"UCSD's Division of Physical Sciences includes the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, as well as nine organized research units and six academic programs. The scientists of our division work to foster collaboration in the ever more interdisciplinary approach to frontier science."

What does it mean to be the hottest place in the country to study science?

The 2006 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide and Newsweek recently bestowed that honor on UCSD. And while it may have come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with our university, it should be no surprise to the faculty, students and alumni of UCSD’s Division of Physical Sciences who began and now maintain our tradition of scientific excellence.

Founded by Nobel laureates and National Academy of Sciences members in the mid-1960s, UCSD’s Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Physics have all played a central role in UCSD’s rapid rise to national and international prominence.

We award more bachelor’s degrees in chemistry than any other institution in the country and our chemistry graduating classes are the most diverse. Our tradition of bridging disciplinary boundaries long before interdisciplinary research became fashionable has allowed us to probe fundamental questions at the intersection of fields and to create new fields of science. And our penchant for innovation has enabled many current and former faculty to start companies that played a central role in the development of San Diego’s high-tech and biotech economy.