Chemical Physics - M.S. and Ph.D. Download to print

The Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program at Kent State University provides graduate students with extensive scientific training, cutting-edge research opportunities and engineering skills necessary for a variety of careers in the academy and in industry. Program faculty and students conduct research in Kent State's Liquid Crystals Institute in liquid crystal synthesis and molecular design, liquid crystal materials and properties, lyotropic liquid crystals and bio-related materials, optoelectronics, and nanoscience and nanotechnologies. These important research foci are inherently interdisciplinary.

The Liquid Crystal Engineering concentration offers a two-year curriculum leading to the M.S. degree with a focus on practical learning combining both lecture and laboratory coursework. This degree program responds to the growing need for skilled engineers with expertise in liquid crystals by providing students with opportunities to learn the basic sciences; modelling and simulation; electronic and optical design; fabrication and testing of displays, electro-optic devices, sensing devices and applied systems in the advanced facilities of Kent State University's Liquid Crystal Institute. Graduate students will acquire practical skills as well as working knowledge of the fundamental science and technology needed in the cutting-edge liquid crystal industry. This program has been developed by world-renowned liquid crystal scientists at the Liquid Crystal Institute, together with engineers and technology specialists from industry. 

Official transcript(s), goal statement and two letters of recommendation. Submission of GREs (general and subject test–physics or chemistry) is not required, but strongly recommended. Admission will be granted by examination of the student's background on an individual basis. Students from a variety of undergraduate majors, such as physics, chemistry, engineering and materials science are invited to apply to the Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program.

For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies website.
 

M.S.: A total of 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree are required to earn the Master of Science in Chemical Physics. Students are required to complete 12 credit hours of core courses and 18 credit hours of electives selected in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. Elective hours may include research and thesis. M.S. Liquid Crystal Engineering concentration: A total of 38 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree are required. Students are required to take 29 credit hours of coursework (12 credit hours in the core and an additional 17 credit hours for specific concentration requirements), 6 credit hours of a master's project (CPHY 65098) and 3 credit hours of electives selected in consultation with the student's faculty advisor.

Ph.D.: The Ph.D. in Chemical Physics requires 90 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students are required to complete 20 credit hours of core courses and a minimum of 40 credit hours of electives chosen in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. The elective coursework may include faculty-approved research. Additionally, the Ph.D. requires a minimum of 30 hours of dissertation.

M.S. Chemical Physics

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental science of liquid crystals and ability to apply acquired knowledge of physical and chemical properties of liquid crystals in achieving development of liquid crystal materials and devices.
2. Gain experience in presenting scientific data in research publications, articles, posters and oral presentations.
3. Apply acquired knowledge to the development of new liquid crystal materials, new theories and effects, and liquid crystal based devices.

Ph.D. Chemical Physics

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental science of liquid crystals and ability to apply acquired knowledge of physical and chemical properties of liquid crystals in achieving understanding of novel phenomena in liquid crystals.
2. Gain experience in presenting scientific data in research publications, articles, posters and oral presentations.
3. Apply acquired knowledge to the discovery of new liquid crystal effects, new liquid crystal materials and development of liquid crystal based devices and applications.

M.S.: Candidates may choose to do a master's thesis by registering for CPHY 60199, Thesis I, for a total of 6 credit hours. The thesis for the Master of Science degree will present and interpret results of original research and must be defended before a committee of the Chemical Physics graduate faculty.

Ph.D.: A prospectus of the dissertation research project is required for all Ph.D. candidates. The prospectus is prepared jointly with the student’s dissertation advisor. The prospectus must be approved by the members of the student’s dissertation committee.

A dissertation presenting and interpreting results of original research is required for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The areas of research are outlined under the various concentrations. Following acceptance of the dissertation by the dissertation committee, the final degree requirement is the satisfactory completion of the final oral exam (defense of dissertation) in front of a committee of graduate Chemical Physics faculty and representatives from other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Ph.D.: In addition to satisfying the course and computer language requirements, the student must pass the Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program candidacy examination. The examination will cover material in the core courses of the chemical physics program. A student may make two attempts at passing the examination. If the student fails the second attempt, he/she will not be permitted to continue toward the doctoral degree but may complete the requirements for the Master of Science degree. The student’s first attempt at candidacy should come following the first year of study. In exceptional cases, a student may defer taking the candidacy examination until the beginning of the third year of graduate study.