BA in Chemical Physics

The B.A. in Chemical Physics combines advanced chemistry and physics with substantial experimental work, giving students opportunities to apply concepts in physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and experimental physics. Students can conduct supervised research with Columbia faculty, earn academic credit through CHEM UN3098 Supervised Independent Research, present their findings at a research poster session, and use sophisticated departmental facilities including NMR, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational resources.

Students can build practical and research experience through:

• Physical and analytical laboratories: The major includes CHEM UN3085 Physical-Analytical Laboratory I and CHEM UN3086 Physical-Analytical Laboratory II, providing practical experience with experimental chemistry and analytical methods.
• Experimental physics: Chemical Physics students must complete an experimental physics laboratory as part of their physics sequence, with options including PHYS UN1494 Introduction to Experimental Physics Lab or PHYS UN3081 Intermediate Laboratory Work.
• Supervised research: Through CHEM UN3098 Supervised Independent Research, students typically devote around 12–16 hours per week to a research project under faculty supervision and present their results at a departmental poster session.
• Research project development: Undergraduate researchers design experiments, investigate new phenomena, work with research-group members, and develop skills in instrumentation, data analysis, scientific writing, poster preparation, and scientific discussion.
• First-year research exposure: CHEM UN2408 First Year Seminar in Chemical Research introduces qualified students to research taking place across Columbia's Chemistry and other science departments, helping them identify potential research interests early in their degree.
• NMR instrumentation: Columbia Chemistry operates ten NMR spectrometers, including Bruker 300, 400, and 500 MHz systems and a 60 MHz NMR instrument in the Undergraduate Teaching Lab.
• Mass spectrometry: The department's mass spectrometry facilities support techniques such as SFC-MS, SFC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF, UV-Vis detection, ESI/APCI, and high-resolution mass analysis, with trained-user access to selected instruments.
• Materials and nanoscience facilities: Students working in relevant research groups can benefit from Columbia's Shared Materials Characterization Laboratory, which includes equipment such as spectrophotometers, SQUID magnetometers, X-ray diffraction systems, AFM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, and ellipsometers.
• Electron microscopy: The Columbia Nano Initiative Electron Microscopy Facility in Havemeyer Hall houses advanced scanning and transmission electron microscopes for nanoscale research.
• Computational tools: Columbia Chemistry maintains computational resources for molecular modeling and chemical research, including software such as Macromodel, MSI Insight II, Grasp, Jaguar, Titan, and Rasmol.
• Summer research: Chemical Physics majors can participate in department-supported summer research opportunities, including the Societe de Chimie Industrielle and Guthikonda Summer Fellowships, which provide $6,500 toward housing and stipend for eligible full-time summer research.
• Interdisciplinary research environment: Columbia Chemistry research connects with Physics, Biology, Engineering, Materials Science, Medicine, and external institutions including Brookhaven National Laboratory, giving students opportunities to work in a broad scientific research ecosystem.

The BA in Chemical Physics combines chemistry and physics preparation, creating pathways into scientific research, technical industries, and further professional or graduate education. Columbia specifically notes that chemistry-related study can lead to careers in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as technical roles in other businesses, while undergraduate research develops skills in instrumentation, data analysis, scientific writing, and collaboration.

Typical career roles: Chemical Researcher, Pharmaceutical Researcher, Materials Scientist, Scientific/Technical Analyst.

Career development and professional opportunities include:

• Career support: Columbia's Center for Career Education (CCE) provides career counselling, internship and job-search support, application guidance, interview preparation, and employer connections. The Chemistry Department also provides career-development resources and maintains links to LionSHARE, Columbia Entrepreneurship, and professional networks.
• Undergraduate research: Chemical Physics students can join Columbia Chemistry research groups and work alongside faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Research can count toward the degree, and students can gain experience in instrumentation, data analysis, scientific reports, posters, and research presentations.
• Funded research opportunities: Columbia Chemistry offers the Societe de Chimie Industrielle and Guthikonda Summer Fellowships, with preference given to Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Physics, and Environmental Chemistry majors; the fellowship provides $6,500 toward housing and stipend for qualifying summer research.
• Industry connections: Columbia Chemistry states that its researchers collaborate with private companies in the New York region, specifically identifying Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and IBM, alongside research institutions including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Princeton, Yale, and NYU.
• University–industry partnerships: Columbia's wider industry-relations network supports sponsored research, internships, mentorships, fellowships, research collaborations, and technology licensing. Its industry affiliate programs include the Columbia Electrochemical Energy Center (CEEC), which focuses on electrochemical-energy technology and commercialization.
• Employment statistics: Columbia's publicly available official career-outcome information reviewed here does not publish a current employment percentage specifically for BA Chemical Physics graduates. Therefore, a program-specific employment rate is not stated rather than substituted with a general or third-party statistic.
• Salary figures: Columbia's official sources reviewed here do not publish a current salary figure specifically for BA Chemical Physics graduates. A Chemistry/Chemical Physics-specific salary range is therefore not stated.
• Accreditation: The BA in Chemical Physics is not identified by Columbia as an individually professionally accredited program on the official program information reviewed. The ABET accreditation associated with Columbia is for the Chemical Engineering BS, not the BA in Chemical Physics, so that accreditation should not be attributed to this program.
• Graduation and further-study pathway: Columbia's Chemical Physics curriculum provides preparation for advanced study, and Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers a PhD in Chemical Physics for students whose interests overlap chemistry and physics. The graduate program states that the usual undergraduate preparation includes a major in physics, chemistry, or chemical physics.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA in Chemical Physics, students can pursue a PhD in Chemical Physics, PhD in Chemistry, PhD in Physics, or related graduate programs such as materials science, biophysics, or chemical engineering, depending on their undergraduate preparation and research interests. Columbia's Chemical Physics PhD specifically accepts students with undergraduate preparation in chemistry, physics, or chemical physics, making it a direct potential progression route for graduates of this degree.