United States
Course Title:
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Course Definition:
Instructional programs that focus on the scientific study of inanimate objects, processes of matter and energy, and associated phenomena.
Course Sub Families Description:
For description refer the sub course(s)
Physical Sciences, General.
A program that focuses on the major topics, concepts, processes, and interrelationships of physical phenomena as studied in any combination of physical science disciplines.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Astronomy.
A general program that focuses on the planetary, galactic, and stellar phenomena occurring in outer space. Includes instruction in celestial mechanics, cosmology, stellar physics, galactic evolution, quasars, stellar distribution and motion, interstellar medium, atomic and molecular constituents of astronomical phenomena, planetary science, solar system evolution, and specific methodologies such as optical astronomy, radioastronomy, and theoretical astronomy.
Connected Careers
Astrophysics.
A program that focuses on the theoretical and observational study of the structure, properties, and behavior of stars, star systems and clusters, stellar life cycles, and related phenomena. Includes instruction in cosmology, plasma kinetics, stellar physics, convolution and non-equilibrium radiation transfer theory, non-Euclidean geometries, mathematical modeling, galactic structure theory, and relativistic astronomy.
Connected Careers
Planetary Astronomy and Science.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of planets, small objects, and related gravitational systems. Includes instruction in the structure and composition of planetary surfaces and interiors, planetary atmospheres, satellites, orbital mechanics, asteroids and comets, solar system evolution and dynamics, planetary evolution, gravitational physics, and radiation physics.
Connected Careers
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other.
Any instructional program in astronomy and astrophysics not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General.
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth's atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and related problems of environment and climate. Includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory; and studies of specific phenomena such as clouds, weather systems, storms, and precipitation patterns.
Connected Careers
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of atmospheric constituents, reactions, measurement techniques, and processes in predictive, current, and historical contexts. Includes instruction in climate modeling, gases and aerosols, trace gases, aqueous phase chemistry, sinks, transport mechanisms, computer measurement, climate variability, paleoclimatology, climate diagnosis, numerical modeling and data analysis, ionization, recombination, photoemission, and plasma chemistry.
Connected Careers
Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the processes governing the interactions, movement, and behavior of atmospheric phenomena and related terrestrial and solar phenomena. Includes instruction in cloud and precipitation physics, solar radiation transfer, active and passive remote sensing, atmospheric electricity and acoustics, atmospheric wave phenomena, turbulence and boundary layers, solar wind, geomagnetic storms, coupling, natural plasma, and energization.
Connected Careers
Meteorology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the prediction of atmospheric motion and climate change. Includes instruction in general circulation patterns, weather phenomena, atmospheric predictability, parameterization, numerical and statistical analysis, large- and mesoscale phenomena, kinematic structures, precipitation processes, and forecasting techniques.
Connected Careers
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other.
Any instructional program in atmospheric sciences and meteorology not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Chemistry, General.
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
Connected Careers
Analytical Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of techniques for analyzing and describing matter, including its precise composition and the interrelationships of constituent elements and compounds. Includes instruction in spectroscopy, chromatography, atomic absorption, photometry, chemical modeling, mathematical analysis, laboratory analysis procedures and equipment maintenance, and applications to specific research, industrial and health problems.
Connected Careers
Inorganic Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the elements and their compounds, other than the hydrocarbons and their derivatives. Includes instruction in the characterization and synthesis of non-carbon molecules, including their structure and their bonding, conductivity, and reactive properties; research techniques such as spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoelectron analysis; and the study of specific compounds, such as transition metals, and compounds composed of inorganic and organic molecules.
Connected Careers
Organic Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behavior of hydrocarbon compounds and their derivatives. Includes instruction in molecular conversion and synthesis, molecular synthesis and design, the molecular structure of living cells and systems, the mutual reactivity of organic and inorganic compounds in combination, the spectroscopic analysis of hydrocarbon compounds, and applications to specific problems in research, industry, and health.
Connected Careers
Physical Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of understanding and predicting the behavior of chemical systems ranging from nuclear particles to atoms, molecules, clusters, biological materials and macroscopic assemblies. Includes instruction in quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, reaction dynamics, group theory, collision theory, and polymer science.
Connected Careers
Polymer Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of synthesized macromolecules and their interactions with other substances. Includes instruction in molecular bonding theory, polymerization, properties and behavior of unstable compounds, the development of tailored polymers, transition phenomena, and applications to specific industrial problems and technologies.
Connected Careers
Chemical Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of structural phenomena combining the disciplines of physical chemistry and atomic/molecular physics. Includes instruction in heterogeneous structures, alignment and surface phenomena, quantum theory, mathematical physics, statistical and classical mechanics, chemical kinetics, and laser physics.
Connected Careers
Environmental Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of natural systems (air, water, and soil) through the use of chemical techniques and instrumentation, with an emphasis on the movement and fate of pollutants and chemical aspects of contaminant remediation. Includes instruction in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; aquatic, soil, and atmospheric chemistry; environmental engineering; environmental toxicology; and analytical methods.
Connected Careers
Forensic Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the application of chemical techniques and instrumentation to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence to aid in criminal investigations. Includes instruction in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; biochemistry; forensic toxicology; instrumental analysis; crime scene processing; criminal investigation; forensic laboratory technology; and applicable law.
Connected Careers
Theoretical Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the study of mathematical and computational methods and fundamental laws of physics to describe chemical phenomena and to develop empirical models of molecules and their interactions. Includes instruction in properties of small, isolated molecules; dynamics of elementary chemical processes; reaction pathways of organic molecules; hydrogen bonding patterns in liquids; reaction rates of biological pathways; and advanced computational techniques.
Connected Careers
Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics.
A program that focuses on applying computer science approaches in the representation, analysis, design, and modeling of chemical structures and associated metadata, such as biological activity endpoints and physicochemical properties. Includes instruction in chemical information technology, computational chemistry, computer science, database design, molecular modeling, scientific computing, and statistics.
Connected Careers
Chemistry, Other.
Any instructional program in chemistry not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Geology/Earth Science, General.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
Connected Careers
Geochemistry.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the chemical properties and behavior of the silicates and other substances forming, and formed by geomorphological processes of the earth and other planets. Includes instruction in chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium in silicate systems, atomic bonding, isotopic fractionation, geochemical modeling, specimen analysis, and studies of specific organic and inorganic substances.
Connected Careers
Geophysics and Seismology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the physics of solids and its application to the study of the earth and other planets. Includes instruction in gravimetric, seismology, earthquake forecasting, magnetrometry, electrical properties of solid bodies, plate tectonics, active deformation, thermodynamics, remote sensing, geodesy, and laboratory simulations of geological processes.
Connected Careers
Paleontology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of extinct life forms and associated fossil remains, and the reconstruction and analysis of ancient life forms, ecosystems, and geologic processes. Includes instruction in sedimentation and fossilization processes, fossil chemistry, evolutionary biology, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, trace fossils, micropaleontology, invertebrate paleontology, vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany, field research methods, and laboratory research and conservation methods.
Connected Careers
Hydrology and Water Resources Science.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the occurrence, circulation, distribution, chemical and physical properties, and environmental interaction of surface and subsurface waters, including groundwater. Includes instruction in geophysics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, chemical physics, geomorphology, mathematical modeling, hydrologic analysis, continental water processes, global water balance, and environmental science.
Connected Careers
Geochemistry and Petrology.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the igneous, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes within the earth and the mineral, fluid, rock, and ore deposits resulting from them. Includes instruction in mineralogy, crystallography, petrology, volcanology, economic geology, meteoritics, geochemical reactions, deposition, compound transformation, core studies, theoretical geochemistry, computer applications, and laboratory studies.
Connected Careers
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the chemical components, mechanisms, structure, and movement of ocean waters and their interaction with terrestrial and atmospheric phenomena. Includes instruction in material inputs and outputs, chemical and biochemical transformations in marine systems, equilibria studies, inorganic and organic ocean chemistry, oceanographic processes, sediment transport, zone processes, circulation, mixing, tidal movements, wave properties, and seawater properties.
Connected Careers
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other.
Any instructional program in geological and related sciences not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Physics, General.
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
Connected Careers
Atomic/Molecular Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the behavior of matter-energy phenomena at the level of atoms and molecules. Includes instruction in chemical physics, atomic forces and structure, molecular orbital theory, magnetic resonance, molecular bonding, phase equilibria, quantum theory of solids, and applications to the study of specific elements and higher compounds.
Connected Careers
Elementary Particle Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the basic constituents of sub-atomic matter and energy, and the forces governing fundamental processes. Includes instruction in quantum theory, field theory, single-particle systems, perturbation and scattering theory, matter-radiation interaction, symmetry, quarks, capture, Schroedinger mechanics, methods for detecting particle emission and absorption, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Connected Careers
Plasma and High-Temperature Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of properties and behavior of matter at high temperatures, such that molecular and atomic structures are in a disassociated ionic or electronic state. Includes instruction in magnetohydrodynamics, free electron phenomena, fusion theory, electromagnetic fields and dynamics, plasma and non-linear wave theory, instability theory, plasma shock phenomena, quantitative modeling, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Connected Careers
Nuclear Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behavior of atomic nuclei. Includes instruction in nuclear reaction theory, quantum mechanics, energy conservation, nuclear fission and fusion, strong and weak forces, nuclear modeling, nuclear decay, nucleon scattering, pairing, photon and electron reactions, the physics of nuclear effects, statistical methods, and research equipment operation and maintenance.
Connected Careers
Optics/Optical Sciences.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of light energy, including its structure, properties and behavior under different conditions. Includes instruction in wave theory, wave mechanics, electromagnetic theory, physical optics, geometric optics, quantum theory of light, photon detecting, laser theory, wall and beam properties, chaotic light, non-linear optics, harmonic generation, optical systems theory, and applications to engineering problems.
Connected Careers
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of macroscopic physical phenomena and properties that arise from basic microscopic interactions. Includes instruction in low-temperature and solid-state physics, x-ray physics, liquids and soft materials, including the study of semiconductors, metals, superliquids, magnets, superconductors, glasses, gels, polymers, colloids, neural networks, and macromolecules.
Connected Careers
Acoustics.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of sound, and the properties and behavior of acoustic wave phenomena under different conditions. Includes instruction in wave theory, the acoustic wave equation, energy transformation, vibration phenomena, sound reflection and transmission, scattering and surface wave phenomena, singularity expansion theory, ducting, and applications to specific research problems such as underwater acoustics, crystallography, and health diagnostics.
Connected Careers
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics.
A program that focuses on the scientific and mathematical formulation and evaluation of the physical laws governing, and models describing, matter-energy phenomena, and the analysis of related experimental designs and results. Includes instruction in classical and quantum theory, relativity theory, field theory, mathematics of infinite series, vector and coordinate analysis, wave and particle theory, advanced applied calculus and geometry, analyses of continuum, cosmology, and statistical theory and analysis.
Connected Careers
Physics, Other.
Any instructional program in physics not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Materials Science.
A program that focuses on the general application of mathematical and scientific principles to the analysis and evaluation of the characteristics and behavior of solids, including internal structure, chemical properties, transport and energy flow properties, thermodynamics of solids, stress and failure factors, chemical transformation states and processes, compound materials, and research on industrial applications of specific materials.
Connected Careers
Materials Chemistry.
A program that focuses on the synthesis and study of organic or inorganic materials and their electronic, magnetic, optical or mechanical properties. Includes instruction in advanced materials for photonics, lasers, chemical sensors and arrays or nanochemistry; semiconductor nanowires; and molecular electronics.
Connected Careers
Materials Sciences, Other.
Any instructional program in materials sciences not listed above.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Physics and Astronomy.
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the theories that explain the fundamental structure of our world and the universe and which draws from physics and astronomy. Includes instruction in astronomy, calculus, cosmology, differential equations, electricity, magnetism, data analysis, physics, quantum mechanics, space science, spectroscopy, and thermal physics.
Connected Careers
For description refer the sub course(s)
Physical Sciences, Other.
Any instructional program in physical sciences not listed above.
Connected Careers
Note* - Course Data Adopted from the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)
