey Hall Addition
Web site: http://physics.ucsd.edu/
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
C.Phil. In physics
Ph.D. In physics (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 Program
Physics Major with Specialization in Biophysics
This 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 Specialization 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:
Lower-Division
- Physics 4A-B-C-D-E and 2CL-DL; or Physics 2A-B-C-D and 2CL-DL (Physics
4 sequence is strongly recommended)
- Chemistry 6A-B-C and 6BL
- Biology, BILD 1 and BILD 2
- Mathematics 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F
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.
Upper-Division
- Physics 100A, 105A, 110A, 120A, 130A, 140A, 171, 172, 173
- Chemistry 140A
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
FALL
|
WINTER
|
SPRING
|
|
FRESHMAN YEAR
|
|
|
Math. 20A
|
Chem. 6A
|
Chem. 6B
|
|
Math. 20B
|
Chem. 6BL
|
|
Phys. 4A
|
Math. 20C
|
|
|
Phys. 4B
|
|
SOPHOMORE YEAR
|
|
|
Chem. 6C
|
Math. 20E
|
Math. 20F
|
Math. 20D
|
Phys. 4D
|
Phys. 4E
|
Phys. 4C
|
Phys. 2CL
|
Phys. 2DL
|
|
JUNIOR YEAR
|
|
|
Phys. 100A
|
BILD 1
|
BILD 2
|
Phys. 105A
|
Chem. 140A
|
Phys. 120A
|
Phys. 110A
|
|
Phys. 130A
|
|
SENIOR YEAR
|
|
|
Phys. 140A
|
Phys. 172
|
Phys. 173
|
Phys. 171
|
Elec.
|
|
|
Elec.
|
|
|
The Graduate Program
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).
Doctoral Degree Program
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 students 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.
Entrance Testing
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 students 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.
Requirements for the Ph.D.
Students are required to pass a departmental examination, advanced
graduate courses, a qualifying examination, teaching requirement, 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
Phys. 200A (Theoretical Mechanics)
Phys. 201 (Mathematical Physics)
Phys. 212A (Quantum Mechanics)
Winter
Phys. 200B (Theoretical Mechanics)
Phys. 203A (Adv. Classical Electrodynamics)
Phys. 212B (Quantum Mechanics)
Spring
Phys. 203B (Adv. Classical Electrodynamics)
Phys. 210A (Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics)
Phys. 212C (Quantum Mechanics)
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 students 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 the physics undergraduate
teaching program as part of their career training. The main component
of this requirement is an evaluated classroom-based teaching activity.
All graduate student teaching accomplishments are subject to the approval
of the vice chair for education. There are several ways of satisfying
the teaching requirement, including: (1) leading discussions as a teaching
assistant, (2) practical classroom teaching, under faculty supervision,
(3) participation in an approved teaching development program offered
by the Department of Physics or the campus Center for Teaching Development,
or (4) transferred teaching credit from another institution or department.
Students who satisfy the requirement by teaching at UCSD should enroll
in Physics 500 during the quarter in which they complete it.
5. Thesis Defense
When students have completed their theses, they are asked to present
and defend them before their doctoral committees.
Time Limits for Progress to the Ph.D.
In accordance with university policy, the Department of Physics has
established the following time limits for progress to the Ph.D. A students
research progress committee helps ensure that these time limits are
met.
|
Theorists
|
Experimentalists
|
|
Advancement
|
|
|
to Candidacy
|
4 years
|
5 years
|
Total Registered
|
|
|
Time and Support
|
7 years
|
8 years
|
Courses
Please refer to listings in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry
and Biochemistry, and Physics.
Biophysics
|