Undergraduate Research
There are many opportunities for undergraduate students to become
involved in research in the Physical Sciences. This page attempts to address some
of those opportunities on campus. If you are interested in other programs please
see Off Campus and Summer
Research Opportunities.
Undergraduate Research (Chemistry 180, Earth System Science
199, Mathematics 199, Physics 195/196)
Most of the research done by undergraduates is accomplished through
one of the above courses. Although most students get involved in their Junior
or Senior year, it is sometimes possible to participate earlier. Participation
in Undergraduate Research usually requires a strong preparation through lower-division
coursework and may require some upper-division classes. Students who want to enroll
in Undergraduate Research should find a professor who is engaged in an area in
which they are interested and approach that professor about being accepted into
their research group. Students should not be discouraged if the first person they
approach does not have an opening and should ask that professor if there is anyone
else doing research in a related area. Students can learn about the areas of research
in their department by accessing the faculty profiles in Chemistry,
Earth System Science,
Mathematics, and Physics
and Astronomy. The Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office also has some
information about faculty research interests.
Honors Programs
Chemistry Honors Program
The Honors Program in Chemistry is a research-based program offered
to selected Chemistry majors Applicants to the program must have completed their
junior year with a grade point average of at least 3.3 overall and in their Chemistry
courses. They must have also demonstrated the potential of carrying out research
of honors quality, as judged by the Chemistry faculty member who will supervise
their research. Students in this program enroll in Honors Research in Chemistry
(Chemistry H180A-B-C) throughout their senior year and submit a formal thesis
late in the spring quarter. They also enroll in the Honors Seminar in Chemistry
(Chemistry H181), in which they receive instruction in scientific writing and
present a formal research seminar. Successful completion of Chemistry H181 satisfies
the UCI upper-division writing requirement.Students who complete these requirements,
whose grade point average remains above the 3.3 standard, and whose research is
judged to be of honors quality will graduate with Departmental Honors in Chemistry.
Mathematics Honors Program
The Honors Program in Mathematics is open to all junior and
senior Mathematics majors who meet the minimum academic qualifications of a
3.5 GPA in Mathematics courses and a 3.2 GPA overall. Students must apply for
the program no later than the fall quarter of their senior year. Those who are
accepted enroll in the Honors Seminar (Math H195A-B) during the winter and spring
quarter of their senior year. At the end of the spring quarter, students submit
an Honors thesis, which is designed and completed under the supervision of the
Honors Seminar faculty. Upon approval of the thesis by the Department's Honors
Committee and completion of all other requirements, students graduate with Honors
in Mathematics.
Physics Honors Program
The Honors Program in Physics provides and opportunity for selected
students majoring in Physics to pursue advanced work in one of the research areas
of the Department. Admission to the program is based on an application normally
submitted in the spring quarter of the junior year. Applicants must have an overall
grade point average of at least 3.4 and a grade point average in physics courses
of 3.5 or better. (Exceptions to these procedures and standards may be granted
in unusual circumstances.) In selecting students for the program, the Department
considers evidence of ability and interest in research.
Students admitted to the program participate in a year-long course, Physics
H196A-B-C, which includes two quarters of research and a final quarter in which
a written thesis is submitted. If this work and the student's final GPA are
deemed of honors quality by the program advisor, the student then graduates
with Departmental Honors in Physics.
The Campuswide Honors Program contains an undergraduate research
component. Please see their web site or visit their office in 1200 Student Services
II for more information.
Return to Physical
Sciences Student Affairs Home Page
Cindy Fern <cbfern@uci.edu>