Section Three

Information for
Undergraduate
Students

164

Undergraduate Information
The undergraduate program leads to a four-year Bachelor of Science
degree. Admitted students matriculate in the fall term only. Caltech
does not have a summer session or part-time program and cannot con-
sider you if you already have a bachelor’s degree from another college,
university, or the equivalent. If you have matriculated at any college,
university, or the equivalent in a program leading to any degree, you
will be required to apply as a transfer student and should read the
requirements in the section titled “Transfer Admissions.’’

ADMISSION TO THE FRESHMAN CLASS

Students are admitted to the freshman class on the basis of strong aca-
demic performance in a rigorous course of college preparatory study,
especially in the areas of math and science; results of the SAT or
ACT, and one SAT science subject test and the SAT mathematics
level 2 test; teacher and counselor evaluations; personal character-
istics; a demonstrated interest in math, science, or engineering; and
information provided on the application.

Applying 165
173
85
Information on the application process can be found on the admissions
office website at www.admissions.caltech.edu. Students are encour-
aged to apply online through the Common Application, the Coalition
Application, or the QuestBridge program. For further information
on admission, please call (626) 395-6341 or e-mail ugadmissions@
caltech.edu. To be considered for admission, applications to the fresh-
man class must be submitted online by November 1 for Early Action
or January 3 for Regular Decision.

Early Action
The Early Action application process requires that the completed
application be submitted online by November 1. Under this applica-
tion plan, students will be notified in mid-December of the admission
decision. Students admitted under Early Action have until May 1 to
make their commitment to attend.

High School Requirements

Students are expected to prepare for Caltech by successfully com-
pleting the following curriculum:
Four years of mathematics (including calculus)
One year of physics
One year of chemistry
Three years of English (four years recommended)
One year of U.S. history/government (waived for international
students)

Standardized Exams
Applicants are required to take the following standardized tests by

Freshman
Historical
Admission
Sketch
 the October test series for Early Action consideration, and by the
December test series for Regular Decision consideration:
SAT w/Essay or ACT w/Writing
SAT Mathematics Level 2
One of the following SAT subject tests: Biology (molecular or
ecological), Chemistry, or Physics
TOEFL (for international applicants)
Information regarding the College Board examinations can be
found online at www.collegeboard.org, or by contacting the College
Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023-6992;
(212) 713-8000. For ACT, 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa
City, IA 52243-0168; (319) 337-1270; www.act.org.

Essays
The essays, which are required as a part of the application, are intend-
ed to provide students the opportunity to communicate their interests,
experiences, and background. Since Caltech is interested in learning
about each applicant, the essays are viewed as an important part of the
admission decision process.
166
86
Evaluations
Two teacher evaluations and a Secondary School Report are required.
One evaluation must be from a math or science teacher, and one eval-
uation from a humanities or social science teacher (see the instructions
in the application). A Secondary School Report must be filled out by
the applicant’s high-school counselor or other school official.

Additional Material
Descriptions of research projects and hands-on science and engi-
neering experience are helpful, as is material that demonstrates experi-
ences outside math and science. Additional material should be identi-
fied with name and date of birth.

Acceptance
Caltech is a National Association for College Admissions Counseling
member and therefore agrees to comply with the candidate’s reply
date of May 1. Places in the entering class will not be held after May
1. Early Action applicants will be informed of their status in mid-De-
cember, and Regular Decision applicants will be informed by mid-
March.

Deferral of Entrance
For reasons of travel or work, Caltech will consider requests from
admitted students for a one-year deferral of entrance. Students who
request a deferment must submit a written request stating the purpose
of postponement.

Undergraduate Information
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College Credit
Caltech encourages all prospective undergraduate applicants to pre-
pare by challenging themselves with the most rigorous course of study
available, including the Advanced Placement (AP) and International
Baccalaureate (IB) programs. However, college credit for AP or IB
classes is not automatic. Course credit and/or placement in an accel-
erated program is sometimes granted as deemed appropriate by the
department faculty. The awarding of Caltech course credit takes place
at the time of registration each fall.

Biology
Biology majors who have passed Bi 8 and Bi 9 are considered to have
met the core requirement of Bi 1.

Chemistry
The student’s qualifications for placing out of Ch 1 ab will only be
determined by the performance on a placement examination to be
administered in the summer prior to registration. Qualified students,
with the instructor’s consent, are allowed to substitute either Ch 8 or
Ch/ChE 9 for the “core” chemistry laboratory requirement (Ch 3 a or
Ch 3 x). 167
87

English/Writing
All incoming students (freshmen and transfers) will take a placement
assessment to determine whether they are adequately prepared for the
substantial writing component that is part of all freshman humanities
courses. Most new students participate in a web-based version of
this assessment, which is usually conducted in early June. A makeup
assessment is held just before fall classes begin. Based on results of this
writing assessment, students may be required to take Wr 1 or Wr 2
in the Fall quarter. (Wr 1 and Wr 2 count for general Institute credit
only.) After completing these courses, students may, at the discretion
of humanities faculty, be required to go on to subsequent coursework
in academic writing, such as Wr 3, Wr 4, or Wr 50, before or concur-
rently with freshman humanities coursework. During the first week of
classes, students will be required to produce an in-class writing sample
to confirm the initial placement.

Mathematics
During the summer before the freshman year, entering freshmen are
asked to take a diagnostic exam in basic calculus that will determine
which students will be placed in a special section of Ma 1 a for those
with less complete preparation, and later take Ma 1 d; and if they are
interested in advanced placement, they may also take an examination
to determine whether they will begin the mathematics core sequence
at an advanced level.
Normally, an entering freshman takes Ma 1 abc, Calculus of One
and Several Variables and Linear Algebra. This course covers the
calculus of functions of one and several variables; infinite series; vec-

Freshman Admission
 tor algebra; basic and advanced linear algebra; derivatives of vector
functions, multiple integrals, line and path integrals; and theorems of
Green and Stokes. The course is divided into a lecture part and a rec-
itation part that focuses mainly on problem-solving.
Students in need of additional problem-solving practice may be
advised to take Ma 8 (in addition to Ma 1 a) in the first quarter.

Physics
The required freshman physics course, Ph 1 abc, is considerably more
rigorous than most advanced placement work, and entering freshmen
are encouraged to take Ph 1. A test is administered during the summer to
aid in the organization of Ph 1; students who have performed partic-
ularly well can discuss the possibilities for advanced placement with the
physics representative during orientation.
A second test may then be required.

New Student Orientation

All freshmen, transfer and exchange students are expected to attend
the New Student Orientation as part of the regular registration pro-
cedure. Orientation takes place the week prior to the beginning of
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88
classes. A large number of faculty members and upperclass student
leaders participate, helping to introduce the new student to the Caltech
community. The orientation period provides an opportunity for new stu-
dents to become acquainted with the campus, the Honor System, and
other aspects of life at Caltech. In addition, they will meet classmates,
upperclass students, and faculty during this time.

ADMISSION TO UPPER CLASSES BY TRANSFER

Transfer Admissions
Caltech admits transfer students for the fall term only. We require a
completed application, letters of recommendation, an official transcript
from the last secondary school attended and all colleges or universities
attended, descriptions of all college-level math and science courses,
and completion of the Caltech Transfer Entrance Examinations.
Please review the section titled “Eligibility Criteria for Admission’’ to
determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for transfer
admissions consideration.

Academic Preparation
The following is a list of the Caltech core curriculum, taken by all
Caltech students during their first two years. It is expected that trans-
fer students will have had exposure to mathematics and science courses on
a comparable level prior to entry to Caltech. Any of the following core
courses that have not been covered by incoming transfer students must
be taken upon matriculation to Caltech. There are no specific topics
expected to have been covered in humanities and social science classes.

Undergraduate Information
 An evaluation of each transfer student’s written English is required
prior to registration and may result in an additional course require-
ment.

Freshman courses:
Mathematics 1 abc
Physics 1 abc
Chemistry 1 ab
Chemistry 3 a or 3 x
Biology 1, 1 x, 8, or 9
Humanities and Social Science electives
Menu science class (see page 222; can be taken freshman or
sophomore year)
Sophomore courses:
Physics 2 abc or Physics 12 abc
Additional laboratory science
Humanities and Social Science electives
[Note: Mathematics 3 is not required for the core curriculum, but
may be required for a specific option.]

Eligibility Criteria for Admission 169

89
The Institute admits to its sophomore and junior classes a small
number of students who have excellent records at other institutions of
collegiate rank and who perform satisfactorily on the Caltech Transfer
Admissions Entrance Examinations.

• Students must have completed their secondary school education,

and have subsequently enrolled at a college or university and
earned credit, in order to be considered for transfer admission.
• Transfer students are not admitted to the senior year at Caltech.
• Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in any
subject are not eligible for transfer.

Standardized Test Requirements

Transfer applicants are not required to submit SAT scores. The Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of transfer
applicants whose native language is not English and who have not
school instruction in English for two years or more. The TOEFL
should be taken no later than the February test date.

Evaluation of Written English

All entering transfer students will be required to undergo an evaluation
of their written English prior to enrolling.

Transfer Admissions Entrance Examinations

All applicants are required to take Caltech Transfer Admissions
Entrance Examinations in mathematics and physics. Further instruc-
tions are included with the Caltech Transfer Application.

Admission to Upper Classes by Transfer

 Transfer of Credit
The courses for which transfer applicants will receive credit, and the
corresponding class standing, will be determined at the time of enroll-
ment. Faculty members review each course submitted for credit on
an individual basis. It is not possible, therefore, to answer questions
regarding the acceptability of course work taken elsewhere. If the stan-
dard of work taken elsewhere is uncertain, additional examinations
may be required before the question of credit is finally determined.

Graduation Requirements
Admitted transfer students must meet the following requirements in
order to receive a Caltech Bachelor of Science degree.
• A Caltech undergraduate degree is based on a four-year resi-
dential experience (study abroad included) in which students
have the time to explore their academic interests in a deep and
rigorous way. Students who are admitted as transfer students or
3/2 students may be granted advanced standing and term credit
for academic work accepted in transfer to Caltech. However,
transfer and 3/2 students must enroll for a minimum of six
terms at Caltech. Any exceptions must be approved by the dean
170
90 of undergraduate students and the vice president for student
affairs.
• Regardless of the amount of credit awarded upon matriculation,
transfer students must spend at least two years (six terms) in
residence at Caltech. Students must also earn at least 216 units
at Caltech, not including courses taken to satisfy math and sci-
ence core curriculum requirements.
• Students must take, or have taken the equivalent of, all core cur-
riculum courses.
• Students must satisfy all of their chosen option’s degree require-
ments. Transfer students may choose from among all Caltech
undergraduate options.

Admissions Application
Applications are available by September 1. Completed applications
should be received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
by February 15. Applicants will be notified of the decisions of the
Admissions Committee in early May. Information on the application pro-
cess can be found on the admissions office website at www.admissions.
caltech.edu. Students should apply online through the Common
Application or the Coalition Application. For further information
on admission, please call (626) 395-6341 or e-mail ugadmissions@
caltech.edu.

Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity

Caltech is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without
regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age,
marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity,
sexual orientation, genetic information, status as disabled veteran, or

Undergraduate Information
other eligible veteran, for otherwise qualified individuals with a dis-
ability, or any other condition protected by the state and federal law. It
is the policy of Caltech to provide a work and academic environment
free of discrimination as required by federal and state law, including
Title IX which prohibits discrimination based on sex in Caltech’s edu-
cational programs and activities. Caltech will take all reasonable steps
to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence in its
work and academic environment. Inquiries concerning the application
of Title IX may be referred to Caltech’s Title IX Coordinator, Felicia
Hunt, who can be reached at [email protected] or at
626-395-3132.

The 3/2 Dual Degree Plan

Caltech invites students from a select group of liberal arts colleges
to transfer to Caltech upon completion of their junior year. After
two years in residence at Caltech, and the successful completion of
our requirements, 3/2 students will be granted a Bachelor of Science
degree from Caltech and a second bachelor’s degree from their liberal
arts college. Students may transfer into any of the Caltech options.
Students from the following institutions are eligible to apply to the
3/2 program: 171
91

Bowdoin College (ME) Ohio Wesleyan University

Bryn Mawr (PA) (OH)
Grinnell College (IA) Pomona College (CA)
Haverford College (PA) Reed College (OR)
Mt. Holyoke College (MA) Spelman College (GA)
Oberlin College (OH) Wesleyan University (CT)
Occidental College (CA) Whitman College (WA)

Applications and a program description are available from the 3/2

liaison at each of the liberal arts college partners and from the Caltech
Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Instructions on how to cre-
ate and complete Caltech’s online 3/2 application can be found at
www.admissions.caltech.edu. All 3/2 applications and support mate-
rials must be submitted by April 1.
Admission to the 3/2 program is not guaranteed and will be deter-
mined by the Caltech Faculty Upperclass Admissions Committee.
Students applying should have a record of superior academic achieve-
ment at their home institutions, and strong letters of recommendation
from their 3/2 liaison and an additional faculty member. They must
have completed a minimum of one year of calculus-based physics and
mathematics (two years are recommended), including multivariable cal-
culus and differential equations, and one year of chemistry.

Admission to Upper Classes by Transfer

 Exchange Programs
Exchange programs exist with Occidental College and Art Center
College of Design, permitting Caltech students to receive credit for
courses taken at these colleges. Students from these colleges also may
receive credit for courses taken at the Institute. Tuition payments
are not required, but the student may have to pay any special fees.
The student must obtain approval from the instructor of the exchange
course. Exchange courses taken by Caltech students must have prior
approval by the student’s option, by the division providing courses
most similar to the proposed course, and by the registrar. Students
wishing to take such courses should obtain the appropriate form
at the Registrar’s Office, get the required signatures as above, and
return it to the registrar. Freshmen at Caltech ordinarily cannot par-
ticipate in this exchange.

STUDY ABROAD
Study abroad allows students to experience life in other countries and
to gain a broader exposure to the sciences, engineering, economics/
172
92 management, the social sciences, and humanities.
Please see the Financial Aid section of this catalog for details on
applying for and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad.
Note that supplemental charges and travel should be listed by the
student in his or her financial aid budget so that these amounts can be
considered when funding is calculated.
Additional information, including application procedures and exact
deadline dates, is available from the Fellowships Advising and Study
Abroad Office at www.fasa.caltech.edu.

Cambridge Scholars Program

The Caltech Cambridge Scholars Program offers qualified juniors and
seniors the opportunity to spend a fall or winter term at the University
of Cambridge in England. Students are hosted by and live in one of
the Cambridge Colleges participating in the program. The participat-
ing colleges are Corpus Christi, Pembroke, St. Catharine’s, and St.
John’s. Students pay Caltech room, board, tuition, and other standard
Caltech fees for the term. There may be a small supplemental charge
for room and tuition. The supplement varies yearly depending on pric-
es and the exchange rate.
Students are admitted into one Cambridge department in the
biological sciences, physical sciences, computer sciences, mathemat-
ics, engineering, or economics to take classes within the tripos, i.e.,
subject, offered by that department. Students may only take courses
in one tripos unless special permission is granted, and this is usually
granted by Cambridge if a student needs a course to fulfill a Caltech
option requirement. Students will find more information on the tripos
structure and Cambridge University in the Fellowships Advising and
Study Abroad Office or at www.cam.ac.uk.

Undergraduate Information
 During the term at Cambridge, students take the equivalent of
at least 36 Caltech units, usually four Cambridge courses, but may
take five in most cases. The exact number of courses depends on
Cambridge departmental requirements. For their classes, students
receive a minimum of 36 Caltech units that can be used for general
or option credit or to fulfill other Institute course requirements. Note
that the final number of units and whether the units can be used to
fulfill departmental requirements will be determined after faculty
review upon a student’s return to Caltech.
Caltech students have the use of all Cambridge facilities and are
matriculated into the university for the term. A minimum 3.4 GPA is
required to apply. Eligible sophomores and juniors interested in either
the fall or winter term should apply by the January deadline for the
next academic year. Further information, including application proce-
dures, more about Cambridge University, and exact deadline date, is
available from the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office at
www.fasa.caltech.edu.
Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application. 173
93

Copenhagen Scholars Program

The Caltech Copenhagen Scholars Program offers qualified juniors
and seniors the opportunity to spend the fall at the University of
Copenhagen (KU) or the Danish Technical University (DTU), both
universities in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. At KU students will
find courses offered in the physical or life sciences and computer science.
At DTU students can take courses in engineering, computer science,
nanotechnology, applied physics, space sciences, and in a broad range
of science subjects, e.g., chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students
must select KU or DTU as their admitting university and will take all
courses in the sciences/applied sciences at that university. All students
are required to take a Danish language class during the semester.
Students live in a modern kollegiet (dormitory) with Danish stu-
dents. There is a supplemental charge for the room due to the ~15
weeks long semester. The supplement varies yearly depending on
prices and the exchange rate. Students admitted to KU live in a KU
kollegiet and students admitted to DTU live in a DTU kollegiet.
There is no board plan, but each kollegiet has a well-equipped
kitchen, and students may cook for themselves or with the other stu-
dents on the hall. In addition to the supplemental room charge, all
students pay standard board and tuition, but should budget additional
funds for food due to the length of the semester. Note that while stu-
dents pay Caltech board fees, the board fee is used to spend on food
while in Copenhagen. Students can cook in their kollegiet or eat out.
Caltech fees are due by the normal fall due date.
Both KU and DTU are on a semester system, and Caltech stu-
dents attend from the last week of August to mid-December and

Study Abroad
 are required to participate in the one-week orientation or advising
period the last week of August. Students have a one-week vacation in
mid-October, and many use this vacation week to travel in Denmark
or Europe.
Students take a maximum of 30 ECTS in their Caltech option or
a closely related subject. At least two classes must get option credit
for. All students take a class in the Danish language offered at KU.
Students attending Copenhagen University are required to take a
course in Danish culture and two Block 1 and one Block 2 class.
KU admitted students may take one class taught in English on
subjects such as Danish Culture, the Danish monarchy, Danish archi-
tecture, Danish film, or the Vikings, depending on what is offered
that fall. In addition to lectures, many of these classes have field trips
to cultural and historical sites in the city and surrounding area. All
upper-level undergraduate or beginning graduate-level courses at KU
and DTU can be taught in English.
Students admitted to DTU may take a class on the history of tech-
nology, which may qualify for Humanities credit. DTU has a very
intriguing group of classes in management and in technology manage-
ment. These can be taken for social science or option credit with the
174
174 permission of the option representative.
Students receive a minimum of 36 Caltech units (many receive
more units) that can be used for general or option credit or to ful-
fill other Institute course requirements. Note that the final number
of units and whether the units can be used to fulfill departmental
requirements will be determined after faculty review upon a student’s
return to Caltech.
Students can enroll in an optional three-week-long Danish-
language course in August at either KU or DTU depending on their
admitting university. This course is not required, but all students are
required to take Danish language during the fall semester for credit.
Further information about the Copenhagen Scholars Program is
available in the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad Office and
online at: www.fasa.caltech.edu. Go to www.dtu.dk or www.ku.dk for
further information on DTU or KU.
Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application.

École Polytechnique Scholars Program

The École Polytechnique Scholars Program offers qualified juniors
and seniors the opportunity to spend the fall, winter, or spring term
at the École Polytechnique, which is located outside of Paris in the
town of Palaiseau, about 40 minutes by train from Paris. Note that
the winter and spring terms can only be attended in years that do not
overlap with Caltech term dates and only with the permission of École
Polytechnique and Caltech. In addition, seniors may not attend the
spring term if they plan to graduate in June.

Undergraduate Information
 The École Polytechnique (the “Polytechnic School”), often referred
to by the nickname “X,” is the foremost French grande école of engi-
neering (according to French and international rankings). Founded in
1794 and initially located in the Latin Quarter in central Paris, it was
moved to Palaiseau in 1976. It is one of the oldest and most presti-
gious engineering schools in the world, with a very selective entrance
exam. As one of the world’s foremost establishments in science educa-
tion, the École Polytechnique trains graduates who become outstand-
ing scientists, engineers, researchers, managers, and politicians.
At École Polytechnique, students can take courses in engineering
or the applied sciences as well as the sciences, e.g., chemistry, physics,
and math, as these are also taught. Students can also take classes in the
social sciences and humanities. Two classes must be in the student’s
Caltech option in science, engineering, or economics and two classes
can be taken in other subjects or in the student’s option.
All classes are taught in French, and all discussions, assignments,
and exams are in French. Students must have very good ability in
speaking, reading, and writing French before applying for this program.
Students will continue to take French at their level while at École
Polytechnique.
École Polytechnique has different academic schedules depending on 175
95
the year of study. Caltech students who study at École Polytechnique
for a term (usually the fall) during their junior or senior year can only
select classes from the third year of the École Polytechnique curricu-
lum, and all classes must be selected from this year’s curriculum. Note
that the second-year classes are not allowed, as this year goes from the
fall through January and then has a second semester versus two terms.
The third-year specialized curriculum has a schedule that corresponds
closely to Caltech’s three-term system, and students must take all
classes from the third-year curriculum. These classes are equivalent to
100-level classes at Caltech.
A minimum 3.3 GPA is required to apply. Eligible sophomores
and juniors apply to study during their junior or senior year by the
Caltech internal deadline, which is usually in January.
Note that students must be nominated by Caltech in order to apply
and cannot apply without going through the internal Caltech nomi-
nation process, which is run by the Fellowships Advising and Study
Abroad Office. Only this office can provide the required nomina-
tion. Each year application specifics will be provided to sophomores
and juniors in the fall. Students will be required to complete both
Caltech Study Abroad Proposal and Forms and complete the École
Polytechnique application forms as well as undergoing a formal assess-
ment of French skills by Caltech’s French instructor.
Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application.

Study Abroad
 Edinburgh Scholars Program
The Caltech Edinburgh Scholars Program offers qualified juniors
and seniors the opportunity to spend the fall at the University of
Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh is on a semester system, and
Caltech students attend from mid-September to mid-December. All
students are required to attend a weeklong orientation held the week
before classes start. All students live in university dormitories or flats,
which are within walking distance from the George Square (human-
ities and social sciences) and the King’s Buildings (the science and
engineering campus). The university operates a free shuttle bus from the
George Square campus to the King’s Buildings campus.
Students pay Caltech room, board, tuition, and other standard
Caltech fees for the term. There is a supplemental charge for housing
due to the longer length of the term. The supplement varies yearly
depending on prices and the exchange rate.
Students are admitted into one of Edinburgh’s academic depart-
ments in the College of Science and Engineering. Note that students
cannot be admitted into the economics department because that is in
the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, but they can take 20
credits in that department. Students whose option is BEM or eco-
176
96 nomics may be allowed in an urgent situation to take 40 credits in
economics in order to fulfill BEM or economics option requirements.
Students take a minimum of 60 Edinburgh credits per semester
and a maximum of 80 credits, but no more than five courses. Students
will take a minimum of 40 credits in their option or another science or
engineering subject and can take 20 credits (one course) in the College
of Humanities and Social Sciences. Note that 60 credits is the stan-
dard courseload, but most Caltech students take 70 to 80 credits. Note
that at least 36 Caltech units must be taken.
A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to apply. Eligible sophomores
and juniors should apply by the January deadline for the fall semester at
Edinburgh. Further information, including application procedures and
exact deadline dates, is available from the Fellowships Advising and
Study Abroad Office: www.fasa.caltech.edu.
Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application.

London Scholars Program

The Caltech London Scholars Programs offers qualified juniors
and seniors the opportunity to spend the fall at University College
London, which is located in the lovely Bloomsbury area of London.
University College London (UCL) is on a semester system, and
Caltech students attend UCL’s autumn semester from about the third
week of September to mid-December. All students are required to
attend an orientation (Wednesday evening through Friday/Saturday)
the week before the semester begins. All students live in a UCL
dormitory, which is located a short walk or short bus ride from the

Undergraduate Information
academic buildings of the UCL campus. Students pay Caltech room,
board, tuition, and other standard Caltech fees for the term. There is
a supplemental charge for housing/board due to the longer length of
the term. The supplement varies yearly depending on prices and the
exchange rate.
Students are admitted into one of UCL’s academic departments in
the physical, life, or engineering sciences and must take two UCL/30
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. Students are
required by UCL to take at least 50 percent of their classes in their
Admitting Department. Usually the Admitting Department is in a
subject area that most closely corresponds to the student’s Caltech
option, but there is some leeway in this provided the student has the
background to be admitted to the department in question. Note that
students can be admitted to two departments in the life, physical, and
engineering courses and take at least 25 percent of their classes in
each. However, dual admission is only available if there is a compel-
ling reason, e.g., double-option students who need to fulfill a course
requirement.
The remaining 50 percent of classes can either be taken in the
Admitting Department, another department in the sciences or engi-
neering, or the humanities and social sciences with the exception 177
97
of the English literature department, which does not admit visiting
students, even those with majors in English literature. Note that there
are ample opportunities to take literature uncourses from a number
of departments that offer literature classes, e.g., Slavonic and East
European studies, Classics, Scandinavian studies, European cultur-
al studies, Hebrew and Jewish studies, French, etc. Note that these
departments offer classes taught in translation and in the foreign lan-
guage.
A typical UCL semester class is 7.5 ECTS or 5 ECTS credits in
the sciences or life sciences. In engineering subjects, a one-semester
class is typically 2.5 UCL/3.75 ECTS credits. Caltech students must
take 30 ECTS credits/2 UCL units during their semester at UCL.
This would be equivalent to 36 to 45 Caltech units. UCL classes can
be used for general or option credit or for humanities or social science
credit. Note that the final number of units and whether the units can
be used to fulfill departmental requirements will be determined after
faculty review upon a student’s return to Caltech.
Note that students can be admitted into the economics department
as a secondary department. Such students must take at least 50 percent
of their classes in their primary department in the physical, life, or
engineering sciences and at least 25 percent of classes in economics.
Only students with a secondary admission to economics may take
upper-level economics classes. Note that students can take up to two
first- or second-year courses in the economics department without a
formal dual admission.
A minimum 3.3 GPA is required to apply. Eligible sophomores
and juniors apply by the January deadline for the fall semester at
UCL. Further information, including application procedures and exact

Study Abroad
 deadline dates, is available from the Fellowships Advising and Study
Abroad Office.
Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application.­­­

Melbourne Scholars Program

The Caltech Melbourne Scholars Programs offers qualified juniors
and seniors the opportunity to spend the summer/fall at the University
of Melbourne, which is located in the exciting city of Melbourne,
Australia. Melbourne is on a semester system, and Caltech stu-
dents attend Melbourne’s second semester from the second week of
July to the end of November. Since Melbourne is in the Southern
Hemisphere, the university’s first semester starts in July and crosses
over both the Caltech winter and spring terms. Therefore, students
attend Melbourne’s second semester, which corresponds better to
Caltech’s fall semester. All students are required to attend an orienta-
tion that takes place at the University of Melbourne the week before
the semester begins.
178
98 Students live in a residence hall, which is located a short walk from
the academic buildings of the campus. Halls of residence have either
an apartment or suite setup and offer that vary by hall assigned such
as a 15-meter outdoor swimming pool and lounge area, barbecue area,
workout gym (with plasma TV, cross trainers, free weights, treadmills,
exercise bikes, etc.), café, lounge, computer lab, and laundry. Students
share a suite or apartment with other students.
Students pay Caltech room, board, tuition, and other standard
Caltech fees for the term. There is a supplemental charge for housing/
board due to the longer length of the Melbourne semester. In some
years there could be a supplemental tuition charge. The supplement
varies yearly depending on prices and the exchange rate.
Students take four classes at Melbourne. Each class is worth 12.5
Melbourne credit points. Of the four classes, students must take two
classes related to their option at Caltech and may take up to two
outside of their subject, including the humanities and social sciences.
Students are eligible to take one class as a research class in an area
related to their option.
The Melbourne credit load would be equivalent to 36 to 45 Caltech
units. Melbourne classes can be used for general or option credit or for
humanities or social science credit. Note that the final number of units
and whether the units can be used to fulfill departmental requirements
will be determined after faculty review upon a student’s return to
Caltech.
A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to apply. Eligible sophomores
and juniors apply by the fall deadline for the second semester starting
in July. Further information, including application procedures and
exact deadline dates, is available from the Fellowships Advising and
Study Abroad Office.

Undergraduate Information
 Please see the Financial Aid section for details on applying for
and eligibility for financial aid related to study abroad. Students who
receive financial aid should list supplemental charges and travel in
their aid application.

ROTC
Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) offers three-
and four-year programs leading to a commission as a second lieutenant
in the United States Air Force. The AFROTC program is open to
almost all students pursuing baccalaureate degrees. Classes consist
of one hour of academics and two hours of leadership laboratory per
week for freshmen and sophomores, and three hours of academics and
two hours of leadership laboratory per week for juniors and seniors.
AFROTC offers a variety of scholarships valued at up to 100 per-
cent of annual tuition, along with a nontaxable monthly stipend. By
agreement through the Air Force, Caltech students enroll in Air Force
ROTC classes at the University of Southern California, California
State University San Bernardino, Loyola Marymount University, or
the University of California, Los Angeles. You do not need to be a 179
99
student at any of these colleges to attend AFROTC on their campuses.
For more information, contact the Department of Aerospace Studies at
[email protected] or call (213) 740-2670 or visit www.usc.edu/
afrotc. No military commitment is incurred until entering the junior
year of the program or receipt of a scholarship after the freshman year.
The Army ROTC program at USC offers four-, three-, and two-
year full-tuition scholarships up to $43,000 a year. In addition, the
program pays all contracted cadets a stipend of $3,500 to $5,000 a
year and an annual book allowance of another $1200. High-school
students need to apply for the four-year scholarship during the fall of
their senior year, and no later than November 15. All Caltech students
interested in an Army ROTC three- or two-year on-campus schol-
arship need to apply early in their spring semester, and no later than
March 15, for the next academic year. Completion of the program
leads to a commission as a Second Lieutenant in one of 14 occupa-
tional branches in the Regular Army, Army Reserve, or the National
Guard. These scholarship provisions are subject to change, and inter-
ested students are encouraged to contact the Department of Military
Science at the University of Southern California for further informa-
tion: PED 110, Los Angeles, CA 90089, (213) 740-1850.

REGISTRATION REGULATIONS
Procedures
Students must register on the dates specified in the academic cal-
endar. Students are not registered until they have both

Registration Regulations
 • enrolled in an approved list of courses, and
• are current with the Bursar’s Office. All undergraduate students
with an outstanding Bursar’s bill balance of $300 or more and
graduate students with a Bursar’s bill balance of $1,500 or more
will have a hold placed on their registration for the subsequent
quarter the day before online registration opens. The hold will
be released once students have paid their bill in full or worked
out a satisfactory payment plan with the Bursar’s Office.
Any student who has not completed both phases of registration
within one week after the first day of classes will be removed from the
Institute rolls.
Students are required to maintain continuity of registration until
the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree are fulfilled,
except in the case of an approved undergraduate student sabbatical. If
continuity is broken by withdrawal, reinstatement is required before
academic work may be resumed.

Changes in Registration
All changes in registration must be reported to the Registrar’s Office
by the student prior to the published deadlines. A grade of F will be
180
100 given in any course for which a student registers and which he or she
does not either complete satisfactorily or drop. A course is considered
dropped when a drop card is completed and returned to the Registrar’s
Office. A student may not at any time withdraw from a course that is
required for graduation in his or her option, without permission of the
registrar.
A student may not add a course after the last day for adding cours-
es, or withdraw from a course after the last date for dropping courses,
without the approval of the Undergraduate Academic Standards and
Honors (UASH) Committee. Registration for added courses is com-
plete when an add card, signed by the instructor and the student’s
adviser, has been filed in the Registrar’s Office. No credit will be given
for a course for which a student has not properly registered. The respon-
sibility for submitting drop cards and add cards to the Registrar’s
Office before the deadlines for dropping or adding courses each term
rests entirely with the student. Failure to fulfill the responsibility
because of oversight or ignorance is not sufficient grounds to petition
for permission to drop or add courses after the deadline. It is the
policy of the UASH Committee that no petitions for the retroactive
dropping or adding of courses will be considered except under very
extenuating circumstances.

Humanities Drop Policy

Students who do not attend the first class of the term will be auto-
matically dropped from the class. Students who notify the instructor in
advance of their inability to attend the first class may remain enrolled
in the class at the instructor’s discretion.

Undergraduate Information
Academic Advisement
Students will be assigned freshmen advisers, and later option advisers,
who will guide students to resources about the curriculum, gradua-
tion requirements, and Institute policies and procedures. Through
the academic advising experiences at Caltech, students will develop
an educational plan for successfully achieving their goals and select
courses each quarter to progress toward fulfilling that educational plan.
Undergraduate students are required to meet with their adviser at least
once a year. Failure to meet at least once prior to the start of Spring
term will result in a hold placed on the student’s record which will
prevent them from registering online.

Summer Research or Summer Reading

Qualified undergraduate students who are regular students at the
Institute are permitted to engage in research or reading during the
summer, but in order to receive academic credit the student must have
the approval of his or her division and must complete the registra-
tion process for such summer work before June 1. An undergraduate
may not receive payment for research carried out for academic credit.
Students who are registered for summer research or reading will not
be required to pay tuition for the units. A student may apply up to 181
101
18 units of summer research per summer and 36 units in total toward
Institute graduation requirements.
The Institute recognizes that students may want to take advan-
tage of paid internships that provide unique off-campus educational
opportunities that integrate and enhance the classroom experience.
Students are encouraged to explore and discuss such opportunities
with their academic adviser and the dean or associate dean of students.
If appropriate, the adviser and dean or associate dean can approve such
internships as integral to a Caltech educational experience. There is no
academic credit for such work. The internships should commence
after the end of the third term and end prior to the resumption of
classes in the fall.

Undergraduate Student Leaves of Absence

Voluntary Leaves
Personal Leaves
A student may request a voluntary leave of absence for personal rea-
sons (personal leave) by submitting a written petition via completion
of the undergraduate leave form. International students should consult
with the International Student Programs Office regarding visa impli-
cations prior to submitting the leave petition.
The dean or designee may grant a personal leave provided (a) the
student is in good standing, in other words does not have to meet spe-
cial academic or disciplinary requirements as a result of reinstatement,
(b) the leave is for one year or less, although special circumstances can
be considered for a longer leave, and (c) the leave extends over a peri-
od that includes at least one full term.

Registration Regulations
 A student on personal leave may not attend classes, live in
Institute housing, participate in Institute programs, use Institute
facilities, work on campus, or use student services such as the Health
and Counseling Services, Center for Diversity, Career Services, or the
Hixon Writing Center during the leave, unless approved in writing by
the dean or designee.
A petition to return from a personal leave should be submitted
six (6) weeks before the first day of the term for which the student
intends to return.

Medical Leaves
If a student is unable to complete their coursework due to medical
reasons, the student may petition for a medical leave of absence by
submitting a written petition via completion of the undergraduate
leave form. The dean or designee may grant a leave for medical rea-
sons, provided the petition is recommended by the director of Health
and Counseling Services or designee. International students should
consult with the International Student Programs Office regarding visa
implications prior to submitting the medical leave petition.
Medical leaves are expected to extend over a period that includes at
182 least one full term, although special circumstances may be considered
for approval of a shorter leave upon the recommendation of a student’s
treatment team.
Students must provide documentation of the need for the leave
by a licensed treatment provider. Students may be required to sign a
release of information form authorizing their treatment provider to
communicate relevant medical information to representatives within
Health and Counseling Services and the Dean’s Office to facilitate
evaluation of the need for the leave and to determine appropriate
conditions associated with the leave, and establishing expectations
for return from the leave.
The Institute may impose conditions on return from a medical
leave, which may include confirmation from the student’s health care
provider that the student is following the recommended course of
treatment, the student’s consent for the provider to discuss the stu-
dent’s condition or progress during the leave with Caltech officials,
including representatives of Health and Counseling Services and the
Dean’s Office, and an independent evaluation of the student’s readi-
ness to return by a qualified medical professional. Certain conditions
of return will be specified at the time of the leave approval.
A petition to return from medical leave must be submitted six
(6) weeks before the first day of the term for which the student
intends to return. The return process includes an interview with the
director of Health and Counseling Services and the submission of a
completed return from medical leave and provider recommendation
forms. Students are expected to sign a release of information form
authorizing their treatment providers to communicate with Caltech,
including representatives of Health and Counseling Services and the
Dean’s office to determine readiness to return and recommendations

Undergraduate Information
for reasonable accommodations. Final approval of the petition is the
responsibility of the dean or designee.
A student returning from a leave for medical reasons will maintain
the same academic standing that they had previously—i.e., if on aca-
demic probation, the student will remain on probation upon return
from leave. Additional information and resources regarding medical
leave, including financial and transcript implications, can be found at
deans.caltech.edu.

While on Medical Leave

It is the expectation that a student on medical leave will focus on
receiving treatment to manage the condition(s) that precipitated
the leave. A student on medical leave may not attend classes, live
in Institute housing, participate in Institute programs, use Institute
facilities, work on campus, or use student services such as Health
and Counseling Services, Center for Diversity, Career Services or the
Hixon Writing Center during the leave, unless approved in writing by
the dean or designee.

Pregnancy Leave
Consistent with Caltech policy and the requirements of Title IX, 183
103
students who are unable to complete their coursework or other course
of study for a period of time due to a pregnancy, childbirth and
related medical conditions are eligible for a medical leave of absence.
Students who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are also
eligible for reasonable accommodations.
A pregnant student who wishes to take a medical leave should sub-
mit a completed petition and to the Office of Undergraduate Students
after obtaining a recommendation from the director of Health and
Counseling Services. Medical documentation from the student’s treat-
ing medical provider is required.
The Institute also provides reasonable accommodations to pregnant
students consistent with federal and state law. Reasonable accommo-
dations may include allowing pregnant students to maintain a safe dis-
tance from hazardous substances, allowing them to make up tests and
assignments that are missed for pregnancy-related reasons or excusing
of absences that are medically necessary.

Bonding
An enrolled student in good academic standing who chooses to take a
leave of absence because of the birth of his or her child may request a
bonding leave by submitting a completed petition form to the Office
of Undergraduate Students for approval.

Involuntary Leave
The dean or designee may determine that it is necessary to place a
student on an involuntary leave in a variety of circumstances, including
when a student demonstrates behavior that poses a threat to health or
safety, causes significant disruption to the Caltech community, for the

Registration Regulations
 personal safety or welfare of the student involved, as an interim mea-
sure, or as a result of a disciplinary action.
The dean may impose an involuntary leave in appropriate cir-
cumstances, such as where a student’s behavior: (1) has, or threatens
to, cause significant property damage; (2) significantly disrupts the
Caltech community; (3) presents a substantial risk of harm to self or
others; (4) indicates the student is unable or unwilling to carry out
self-care obligations; or (5) violates a Caltech policy or the honor sys-
tem. An involuntary leave also may be imposed when that the student
requires a level of care from the Institute community that exceeds the
reasonable accommodations, resources and staffing that the Institute
can reasonably be expected to provide for the student’s well-being.

Review and Decision Process

In making an informed decision to place a student on involuntary
leave in such circumstances, the dean will conduct an individualized
assessment and consider relevant information including information
provided in a timely manner by the student. If the conduct has been
the subject of an investigation under an Institute process or procedure,
the dean will consider the findings and conclusions reached in that
184
104 process.
The dean may consult with other Institute personnel, including but
not limited to, security and residential life personnel, staff, faculty, and
other individuals or departments. If appropriate and feasible, the dean
may seek cooperation and involvement of parents or guardians of the
student.
Medical information, including medical information provided in
a timely manner by the student, may be considered if the behavior is
associated with a physical or mental condition. In appropriate cases,
the dean may consult with the director of Health and Counseling
Services, or designee, and/or require a physical or mental evaluation
from a health professional if the dean believes such an evaluation is
necessary in order to make an informed decision. Students are expect-
ed, if necessary, to sign a release of information to facilitate discussions
between Caltech and the health professional conducting the evalu-
ation. The dean will also consider whether relevant risk factors can
be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level through reasonable
accommodation.

Written Decision
The student will be advised in writing of the decision to impose an
involuntary leave. The dean may stipulate conditions that must be
met before the student may return. An involuntary leave may be a
permanent separation from the Institute (i.e. expulsion); for a specific
duration or until certain conditions have been met. If the involuntary
leave is not a permanent separation, the student will be advised of the
length of the leave and/or any conditions for return.

Undergraduate Information
Emergency Leave
If the dean determines that a student’s continued presence is likely to
pose a substantial risk to the safety and well-being of the student or
others, the dean may place the student on an emergency interim leave
before a final determination is made. The dean will make reasonable
attempts to meet with the student and consider relevant information,
including in appropriate cases medical information provided by the
student, before deciding on an emergency interim leave. An emer-
gency interim leave will remain in effect until a final decision has been
made.

While on Leave
A student on involuntary leave may not attend classes, live in Institute
housing, participate in Institute programs, use Institute facilities, work
on campus, or use student services such as Health and Counseling
Services, Center for Diversity, Career Services or the Hixon Writing
Center during the leave, unless approved in writing by the dean or
designee.

Return from Leave

A student on involuntary leave will not be allowed to return until the 185
105
dean makes a fact-specific assessment of the circumstances, considers
relevant risk factors, and concludes that the student does not pose a
significant disruption to the functioning of the Institute community
and/or does not pose a substantial risk to the health and safety of
the student or others. The dean will consider relevant information,
including information provided by the student. In cases where a stu-
dent has a physical or mental condition associated with the behavior
triggering the leave, the dean will also consider whether the relevant
risks can be eliminated by a reasonable accommodation. The student
will be notified in writing if the dean determines that the student will
not permitted to return from a leave or will be permanently separated
from the Institute.

Appeal
A decision by the dean to place a student on involuntary leave may be
appealed in writing within ten days to the vice president for student
affairs (or designee). If the leave is imposed as a sanction resulting
from a finding of responsibility under an Institute process any applica-
ble limitations on grounds for appeal will apply.

Withdrawal from the Institute

Formal separation from the Institute is effected by filing a completed
undergraduate leave form in the dean of students office to be forward-
ed to the registrar and other appropriate offices. The effective date of a
withdrawal is entered by the dean or designee. A student withdrawing
from the Institute at any time during the term without filing a formal
undergraduate leave form will not be considered withdrawn. In such
a case, any grades reported by the instructors will be recorded on the

Registration Regulations
 official transcript, and the grade of F will be recorded for all other
courses. A student who withdraws, or is absent for a term (or longer),
without an approved undergraduate student leave must petition for
reinstatement to return to the Institute. Return from involuntary leave
requires approval through the dean of students office. Reinstatement
rules are listed under scholastic requirements. If the withdrawal occurs
after Add Day of any term, a W (standing for “withdrawn”) will be
recorded on the student’s transcript for all courses in which the stu-
dent is enrolled. A grade of W is not included in the computation of
the student’s grade-point average. The record will also indicate wheth-
er an undergraduate student leave was granted.

SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS
All undergraduates are required to meet certain scholastic standards as
outlined subsequently.

Eligibility for Registration

Following the first two terms, which are taken on a pass-fail basis,
186
106 freshmen will be ineligible to register if they failed to pass at least
27 units in the previous term. After the first two terms of study, all
undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 27 units with a
grade-point average of at least 1.9 in order to remain eligible to regis-
ter for classes. In addition, students must earn an average of 36 units
per term over each academic year (or three trailing terms if students
were not in attendance for the entire academic year) for a total of 108
units. A student may be excused from the 27-unit eligibility require-
ment if the requisite petition has been approved, prior to Add Day, by
the dean or associate dean of undergraduate students. Under excep-
tional circumstances the deans may waive the requirement that such
a petition be approved prior to Add Day, but may do so only once
during that student’s career at Caltech.
Following their first ineligibility, students are to meet with the dean
or associate dean of undergraduate students. The dean may choose
to reinstate them, in which case they will be on academic probation.
Alternatively, the dean may direct them to petition the Undergraduate
Academic Standards and Honors Committee (UASH) for reinstate-
ment. UASH will either approve their petition for reinstatement and
place them on academic probation, or require them to withdraw from
the Institute for at least two terms. Students who fail a core course or
who fail to successfully complete 36 units, even though they remain
in good standing, are required to meet with one of the undergraduate
deans before being allowed to register for classes in the subsequent term.
Students who becomes ineligible a second time will be required
to withdraw from the Institute for at least two terms. Summer does
not count as a term. A student who has been required to leave the
Institute because of academic ineligibility may, after at least two terms
of leave, petition the Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors

Undergraduate Information
(UASH) Committee for reinstatement. The UASH Committee’s
decision regarding reinstatement will be based largely on whether or
not such students have made good use of their time while away from
the Institute. Useful activities include being gainfully employed, hav-
ing an internship, engaging in a significant amount of volunteer work,
or successfully completing courses at another college or university. The
Committee will also expect that students applying for reinstatement
will have completed work in all Caltech classes in which they had
received an E or I grade. Any student who becomes ineligible a third
time will not be allowed to continue to enroll at Caltech.
Students who are ineligible may petition the UASH Committee
to waive any of the rules listed above, but in order to do so they
must first obtain permission from two of the following three indi-
viduals: the dean of undergraduate students, the chair of the UASH
Committee, and the Registrar. Permission to file a waiver petition will
be granted only under exceptional circumstances.

Departmental and Option Regulations

Selection of Option
By the middle of the third term, freshmen must notify the
Registrar’s Office of their selection of an option in engineering, 187
107
humanities, social sciences, or science to be pursued in subsequent
years. Upon the selection of an option, a freshman will be assigned an
adviser in that option, whose approval must then be obtained for reg-
istration for the following year.
Undergraduate students may request to add an approved minor to
their program of study. The request for a minor must be approved by
the option representatives of the student’s option and proposed minor.
A plan must be presented which meets the minimum requirements for
both the option and the minor, but the option representatives may
impose additional requirements as well. The approved request must be
submitted to the registrar before the start of the senior year.
Undergraduate students may be allowed to major in two options
for the Bachelor of Science degree. In order to do so the student must
present a rationale for the double option and a plan of study leading to
completion of the degree in four years. The plan, and any substantive
modifications, must be approved by a committee composed of the
option representatives of the two options. The plan must meet the
minimum requirements for both options as set forth in this catalog,
but the committee may impose additional requirements as well. The
approved plan should be submitted to the registrar during the soph-
omore year, but in any case no later than the start of the senior year.
The student will then be assigned an adviser by each option. Consult
the registrar for appropriate procedures.

Continuing in an Option
Students whose grade-point averages are less than 1.9 at the end of
an academic year in a specific group of subjects designated by their
department or option may, at the discretion of their department, be

Scholastic Requirements
 refused permission to continue the work of that option. Such disbar-
ment does not prevent the students from continuing in some other
option or from taking additional courses to raise their average in
their original option. Students without an option will fall under the
direct jurisdiction of the dean of students. Students may remain with-
out an option for no more than one year.

Change of Option
An undergraduate in good standing at the Institute shall be permitted to
transfer into any option of his or her choice provided he or she has
(a) a 1.9 GPA in subjects required for graduation in that option or in
a specific group of subjects designated by that option or (b) permis-
sion of the option representative or committee. A change of option is
effected by obtaining a Change of Option petition from the Registrar’s
Office. The completed petition must then be signed by the option
representative for the new option (who will assign a new adviser),
and filed with the Registrar’s Office. Institute regulations require
that a student who has made normal progress at the Institute be able
to change options at any time up to the end of the sophomore year
without penalty either as to time until graduation or as to excessive
188
108 unit requirements in any term.

Term Examinations
Term examinations will be held in all subjects unless the instructor
in charge of any subject shall arrange otherwise. No student will be
exempt from these examinations. When conflicts exist in a student’s
schedule, it is the student’s responsibility to report the conflict to the
instructor in charge of one of the conflicting examinations and make
arrangements for another time.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Eligibility to register is determined by the student’s record as of the first
day of classes of the term in which registration is sought. A student will
be declared ineligible to register if he or she has completed fewer than
27 units with a 1.9 grade point average in the previous term.

Graduation Requirement
To qualify for graduation a student must complete the prescribed work
in one of the options with a passing grade in each required subject and
with a grade-point average of 1.9. A grade of F in an elective course
need not be made up, provided the student has received passing grades
in enough other accepted units to satisfy the minimum total require-
ments of the option.
A Caltech undergraduate degree is based on a four-year residential
experience (study abroad included) in which students have the time to
explore their academic interested in a deep and rigorous way. Students
who are admitted as transfer students or 3/2 students may be granted
advanced standing and term credit for academic work accepted in
transfer to Caltech. However, transfers and 3/2 students must enroll

Undergraduate Information
for a minimum of six terms at Caltech. All other regularly admitted
students must enroll for four years (12 terms). Any exceptions to the
four year residence requirement must be approved by the dean of
undergraduate students and the vice president for student affairs.

Candidacy for the Bachelor’s Degree

Students must declare their candidacy for the degree of Bachelor of
Science to the registrar on or before the first Monday of November
preceding the date on which he or she expects to receive the degree.
All subjects required for graduation, with the exception of those
for which the candidate is registered during the last term of his or
her study, must be completed and the grade recorded by the second
Monday of May preceding commencement.

Graduation in the Normally Prescribed Time

Any undergraduate student who fails to complete the requirements for
graduation at the end of 12 terms must petition the Undergraduate
Academic Standards and Honors Committee for approval to regis-
ter for further work each term.

Requirement for a Second Bachelor of Science Degree 189

109
Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be permitted to return
to study for a second Bachelor of Science degree. To receive this per-
mission, the student must petition the Curriculum Committee. If
the petition is approved, the student must then register for three
consecutive terms of additional study, completing in each term at least
36 units, and must meet all the requirements for graduation in the sec-
ond option. If additional time is needed to complete the degree, the
student must also petition the Undergraduate Academic Standards
and Honors Committee for an extension. A student admitted for
a second Bachelor of Science degree in a particular option may not
change to another option without first submitting a new petition to
the Curriculum Committee and receiving the explicit approval of that
committee.

Excess of or Fewer Than Normal Units (Overloads and Underloads)

An overload is defined as registration for more than 48 units for an
undergraduate. This limit corresponds to five 9-unit classes plus a
3-unit non-academic class (PA, PE) or four 9-unit classes plus one
12-unit class. Classroom and laboratory courses are to be limited
to 45 units for freshmen for the first two terms and the remaining
three units should be used for frontier (“pizza”) courses, PE, PA, or
research. Students may take up to 51 units (inclusive) but it requires
their adviser’s approval for such an overload. To take more units than
51, students will need to petition the undergraduate dean, with the
expectation that permission will be granted only in exceptional cases.
This policy is aimed at having no effect on currently recommended
courses of studies in all options, while putting a very high bar for tak-
ing 6 full-time classes simultaneously.

Scholastic Requirements
 A student who wishes to carry an overload in any term must
obtain the approval of his or her adviser and the dean or associate dean
of undergraduate students. Petitions for overloads will not be accepted
later than the last day for adding classes in any term.
An underload is registration for fewer than 36 units.
Underloads for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors must be
approved by the dean or associate dean of undergraduate students.
Seniors may take an underload by presenting for the registrar’s
approval a senior underload petition and a course plan for graduation
the following June, provided that the plan does not require an overload
in any term. Underloads will not receive a tuition reduction, only a
financial aid reduction.

Allowance and Transfer of Credit

Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions

Regularly enrolled students who want to obtain credit for college
courses taken elsewhere should obtain the permission of the dean of
students and have a copy of the transcript of their work sent to the
Registrar’s Office. The student should then obtain an Allowance of
190
110 Credit form from the Registrar’s Office and take this, with the tran-
script, to the representative of the option in which credit is desired.
Credit will be granted when this form, with the appropriate signatures,
is returned to the office.

Allowance of Credit in the Humanities and Social Sciences

In general, Caltech students should fulfill Caltech course require-
ments by taking courses at Caltech. Students are expected to have a
well-reasoned educational goal for taking classes elsewhere. The only
exceptions are transfer students admitted to advanced standing. Credit
for comparable work done at other institutions with similar academic
standards is not granted automatically.
Students who wish to take courses elsewhere (whether on leave, in
the summer, or during the academic year) should consult, in advance,
with the executive officer for the humanities or the executive officer
for the social sciences, or their designees, to minimize any misunder-
standing regarding the nature of credit they may receive. Upon com-
pletion of the course, the student must obtain an Allowance of Credit
form from the registrar, obtain the signed approval of the executive
officer, or his or her designee, for transfer credit, and return the com-
pleted form to the Registrar’s Office. The executive officers are the final
authority in the allowance of credit in HSS courses.
Guidelines and specific information about allowance of credit are
available from the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Other Allowances of Credit

Except for transfer credit and credit based on Caltech placement
exams upon admission, credit will not be granted for Caltech courses
in which the student is not officially enrolled, except in special circum-
stances by arrangement with the instructor. Such arrangements must

Undergraduate Information
be approved by the Curriculum Committee, and the student must
petition the Committee before the work is undertaken.

UNDERGRADUATE EXPENSES
For freshmen and transfer students applying for admission, there is a
$75 application fee. This fee is nonrefundable.

Housing contracts must be submitted to the Housing Office by the

date specified in the instructions accompanying the contract.

Expense Summary 2017–18

General:
General deposit.......................................................... $100.001
­­ Orientation fee........................................................... $500.001
Tuition....................................................................... $ 48,111.00
$ 48,711.00
1 This charge is made only once during residence at the Institute.
191
111
Other:
Student fees…............................................................... $ 1,797.00
Room (contract price)…............................................... $ 8,391 .002
Board (5 days/week)….................................................. $ 6,405.00
Additional meal allowance (est.)................................... $ 900.00
Books and supplies (est.)…........................................... $ 1,323.00
Personal expenses (est.)…............................................. $ 1,974.00
2 The housing/room rate is calculated based on the weighted average of all available
undergraduate on-campus housing options.

The tuition and fees charge for all students is payable in full before
the first day of classes unless the student enrolls in the Direct Cost
Three Payment Plan through the Bursar’s Office. The fee to enroll
in the plan is $25.00 per term. Enrollment in the Direct Cost Three
Payment Plan must be completed by August 10, 2017. Fees are subject
to change at the discretion of the Institute.
Tuition for the baccalaureate degree is based on four years (12
terms) of residence regardless of unit load each term or if a student
completes graduation requirements a term(s) early. The 12 term resi-
dence requirement is separate from and in addition to any other degree
requirements. Official study abroad programs listed in the Catalog
fulfill one term of the 12 term requirement.
Since a Caltech degree is based on a four-year residential require-
ment, entering students should expect to be in residence and to be
billed tuition for a full four years. Any exceptions must be approved by
the dean of undergraduate students and the vice president for student
affairs. In addition, aid may not be disbursed to a student to cover tui-
tion if they are no longer attending classes.

Undergraduate Expenses
 Refunds and Fees
Refunds and Repayments
For all students, the institutional charges, e.g., tuition and room and
board, will be prorated according to the amount of time the student
spent in academic attendance before withdrawing from the Institute
before the end of the sixth week of the term. These prorated charges
will be compared to the payments received on behalf of the student,
and the Institute will determine whether the student is entitled to a
refund or owes additional funds to Caltech.
For students receiving funds from federal Title IV, from Caltech,
and/or from state programs, the Institute will follow federal and other
applicable regulations to determine the amount of all program funds
the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. In general, the
amount of financial aid earned is based on the amount of time the stu-
dent has spent in academic attendance. If the amount of aid disbursed
to the student is greater than the amount the student has earned,
unearned funds must be returned. If the amount the student was dis-
bursed is less than the amount the student earned, the student will be
eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement.

192
112 Determining the Student’s Last Date of Attendance or Withdrawal Date:
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for obtaining requests for
withdrawal from the undergraduate or graduate dean and for process-
ing official withdrawals. In order to calculate the refund or repayment,
Caltech will establish the student’s withdrawal date. This date is one
of the following:
• the date that the student began the withdrawal process
prescribed by Caltech;
• the date the student otherwise provided official notification to
the registrar (written or oral) of his or her intent to withdraw;
• the midpoint of the academic term if no official notification is
provided;
• the date determined by the registrar if there are special
circumstances (illness, accident, grievous personal loss); or
• the date the registrar determines the student has not returned
from an approved student sabbatical or if the student does not
qualify for a sabbatical.

Academically Related Activities that Determine Academic Attendance: The

Institute may use the last date of attendance at an academically related
activity as the student’s withdrawal date. This may occur if a student
begins the withdrawal process and then attends an academically related
activity after that date. Caltech considers an academically related activ-
ity to include the following:
• attendance at a lab
• attendance at a lecture
• completing a quiz and/or test

Undergraduate Information
 • participation in a study session
• academic counseling session
• academic advisement session
• turning in a class assignment

Determining the Return of Federal Funds: The Financial Aid Office

and/or the Graduate Office will calculate the federal funds that must
be returned to the appropriate federal accounts.
If a student withdraws from the Institute prior to the first day of
classes for the period of enrollment, Caltech will return 100 percent of
the student’s federal financial aid in accordance with federal proce-
dures, as well as Caltech and/or state grants or aid.
If a student withdraws any time after the first day of classes for the
period of enrollment, the Institute will perform the following:
• Determine the percentage of the payment period that the stu-
dent completed. If the student completed more than 60 percent
of the period, he or she earned 100 percent of the aid for the
period. If the student completed 60 percent or less, the per-
centage of the period completed is the percentage of aid earned.
This percentage is determined by dividing the number of days
attended in the period of enrollment by the total days in the 193
113
period.
• Apply the earned percentage to the amount of aid actually dis-
bursed and the amount that could have been disbursed
(“earned aid”).
• Subtract earned aid from aid that was actually disbursed. This
results in the amount of unearned aid to be returned.

The Financial Aid Office and/or the Graduate Office (as appro-
priate) will allocate the return of funds back to the student aid pro-
grams in the following order:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program

2. Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan Program
3. Federal Perkins Loan Program
4. Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program
5. Federal Pell Grant Program
6. Federal SEOG Program
7. Other Title IV programs

Any remaining refund will be returned to the other state, institution-

al, or private student assistance utilized. Federal Work Study is not
included in any of these calculations.
Appeals on Refunds: Any questions or problems related to refunds
should be directed to the Bursar’s Office. For further information
on refunds and repayments, contact the Financial Aid Office, the
Graduate Office, or the Bursar’s Office.
Underloads: Students who register for less than 36 units
(“Underload”) will not receive a reduction of tuition. Full tuition will

Undergraduate Expenses
 be charged to underloading students’ accounts, and applicable financial
aid will be reduced, in underload situations.
Dropping a Course: Students who are not enrolled full-time as of the
last day to add courses will have their aid revised. Generally, students
enrolling less than three-fourths time will have an increased work award.
Additional information is available in the Financial Aid Office. Also,
students who enrolled prior to the 2012–2013 academic year who may be
eligible for underloading credit will not receive a prorated discount if the
course is dropped after Add Day.
Refund upon Withdrawal: When a student, for whatever reason,
withdraws from Caltech during an academic term, a refund of tuition
as well as room and board, if applicable, is calculated. The amount
of refund is determined by how much of the term has elapsed. If the
student is a recipient of student financial assistance, that assistance, if
applicable, will be reduced as a result of his or her withdrawal. Recent
federal legislation determines the amount of refund for recipients of
federal Title IV student assistance. It is the purpose of this section to
inform students of the financial implications of withdrawal.
If the student is not a recipient of federal financial aid, the
Institute’s refund policy returns any refund of tuition or room and
194
114 board first to the programs from which assistance has been received
(i.e., scholarships, Caltech gift assistance). Any amount remaining will
then be returned to the student. The non–Title IV portion will be
distributed as appropriate, first to outside agencies, as required, then
to the Caltech grant, scholarship, or loan, depending on the composi-
tion of the aid package. These distributions will occur as credits to the
appropriate aid funds and charge(s) to the student’s Caltech account.
If the student is the recipient of federal Title IV student assistance,
any refund must then be applied first to the federal aid program(s) in
the prescribed order listed on page 193.
In the event that a student’s disbursed financial aid exceeds the
direct costs on the student’s personal account, a credit balance will
result. Withdrawal will result in the reversal or repayment of the
resulting credit balance.

General Deposit
Each new student is required at his or her first registration to make
a general deposit of $100, to cover possible loss and/or damage of
Institute property. Upon graduation or withdrawal from the Institute,
any remaining balance of the deposit will be applied to the student’s
outstanding balance or refunded if there is no unpaid balance.

Fees for Late Registration

Registration is not complete until the student has enrolled in a pro-
gram approved by his or her adviser and has paid tuition and other
fees. A penalty fee of $50 is assessed for failure to register within five
days of the scheduled dates.

Undergraduate Information
Fees for Late Payment
A $50 late penalty may be charged by the Bursar’s Office for failure to
clear a past-due account at the beginning of instruction.

Honor System Matters

Monies owed to the Institute resulting from a disciplinary decision
may be collected through the Bursar’s Office, at the request of the
dean of students.

Special Fees
Students taking the Summer Field Geology course (Ge 120 ab) should
consult with the division about travel and subsistence arrangements
and costs.

Unpaid Bills
All bills owed the Institute must be paid when due. Any student
whose bills are past due may be refused registration for the following
term. All undergraduate students with an outstanding bursar’s bill
balance of $300 or more will have a hold placed on their registration
for the subsequent term the day before online registration opens. The
hold will be released once students have paid their bill at the Bursar’s 195
115
Office. Official transcripts and diplomas will not be released until the
bursar account is paid in full.

Caltech ID Card Charges

If an undergraduate student owes more than $300, the student’s ID
card will be deactivated and he or she will be unable to charge any new
purchases. Cards will be reactivated once students have paid their bill
in full at the Bursar’s Office.

FINANCIAL AID
Caltech believes that qualified students who wish to attend the
Institute should not be prevented from doing so for financial reasons.
Although the Institute expects students and families to finance the
cost of education to the fullest extent possible, the Institute will make
every effort to assist those who need help, including those whose
financial circumstances change during the year.
Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the annual
cost of attending Caltech and the amount the student and parents can
reasonably be expected to contribute toward those costs. Costs include
actual tuition, student fees, room and board, an allowance for meals not
covered in the board contract, books and supplies, and personal expenses.
For U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens who reside in the United States,
Canada, Mexico, or Guam, costs include a travel allowance designed to
(partially) offset the cost of two round-trips from a student’s home during
the academic year, and a travel allowance based on airfare for two round-
trips. Caltech’s estimate of a family’s ability to contribute is determined
annually in accordance with nationally established guidelines.

Financial Aid
 Eligibility for each type of assistance varies, depending upon the
source of funds. Assistance offered by Caltech includes federal, state,
and institutional grants, subsidized part-time jobs, and low-interest
loans. U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens (as defined in the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]) may apply for state
and federally funded programs. International students may apply for
institutionally funded programs.
Students should not wait to be accepted for admission to Caltech
before applying for financial aid. With the exception of international
students, applications for admission are evaluated separately from
requests for financial aid. Students with complete financial aid appli-
cations on file will be considered for all applicable types of need-based
assistance. A renewal application must be submitted each year. In
addition to direct financial assistance, information is available, upon
request, about education payment plans and financial-planning
resources. (For information on non-need-based scholarships and priz-
es, starting on page 212.)
All students who believe they will need assistance to attend Caltech
are encouraged to submit financial aid applications. The final day to
complete a financial aid application or request a loan is one day after
196
116 the beginning of the registration period for the term following your
last term of enrollment for the year. Please use the table below to
determine which deadline applies to you.

Last Term of Enrollment in

Hard Deadline
Academic Year 2016-17

Fall Term November 17, 2017

Winter Term February 23, 2018
Spring Term May 25, 2018

The Financial Aid Office staff is happy to talk with students and
their families at any time to explain the application process, Caltech’s
computations, and available programs. For further information on
the determination of financial need and on application procedures,
as well as on financial aid awards and programs, contact the Financial
Aid Office, California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 20-90,
Pasadena, CA 91125; call (626) 395-6280; or visit the Caltech
Financial Aid Office website at www.finaid.caltech.edu.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Application Process for Caltech and Federal Financial Aid for Entering
Students (U.S. Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens)
Slightly different procedures and deadlines exist for each category of
students applying for financial aid. Detailed descriptions of these pro-
cedures and priority due dates for prospective and continuing students
may be found on the Caltech Financial Aid Office website at www.
finaid.caltech.edu.

Undergraduate Information
International Applicants
If you are applying for admission as a freshman for the fall of 2017
and are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States at
the time of your application for admission, you will need to refer to
the Caltech Financial Aid Office website at www.finaid.caltech.edu
for instructions for applying for financial aid. International appli-
cants who do not apply for financial aid by published deadlines, or
who are denied aid for their first year at Caltech, are not eligible for
need-based financial aid for any other academic period while they
are undergraduates at the Institute (with the exception of citizens of
Canada and Mexico). Those with financial aid offers will be eligible
to apply for assistance in subsequent years. All eligible students must
reapply for aid each year.
International students are required to complete the CSS/Financial
Aid PROFILE. This online application has been modified to collect
family income and asset information from international students.
Students will need to register for the PROFILE service online at
www.collegeboard.com by December 15, 2016, and indicate the
college(s) to which they will be applying. (Students can also visit
EducationUSA Advising Centers, which are located around the
world, to register online.) Students will then receive a personalized 197
117
PROFILE application at www.collegeboard.com that should be com-
pleted and submitted by February 1, 2017. Please refer to the complete
application instructions provided on the Caltech Financial Aid Office
website at www.finaid.caltech.edu.

Types of Aid Available

There are three basic categories of financial aid that may be awarded.
1. Grants and scholarships represent “gift aid,” which does not
need to be repaid. In general, a Caltech scholarship is awarded
based on financial need. Caltech named and/or endowed schol-
arships are considered to be based on need and merit. If you
qualify for a state or federal grant, this grant would be included
in your financial aid package.
2. Federal Work-Study or Caltech Work-Study represents stu-
dent employment funds that have been allocated for you to
earn during the academic year. Summer Caltech Work-Study
represents funds that have been allocated for you to earn during
the summer. While a work-study award is not a guarantee of
employment, Caltech generally has more opportunities for stu-
dent employment than it has students interested in working.
3. Low-interest educational loans: Students are generally offered
Caltech/Institute loans. Students may be awarded Federal
Direct Stafford Loans if they request them.

Caltech Scholarships
Awarded to students with demonstrated financial need. Recipients
are expected to be enrolled full-time. The named and/or endowed
scholarships are also need-based, but many have a merit component.

Financial Aid
 Recipients of named and/or endowed scholarships are often selected
after their initial financial aid offer based on scholarship-specific eligi-
bility. These scholarships are almost always used to replace some or all
of the recipient’s Caltech scholarship. The Financial Aid Office makes
every attempt to renew these scholarships, contingent upon the recip-
ients continuing to meet the specific eligibility criteria.

Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to exceptionally needy undergraduate students who are
seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Amounts are set by the feder-
al government based on need and enrollment status. In 2017-18,
awards ranged from $606 to $5,920 for full-time students; awards
for part-time students are set in proportion to their enrollment, i.e.,
three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time. Recipients must be
in good academic standing.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Awarded to undergraduates with demonstrated need who are seeking
their first bachelor’s degree. Priority goes to full-time Pell Grant recip-
198
118 ients. Recipients must be in good academic standing. Awards cannot
exceed $4,000 per year.

State Grants
Cal Grant A
Provides tuition and fee assistance to undergraduate California
residents seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Awarded on the basis
of cumulative grade-point average and financial need. Qualifying
students can receive up to $9,084, renewable for up to four years.
Continuing Cal Grant recipients must maintain good academic stand-
ing in addition to financial need. They are not required to resubmit
verification of their grade-point average for renewal.

Cal Grant B
Provides a living-allowance stipend and tuition/fee assistance to
undergraduate California residents seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
Awards are based on cumulative grade-point average and high finan-
cial need. Recipients are generally from disadvantaged economic or
educational backgrounds. Awards for first-year students provide up
to $1,656 for books and living expenses. When renewed or applied
beyond the first year, awards also include tuition and fee assistance of
up to $9,084. Continuing Cal Grant recipients must maintain good
academic standing in addition to financial need. They are not required
to resubmit verification of their grade-point averages for renewal.

Other State Grants

Other states, such as Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Rhode Island, may
offer grant assistance to their residents who plan to attend Caltech.
Students are encouraged to contact their respective state post-second-
ary agencies for specific eligibility and renewal criteria.

Undergraduate Information
Educational Loans
An educational loan is a serious financial obligation and must be
repaid. You should carefully consider the repayment obligation before you
accept educational loans. Loans can be an invaluable resource for many
students and their families in financing a college education. Students can
postpone paying a portion of their educational costs until they complete
their education or leave school. The repayment period on most loans can
extend up to 10 years after graduation or leaving school.
Graduating with educational debt is a fairly common experience for
students. At Caltech, however, the average educational indebtedness at
graduation is significantly lower than the national average for students
attending four-year private and public colleges. Over the last several years,
the average for Caltech graduates has been among the lowest in the nation
for four-year colleges.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

This program offers eligible students and parents the opportunity to bor-
row money directly from the federal government to help pay the cost of
attendance at Caltech. The U.S. Department of Education makes loans,
through Caltech, directly to students and/or parents. The Institute will
use the loan(s) to pay your tuition/fees and other direct charges such as 199
119
room and board, and give the student any remaining money for indirect
costs. Students and/or parents make their repayments directly to the fed-
eral government.

Direct loans include

1. The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program;
2. The Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Program;
3. The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program; and
4. The Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program.

Federal Direct Stafford Loan

There are two types of Federal Direct Stafford Loans: subsidized and
unsubsidized. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized
loans while the borrower is enrolled at least half-time and during
authorized periods of deferment. The interest on unsubsidized loans
begins to accrue immediately upon disbursement and is generally
capitalized (added to the amount borrowed) when the borrower is no
longer enrolled at least half-time.
Eligibility for subsidized Stafford Loans is based on financial
need as demonstrated by the FAFSA. Students who do not demon-
strate sufficient need or whose need is met may borrow unsubsi-
dized Stafford Loans provided their total financial aid, including the
Stafford Loan, does not exceed the total estimated cost of attendance.
Dependent undergraduate students (excluding students whose par-
ents cannot borrow Parent PLUS loans) may borrow Stafford Loan
amounts not to exceed an annual total of
• $5,500 for first-year students, with no more than $3,500 in
subsidized Stafford;

Financial Aid
 • $6,500 for second-year students, with no more than $4,500 in sub-
sidized Stafford; and
• $7,500 for third- and fourth-year students, with no more than
$5,500 in subsidized Stafford.
Independent undergraduate students and dependent undergraduate
students whose parents are unable to borrow Parent PLUS loans may
borrow additional unsubsidized Stafford Loan amounts not to exceed an
annual total of
• $9,500 for first-year students, with no more than $3,500 in
subsidized Stafford;
• $10,500 for second-year students, with no more than $4,500 in
subsidized Stafford; and
• $12,500 for third- and fourth-year students, with no more than
$5,500 in subsidized Stafford.
Graduate students may borrow Stafford Loan unsubsidized amounts
not to exceed an annual total of $20,500.
The maximum outstanding total subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford
Loan debt is
• $31,000 for dependent undergraduate students, with no more than
$23,000 in subsidized Stafford;
200
120 • $57,500 for independent undergraduate students (or for dependent
undergraduate students whose parents do not qualify for PLUS
loans), with no more than $23,000 of this aggregate amount in the
form of subsidized loans; and
• $138,500 for graduate students (including loans for undergraduate
study), with no more than $65,500 of this aggregate
in the form of subsidized loans.

Stafford Loan interest rates:

The interest rate on subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans disbursed
for enrollment periods that begin after July 1, 2017 is currently scheduled
to be fixed at 4.45% for undergraduate students.

Undergraduate students:
Interest Rates
Enrollment  Periods
Beginning Between Subsidized Unsubsidized

July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 4.45% 4.45%

July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 3.76% 3.76%

July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 4.29% 4.29%

July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 4.66% 4.66%

July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 3.86% 3.86%
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013 3.40% 6.80%
July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 4.50% 6.80%
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 5.60% 6.80%
July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 6.00% 6.80%

Undergraduate Information
Graduate students:
Interest Rates
Enrollment Periods
Beginning Between Unsubsidized

July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 6.00%

July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 5.31%

July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 5.84%

July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 6.21%

July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 5.41%
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2013 6.80%

To offset the federal government’s cost of the program, the bor-

rower must pay an up-front origination fee of the principal amount of
the loan.

First Disbursement Made Loan Fee

October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018 1.066%
201
121
October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017 1.069%

October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016 1.068%

October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015 1.073%

December 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014 1.072%
July 1, 2013 – November 30, 2013 1.051%

The maximum repayment period under this program is 10 years,

not including authorized periods of deferment. Direct Stafford Loans
have a six-month grace period that starts the day after the borrow-
er graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment.
Repayment begins when the grace period ends. Deferments are
available for new borrowers during at least half-time enrollment at
an eligible institution; during periods of academic study in approved
graduate fellowship or rehabilitation programs; and for periods of
unemployment and economic hardship.
Applications for Federal Direct Stafford Loans are available on
the Caltech Financial Aid Office website. Complete information on
Stafford Loan deferments and repayment options is also available from
the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan

Parent PLUS loans are available to the parents or stepparents of
dependent undergraduate students. These credit-based loans are not
based on federal need or subsidized by the government, but students
must file a FAFSA in order for their parents to qualify for a Parent
PLUS loan.

Financial Aid
 Enrollment Periods
Beginning Between Interest Rates
July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 7.00%
July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 6.31%

July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 6.84%

July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 7.21%

July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 6.41%
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2013 7.90%

Interest is charged on Direct Parent PLUS loans during all periods,

beginning on the date of the loan’s first disbursement. There is no
annual limit to the amount that can be borrowed through the Parent
PLUS loan program. In general, parents may borrow the difference
between the cost of the student’s education and any other financial
aid received. PLUS loans may also be used to pay for all or part of the
expected family contribution. In addition to the interest, parents pay
a loan fee. For all loans originated before July 1, 2013 there is a 4.0%
origination fee assessment per loan.
202
122

First Disbursement Made Loan Fee

October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018 4.264%
October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017 4.276%

October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016 4.272%

October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015 4.292%

December 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014 4.288%
July 1, 2013 – November 30, 2013 4.204%

For Parent PLUS loans that are first disbursed on or after July 1,
2008, parent borrowers have the option of deferring repayment based
on the enrollment status of the dependent student on whose behalf a
Direct PLUS loan was obtained. Specifically, Parent PLUS loan bor-
rowers may defer repayment
• while the dependent student on whose behalf the loan was
obtained is enrolled on at least a half-time basis, and
• during the six-month period after the dependent student on
whose behalf the loan was obtained ceases to be enrolled on
at least a half-time basis.
If a Parent PLUS loan borrower does not request a deferment, the
first payment on the loan will be due within 60 days after the loan is
fully disbursed.
Applications for Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans are available
on the Caltech Financial Aid Office website. Applications must be
submitted to the Financial Aid Office for eligibility certification.
Complete information on Parent PLUS loan deferments and repay-
ment options is also available from the Financial Aid Office.

Undergraduate Information
Federal Student Aid Ombudsman
The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman works with student loan bor-
rowers to informally resolve loan disputes and problems. The office of
the ombudsman helps borrowers having problems with the following
federal loans: direct loans (subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Stafford
Loans, Direct PLUS loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans); Federal
Family Education Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans,
FFEL PLUS loans, and FFEL Consolidation Loans); guaranteed
student loans, SLS loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. If a student
needs the assistance of the ombudsman in order to resolve disputes
or problems, he or she may contact the office at U.S. Department of
Education, FSA Ombudsman Group, P.O. Box 1843, Monticello, KY
42633; (877) 557-2575; fax: (606) 396-4821; visit the website at stu-
dentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman.

Caltech Loans
Awarded to students who are not eligible for or who may have used
their eligibility for Federal Perkins Loans. Generally, no interest is
charged and no repayment of principal is required while a student
maintains a continuous course of study at Caltech. Like the Federal
Perkins Loan program, repayment on Caltech loans begins nine 203
123
months after graduation, leaving school, or less than half-time enroll-
ment. Caltech loans carry an annual interest rate of 5 percent. More
specific information is provided on the promissory note and the disclo-
sure statement provided to students prior to disbursement of the loan.
Other loans/emergency loans may be available to students regardless of
their eligibility for financial aid. These loans are usually payable within
the same academic year and are administered by the dean of students
on a case-by-case basis. Additional information and applications may
be obtained from the dean of students office.
The Caltech Y also has a no-interest, 30-day emergency-loan pro-
gram. Maximum loans are $50. Additional information and applica-
tions may be obtained from the Caltech Y.

Student Employment
Work programs provide students with the opportunity to earn money
to help with college expenses while gaining valuable job experience.
Student employment opportunities are generally available to all
Caltech students, even those who have not applied for financial aid
or qualified for need-based aid. Students should go to the Career
Development Center website to see relevant job listings.
Please note that students may not work more than 16 hours per week.
Undergraduate students who serve as teaching assistants are limited
to a maximum of 12 TA hours per week. First-year students may not
work during fall term.
Students can expect to earn at least the City of Pasadena minimum
wage of $12.00 per hour. Compensation rates will vary based on the
position, a student’s skills, and previous work experience.

Financial Aid
 Federal Work-Study
Awarded to domestic students who have demonstrated financial
need through their submission of the FAFSA, this federally funded
program provides part-time employment to eligible students.
Most Caltech students are awarded $2,500 in Federal Work-
Study (FWS). Some students may be awarded less. Since entering
students are not permitted to work on-campus in the fall term and
can only work in the winter and spring terms, student employ-
ment awards for entering students are limited to $1,350 in their
first year. Employment awards will increase to the standard stu-
dent employment amount offered to continuing students after the
first year. The maximum amount of FWS wages that a student
may earn is determined by his or her financial need. Students
have the option to move all or a portion of their loan or student
employment from one program to the other at any time during the
academic year. The final day to request to convert your loan into
work or work into loan is one day after the beginning of the regis-
tration period for the term following your last term of enrollment
for the year. Please use the table below to determine which dead-
line applies to you.
204
124
Last Term of Enrollment in
Hard Deadline
Academic Year 2016-17
Fall Term November 17, 2017
Winter Term February 23, 2018
Spring Term May 25, 2018

Please go to the work-study page on the Caltech Financial Aid

Office website (www.finaid.caltech.edu/workstudy) for additional
information about student employment at Caltech.

Caltech Work-Study
The Caltech Work-Study Program is funded by the Institute and is
designed to provide part-time employment for international students
who have demonstrated financial need, and other students who do not
qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program. The Caltech Work-
Study Program is limited to on-campus employment or student
employment positions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The program’s
regulations parallel the Federal Work-Study Program’s regulations.

Financial Aid When Studying Abroad

Caltech provides student financial aid (in the form of grants, schol-
arships, and loans) to those undergraduates with demonstrated
financial need who desire to participate in the Institute-sponsored
Caltech Cambridge Scholars Program, Caltech Copenhagen Scholars
Program, Caltech Edinburgh Scholars Program, École Polytechnique
Scholars Program, Caltech London Scholars Program, or Melbourne
Scholars Program. Enrollment in a study-abroad program approved
for credit by Caltech will be considered enrollment at the Institute,

Undergraduate Information
for the purpose of applying for and receiving federal student financial
assistance. To be eligible for consideration in Caltech’s study-abroad
programs, students must be in good academic standing, as defined in
the Caltech Catalog and as certified by the Institute’s registrar. They
must also meet the minimum GPA requirement as outlined in the
information provided by the Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad
Office. In addition, students selected to be Cambridge, Copenhagen,
École Polytechnique, Melbourne, or University College London
scholars will be provided a memo of understanding outlining the terms
of their study-abroad participation. (For more information on study
abroad, see page 172.)
Costs include but are not limited to tuition, fees, room, board,
additional meals not covered by a board contract, books, supplies,
personal expenses, and a standard transportation allowance from the
student’s home to Caltech. Transportation expenses related to the
student’s travel between Caltech and the study-abroad institution
are the responsibility of the student; financial aid recipients may
be offered interest-free Institute loans to cover study-abroad travel
expenses. Students will have their expected family contribution and
financial package calculated in the same manner as other students.
Students studying abroad are subject to the standard Caltech policy 205
125
of a maximum of 12 terms of eligibility for financial aid. Cambridge,
Copenhagen, University College London, École Polytechnique,
University of Edinburgh, and Melbourne University candidates must
meet all financial aid priority deadlines and eligibility requirements to
receive aid. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary
documents are filed and complete with regard to their application for
financial aid. Cambridge, Copenhagen, University College London,
École Polytechnique, University of Edinburgh, and University of
Melbourne scholars will continue to be considered for available feder-
al, state, Caltech grant, scholarship, and loan funds. The Fellowships
Advising and Study Abroad Office will make the necessary arrange-
ments with the Bursar’s Office to ensure that scholars who may be
eligible for funds in excess of the direct charges to the Institute receive
those funds prior to their departure.

Other Resources
A number of both local and national organizations offer outside
scholarships to continuing students throughout the year, some of
these regardless of need. The student newspaper, the California Tech,
announces eligibility criteria for several such scholarships. Those rele-
vant to undergraduate students will also be posted in the Scholarship
News section of the Caltech Financial Aid Office website. Such
scholarships can also often be found with the help of a search service.
We recommend FastWeb (www.fastweb.com); College Board Fund
Finder (bigfuture.collegeboard.com); CollegeNet/MACH25 (www.
collegenet.com/mach25/app); and nerdscholar (www.nerdwallet.com/
nerdscholar/scholarships/). (For more information on scholarship
services, go to www.finaid.org). You may also visit the Financial Aid

Financial Aid
 website at www.finaid.caltech.edu­/typesofaid/os/list for a list of out-
side scholarships.
Outside scholarships acquired by students are considered, by fed-
eral regulation, to be a resource available during the academic year.
Caltech’s policy is to use outside scholarships to replace the student
employment and/or loan components of the financial aid package.
For entering students, we generally replace student employment first.
For continuing students, loans are generally replaced first. Only if the
total outside scholarships exceeds the student employment and/or loan
that would have been included in your financial aid package will it be
necessary to reduce Caltech scholarship. In general, a student’s total
financial aid, including outside assistance, cannot exceed his or her
demonstrated financial need. Under no circumstances can a student’s
total financial aid, exceed their estimated cost of attendance.

Financial Aid Disbursement

Most financial aid funds are credited directly to your student account
and are applied first to institutional charges for the current term.
Funds are credited no earlier than 10 days prior to the first day of the
term. Aid that can be credited directly to your account will be credited
206
126 when you have
• accepted or declined your awards on access.caltech;
• provided all required documents for the aid programs you have
been awarded;
• made satisfactory academic progress;
• enrolled in at least the minimum number of credits for the
financial aid programs you have been awarded;
• completed all necessary loan documents and, for first-time
Direct Stafford Loan borrowers, completed the online Entrance
Interview.
If the disbursement of your aid results in a credit balance, any aid
awarded in excess of institutional charges will be paid to the student as
a refund. Refunds must be requested by the account holder. Requests
may be made by e-mail, telephone, or in person at the Bursar’s Office.
Prior to receiving funds, it may be necessary to fill out and sign a
refund form. Refunds can be obtained in cash or by check. A maxi-
mum refund of $500 cash per day can be received from the Bursar’s
Office cashier. Refund checks are requested by the Bursar’s Office and
issued by Accounts Payable. This usually takes five working days from
the day of request.
Outside scholarships are usually disbursed in the form of a check
and must be handled according to the sponsor’s specifications. If the
funds are sent to the Financial Aid Office or the Bursar’s Office, they
will be credited to your account. Again, if the crediting of any out-
side scholarship results in a credit balance on your account, you may
request that the credit balance be refunded to you. Federal regulations
allow Caltech to credit financial aid funds to your account for pay-
ment of tuition, fees, and room and board charges. You must give the
Bursar’s Office written authorization to keep a credit balance on your

Undergraduate Information
account from one term to the next term during the academic year.
Federal guidelines prohibit keeping a credit balance from one academ-
ic year to the next. If you complete your financial aid file late in the
term, resulting in the late disbursement of your financial aid funds,
you may be subject to late fees assessed by the Bursar’s Office.
Cal Grant B stipend payments will be credited to your tuition account
unless you contact the Financial Aid Office in person within the first
three weeks of the term to make alternate arrangements. Again, if the
crediting of any financial aid results in a credit balance on your account,
you may request that the credit balance be refunded to you.
In general, loans are disbursed in three installments, one at the begin-
ning each term. For most Caltech students who are enrolled for the full
academic year, this means that one-third of their loan(s) will be disbursed
at the beginning of the fall term, another at the beginning of the winter
term, and the final third at the beginning of the spring term. Students
whose loan periods are for one term receive their entire disbursement at
the beginning of that term.
If you work through either the Federal Work-Study or the Caltech
Work-Study program, you will be paid by check through the biweekly
Caltech payroll system. Checks are normally distributed at your actual
work site. 207
127
Since financial aid is generally awarded on the assumption of full-
time enrollment, it is possible that some or all of your aid will need
to be adjusted if your enrollment status results in a reduction in your
tuition for a term. If you withdraw or drop below half-time enrollment
after the last day for adding classes for a term, you may be required
to repay all or a portion of the aid that has already been credited to
your account. You must inform the Financial Aid Office if you take
a leave of absence or change your enrollment subsequent to receiving
your financial aid. Cal Grant recipients who take a leave of absence are
advised to contact the California Student Aid Commission
(www.csac.ca.gov) and submit a form to remain eligible for the pro-
gram.
You have the right to cancel your loan(s) anytime before disburse-
ment and up to 14 days after disbursement.

­­
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal and state regulations governing student financial aid programs
require the Institute to ensure that each student who is receiving
financial aid maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward
their degree.
The SAP check occurs after grades are posted at the end of each
term. Failure to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress
may disqualify a student from additional federal, state and institution-
al financial aid. A student can appeal their unsatisfactory academic
progress status and be placed on warning, probation or continued on
probation for financial aid purposes.

Financial Aid
 Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
Following the first two terms, which are taken on a pass-fail basis,
freshmen will be ineligible to register if they failed to pass at least
27 units in the previous term. After the first two terms of study, all
undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 27 units with
a grade-point average of at least 1.9 in order to remain eligible to
register for classes. In addition, students must earn an average of 36
units per term over the past three trailing terms (that is, a minimum
of 108 units should be earned after three terms of enrollment each
academic year). A student may be excused from the 27-unit eligibility
requirement if the requisite petition has been approved, prior to Add
Day, by the dean or associate dean of undergraduate students. Under
exceptional circumstances the deans may waive the requirement that
such a petition be approved prior to Add Day, but may do so only
once during that student’s career at Caltech.
Following their first ineligibility, students are to meet with the
dean or associate dean of undergraduate students. The dean may
choose to reinstate them, in which case they will be on academic
probation. Alternatively, the dean may direct them to petition the
Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee (UASH)
208
128 for reinstatement. UASH will either approve their petition for rein-
statement and place them on academic probation, or require them to
withdraw from the Institute for at least two terms. Students who fail a
core course or who fail to successfully complete 36 units, even though
they remain in good standing, are required to meet with one of the
undergraduate deans before being allowed to register for classes in the
subsequent term.

Financial Aid Warning

Students who are found not to be making satisfactory academic prog-
ress at the end of an academic term will be placed on financial aid
warning. A student may continue to receive financial aid for one term
while on financial aid warning status. Students should use this oppor-
tunity to re-establish SAP.

Financial Aid Probation

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress after their
term of financial aid warning will be ineligible to register and ineli-
gible for financial aid. Students may appeal this status as outlined in
the Caltech Catalog. Ineligible freshmen must petition the UASH
Committee for reinstatement if they wish to continue as students and
continue to receive financial aid. The dean of students or associate
dean may act on a petition if it is the student’s first ineligibility.
Undergraduate students, except first- and second-term freshmen, may
submit a petition to the UASH Committee for reinstatement, giving
any reasons that may exist for their previous unsatisfactory work and
stating any new conditions that may lead to better results. Each such
petition will be considered on its merits. For the first such ineligibility,
the petition may be acted on by the dean of undergraduate students,

Undergraduate Information
after consultation with the student and examination of the record.
At the dean’s discretion, such cases may be referred to the UASH
Committee for action. All subsequent reinstatements must be acted
upon by the Committee.
Students who are reinstated as a result of their appeal/petition for
reinstatement will be placed on financial aid probation and may receive
financial aid for an additional academic term.

Continued on Financial Aid Probation

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress after a term
on financial aid probation will be ineligible to register and ineligible
for federal and state financial aid. These students may appeal this sta-
tus as outlined above and in the Caltech Catalog.
Students who are reinstated as a result of their appeal/petition for
reinstatement will be continued on financial aid probation. These
students will be ineligible for federal and state aid. They will continue
to be eligible for up to three additional terms of institutional aid but
their scholarship eligibility will be reduced in each term the student is
continued on financial aid probation.

Financial Aid Suspension 209

129
Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress after being
continued on financial aid probation for three additional terms will be
ineligible for federal, state and institutional financial aid, even if they
are subsequently reinstated by the UASH Committee, until such time
as they make satisfactory academic progress.

Maximum Time Frame for Receiving Aid

A student has a limited time frame to complete all degree require-
ments and remain eligible for financial aid. As defined by federal
regulations, the maximum time frame is 150 percent of the published
program length for degree completion.
To qualify for a Bachelor of Science degree, students must
complete a minimum of 486 units  486 x 150% = 729 maximum
attempted units.
An “attempted” unit is defined as any unit that a student remains
enrolled in AFTER the Add Period, including units the student with-
draws from each term. Units that a student is retroactively enrolled in
after the Add Period are considered attempted units.

Class Level for Financial Aid Purposes

Undergraduate students are classified according to the number of units
earned and the number of terms in residence at Caltech. Both these
criteria must be satisfied for class-level eligibility. Students are regard-
ed as freshmen until eligible for sophomore status, and as sophomores,
juniors, or seniors if they meet the corresponding criteria set below.
Units earned are defined as units completed with a passing grade.

Financial Aid
 Minimum Terms
Classification Minimum Units Earned in Residence
Sophomore 108 3
Junior 216 6
Senior 324 9

Part-Time Enrollment (Underloads)

Starting with the undergraduate cohort entering Fall 2012, the
Institute will charge students for a minimum of 12 terms of full-time
tuition, or the prorated equivalent based on their classification at the
time they begin their enrollment, even if they complete their degree
requirements early. Students may NOT receive scholarship assis-
tance for any term in which they are not enrolled at least half-time.
Undergraduate students who underload in a term will be charged full-
time tuition but their financial aid, including outside scholarships, will
be adjusted as indicated below based on the actual number of units
students are enrolled in as of Add Day.

Underloads and Financial Aid: The Impact of Less than Full-time

210
130
Enrollment
Any student who wishes to carry fewer than 36 units in any given
term must petition for an underload. Underloads must be approved by
the Dean of Students Office. Underloads for graduating seniors must
be approved by the Registrar. Petitions are available online and in the
Deans’ Office Students enrolled half-time (taking 18 to 26 units) will
be expected to work additional hours during the academic year, as well
as to accept a reduction in the tuition, books and supplies allowance of
their college expense budget. The following information summarizes
the impact of less than full-time enrollment.
PLEASE NOTE: Starting with the undergraduate cohort entering
Fall 2012, the Institute will charge students for a minimum of 12
terms of full-time tuition, or the prorated equivalent based on their
classification at the time they begin their enrollment, even if they
complete their degree requirements early. Students may NOT receive
scholarship assistance for any term in which they are not enrolled at
least half-time. Undergraduate students who underload in a term will
be charged full-time tuition but their financial aid, including outside
scholarships, will be adjusted as indicated below based on the actual
number of units students are enrolled in as of Add Day.
The following information summarizes the impact of less than full-
time enrollment.

3/4 Time
Full-time enrollment is defined in the Caltech Catalog as 36 units.
Students enrolling less than full-time, taking between 27 to 35 units,
are considered enrolled 3/4 time. The impact to their financial aid is
usually a reduction to their grant, in the same amount as the reduction

Undergraduate Information
in their tuition. Federal Pell Grant recipients will have their Federal
Pell award reduced according to federal regulations. The Financial
Aid Office will revise the student’s budget for financial aid purposes
to reflect the reduction in tuition charged and then revise the student’s
aid (grant eligibility) to reflect the reduction in need.

1/2 Time
Half-time enrollment is defined as enrolling in 18 to 26 units. In this
situation, the Financial Aid Office will revise the tuition amount on
the budget for financial aid purposes and also reduce the student’s
books and supplies allowance to one half of the standard amount for
that term. The student’s aid is adjusted to reflect the reduced financial
aid eligibility. Federal Pell Grant recipients will have their Pell award
reduced according to federal regulations. The Financial Aid Office will
revise the student’s budget for financial aid purposes and then revise
the student’s aid (grant eligibility) to reflect the reduction in need.

Less than 1/2 Time

Less than 1/2 time enrollment is defined as taking fewer than 18
units. Tuition is revised based on the reduced tuition paid. As indi-
cated in the Caltech Catalog, the minimum tuition charge is 10 units 211
131
per term. The books and supplies allowance is reduced to 1/4 for that
term. The student’s aid is reduced based on the reduced costs. Federal
Pell Grant recipients will have their Pell award reduced according to
federal regulations. More importantly, the student becomes ineligible
for Caltech grant aid for that term; the student will only be eligible for
Caltech work study and loan assistance. If the student is enrolled less
than half time, the grace period on any student loan (Federal Perkins
loan, CIT loan, Institute loan and Federal Stafford loan) will begin.
In addition, a student/family is no longer eligible for Federal PLUS or
Stafford loans during periods of less than 1/2 time enrollment.

Effect on Outside Scholarships

In all of the above categories, the Financial Aid Office also checks to
see if a student has an outside scholarship that requires continuous
full-time enrollment. If a scholarship donor requires full time enroll-
ment, the Financial Aid Office is required to return the scholarship
money for that term to the donor. If this occurs, the student is encour-
aged to contact the donor directly to review and, possibly, appeal the
agency’s policy.

Questions
Students with questions regarding underloads should discuss their
individual circumstances with a Financial Aid Counselor. Contact
our office Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, with any
questions you have.

Financial Aid
 PRIZES
Tom Apostol Award for Excellence in Teaching in Mathematics
In 2010, the mathematics option set up the Apostol Teaching Award
named in honor of Tom Apostol, who was a great teacher at Caltech
for over 50 years. The three to five awards are given each year to rec-
ognize excellence in teaching by mathematics graduate and undergrad-
uate teaching assistants.

Robert P. Balles Caltech Mathematics Scholars Award

An annual prize is awarded to the mathematics major entering his or
her senior year who has demonstrated the most outstanding perfor-
mance in mathematics courses completed in the student’s first three
years at Caltech. The executive officer for mathematics, in consulta-
tion with the faculty, determines the recipient. The prize is made pos-
sible by a gift from Mr. Robert P. Balles.

Mabel Beckman Prize

The Mabel Beckman Prize is given in memory of Mrs. Beckman’s
many years of commitment to Caltech’s educational and research
212
132 programs. The prize is awarded to an undergraduate woman who,
upon completion of her junior or senior year at Caltech, has achieved
academic excellence and demonstrated outstanding leadership skills,
a commitment to personal excellence, good character, and a strong
interest in the Caltech community. This prize is given at commence-
ment.

Eric Temple Bell Undergraduate Mathematics Research Prize

In 1963 the department of mathematics established an undergraduate
mathematics research prize honoring the memory of Professor Eric
Temple Bell, and his long and illustrious career as a research mathe-
matician, teacher, author, and scholar. His writings on the lives and
achievements of the great mathematicians continue to inspire many
hundreds of students at Caltech and elsewhere. A prize is awarded
annually to one or more juniors or seniors for outstanding original
research in mathematics, the winners being selected by members of
the mathematics faculty. The funds for this prize come from winnings
accumulated over the years by Caltech undergraduate teams compet-
ing in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Contest, an annual
nationwide competition.

Bhansali Prize in Computer Science

The Bhansali Prize was established in 2001 by Vineer Bhansali (B.S.
’87, M.S. ’87) in memory of his grandfather, Mag Raj Bhansali. The
prize and honorarium are awarded to an undergraduate student for
outstanding research in computer science in the current academic year.
Awardees are selected by a committee of computer science faculty.

Undergraduate Information
Amasa Bishop Summer Study Abroad Prize
This prize is awarded to one or more freshmen, sophomores, or
juniors to fund summer study abroad in an organized program with
the aim of gaining exposure to foreign language and international
issues or cultures, including global issues in the sciences and engineer-
ing.

Marcella and Joel Bonsall Prize for Technical Writing

The Marcella and Joel Bonsall Prize for Technical Writing was estab-
lished by the late Marcella Bonsall to encourage SURF students to
develop excellent technical writing skills. Mentors may nominate their
students’ papers for consideration. A faculty committee recommends
the winning papers. Up to five prizes may be awarded annually.

Richard G. Brewer Prize in Physics

The Richard G. Brewer Prize is awarded to the freshman with
the most interesting solutions to the Physics 11 “hurdles,” in recogni-
tion of demonstrated outstanding intellectual promise and creativity at
the very beginning of his or her Caltech education.
The award is a stipend that will support the student for the sum-
mer while he or she works on an independent Physics 11 213
133
project. This award is made possible by a gift from Dr. Richard
G. Brewer, a Caltech alumnus who received his B.S. degree in
chemistry in 1951.

Fritz B. Burns Prize in Geology

This prize is awarded to an undergraduate who has demonstrated
both academic excellence and great promise of future contributions
in the fields represented by the Division of Geological and Planetary
Sciences.

Bonnie Cashin Prize for Imaginative Thinking

This prize, established in 1997 by Bonnie Cashin, is awarded each
year to the entering freshman who has written the most imaginative
essays in the Application for Freshman Admission. The Freshman
Admissions Committee will nominate awardees to the vice provost,
who will approve the selection. The award may be shared if there is
more than one deserving student in a particular year.

Donald S. Clark Memorial Awards

From a fund contributed by the Caltech Alumni Association, annual
awards are made to two juniors in engineering options. The award
recognizes service to the campus community and a grade-point average
equal to or greater than that required for graduation with honor. The
awards honor the work of Professor Clark, class of 1929, both in the
field of engineering and in his service to the Alumni Association.

Prizes
 Deans’ Cup and Student Life Award
Two or more awards are presented to undergraduates whose concern
for their fellow students has been demonstrated by persistent efforts to
improve the quality of undergraduate life and by effective communica-
tion with members of the faculty and administration.

Doris Everhart Service Award

The Doris Everhart Service Award is given annually to an undergrad-
uate who has actively supported and willingly worked for
organizations that enrich not only student life, but also the campus
and/or community as a whole, and who has, in addition, exhibited
care and concern for the welfare of students on a personal basis.
The award was made possible by Sally V. Ridge and was established to
honor Doris Everhart.

Richard P. Feynman Prize in Theoretical Physics

This prize was established through gifts in memory of Richard P.
Feynman and the senior class gift of the class of 1989. It is awarded
annually to a senior student on the basis of excellence in theoret-
ical physics. The prize consists of a cash award and a copy of the
214
134 three-volume set The Feynman Lectures on Physics.

Haren Lee Fisher Memorial Award in Junior Physics

Mr. and Mrs. Colman Fisher established the Haren Lee Fisher
Memorial Award in Junior Physics in memory of their son. The
General Electric Foundation also contributed to the fund under the
matching plan of their Corporate Alumnus Program. A prize
will be awarded annually to a junior physics major, who is selected by
a physics faculty committee as demonstrating the greatest promise of
future contributions to physics.

Henry Ford II Scholar Awards

Henry Ford II Scholar Awards are funded under an endowment pro-
vided by the Ford Motor Company Fund, a nonprofit organization
supported primarily by contributions from the Ford Motor Company.
Awards will be made annually to the engineering students from each
option with the best academic record at the end of the third year of
undergraduate study, or to the engineering student with the best first-
year record in the graduate program. The chair of the Division of
Engineering and Applied Science names the recipients.

Jack E. Froehlich Memorial Award

The family and friends of the late Jack E. Froehlich, who did his
undergraduate and graduate work at Caltech and was later the
project manager for Explorer I for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
established a prize fund that provides an award to a junior in the upper
five percent of his or her class who shows outstanding promise for a
creative professional career. The student is selected by the deans and
the Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee.

Undergraduate Information
George W. and Bernice E. Green Memorial Prize
The George W. and Bernice E. Green Memorial Prize was estab-
lished in 1963 with contributions given in memory of George W.
Green, who for 15 years served on the staff of the Caltech business
office and was vice president for business affairs from 1956 to 1962.
The prize is awarded annually to an undergraduate student in any
class for original research, an original paper or essay, or other evidence
of creative scholarship beyond the normal requirements of specific
courses. The student is selected by the deans and the Undergraduate
Academic Standards and Honors Committee.

David M. Grether Prize in Social Science

The prize rewards outstanding performance and creativity by a Caltech
undergraduate who completes one of the social science options.
The prize is funded by Susan G. Davis in recognition of David M.
Grether’s contributions to econometrics and experimental economics
and his service to the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
The prize is awarded annually by a committee of social science faculty.

Lucy Guernsey Service Award

Awarded to one or two students who have provided exceptional ser- 215
135
vice to the Caltech Y and/or the community, are involved with service
projects, have demonstrated leadership in community and volunteer
service efforts, and who exemplify a spirit of service. Established by
the Caltech Y ExComm in honor of Lucy Guernsey, the Y’s executive
director from 1989 to 1991.

Frederic W. Hinrichs, Jr., Memorial Award

The Board of Trustees of the California Institute of Technology
established the Frederic W. Hinrichs, Jr., Memorial Award in memory
of the man who served for more than 20 years as dean and professor at
the Institute. In remembrance of his honor, courage, and kindness, the
award bearing his name is made annually to the senior who through-
out his or her undergraduate years at the Institute has made the great-
est contribution to the student body and whose qualities of character,
leadership, and responsibility have been outstanding. At the discretion
of the deans, more than one award, or none, may be made in any year.
This award is given at commencement.

Alexander P. and Adelaide F. Hixon Prize for Writing

The Hixon Prize for Writing was established in 2000 by Alexander
P. and Adelaide F. Hixon. The prize will be awarded annually to an
undergraduate student for the best composition in a freshman human-
ities course. The prize is administered by the writing center, and the
winner will be chosen by a committee from the humanities division.

The George W. Housner Prize for Academic Excellence and Original Research
The George W. Housner prize is given annually to a senior in the
upper 20 percent of his or her class who has demonstrated excellence

Prizes
 in scholarship and in the preparation of an outstanding piece of orig-
inal scientific research. The student is selected by the deans and the
Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee. At the
discretion of the dean, more than one award may be made in any year.
The prize, presented at commencement, consists of a cash award and
a certificate. This prize is made possible by a gift from George W.
Housner, Carl F Braun Professor of Engineering, Emeritus.

Bibi Jentoft-Nilsen Memorial Award

Family and friends of Bibi Jentoft-Nilsen, class of 1989, have provided
this award in her memory. This cash award is for an upperclass stu-
dent who exhibits outstanding qualities of leadership and who actively
contributes to the quality of student life at Caltech.

Scott Russell Johnson Undergraduate Mathematics Prize

This prize is awarded to the best graduating mathematics major. The
prize may be split between two students. In deciding on the winner,
special consideration will be given to independent research done as a
senior thesis or SURF project. The executive officer for mathematics,
in consultation with the faculty, determines the recipient. The prize is
216
136 made possible by a gift from Steve and Rosemary Johnson in memory
of Scott Johnson, B.S. ’83.

D. S. Kothari Prize in Physics

This prize was established in 1998 in memory of Dr. D. S. Kothari,
who received his Ph.D. under Lord Rutherford in 1933, and subse-
quently made significant contributions in theoretical astrophysics and
science education. The award is given each year to a graduating senior
in physics who has produced an outstanding research project during
the past year.

Margie Lauritsen Leighton Prize

From a fund established by Dr. Fay Ajzenberg-Selove and Dr. Walter
Selove, the departments of physics and astrophysics will annually
award the Margie Lauritsen Leighton Prize to one or two undergradu-
ate women who are majoring in physics or astrophysics, and who have
demonstrated academic excellence. The prize consists of a cash award
and will be made at the end of the sophomore year.

Mechanical Engineering Award

Awarded to a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Science in
mechanical engineering whose academic performance has demonstrat-
ed outstanding original thinking and creativity as judged by a faculty
committee appointed each year by the Executive Officer for Mechanical
Engineering. The prize consists of a citation and a cash award.

James Michelin Scholarship

Given in memory of geologist James Michelin, who worked in the oil
fields of Southern California in the 1930s and dreamed of returning

Undergraduate Information
to college at Caltech, this annual award recognizes undergraduate stu-
dents for their contributions to the field of geology or geophysics.

Library Friends’ Senior Thesis Prize

This prize was established by the Friends of the Caltech Libraries in
2010 to recognize senior theses that exemplify research and the effec-
tive use of library information resources. The thesis is an extensive,
independent written work produced during the senior year, usually
within a senior thesis course series. The University Librarian and the
Friends of the Caltech Libraries oversee evaluation and make recom-
mendations to the Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors
Committee for final selection. An oral presentation may be requested.
At the discretion of the Friends of the Caltech Libraries, more than
one award, or none, may be made in any year.

Mari Peterson Ligocki (B.S. ’81) Memorial Fund

This award is made to one student who, through his or her personal
character, has improved the quality of student life at Caltech. It recog-
nizes the student who provides quiet support and kind encouragement
to peers. This fund was established by Mr. José F. Helú Jr. (B.S. ’79)
to honor the memory of Mari Peterson Ligocki, who possessed these 217
137
qualities. The award consists of dinner for two at the recipient’s choice
of a fine restaurant, and a grant toward any project or cause of the
recipient’s choosing. It may be seed money for a project in any field,
whether science-related or not.

Gordon McClure Memorial Communications Prize

This prize is awarded to undergraduate students for excellence in writ-
ten and oral communication skills. Awards will be given in the follow-
ing fields: English, history, and philosophy.

Mary A. Earl McKinney Prize in Literature

The Mary A. Earl McKinney Prize in Literature was established in
1946 by Samuel P. McKinney, M.D., of Los Angeles. Its purpose is
to promote proficiency in writing. The terms under which it is given
are decided each year by the literature faculty. It may be awarded
for essays submitted in connection with regular literature classes, or
awarded on the basis of a special essay contest.

Robert L. Noland Leadership Award

The Robert L. Noland Leadership Award is a cash award for upper-
class students who exhibit qualities of outstanding leadership. The
kind of leadership to be recognized is most often expressed in per-
sonal actions that have helped other people and that have inspired
others to fulfill their leadership capabilities. The scholarship was set
up by Ametek in 1978 in honor of its president, Robert L. Noland, a
Caltech alumnus. Two or more awards are generally made each year.

Prizes
 Rodman W. Paul History Prize
The Rodman W. Paul History Prize was established in 1986 by some
of his many colleagues and friends to honor Professor Paul’s 35 years
of teaching and research at the Institute. The prize is awarded annu-
ally to a junior or senior who has shown unusual interest in and talent
for history.

Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Prize

Robert C. Perpall (B.S. ’52, M.S. ’56) endowed this prize in memory
of his late wife, Doris S. Perpall, to encourage students to prepare
excellent SURF presentations. SURF Seminar Day is the first round
of the Perpall Speaking Competition. The best presentations in each
session are nominated for advancement to a second round, held in
November. The final round is held in January. Three prizes are award-
ed annually.

Howard Reynolds Memorial Prize in Geology

The Howard Reynolds Memorial Prize in Geology is awarded to a
sophomore or junior who demonstrates the potential to excel in the
field of geology, and who actively contributes to the quality of student
218
138 life at Caltech.

Herbert J. Ryser Scholarships

The Herbert J. Ryser Scholarships were established in 1986 in mem-
ory of H. J. Ryser, who was professor of mathematics at Caltech from
1967 to 1985. Professor Ryser contributed greatly to combinatorial
mathematics and inspired many students with his carefully planned
courses. The scholarships are given on the basis of merit, preferably in
pure mathematics. Recipients are selected by the executive officer for
mathematics after consulting the
faculty.

Olga Taussky-Todd Prize

The Olga Taussky-Todd Prize was established by an alumna of
Caltech to support women in Mathematics at Caltech. Professor
Taussky-Todd (1906-1995) was a pioneer in computer science and
algebraic number theory. She was also the first woman to receive a
full professorship at Caltech and advised the Institute’s first female
Ph.D. in Mathematics, Lorraine Foster. The prize will support out-
standing undergraduate students majoring in Mathematics through
research fellowships and other support to broaden their academic
experience.

San Pietro Travel Prize

This prize is awarded to one or more sophomores, juniors, or seniors
to fund an adventurous and challenging summer experience that
expands the recipient’s cultural horizons and knowledge of the world.

Undergraduate Information
Richard P. Schuster Memorial Prize
This Award is made from funds established by family, friends and
colleagues of Richard P. Schuster, Jr., a graduate of Caltech and the
Institute’s Director of Development at the time of his death. The
recipient is a junior or senior in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering;
selection is based on financial need and a demonstration of academic
promise.

Eleanor Searle Prize in Law, Politics, and Institutions

The Eleanor Searle Prize was established in 1999 by friends and
colleagues to honor Eleanor Searle, who was the Edie and Lew
Wasserman Professor of History at Caltech. The prize will be awarded
annually to an undergraduate or graduate student whose work in his-
tory or the social sciences exemplifies Eleanor Searle’s interests in the
use of power, government, and law.

Renuka D. Sharma Prize and Award in Chemistry

This prize was established in 2009 by Professor Brahama D. Sharma,
in memory of his daughter Renuka D. Sharma, to be given to a soph-
omore who has demonstrated outstanding performance in chemistry
during his or her freshman year. The prize was donated to encourage 219
139
scholastic achievement early in a student’s career and is administered
by the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

C.S. Shastry Prize in Physics

The C.S. Shastry Prize in Physics will support a research fellowship
for one sophomore undergraduate student conducting research in
physics during the summer quarter under the guidance of a Caltech
faculty member. The recipient will be nominated by a faculty member
based on criteria valued by Professor Shastry: passion for the sub-
ject, curiosity about nature, and demonstrated ability. Preferably, the
Awardee shall be a student majoring in physics who has completed
Caltech’s Physics 11 course, and who intends to pursue a research
career in physics. The prize is made possible by a gift from Dr. Murali
Sharma, a Caltech alumnus who received his Ph.D. in Physics in
1993.

Don Shepard Award

Relatives and friends of Don Shepard, class of 1950, have provided
this award in his memory. The award is presented to a student, the
basic costs of whose education have already been met but who would
find it difficult, without additional help, to engage in extracurricular
activities and in the cultural opportunities afforded by the community.
The recipients—freshmen, sophomores, and juniors—are selected on
the basis of their capacity to take advantage of and to profit from these
opportunities, rather than on the basis of their scholastic standing.

Prizes
 Hallett Smith Prize
The Hallett Smith Prize was established in 1997 to commemorate
Professor Smith’s long career as one of this century’s most distin-
guished Renaissance scholars. The cash prize is given annually by
the literature faculty to the student who writes the finest essay on
Shakespeare.

Paul Studenski Memorial Fund Prize

This travel grant is awarded to a Caltech undergraduate who would
benefit from a period away from the academic community in order
to obtain a better understanding of self and his or her plans for
the future. The recipient is selected by the Caltech Y Studenski
Committee.

Frank Teruggi Memorial Award

The Frank Teruggi Memorial Award was established in 1998 by
friends and classmates of the late Frank Teruggi, a Caltech under-
graduate who was murdered in Chile in 1973 during the military coup
led by Augusto Pinochet. The award honors the spirit of Frank’s life,
especially “in the areas of Latin American studies, radical politics, cre-
220
140 ative radio programming, and other activities aimed at improving the
living conditions of the less fortunate.”

Morgan Ward Prize

The Morgan Ward Prize was established by the department of math-
ematics in 1963 to honor the memory of Professor Morgan Ward in
recognition of his long service to mathematics and to the Institute.
The competition is open only to freshmen and sophomores. An entry
consists of a mathematical problem together with a solution or a
significant contribution toward a solution. One or more winners are
selected by a faculty committee acting on the advice of student judg-
es. Each prize is funded by the same source used to sponsor the Eric
Temple Bell Prize.

Fredrick J. Zeigler Memorial Award

The Fredrick J. Zeigler Memorial Award was established in 1989
to honor Fredrick J. Zeigler, a member of the class of 1976 and an
applied mathematics major. The award is given to a pure or applied
mathematics student in his or her sophomore or junior year selected
by the faculty in pure and applied mathematics. The award recognizes
excellence in scholarship as demonstrated in class activities or in the
preparation of an original paper or essay in any subject area.

Note: Prizes and awards may be subject to federal and state income
tax.

Undergraduate Information
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, ALL OPTIONS

To qualify for a Bachelor of Science degree at the Institute, students

must obtain passing grades in each of the required courses listed below;
must satisfy the additional requirements listed under the undergraduate
options; must complete a minimum of 486 units; and must achieve a
grade-point average of not less than 1.9. Students must also register for
the appropriate number of units that results in normal progress toward a
B.S. degree.
The baccalaureate degree requires four years (12 terms) of residence
regardless of unit load each term or the total units earned. The four-
year residence requirement is separate from and in addition to any other
degree requirements. Students who are admitted as transfer students or
3/2 students may be granted advanced standing and tuition credit for
academic work accepted in transfer to Caltech. However, transfer and
3/2 students must enroll for a minimum of six terms at Caltech. Any
exceptions must be approved by the dean of undergraduate students and
the vice president for student affairs.
Under normal circumstances the core and option requirements for
the B.S. degree are those stated in the catalog published in the first
221
141
year of a student’s enrollment at Caltech. Faculty actions or decisions
taken through the Faculty Board and the relevant faculty committees
may occasionally result in changes to these requirements. In the event
of exceptional circumstances, changes in an individual student’s grad-
uation requirements may be sought by petition to the relevant Faculty
Representative(s) through procedures administered by the registrar.
Questions should be addressed to the registrar.
Students must register for the Institute requirements in the year speci-
fied, unless they have previous credit. If for some reason they are not able
to complete the requirements during the proper year, they must register
at the earliest possible opportunity. (The Curriculum Committee may in
unusual cases excuse undergraduate students from any of the following
Institute or option requirements upon presentation of petitions.)
The Institute unit system is described in the opening paragraphs of
section five of this catalog.

Core Institute Requirements, All Options

A Caltech education requires not just the depth of an option, but also
considerable breadth in basic science, humanities, and social science.
Caltech’s core curriculum prepares students for the interdisciplinary
nature of contemporary research in science and technology. This
encourages a culture of problem solving, collaboration, and commu-
nication while providing valuable experience in all fields of science.
Significant study in the humanities and social sciences is an important
component of Caltech’s core curriculum, giving alumni the ability to
navigate the societal, political, and economic factors that influence,
and are influenced by, their work.
The following requirements are applicable to incoming freshmen

Graduation Requirements
 for 2017-18. Some information for continuing students has been
provided as footnotes, but guidance on special cases must be sought.
Courses used to satisfy core requirements may not be used to satisfy
option electives.

Course Units
1. Freshman Mathematics (Ma 1 abc)...............................................27
2. Freshman Physics (Ph 1 abc).........................................................27
3. Freshman Chemistry (Ch 1 ab).....................................................15
4. Freshman Biology (Bi 1 or Bi 1 x)1.................................................9
5. Menu Class (currently Ay 1, Ch/APh 2, ESE 1, EST 2, Ge 1, or
IST 4)..............................................................................................9
6. Freshman Chemistry Laboratory (Ch 3 a)2 .....................................6
7. Additional Introductory Laboratory................................................6
8. Scientific Writing3 ............................................................................3
9. Humanities Courses (as defined below)..........................................36
10. Social Sciences Courses (as defined below)...................................36
11. Additional Humanities and Social Sciences Courses....................36
12. Physical Education..........................................................................9
1 Bi 8 or Bi 9 are acceptable alternatives to Bi 1 or Bi 1 x for students with a strong back
222
142 ground in biology. Students who earned a 5 on the AP Biology exam may also petition the
biology option representative to take a higher-level biology course of nine or more units, on
grades, to fulfill the biology core requirement. Acceptable substitutions are : Bi/Ch 110, Bi 114,
Bi 117, Bi 145a, Bi 145b and Bi/CNS/NB 150. Instructor permission, communi cated
to the option representative prior to registration is required. Note that this course cannot be
used to fulfill another requirement.
2 This requirement can also be met by completing Ch 3 x, Ch 4 a, Ch 8, or Ch/ChE 9.
3 This requirement may be met either by taking a course approved by the student’s option to

satisfy this requirement, or by taking En/Wr 84.

Menu Classes
Menu classes are specifically designed for breadth. The intent of the
menu class requirement is to introduce students to a subject that
they did not plan to study. In many cases, it is the only class in that
subject that they ever take; in other cases, they may decide to take
more classes in that subject as a result. Students cannot take a menu
class in a subject that they have already taken classes in or in their
current option. This requirement must be completed by the end of
sophomore year.

Introductory Laboratory Requirement

All students are required to take at least 12 units of laboratory work in
experimental science during their freshman and sophomore years. Ch 3 a
(6 units) or Ch 3 x (6 units) shall be taken during the freshman year.
The additional 6 units must be chosen from one of the following: APh/
EE 9 ab (6 units), APh 24 (6 units), Bi 10 (6 units), Ch 4 ab (9 units­­),
Ch 8 (9 units), Ch/ChE 9 (9 units), EE/ME 7 (6 units), Ge 116
(6 units), Ph 3 (6 units), Ph 5 (9 units), Ph 8 bc (6 units), or a more
advanced laboratory. Computational laboratory courses may not be
used to satisfy this requirement.

Undergraduate Information
Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements
All students must complete satisfactorily 108 units in the Division
of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Of these, 36 must be in the
humanities (art, English, film, history, history and philosophy of sci-
ence, humanities, music, and philosophy) and 36 in the social sciences
(anthropology, business economics and management, economics,
law, political science, psychology, and social science), in each case
divided equally between introductory and advanced courses. The
remaining 36 may be drawn from humanities and social sciences,
including HSS tutorial courses and 9 units of either Wr 1 or Wr
2. They may not include BEM 102. They may not include reading
courses unless credit has been granted by petition to the humanities or
social science faculty. Language courses may count toward the addi-
tional 36 unit requirement, with the exception of beginning, interme-
diate, and advanced classes in the student’s native language. In general,
no more than 18 units of freshman humanities may be counted toward
the 108-unit requirement.
Entering freshmen are required to take two terms of freshman
humanities; that is, cross-listed humanities courses numbered 50 or
below in the Catalog. These classes introduce students to the basic
issues and methods in the disciplines of English, history, philos- 223
143
ophy, and film. Successful completion of two terms of freshman
humanities is a prerequisite for all humanities courses, except for
foreign languages. It is not a prerequisite, however, for introductory
social sciences. The freshman humanities classes may be taken in any
two terms of the freshman year.
To encourage breadth, students will have to take their two fresh-
man humanities courses in different disciplines, the disciplines being
English, history, philosophy, and film.
A student must take 18 units of advanced humanities courses as
well. The classes that count as advanced humanities courses are those
numbered 90 or above in art history, English, film, history, history and
philosophy of science, humanities, music, and philosophy. Language
courses do not count toward the advanced humanities requirement,
except for courses that are cross-listed or taught concurrently with one
of the listed subjects, such as film or humanities. Courses used to fulfill
the advanced humanities requirement must be taken for grades. Courses
taken on a pass/fail basis will not fulfill the requirement.
Since writing is an important method for developing and sharing ideas,
all freshman humanities courses and other humanities courses numbered
above 90, with the exception of some foreign languages and courses,
require at least 4,000 words of composition. Instructors give extensive
feedback on written work and help students improve their prose. As
entering students may not be fully prepared for the writing in freshman
humanities, all freshmen and transfer students take a writing assessment
before the beginning of the fall term. On the basis of this assessment,
some students may be required to pass WR 1, 2, 3, 4 and/or 50 before
entering either freshman or advanced humanities classes.

Graduation Requirements
 Students are required to take two introductory social science courses
and 18 units of related advanced undergraduate social science courses.
Courses used to fulfill the advanced social science requirement must be
taken for grades; courses taken on a pass/fail basis will not fulfill the
requirement. The introductory social science courses must be drawn
from the following list: either An 14 or An 15, Ec 11, PS 12, or Psy
13. The 18 units of advanced undergraduate social science courses
(numbered 100 and above), in fields following at least one of their intro-
ductory courses, must be taken as indicated below:

Introductory Course Following Course

An 14 or 15 advanced anthropology
advanced economics or BEM (except
Ec 11 BEM 102)
PS 12 advanced political science
Psy 13 advanced psychology

224
144 For instance, a student who has taken An 14 and Ec 11 may use
18 units of advanced anthropology courses, or 18 units of advanced
economics, or 9 units of advanced anthropology and 9 units of
advanced economics to fulfill the advanced social science require-
ment.
Included in the 12 humanities and social science courses, students
must take at least 3 writing-intensive courses and these must be taken
on grades. The graded advanced humanities courses count towards this
total. A student can select another course from advanced humanities
or a social science course with writing content (specifically An/PS 127,
Ec 105, Ec 129, Ec 130, Ec 140, PS 99 ab, PS 120, or PS 141). These
three writing-intensive courses should be spread out over the student’s
sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Physical Education Requirement

Before graduation, each undergraduate is required to successfully
complete 9 units of physical education. This requirement may be
satisfied entirely or in part by participation in intercollegiate athlet-
ics, or successful completion of physical education class course work.
All grades are issued pass/fail. A maximum of 6 units per term may
be applied toward graduation requirements, with the total not to
exceed 36 units. Participation as a bona fide member of an inter-
collegiate team for the period covered by the sport in a given term
satisfies the requirement for that term.
A broad program of instruction is provided each term. Late
registration is permitted during the first week of each term, pro-
vided there is space available and with permission of the instructor.
Standards for evaluation of student performance will be clearly
defined at the beginning of each course.

Undergraduate Information
Scientific Writing Requirement
The scientific writing requirement can be satisfied by taking an appro-
priate course offered by any division, or by taking En/Wr 84. The course
used to satisfy this requirement must be taken on grades. All options also
require a three-unit course in oral communication. Some options combine
these two requirements into one course. At the discretion of the option,
the scientific writing requirement can be satisfied by three units of addi-
tional work associated with a senior thesis, focused on effective written
scientific communication.

Options Requirements

Oral Written
ACM, APh, CNS,
CS, EE, EAS, ME E 10 E 11
Ay Ay 30 Ay 31
Bi, BE Bi/BE 24 same
BEM, Ec, PS En/Wr 84 same
ChE ChE 126 Ch/ChE 91
225
145
Ch Ch 90 Ch/ChE 91
En, H, HPS, Pl En/Wr 84 same
GPS Ge 109 En/Wr 84 or E 11
Ma Ma 10 Ma 11
Ph Ph 70 same

Typical First-Year Course Schedule, All Options

Differentiation into the various options begins in the second year.
Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd

Ma 1 abc Freshman Mathematics 9 9 9
Ph 1 abc Freshman Physics 9 9 9
Ch 1 ab General Chemistry 6 9 -
Bi 1 Principles of Biology - - 9
Fundamental Techniques of
Ch 3 a Experimental Chemistry1 6 or 6 or 6
Introductory courses in the humanities
and social sciences. A wide choice of
alternatives will be available to
students; the registrar will announce
the offerings for each term. 9 9 9
Introductory laboratory courses2 x x x
Menu course3 or additional electives x x x
PE Physical education4 3 3 3

Graduation Requirements
 x—Except for the minimum laboratory unit requirement, the
number of units chosen here is optional. If a student chooses no elec-
tives except physical education and takes the minimum permissible
laboratory courses, the total unit requirement will usually be in the
range of 39 to 45. First- and second-term freshmen will be limited to
45 units of classroom and laboratory courses. A total load—including
electives—of more than 48 units per term is considered a heavy load.
Loads of more than 51 units require approval by the dean of students.
1 This course is offered in each of the three terms. Students may also take Ch 3 x.
2 The additional 6 units must be chosen from one of the following: APh/EE 9 ab (6 units), APh
24 (6 units), Bi 10 (6 units), Ch 4 ab (9 units), Ch 8 (9 units), Ch/ChE 9 (9 units), EE/
ME 7 (6 units), Ge 116 (6 units), Ph 3 (6 units), Ph 5 (9 units), Ph 8 bc (6 units) or a more
advanced laboratory course.
3 Students must take a menu course in their freshman or sophomore year. These courses are offered

third quarter only. It is also possible to take one of these courses as an elective.
Menu courses currently include Ay 1, Ch/APh 2, ESE 1, EST 2, Ge 1, or IST 4.
4 Three terms (9 units) of PE are required for the B.S. degree. Students need not elect to take the

required PE in the freshman year. It may be taken in any three terms before graduation.

Other First-Year Courses

In addition to the required core classes described on the previous
pages, freshmen are encouraged to participate in freshman seminar
226
146
classes, frontier classes, research tutorials and other research opportu-
nities.
Starting in the 2011–12 academic year, Caltech began offering a
series of freshman seminars in which 10 to 15 freshmen and a faculty
member explore in depth an exciting topic in the lab, around a table,
or in the field. These courses, described on page 31, cover a wide
range of topics, including earthquakes, gravitational waves, and the
science of music. Instructors may allow upperclassmen to enroll in
these seminars after the conclusion of the pre-registration period for
the upcoming term.
Caltech also offers a series of “frontier courses” that involve a week-
ly presentation by a faculty member on a topic of current research.
These courses often meet at lunch time and serve pizza; hence, stu-
dents refer to the courses as “pizza courses.” The frontier courses are
an opportunity for students to meet the Caltech faculty and to hear
about state-of-the-art research projects for the summer or academic
year. There are a total of 10 frontier courses offered for freshmen in
biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, geology and planetary sci-
ences, engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, bioengi-
neering, and electrical engineering.
Currently there are three “research tutorials” for freshmen: one in
physics, one in biology, and one in chemistry. These tutorials have
many of the same features as the freshman seminars. In physics, the
research tutorial includes approximately seven freshmen and extends
over three academic terms plus the summer. The purpose is to demon-
strate how research opportunities arise, are evaluated, and are tested,
and how the ideas that survive develop in larger projects. In biology
and chemistry, the tutorials are offered in the winter and spring quar-

Undergraduate Information
ters and involve small group discussions on special areas or problems
in biology, biotechnology, and chemistry.
More than 80 percent of Caltech students participate in research at
some point in their academic career. Students may embark on research
activities by registering for research credits with a faculty member, by
working in a laboratory for pay during the summer or academic year,
by completing a senior thesis, or by participating in Caltech’s Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. The SURF
program is described on page 31.

Aerospace Minor
The aerospace minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech’s
undergraduate degrees and is designed for students who wish to broaden
their knowledge beyond their normal major or who may wish to pursue
a graduate program involving aerospace or aeronautical engineering.
Students completing the aerospace minor requirements will have the
phrase “minor in aerospace engineering” added to their transcripts.
Ae Minor Requirements
1. Complete Ae 105 abc.
2. Complete a second three-term 100-level Ae class, chosen
from Ae 101 abc, 102 abc, 104 abc, 121 abc, Ae/Ge/ME 160 227
147
ab, or 27 units of selected Ae courses approved by the minor
adviser. All Ae courses to be applied to fulfill the aerospace
minor requirements must be taken for grades, and students
must maintain an average grade of B or higher for all courses
with no individual grade lower than a C. Courses that are used
to satisfy the aerospace minor cannot be used to satisfy course
requirements in the major options. Courses taken as part of the
aerospace minor are counted toward the total 486-unit Institute
graduation requirements. A typical course sequence would be to
take Ae 105 abc and the second Ae course in the senior year.

Applied and Computational Mathematics Option

The undergraduate option in applied and computational mathematics
within the Computing & Mathematical Sciences department seeks to
address the interests of those students who want to combine their basic
studies in mathematics with considerable involvement in applications. This
program is designed to give students a thorough training in fundamental
computational and applied mathematics and to develop their research abil-
ity in a specific application field. The fields of application include a wide
range of areas such as fluid mechanics, materials science, and mathematical
biology, engineering applications, image processing, and mathematical
finance. The training essential for future careers in applied mathematics in
academia, national laboratories, or in industry is provided, especially when
combined with graduate work, by successful completion of the require-
ments for an undergraduate degree in applied and computational mathe-
matics. Complete programs will be worked out with faculty advisers.

Graduation Requirements/Applied and Computational Mathematics

 Double Majors
Students interested in simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second
option must fulfill all the requirements of the ACM option. Courses
may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements in both options.
To enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss his/her
plans with the option representative. In general, approval is contingent
on good academic performance by the student and demonstrated abili-
ty for handling the heavier course load.

Option Requirements
1. The ACM Option requires the analytical tracks of Ma 1 b and
Ma 1 c.
2. Ma 2, Ma 3, Ma 6 abc, Ph 2 abc, ACM 11, CS 1, E 10, ACM
95 ab, Ma 108 abc, ACM 104, ACM 101 ab, ACM/EE 106ab.
3. Three courses numbered 100+ in ACM approved by the
Adviser and option representative.
4. One 27-unit 100+ sequence in sciences, engineering, or social
sciences approved by the option representative.
5. Passing grades must be obtained in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above. Courses satisfying option requirements
228
148 must be taken for grades (except when courses are only available
P/F) and passed with a grad of C- or higher.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd

Second year
Ma 2 Differential Equations 9 − −
Ma 3 Intro. to Probability and Statistics − 9 −
Ma 6 abc Intro. to Discrete Mathematics 9 9 9
Ph 2 abc Sophomore Physics 9 9 9
ACM 11 Intro to Matlab and Mathematica − − 6
CS 1 Intro. to Computer Programming 9 − −
HSS electives 9 9 9
Electives1 − 9 12
45 45 45

Third Year
Ma 108 abc Classical Analysis 9 9 9
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math − 12 12
ACM 104 Appl. Linear Algebra 9 − −
ACM/EE
Intro. To Probability Models 9 - -
116

Undergraduate Information
 HSS electives 9 9 9
Electives1 9 12 12
E 10 Technical Seminar Presentation - 3 -
Written Tech. Comm. in Engrng and
E 11 - - 3
Appl. Sci.
45 45 45

Fourth Year
ACM 101 ab Methods of Appl. Math 12 12 −
Intro. Methods of Comput.
ACM 106 ab 12 12 −
Math
Markov Chains, Discrete
ACM 216 Stochastic Processes and Appl. − 9 −
Mathematical Optimization
CMS/ACM
Mathematical Optimization 9 − −
113
HSS elective 9 9 9
229
149
Electives1 − − 27
42 42 36
1 See items 2, 3, and 4 under option requirements.

Applied Physics Option

The applied physics option is designed to extend knowledge of the
principles of pure physics to the development of new technologies.
Research in applied physics focuses primarily on problems of techno-
logical importance. The interdisciplinary nature of this option allows
considerable flexibility in coursework, training and individual research
interests to enhance maximum breadth and depth.
Current areas of specialization within applied physics span a wide
range of topics such as Photonics including multiwavelength fiber tele-
communications, integrated microphotonic and nanophotonic devices,
holographic data processing and storage, and optical approaches to
quantum computation; Solid-state materials and device work including
nanostructured materials and devices, wide bandgap semiconduc-
tors and heterostructures for optoelectronics, photovoltaics, novel
memory devices, and spin-dependent transport; Biophysics including
single-molecule-scale studies of the mechanics of DNA, proteins,
and their assemblies; Plasma-physics including spheromak plasmas
for fusion application, plasma processes occurring in the sun, and the
dynamics of pure electron plasmas; Hydrodynamics, nonlinear dynam-
ics and thermal behavior in small scale systems including symmetry
breaking in soft condensed matter, micro/nanofluidic, optofluidic, and
biofluidic devices, optical trapping in fluids, pattern formation and
phase separation in nanoscale films and convection-diffusive phenom-
ena in natural and mimetic systems.

Graduation Requirements/Applied Physics

 Option Requirements
Note: Items in brackets represent optional replacements
1. E 10 and E 11. E 11 can be satisfied by three units of addition-
al work associated with the senior thesis (APh 78 or APh 79),
or by taking Ph70, En 84 or Bi/Be 24.
2. Any three of the following: APh/EE 9 b, APh 23, APh 24, Ph
3, Ph 5, Ph 6, or Ph 7.
3. Ph 12 abc, APh 105 abc [Ae/ME 118 or ChE/Ch 165, ChE/Ch
164, and APh105c], Ph 106 abc, and Ph 125 ab [Ch 125 ab].
4. Ma 2, Ma 3, and ACM 95 ab.
5. Either APh 78 abc or APh 79 abc, or one term of APh 77 and
one term of any of the following: Ph 77, EE 91, Ch 6, Ae/APh
104 bc, or MS 90. Any substitutions or additions require prior
approval of the option representative.
6. One additional advanced sequence of APh courses numbered
over 100, such as: APh 101 abc, APh/MS 105 abc, APh 114
abc, APh/Ph 115 and APh/Ph/Ae 116, APh/EE 130, 131,
and 132, APh 156 abc, APh 190 abc, or BE/APh 161 and 162.
Note that APh 100 and APh 200 do not satisfy this require-
ment. Any substitutions or additions require prior approval of
230
150 the option representative.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, includ-
ing the courses listed above. No course in fulfillment of option
requirements may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
8. Any student whose grade-point average is less than 1.9 at the
end of the academic year in the subjects listed above may be
refused permission to continue work in this option.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
ACM 95ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12
Ma 2 Differential Equations 9 - -
Ma 3 Intro. to Probability and Statistics - 9 -
Ph 12abc Waves, Quantum Mechanics and
9 9 9
Statistical Physics
HSS Electives 9 9 9
Laboratory Electives¹ 6 6 6
Other Electives² 9 - 9
42 45 45
Third Year
APh 105abc States of Matter 9 9 9
APh 110ab Topics in Applied Physics 2 2 -

Undergraduate Information
 Ph 106abc Topics in Classical Physics 9 9 9
Ph 125ab Quantum Mechanics 9 9 -
HSS Electives 9 9 9
Other Electives² 9 9 18
47 47 45
Fourth Year
APh 78abc Senior Thesis, Experimental³ or Senior
or APh Thesis, Theoretical³ 9 9 9
79abc
Or APh 77 Laboratory in Applied Physics³ - 9 9
Advanced Electives² 9 9 9
HSS Electives 9 9 9
Other Electives including APh 100 18 18 18
45 45 45

1 See item 2, option requirements.

2 See item 6, option requirements.
3 See item 5, option requirements.
231
151

Suggested Electives
Students are encouraged to obtain a well-rounded course of study pur-
suant to the B.S. degree in applied physics. The option representative
and/or undergraduate adviser will gladly assist students in choosing
appropriate elective courses. Students ultimately interested in pursu-
ing an advanced degree in applied physics or related fields are encour-
aged to complete a senior thesis project through APh 78 or APh 79.

Astrophysics Option
With the goal of understanding the physical processes that govern the
universe, its constituents, and their origins and evolution, astronomy uses
the apparatus and methodology of physics to gather and interpret data.
Theoretical work and technology development round out astrophysics.
In what follows, we use the terms “astronomy” and “astrophysics” inter-
changeably.
The astrophysics option is designed to give the student an understand-
ing of the basic facts and concepts of astronomy today, to stimulate his or
her interest in research, and to provide a basis for graduate work in astron-
omy/astrophysics. The sequence Ay 20, 21 constitutes a solid introduction
to modern astrophysics and may be taken either sophomore or junior year,
with more advanced courses (Ay 101, 102, plus Ay electives) taken in
the junior and senior years. It is desirable for a student to gain as broad a
background as possible in related fields of science and engineering.
Attention is called to the fact that any student whose grade-point aver-
age is less than 1.9 at the end of an academic year in the subjects listed in
the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy may, at the discre-
tion of his or her department, be refused permission to continue the work
in this option.

Graduation Requirements/Astrophysics
 Option Requirements
1. Ay 20, 21, 101, 102, 30, 31, and one term of Ay 141, Ma 2,
Ma 3, Ph 2 abc or Ph 12 abc, Ph 125 ab, and Ph 106 abc.
2. Any three of Ph 3, Ph 5, Ph 6, Ph 7, or Ay 105. APh 23 and
24 taken as a pair may be substituted for one of these labs.
3. 63 additional units of Ay or Ph courses. Ph 127a and one of Ph
21, Ph 22, or Ay 190 are strongly recommended.
4. 27 additional units of science or engineering electives, of which
18 must be outside the Division of Physics, Mathematics and
Astronomy. Core classes (see pages 229–234) or other introduc-
tory-level courses such as CS 1 do not count toward fulfillment
of this requirement.
5. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above. Courses satisfying requirements 1, 2,
and 3 must be taken for grades unless they are pass/fail only.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd

232
152
Second Year
Ph 12 abc
Sophomore Physics 9 9 9
or Ph 2 abc
Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
Ay 20 Basic Astronomy and the Galaxy 9 -
Ay 21 Galaxies and Cosmology - 9 -
Ay 30 Intro. to Modern Research - 3 -
Physics Laboratory - - 9
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of App. Math. - 12 12
HSS electives 12 6 9

39 48 39

Third Year
Ph 125 abc Quantum Mechanics 9 9 9
Ph 106 abc Topics in Classical Physics 9 9 9
Ay 101 The Physics of Stars - 11 -
Physics of the Interstellar
Ay 102 - - 9
Medium
Ay 104 High Energy Astrophysics - - 9
Ph 136ab Applications of Classical Physics 9 - -
HSS electives 9 9 9

Undergraduate Information
 Astronomy, physics, or APh
- 9 -
electives
36 47 45

Fourth Year
Ay 31 Written Communication - - 3
Ay 105 Astronomy Instrumentation Lab - - 10
Astronomy, physics, or APh
9 9 -
electives
Ay 78 Senior Thesis 9 9 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
Research Conference in
Ay 141c - - 3
Astronomy
Electives 18 9 9

45 36 43
233
153

An ability to present one’s work is vital to a successful career in

research and teaching. The oral communications requirement is
satisfied by presenting during a term of Ay 141. Ay 31 satisfies the
written communication requirement. Students are encouraged (but
not required) to undertake research leading to a senior thesis; credit
for this work is provided through Ay 78. Non-thesis research credits
may be earned through Ay 142 with a maximum of 9 units per term.
Computational skills may be acquired through Ph 20–21, Ay 117, Ay
190, ACM 106, or equivalent classes. Students are strongly advised to
take advanced mathematical methods in ACM95 and Ph 129, and an
advanced statistical physics or thermodynamics course such as Ph 127.

Suggested Electives
The student may elect any course offered in any division in a given
term, provided that he or she has the necessary prerequisites for that
course. The following courses are useful to work in various fields of
astronomy and astrophysics: ACM 95, ACM 106, APh 23/24, Ay
104, Ay 105, Ay 117, Ay 121–127, Ay 190, Ch 125, EE 45, EE/Ae
157, Ge/Ay 11 c, Ge 103, Ge/Ch 128, Ge 131, Ge/Ay 132, 133, 137,
Ma 4, Ma 112, ME 11, ME 12, Ph 20–22, Ph 77, 101, 127, 129, 136,
199, 236 (this is not necessarily a complete list).

Bioengineering Option
Aims and Scope
The undergraduate bioengineering option provides a foundation for
graduate studies and career paths that require the application of engi-
neering principles to the design, analysis, construction, and manipula-
tion of biological systems, and in the discovery and application of new

Graduation Requirements/Bioengineering
 engineering principles inspired by the properties of biological systems.
By graduation, students are expected to have learned basic laboratory
and engineering methods used in a broad range of bioengineering
sub-disciplines.
Students will also have learned quantitative and analytic skills vital
to experiments and system designs. Graduating students are expected
to be able to critically evaluate and understand bioengineering litera-
ture, and be able to work in a team and communicate effectively.
To accomplish these goals, students are expected to complete a series
of required courses designed to introduce them to a representative range
of bioengineering sub-disciplines, provide them with a solid quantita-
tive analysis foundation and provide them with opportunities to work
in teams through a number of project-oriented courses. Students will
receive instruction in scientific communications through Bi/BE24.
Undergraduate research is encouraged both during the academic
year and through participation in summer research programs.
Students should present a plan for satisfying all degree requirements
to their academic adviser by the end of the third term of the second
year.
Students with a grade-point average lower than 1.9 will not be
234
154 allowed to continue in the option except with special permission from
the option representative.

Option Requirements
1. BE 1; BE/APh 161; ChE/BE 163; two courses from BE 150,
BE 159, and BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191a.
2. Experimental methods: Bi 1x; one of BE/EE/MedE 189a or
BE 107; one of ChE 130 or BE/CS 196a. Up to nine units
of BE 98 may be used in place of one of these courses (except
Bi 1x) with the approval of both the student’s academic and
research advisers to ensure that the student’s research project
provides comparable experimental laboratory experience. BE 98
units used to satisfy this requirement may not also be counted
toward the elective requirement.
3. Biology, chemistry, and physics: two terms out of three from Ph
2 abc; (Ch 21a may be used in place of Ph 2b and Ch 21c may
be used in place of Ph 2c); Bi 8; Bi 9; Ch 25; Ch 41a; Bi/Ch
110. One advanced biology course selected from Bi/Ch 111, Bi/
Ch 113, Bi 114, Bi 117, Bi 122, Bi 145 ab, Bi/CNS/NB 150, BE
150, Bi 181.
4. Mathematical and computational methods: ACM 95ab; Ma 2,
Ma 3; one course from ChE 105, CDS 110, or ACM 116; 9
units selected from CS 1, CS 2, CS 3, CS 21, CS 24, and CS
38.
5. 36 units of BE electives. These may include BE 98 (up to
12 units), any BE course numbered 100 or above, any of
the BE-approved electives listed below, or any relevant class
approved by the student’s adviser. Additionally, courses listed in

Undergraduate Information
 requirements 1-4 that are not used to fulfil those requirements
may be counted as electives.
6. Communication: Bi/BE 24.
7. Courses satisfying option requirements must be taken for grades
(except when courses are only available P/F). Passing grades
must be earned in a total of 486 units.

BE-Approved Electives
Biology: Bi/Ge 105, Bi/CNS/NB 162.
Biodevices: EE 112, EE 113, EE/MedE 114ab, APh/EE 9ab, EE
45, EE 111, EE 151.
Biomechanics: ME 19ab, ME 12abc, ME 14, Ae/APh/CE/ME
101abc, Ae/APh/CE/ME 102abc, Ae/APh 104abc.
Synthetic biology: Ch 24, Ch 41bc, ChE/Ch 148, ChE/Ch 164,
ChE/Ch 165.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
First Year
235
155
Ma 1 abc Freshman Mathematics 9 9 9
Ph 1 abc Freshman Physics 9 9 9
Ch 1 ab General Chemistry 6 9 -
Ch 3 a Fundamental Techniques of
6 - -
Experimental Chemistry
Bi 1 x The Great Ideas of Biology:
Exploration through
- - 9
Experimentation.

BE 1 Frontiers in Bioengineering - 1 -
Introductory HSS courses 9 9 9
Physical education - - 3
30 37 39
Second Year
Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
Ph 2 ac Sophomore Physics 9 - 9
Ch 41 a Organic Chemistry 9 - -
Ch 25 Introduction to Biophysical
- - 9
Chemistry
Bi 8 Introduction to Molecular
- 9 -
Biology
Bi 9 Cell Biology - - 9

Graduation Requirements/Bioengineering
 Menu course - - 9
General and BE electives x x x
HSS electives x x x
Physical education x x x
42–45 42–45 42–45
Third Year
ACM 95 ab Introductory Methods of
- 12 12
Applied Mathematics
BE/EE/ Design and Construction of
MedE 189 a Biodevices - 12 12

Bi/Ch 110 Introduction to Biochemistry 12 - -

ChE/BE 163 Introduction to Biomolecular
Engineering 9 - -

Computational methods
x x x
requirement
236
156
General and BE electives x x x
Bi/BE 24 Technical Communication
for Biological Scientists and 6 - -
Engineers
HSS electives x x x
Physical education x x x
ChE 130 Biomolecular Engineering
- - 9
Laboratory
42–45 42–45 45
Fourth Year
CDS 110 Introductory Control Theory 12 - -
or ChE 105 Dynamics and Control of
Chemical Systems - - 9

BE/APh 161 Physical Biology of the Cell - 12 -

BE/CS/ Biomolecular Computation
CNS/ - 9 -
Bi 191 a
BE 150 Design Principles of Genetic
- - 9
Circuits
or BE 159 Signal Transduction and
- 9 -
Mechanics in Morphogenesis
General and BE Electives x x x
Advanced biology and
x x x
biology lab requirements

Undergraduate Information
 HSS electives x x x
Physical education x x x
42–45 42–45 42–45

Biology Option
The undergraduate option in biology is designed to build on a solid
foundation in mathematics and physical science by providing an intro-
duction to the basic facts, concepts, problems, and methodologies of
biological science. The option serves as a basis for graduate study in any
field of biology or for admission to the study of medicine. Instruction is
offered in the form of participation in the ongoing research programs of
the division, as well as in formal course work. Course work emphasizes
the more general and fundamental properties of living organisms, and
areas of current research interest, rather than the traditional distinct
fields within the life sciences.
The division encourages undergraduate participation in its research
program and believes that research participation should be a part of each
student’s program of study. Students may elect to prepare an undergrad-
uate thesis (Bi 90). Research opportunities may be arranged with indi-
vidual faculty members, or guidance may be obtained from a student’s 237
157
individual faculty adviser in the division or from the biology undergrad-
uate student adviser.
The requirements listed below for the biology option are minimal
requirements. An adequate preparation for graduate work in biology
will normally include additional elective research or course work in biol-
ogy and/or advanced course work in other sciences or in mathematics.
Flexibility to accommodate varied individual scientific interests, within
the broad scope of biology, is achieved through the provision of elec-
tive courses, arrangements for individual research (Bi 22), and tutorial
instruction (Bi 23). In addition, arrangements may be made to take
courses at neighboring institutions in fields of biology that are not rep-
resented in our curriculum.

Premedical Program
The undergraduate course for premedical students is essentially the same
as that for biology students and is intended as a basis for later careers in
research as well as in the practice of medicine. It differs in some respects
from premedical curricula of other schools; however, it has been quite
generally accepted as satisfying admission requirements of medical
schools.
It is recommended that all students contemplating application
to medical school consult with the premed adviser at the Career
Development Center or Professor David Chan in the Division of
Biology and Biological Engineering.

Option Requirements
The following required courses must all be taken on grades, with the
exception of Bi 8 if taken in freshman year and Bi 22. Freshmen taking
Bi 8 must maintain shadow grades that indicate satisfactory progress.

Graduation Requirements/Biology
 1. Bi 8, Bi 9, Bi 117, Bi 122, Bi/CNS/NB 150, and Ch 41 abc.
2. Ma 2, Ma 3, and any two terms of Ph 2 abc. These courses need
not be taken consecutively or in a fixed order. This requirement
can also be satisfied in part by successfully taking a “reasonable”
replacement for any of these required courses. A “reasonable”
replacement will be defined by: (1) Equally or more advanced
quantitative coursework; and (2) Essentially similar scope of sub-
ject matter as the course replaced. The Biology option represen-
tative will be empowered to make this determination with aid of
an Advisery list which can be updated as relevant new courses are
developed inside and outside of biology.
3. One advanced laboratory course (100- or 200-level), or at least 12
units of independent research (Bi 22).
4. Two courses chosen from Bi/Ch 110, 111, 113, and/or Bi/Ch
132.
5. Scientific writing requirement met by taking Bi/BE 24 (six units),
or by taking any other writing course such as En/Wr 84 (nine
units) plus oral presentation at SURF Seminar Day or equivalent,
with option representative approval.
6. A total of 170 units of biology must be taken and passed (Bi 1, Bi
238
158 2, and Bi 10 cannot be counted toward this total). Units within
this total which are not accounted for by the requirements above
are biology electives. Biology electives must include at least 8
biology classes which satisfy the following:
a. At least four elective courses must be taken for letter grades.
b. Elective courses taken for letter grades should span at least
two of the “tracks” indicated below.
c. At least two graded elective courses (from different tracks)
must be for at least nine units.
d. Substantial lab research for credit (Bi 22) beyond the 12-unit
minimum can be counted among the electives.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.

Biology Tracks
These groups of courses are logically related, and several courses within
one track should be taken to build depth. Electives must also include
different courses from at least two different tracks to build breadth. Non-
elective courses included in the general option requirements that provide
logical background for particular tracks are indicated in parentheses.
a. Biochemistry and molecular biology: (Bi 8, Bi 9) BE/Bi 101,103;
Bi/Ch 110, 111, 113, 132 (if not taken to satisfy item 3; no dou-
ble-counting); Bi/BE 129; Bi/NB/BE 155; BE/Aph 161; ChE/
BE 163; ESE/Bi 168; BMB/Bi/Ch 170, 173, 174; Bi 189, 206;
Bi/BE/CS 183, Ch/Bi 231. Note: Ch 24 and Ch 7 or Ch 145
are also recommended for students interested in this track.
b. Genetics: (Bi 8, Bi 122) Bi 188, 190, 206; Bi/BE 129; Bi/BE/CS
183; Bi/CNS/NB 220; Bi/CNS/BE/NB 230.
c. Microbiology: BE/Aph 161; Bi 165 , ESE/Bi 166,168.
d. Developmental biology and evolution: (Bi 117, Bi 122) Bi/ Ge/

Undergraduate Information
 ESE 105; Bi 118; Bi/CNS/NB 157; Bi/CNS 158; Bi 188, 190,
214; Bi/BE 177, 182, 227.
e. Neurobiology: (Bi/CNS/NB 150) Bi/CNS/NB 153, 157,162,
164, 184, 185, 195, 216, 217, 220; Bi/NB/ BE 155; Bi/CNS/
BE/NB 230; CNS/Bi/SS/Psy/NB 176; CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB
186; CNS/Bi/NB 247.
Behavior/psychology subcluster: CNS/SS/Psy/Bi 102 ab, CNS/
Psy/Bi 131, Bi/CNS/NB 216, 217, 220; CNS/Bi/SS/Psy/NB
176; CNS/Bi/NB 256.
f. Computational and systems biology: BE/Bi 101, 103, BE/Bi/NB
203; (BE 150), Bi/CNS/NB 153, 184, 185, 195, 220; Bi/BE
182; Bi/BE/CS 183; Bi 192, Bi 199, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186;
CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187; BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191ab; CNS/Bi/NB
247, 256. CS programming courses are highly recommended for
those interested in this track.
g. Organismal biology: Bi 114, 118, 145a, 145b, 188, 214; Bi/BE
129, Bi/CNS/NB157; Bi/CNS 158.
h. Cell biology: (Bi 9, Bi 117) Bi/Ch 113 if not taken to satisfy
requirement item 3, BE 159; BE/APh 161; Bi 114, 118, 145a,
145b, 189; Bi/BE 129.
239
159
Planning the Biology Course Schedule
• Most students interested in biology elect to take Bi8 and Bi9 in
their first year, to open access to the widest range of biology elec-
tives.
• Students may place out of the option requirement to take Bi 8 or
Bi 9 by passing an exam and then earning a passing grade in Bi/
Ch 111 or Bi/Ch 113, respectively, instead. The exam for placing
out of Bi 8 and Bi 9 is given late in the fall term of freshman year,
and is open to students who have an unusually strong background
in biology, e.g., substantial research experience. Some students who
score a 5 on the advanced placement exam in biology may also
qualify to take the exam. The placement exam is given by direct
arrangement between the interested students and the faculty teach-
ing Bi8 and/or Bi9.
• Bi 10 is not required for the biology option but is commonly taken
by biology students to meet the Institute introductory laboratory
requirement.
• Prerequisites listed for individual biology courses are Advisery, not
compulsory. They indicate the kind of background that is assumed
for the work level of the course. In general they may be waived
with the instructor’s permission.
• Ch 24 and Ch 25 are strongly recommended for students inter-
ested in postgraduate work in biology, as physical chemistry is
required by most graduate programs.
• Additional courses of potential interest to biology majors include
Ge 11 b, BE/APh 161, BE 163, and advanced geobiology courses.
• Undergraduates are generally welcome to take 200-level courses
with the instructor’s permission or strong preparation, unless oth-
erwise indicated.

Graduation Requirements/Biology
 Typical Course Schedule (required courses and representative
examples of electives)
Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd

First Year
Ma 1 abc abc Freshman Mathematics 9 9 9
Ph 1abc Freshman Physics 9 9 9
Ch 1ab General Chemistry 6 9 -
Ch 3a Chemistry Lab - 6 -
6 Freshman Humanities 9 - 9
CS 1 Introduction to Computer
9 - -
Programming
Bi 8 Introduction to Molecular
- 9 -
Biology
Bi 9 Cell Biology - - 9
Bi 10 Introductory Biology
240
160 - - 6
Laboratory
42 42 42
Second Year
Ma 2 Differential Equations 9 - -
Ma 3 Introduction to Probability
- 9 -
and Statistics
Ph 2 ab Sophomore Physics 9 9 -
Ch 41abc Organic Chemistry 9 9 9
Introductory Social Sciences 9 9 -
Advanced Humanities - - 9
Bi 122 Genetics 9 - -
Bi 117 Developmental Biology - 9 -
Bi/CNS/NB Introduction to Neuroscience
- - 10
150
Bi/BE 101 Order of Magnitude Biology - - 6
Bi 22 Undergraduate Research - - 10+
45 45 44+
Third Year
Advanced Humanities - - 9
Advanced Social Sciences 9 - 9
Additional HSS - - 9

Undergraduate Information
 Bi 145 ab,b Tissue and Organ Physiology 9 9 -
Bi/Ch 110 Introduction to Biochemistry 12 - -
Bi/BE 24 Technical Communication
6 - -
(Fall or Spring)
Morphogenesis
Bi/BE 118 - 9 -
Developmental Systems OR
Bi/BE 182 Gene Network Design - 9 -
Bi/Ch 111 Biochemistry of Gene
- 12 -
Expression
BE/APh 161 Physical Biology of the Cell - 12 -
Bi/CNS/NB Tools of Neurobiology
9 - -
164
Bi 158 Vertebrate Evolution - - 9
Bi 188 or 190 Human OR Systems
- - 6
Genetics
45 42 42
Fourth Year 241
161
Additional HSS 9 9 9
Bi 114 Immunology - 9 -
Biology and Treatment of
Bi/BE 129 - 9 -
Cancer
Bi 90 Undergraduate Thesis 12+ 12+ 12+
Bi 192 Introduction to Systems
6 - -
Biology
Bi/BE 103 Data Analysis in Biological
9 - -
Sciences
Bi/NB/BE 155 Neuropharmacology - 6 -
Bi 189 The Cell Cycle - - 6
Bi/CNS/NB Neural Circuits
- - 6
152
Bi 214 Stem Cells - - 9
36+ 45+ 42+

Business, Economics, and Management Option

The goal of the business, economics, and management (BEM)
option is to provide students with the analytical tools to operate suc-
cessfully in a modern business environment and to prepare students
interested in pursuing graduate studies in related fields. The emphasis
is on entrepreneurship, finance, and strategy, in free-market, competi-
tive, and strategic situations. Today’s business environment is complex,
and therefore required courses in this option are highly analytical.
Students often pair the BEM option as a double major with a science

Graduation Requirements/Business, Economics, and Management

 or engineering option. The BEM option also serves as a standalone
major for students interested in careers in the financial industry, con-
sulting, or entrepreneurial ventures. Expected learning outcomes from
completing the BEM option include:
• a strong background in economic theory and econometrics; an
understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of
finance, risk management, business strategy, and developing
new ventures;
• an ability to analyze business problems using qualitative and
quantitative methods;
• an ability to analyze financial and business data;
• an ability to write and communicate effectively; and
• an understanding of the broader impacts of business and
management on society in general.

Note: The official source on requirements for graduation is the

Caltech catalog from the year in which a student began studies at
Caltech. Please see the catalog online, from this and previous years, for
information regarding the applicable option requirements.

242
162 Option Requirements
It is highly recommended to take a statistics/econometrics course, as
well as BEM 102 and BEM 103 before other BEM courses.
1. Ec 11, Ec 122, Ma 3, and PS/Ec 172.
2. BEM 102, BEM 103, BEM 104, BEM 105, and BEM 110.
3. Writing/oral presentation courses: a scientific writing
requirement course, and a three-unit course in oral
communication, offered by any division (some options combine
these two requirements into one course, that can be taken to
satisfy this requirement), or En/Wr 84. The course used to
satisfy this requirement must be taken on grades.
4. Five courses, to be chosen from the menu (may be taken
pass/fail): any BEM courses (excluding the ones listed under
1 and 2 above), BEM/Ec 150, Ec 105, 121 ab, 122, 129, 130,
131, 132, 135, Ec/PS 160 abc, PS 12, and Psy 13. ACM 113,
ACM/ EE 116, An/PS 127, Ge/ESE 118, Ma 112a, and
Ma/ACM 144 ab. Other courses with permission of BEM
option representative.
5. 45 additional units of science (including anthropology,
economics, political science, psychology, social science),
mathematics, and engineering courses; this requirement cannot
be satisfied by courses listed as satisfying the introductory
laboratory requirement or by any course with a number less than
10 (may be taken pass/fail).
6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
all courses used to satisfy the above requirements.

Undergraduate Information
Typical Course Schedule
Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 2 & Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
Menu Course - - 9
Ec 11 Introduction to Economics 9 - -
BEM 102 Introduction to Accounting - - 9
BEM 103 Introduction to Finance 9 - -
PS/Ec 172 Game Theory - 9 -
Electives 1 18 27 27
45 45 45
Third Year
BEM 104 Investments - 9 -
BEM 105 Options 9 - - 243
163
Ec 122 Econometrics 9 - -
Electives 1 27 27 45

45 45 45

Fourth Year
En/Wr 84 (or 3 unit course in oral communica-
- - 9
tion and a scientific writing requirement course)
Ec 105 Industrial Organization 9 - -
BEM 110 Venture Capital - 9 -
Electives 1 36 36 36

45 45 45
1 See option requirements 4 and 5

Chemical Engineering Option

The chemical engineering option is designed to prepare its students
for either graduate study or research and development work in indus-
try. This is accomplished by providing broad and rigorous training
in the fundamentals of chemical engineering while maintaining a
balance between classroom lectures and laboratory experience. The
program also strives to develop in each student self-reliance, creativity,
professional ethics, an appreciation of the societal impact of chemical
engineering, and an understanding of the importance of continuing
intellectual growth.
Chemical engineering involves applications of chemistry, physics,
mathematics, and, increasingly, biology and biochemistry. In addition

Graduation Requirements/Chemical Engineering

 to these disciplines, the chemical engineering curriculum includes the
study of applied and computational mathematics, fluid mechanics,
heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and chem-
ical reactor design, and process control. Because of this broad-based
foundation that emphasizes basic and engineering sciences, chemical
engineering is perhaps the broadest of the engineering disciplines.
Because many industries utilize some chemical or physical trans-
formation of matter, the chemical engineer is much in demand. He
or she may work in the manufacture of inorganic products (ceramics,
semiconductors, and other electronic materials); in the manufacture
of organic products (polymer fibers, films, coatings, pharmaceuticals,
hydrocarbon fuels, and petrochemicals); in other process industries;
or in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or biomedical industries.
Chemical engineering underlies most of the energy field, including
the efficient production and utilization of coal, petroleum, natural gas,
and newer technologies such as biofuels, fuel cells, and solar energy
conversion technologies. Air and water pollution control and abate-
ment and the study of climate change, its impacts, and its mitigation
are also within the domain of expertise of chemical engineers. The
chemical engineer may also enter the field of biochemical engineering,
244
164 where applications range from the utilization of microorganisms and
cultured cells, to enzyme engineering and other areas of emerging
biotechnology, to the manufacture of foods, to the design of artificial
human organs.
Key educational objectives of our chemical engineering curriculum
are to prepare students for professional practice at the forefront of
chemical engineering or for graduate school, and to become leaders
in engineering, science, academia, business, and public service in a
continually changing world. To do this, the curriculum focuses on
developing an ability to synthesize and apply knowledge from the
many subjects studied to the design of systems, components, processes,
or experiments, subject to technical, economic, environmental, and/or
social constraints. Problems illustrating the design process are integrat-
ed into the core courses.
Freshmen normally take the core courses in mathematics, physics,
chemistry, and biology (Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc, Ch1 ab, and Bi 1).
Sophomores take ordinary differential equations (Ma 2), wave phys-
ics (Ph 2a), chemistry laboratories (Ch 3a [or Ch 3x], and Ch/ChE 9).
They also take the second-year organic chemistry course Ch 41 abc,
and the basic chemical engineering courses (ChE 15, ChE 62, and
ChE 63ab). The third-year applied and computational mathematics
course (ACM 95ab) may be taken in the junior or sophomore years.
Undergraduate research is emphasized, and students are encour-
aged, even in the freshman year, to participate in research with the
faculty. In order to obtain a basic intellectual background, all students
take courses in the fundamentals of chemical engineering through the
junior year. During the junior and senior years, students diversify into
one of four tracks (biomolecular, environmental, materials, or process
systems), where they pursue concentrated study in their chosen area

Undergraduate Information
of chemical engineering. An optional senior thesis provides an oppor-
tunity to pursue independent research and design in lieu of one of the
senior laboratories.
Attention is called to the fact that any student whose gradepoint
average is less than 1.9 at the end of an academic year in the subjects
listed under the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
may, at the discretion of the faculty in this division, be refused permis-
sion to continue the work in this option.

Option Requirements
1. Ma 2, Ph 2 a, Ch/ChE 9, ChE 15, Ch 21 abc, Ch 41 abc, ChE
62, ChE 63 ab, Ch/ChE 91 (or En 84), ACM 95 ab, ChE
101, ChE 103 abc, ChE 105, ChE 126, and one of Ec 111,
BEM 102, or BEM 1031.
2. Completion of a track (biomolecular, environmental, process
systems, or materials), each consisting of eight science or engi-
neering courses (72 units, including 63 units of engineering
courses). Students should inform the executive officer of their
track choice by the beginning of the spring quarter of the
sophomore year by providing a planned schedule for completion
of all degree requirements. Requirements for the tracks are 245
165
as follows.
a. Biomolecular track: ChE/BE 163, Bi/Ch 110, [ChE 130 or
ChE 90 ab3], and 45 units of additional bioengineering or
biochemical engineering electives. ChE 118 and/or ChE 120
may be elected provided the design project undertaken
contains a significant biological component.
b. Environmental track: two of the core ESE courses [ESE
101, 102, and 103], [ChE 128 or ChE 90 ab], 45 units of
additional ESE or related courses. ChE 118 and/or ChE
120 may be elected provided the design project undertaken
contains a significant environmental component.
c. Process systems track: ChE 118, ChE 120,[ChE 128 or
ChE 90ab3], 45 units of engineering electives or course
from the other tracks.
d. Materials track: ChE 128 or ChE 90 ab3; one course on
materials synthesis or processing selected from Ch/ChE
1472, ChE 1152, or MS 133; at least on course on the
physical basis of structure and properties selected from Ch
120, ChE/Ch 1482, MS 115, MS/APh 122, MS 131, or
MS 132 and 45 units of additional chemical engineering or
materials science elective courses selected from ChE 118,
ChE 120, ChE/Ch 1552, ChE/Ch 164, ChE/Ch 165, or
any MS course.
3. Passing grades must be earned in all courses required by the
Institute and the option. None of the courses satisfying option
requirements may be taken pass/fail.
4. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
courses listed above.

Graduation Requirements/Chemical Engineering

 1 The 9 units of Ec 11 or BEM 103 partially satisfy the Institute requirements in humanities and
social sciences.
2 Given in alternate years.
3 Both terms of ChE 90ab count as track electives

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ordinary Differential
Ma 2 9 - -
Equations
Ph 2 a Sophomore Physics: Waves 9 - -
Introduction to Chemical
ChE 15 9 - -
Engineering Computation
Chemical Synthesis and
Ch/ChE 9 - - 9
Characterization
for Chemical Engineering
Ch 41 abc Organic Chemistry 9 9 9
246
166
ChE 62 Separation Processes - 9 -
Chemical Engineering
ChE 63 ab - 9 9
Thermodynamics
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied
- 12 12
Math.
PE Physical Education - 3 -
HSS electives 9 - -
45 42 39
Third Year
ChE 103 abc Transport Phenomena 9 9 9
Chemical Reaction
ChE 101 - 9 -
Engineering
Dynamics and Control of
ChE 105 - - 9
Chemical Systems
Ch/ChE 91 Scientific Writing 3 - -
ChE, Ch, track courses, and
9 9 9
electives1
Ec 11, BEM
102, or BEM 9 - -
103
HSS electives 9 18 18
39 45 45
Fourth Year
ChE 126 Chemical Engineering Lab 9 - -

Undergraduate Information
 ChE, Ch, track courses, and
18 18 9
electives1
Ch 21 abc2 Physical Chemistry 9 9 9
HSS electives 9 9 18
45 36 36
1 See option requirements.
2 Ch 24 can be substituted for Ch 21 b.

­ hemistry Option and Minor

C
The objective of the undergraduate option in chemistry is to produce
graduates articulate in the fundamental concepts of the molecular
sciences through a combination of coursework and laboratory expe-
riences. The chemistry program at Caltech provides depth in the
traditional areas of chemistry—organic and inorganic chemistry,
chemical physics, theoretical chemistry, chemical biology, and bio-
chemistry. Breadth in the program is found within the advanced
coursework offerings and the specialized interests of the faculty,
which may include topics such as: chemical synthesis and catalysis,
chemical dynamics and reaction mechanisms, biochemistry, bioinor-
ganic, bioorganic, and biophysical chemistry, and materials chemistry. 247
167
Chemical research at Caltech is highly interdisciplinary, reflecting the
increasing importance of molecular understanding to many fields of
science. Major initiatives are fostering broad collaborations in energy
and environment, molecular medicine, and nanomaterials. The out-
come of the undergraduate program in chemistry is to prepare students
for advanced graduate study and ultimately careers in teaching and
research at colleges and universities, in research for government and
industry, in the operation and control of manufacturing processes, and
in management and development positions in the chemical industry.
A first-year general chemistry course is taken by all freshman stu-
dents. The emphasis is on fundamental principles and their use in
systematizing descriptive chemistry. The student’s qualifications for
placing out of Ch 1 ab will only be determined by the performance on
a placement examination to be administered in the summer prior to
registration. Students who did not pass the placement exam may take
Ch 1 and Ch 41 simultaneously, but Ch 1 ab must be passed to satisfy
the Institute chemistry requirement. The one-term required laboratory
course (Ch 3 a) presents basic principles and techniques of synthesis and
analysis and develops the laboratory skills and precision that are funda-
mental to experimental chemistry. The laboratory in the following two
terms (Ch 4 ab), normally taken concurrently with Ch 41, introduces
the student to methods of synthesis, separation, and instrumental anal-
ysis used routinely in research. Qualified students, with the instructor’s
consent, are allowed to substitute either Ch 4 a, Ch 8, or Ch/ChE 9 for
the core requirement of Ch 3 a. Freshmen intending to major in chem-
istry are encouraged to take Ch 10 abc, which provides an introduction
to research activities and opportunities in chemistry for undergraduates.
Beyond the freshman year, each student in the chemistry option, in

Graduation Requirements/Chemistry
 consultation with his or her adviser, selects a suitable course of study
under the supervision of the division. The requirements of the option
are listed below. A student wishing to deviate from these requirements
should submit an alternate curriculum, with justifications, for con-
sideration by his or her adviser and the Chemistry Curriculum and
Undergraduate Studies Committee. The chemistry option representative
should be consulted for the future scheduling of courses not offered
during the current academic year.
Undergraduates in the option must also take chemistry courses below
the 100 level for a letter grade with the exception of the following cours-
es, which are only offered on a pass/fail basis: Ch 1, Ch 3 a, Ch 90, and,
if taken during the first or second terms of the freshman year, Ch 4 ab,
Ch 21 ab, Ch 24, and Ch 41 ab.

Senior Thesis
Students attempting a senior thesis in the chemistry option must com-
plete the following requirements.
1. Three terms (27 units) of Ch 82 are to be completed during
the junior and/or senior year of study; continued work from
research experiences prior to the commencement of the senior
248
168 thesis is encouraged.
2. At the time of registering for the first term of Ch 82, the candidate
will submit a short (five-page) proposal delineating his/her
project for approval by the research mentor and the Chemistry
Curriculum and Undergraduate Studies Committee (CUSC).
3. The candidate will present a short progress report (maximum
of five pages) at the end of each of the first two terms of Ch 82,
describing the current status of the research work and any
results obtained. Upon evidence of satisfactory effort, the student
will be allowed to continue his/her senior thesis.
4. A thesis of approximately 20 pages (excluding figures and
references) will be presented to the mentor and the CUSC at
the end of the third term of Ch 82. An oral thesis defense will
be arranged by the CUSC. The thesis must be approved by
both the research mentor and the CUSC.
5. Upon approval by the research mentor and the CUSC, the Ch 91
requirement for graduation may be satisfied by the written thesis
and the progress reports from the first two quarters of Ch 82.
If the thesis is being completed during the spring quarter of the
senior year, a draft of the thesis is to be submitted by Add Day.

Double Majors
For students simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option,
courses taken as required courses for that option can also be count-
ed as chemistry electives (requirement 3, below) where appropriate.
However, courses that count toward the electives requirement in the
other option cannot simultaneously be counted toward satisfying the
elective requirement in chemistry.

Undergraduate Information
 The courses listed below would constitute a common core for many
students in the option.
Any student of the chemistry option whose grade-point average
is less than 1.9 will be admitted to the option for the following year
only with the special permission of the Division of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering.

Option Requirements
1. Ch 14, Ch 21 abc (or Ch 21a, Ch 24, and Ch 25), Ch 41
abc, Ch 90, Ma 2, and Ph 2a. Ma 3 is recommended but not
required. Students may make the following substitutions: For
Ch14 (Ch/ESE175); for Ch 21a (Ph 2b, Ph 12b, Ch 125a or
Ph 125a); for Ch 21b (Ch 126); for Ch 21c (Ph 2c, Ph 12c,
ChE/Ch 164 or Ph 127a). 100-level courses used in substi-
tution for these option requirements may not also be counted
towards the five terms of advanced electives.
2. A minimum of five terms of laboratory work chosen from Ch
4ab, Ch 5ab, Ch 6ab, Ch 7, Ch 10c (if taken freshman or soph-
omore year), and Ch 15. One non-chemistry laboratory course
may be used, chosen from MS 90, Ph 6 and Ph 7. One term of
Ch 82 (Senior Thesis), if taken for grades as the third and final 249
169
term, may count for one of the five electives.
3. A minimum of five terms of advanced chemistry electives
(which must total at least 45 units) taken for a letter grade from
chemistry course offerings at the 100 and 200 level, including
cross-listed offerings, but excluding Ch 180, Ch 182, and Ch 280.
Students may petition to substitute up to but no more than one
100-level elective from another option, if the substituted course has
substantial chemistry content.
4. Passing grades must be earned in the courses that constitute the
approved program of study, including those listed above. None of
the courses satisfying option requirements may be taken pass/fail.
5. The chemistry option strongly encourages students to engage in
academic year research, and up to 27 units each of Ch 80 and
Ch 82 will toward towards the 486-unit requirement.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd

Second Year
Ch 41 abc Organic Chemistry 9 9 9
Ma 2 Sophomore Mathematics 9 - -
Ph 2 a Sophomore Physics 9 - -

Graduation Requirements/Chemistry
 Synthesis and Analysis
Ch 4 ab of Organic and Inorganic - 9 9
Compounds
Chemical Equilibrium and
Ch 14 - - 9
Analysis
Electives 18-21 18-27 18-21
45–48 36-45 45–48
Third Year
Advanced Techniques of
Ch 5 a - 12 -
Synthesis and Analysis
or Ch 5 b 9 - -
Chemical Equilibrium and
Ch 15 10 - -
Analysis Laboratory
Ch 21 abc or
Ch 21 a, Ch Physical Chemistry 9 9 9
24, Ch 25
Ch 90 Oral Presentation - 3 -
250
170 Ch/ChE 91 Scientific Writing - - 3
Electives 17-29 21-36 33-36
45–48 45–48 45–48
Fourth Year
Physical and Biophys.
Ch 6 a - 10 -
Chemistry Lab
or Ch 6 b - - 10
Advanced Experim. Methods
or Ch 7 - - 9
in Bioorganic Chemistry
Electives 45–48 35–48 26–48
45–48 45–48 45–48

This typical program is not specifically required for graduation in

the option, nor is it in any sense a complete program. Students are
expected to work out individual programs suitable for their interests and
professional goals in consultation with their advisers. Several represen-
tative programs, including sets of possible electives, are shown below.
These may well approximate choices by students who intend to do
graduate work in conventional areas of chemistry.

Suggested Representative Courses of Study for Those Intending

Graduate Work in Particular Areas of Chemistry

Undergraduate Information
   Second Year Third Year Fourth Year
Inorganic Ch 4 ab, Ch 5 a, Ch 5 b, Ch 14, Ch 6 a or
Chemistry Ch 41 abc, Ch 102, Ch 21 abc, 6 b,
Ma 2 ab, Ph 2 ab, Ch laboratory, Ch electives,
HSS elective, Ch elective(s), Ch 80, HSS
other elective Ch 80, Ch 90, elective
Ch/ChE 91,
HSS elective
Chemical Ch 4 ab, Ch laboratory, Ch 125 abc,
Physics Ch 21 abc, Ch 6 Ch 41 abc, Ch Ch
ab, Ch 14, Ma 2 elective(s), electives,
ab, Ph 2 ab, Ch 80, Ch 90, Ch 80, HSS
HSS elective ACM 95 abc, elective
Ch/ChE 91,
HSS elective
Organic Ch 4 ab, Ch 5 a, Ch 5 b or Ch 7, Ch 6 a or
Chemistry Ch 41 abc, Ch 102, Ch 14, Ch 21 abc, Ch 6 b,
Ma 2 ab, Ph 2 ab, Ch elective(s), Ch electives,
HSS elective, Ch laboratory, Ch 80,
other elective Ch 80, Ch 90, HSS elective
251
Ch/ChE 91,
HSS elective
Biochemistry Ch 4 ab, Bi 10, Ch laboratory, Ch 6 a or
Ch 41 abc, Bi 9, Ch 7, Ch 14, Ch 6 b,
Ma 2 ab, Ph 2 ab, 21 a, Ch (Bi)
HSS elective Ch 24, Ch 25 (or electives,
Ch 21 bc), Ch 80 Ch 80
(or Bi 22), Ch 90, (or Bi 22),
Ch/ChE 91, HSS
Bi/Ch 110, Bi/ elective
Ch 111,
Bi/Ch 113, Bi 10,

Chemistry Minor Requirements

The chemistry minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech’s
undergraduate degrees. It is designed for students who wish to broad-
en their studies beyond their major to include chemistry. Students
completing the chemistry minor requirements will have the phrase
“minor in chemistry” added to their transcripts.
1. 18 units of organic chemistry, taken from Ch 41 abc
2. 18 units of physical chemistry, taken from Ch 21 abc (or substi-
tute as specified for the major).
3. 9 units of inorganic chemistry, for example Ch 102 or Ch 112
4. 9 units in biochemistry, for example, Ch110
5. 9 or more units of a chemistry laboratory course from Ch4ab,
Ch 5 ab, Ch 6 ab, Ch7 or Ch15. No substitutions are allowed.
6. 9 units of advanced chemistry electives numbered Ch 102 or
above, approved by their assigned chemistry Adviser or the
option representative.

Graduation Requirements/Chemistry
 All courses to be applied to fulfill the minor requirements must be
taken for grades. Courses taken as part of the chemistry minor are
counted toward the total 486 units needed for Institute graduation
requirements. To enroll in the program, the student should meet
and discuss his/her plans with the option representative. In general,
approval is contingent on good academic performance by the student
and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load. Courses
that are used to satisfy the Chemistry minor requirements cannot be
used to satisfy course requirements in another major.

Computer Science Option and Minor

Study in the computer science option within the Computing &
Mathematical Sciences department emphasizes rigor and creativity,
and is good preparation either for graduate study followed by a research
career, or for a variety of professional or entrepreneurial occupations.
The option introduces students to the mathematical and engineer-
ing foundations of the discipline. It provides considerable flexibility in
course selection, together with a capstone project giving an opportuni-
ty for independent work in an area of the student’s choice. Individual
programs will be worked out in consultation with faculty advisers (the
252 materials at http://cms.caltech.edu/academics/ugrad_cs may be helpful
for this purpose).
Any student in the computer science option whose grade-point
average is less than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the subjects
listed in the option requirements may be refused permission to contin-
ue work in the option.

Double Majoring Requirement

Students interested in simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second
option must fulfill all the requirements of the computer science option.
Courses may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements in both
options. However, it is required that students have at least 72 units of
computer science courses numbered 80abc, 81abc, or 114 and above that
are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of the second
option, i.e., requirement 4 in computer science must be fulfilled using
courses that are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of
the second option. To enroll in the program, the student should meet
and discuss his/her plans with the option representative. In general,
approval is contingent on good academic performance by the student
and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load.
Option Requirements
1. CS fundamentals. CS 1; CS 2; CS 4; CS 11,
2. Intermediate CS. CS 21; CS 24; CS 38.
3. CS Project Sequence. One of the following:
a. An undergraduate thesis (CS 80abc) supervised by a CS
faculty member.
b. A project in computer science, mentored by the student’s
academic adviser or a sponsoring faculty member. The
sequence must extend at least two quarters and total at least
18 units of CS 81abc.

Undergraduate Information
 c. Any of the following three-quarter sequences. Each of the
sequences is expected to be available (nearly) yearly.
i. Databases: CS 121, CS 122, CS 123.
ii. Graphics and Geometry: CS/CNS 174 and two other
CS 17x courses.
iii. Learning & Vision: At least three courses chosen from
EE/CNS/CS 148, CMS/CS/CNS/EE 155, CS/CNS/EE
156 ab, ACM/CS 157, ACM/CS/EE 158, CS/CNS/EE
159, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187,
Ec/ACM/CS 112, including at least one of 148, 156 b, 159,
or 186.
iv. Networking & Distributed Systems: CS 141, CS/EE
145, or EE/CS 147 combined with two courses chosen
from CS 142, CS/EE 143, and CS/EE 144.
v. Quantum & Molecular Computing: At least three
courses chosen from BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab, BE/CS
196 ab, ChE 130, Ph/CS 219 abc.
vi. Robotics: At least three courses chosen from ME 115
ab, ME/CS 133 B, CS/EE/ME 134, EE/CNS/CS 148,
CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186.
4. Advanced CS. A total of 72 CS units that are not applied to 253
requirements 1 or 2 above, and that either (i) are numbered CS
114 and above or (ii) are in satisfaction of requirement 3 above.
Included in these units must be at least one of CS 122, CS 124,
CMS/CS 139, or CS 151.
5. Mathematical fundamentals. Ma 2/102; Ma 3/103; Ma/CS 6a or
Ma 121a.
6. Communication fundamentals. E10; E11.
7. Scientific fundamentals. In addition to all above requirements,
18 units selected from the following courses Bi 8, Bi 9, Ch 21
abc, Ch 24, Ch 25, Ch 41abc, Ph 2abc, or Ph 12abc. Advanced
100+ courses in Bi, Ch, or Ph with strong scientific component
can be used to satisfy this requirement with approval from the
option representative.
8. Breadth. In addition to all above requirements, 36 units in Ma,
ACM, or CS; 18 units in EAS or Ma; and 9 units not labeled
PE, PVA or SA.
Units used to fulfill the Institute Core requirements do not count
toward any of the option requirements. Pass/fail grading cannot be
elected for courses taken to satisfy option requirements. Passing grades
must be earned in a total of 486 units, including all courses used to
satisfy the above requirements.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Scientific Fundamentals 9 9 -

Graduation Requirements/Computer Science

 Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
Intro. to Computer
9 - -
CS 1 Programming1
CS 2 Intro. to Programming Methods1 - 9 -
Fundamentals of Computer
- 9 -
CS 4 Program.
Ma/CS 6 a Intro. to Discrete Math 9 - -
CS 21 Decidability and Tractability - 9 -
CS 24 Intro. to Computing Systems - - 9
CS 38 Introduction to Algorithms - - 9
HSS electives 9 - 18
Other electives - - 9
45 45 45
Third Year
CS courses 9 9 9
CS project 9 9 9
254
HSS electives 9 9 18
E 10 Technical Seminar Presentations - - 3
EAS/Ma courses 9 9 9
Other electives 9 9 -
45 45 39
Fourth Year
CS courses 9 9 -
HSS electives 9 9 9
EAS/Ma courses 9 9 9
Other electives 18 9 18
45 36 36
1 Commonly taken during the freshman year.

Computer Science Minor

The computer science minor is intended to supplement one of
Caltech’s undergraduate degrees and is designed for students who
wish to broaden their knowledge beyond their normal major or who
may wish to pursue a graduate program involving computer science.
Students completing the computer science minor requirements will
have the phrase “minor in computer science” added to their transcripts.

Minor Requirements
Computer Science Minor Requirements
1. CS fundamentals. CS 1; CS 2; and CS 11.
2. Mathematical fundamentals. Ma 2; Ma 3; Ma/CS 6a or Ma
121a.

Undergraduate Information
 3. Intermediate CS. CS 21; CS 24; CS 38.
4. Advanced CS. 9 CS units numbered 114 or above that are not
applied to the above requirements and are not simultaneously
used for fulfilling a requirement of the student’s major option.
Pass/fail grading cannot be elected for courses taken to
satisfy option requirements. Courses taken as part of the
computer science minor are counted toward the total 486
units needed for Institute graduation requirements. To enroll in
the program, the student should meet and discuss his/her
plans with the option representative. In general, approval is
contingent on good academic performance by the student and
demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load.

Control and Dynamical Systems Minor

Control and dynamical systems (CDS) may be pursued as a minor
concentration by undergraduates who are taking degrees in science,
mathematics, or engineering. The CDS minor is intended to supple-
ment one of Caltech’s normal undergraduate degrees and is designed
for students who wish to broaden their knowledge beyond their
normal major or who may wish to pursue a graduate program involv-
ing control or dynamical systems. Students completing the minor 255
requirements below in CDS will have the phrase “minor in control
and dynamical systems” added to their transcripts and their graduating
degree materials.

CDS Minor Requirements

• Complete CDS 110 or CDS 231, and CDS 232.
• Complete nine additional units in CDS courses, chosen from
CMS/ACM/EE 117, CDS 232, CDS 233, CDS 241, CDS 242,
CDS 243, CDS 244.
• Complete a three-term senior thesis approved by the CDS faculty.
All CDS courses to be applied to fulfill the CDS minor require-
ments must be taken for grades, and students must obtain a grade of
B or higher. The senior thesis requirement may be satisfied by com-
pleting a three-term senior thesis in the student’s major option but on
CDS subject matter, with the approval of the thesis topic by the CDS
option representative, or by taking CDS 90 abc.
Courses that are used to satisfy the CDS minor cannot be used to
satisfy course requirements in the major options, with the exception
that CDS 110 may be used in EAS options where this is part of their
requirements (e.g., ChE, EE, ME) and the senior thesis requirement
may be used to satisfy requirements for major options that require a
senior thesis. Courses taken as part of the CDS minor are counted
toward the total 486 units needed for Institute graduation requirements.
A typical course sequence would be to take either CDS 110 or
CDS 232 in the junior year, followed by the remaining courses and
the senior thesis in the senior year. Alternatively, it is possible to take
all requirements in the senior year. In addition to the requirements
above, CS 1 and CS 2 are highly recommended.

Graduation Requirements/Control and Dynamical Systems

 Economics Option
The economics option provides students with an understanding of the
basic principles underlying the functioning of economic institutions. It
offers a modern quantitative approach seldom available at the under-
graduate level. The emphasis on economic principles and modern
methodology provides students with an excellent preparation for grad-
uate study in economics, as well as for professional work in the fields
of business, law, economics, and government.
The option is sufficiently flexible so that students can combine
their pursuit of economics with studies in engineering, mathematics,
or science. The core of the option consists of an economic theory
component, a data analysis component, an applied microeconomic
component, and a macroeconomic/growth component. Students are
strongly encouraged to supplement this core with additional electives
in economics, political science, and mathematics.
Expected learning outcomes from completing the economics option
include:
• a proficiency in applying economic models to understand eco-
nomic institutions;
• a proficiency in analyzing field and experimental data to prove
256 causal relationships between economic variables, to test eco-
nomic theories, and to predict economic outcomes;
• an understanding of the causes of regional and global long-term
economic growth as well as the causes and consequences of eco-
nomic crises throughout history;
• an understanding of the role of market prices in allocating
resources and affecting the distribution of wealth;
• an appreciation of strategic behavior and asymmetric informa-
tion in economic and social interactions; and
• an appreciation of the role of technological change and politics
in shaping economic policies.

Note: The official source on requirements for graduation is the

Caltech catalog from the year in which a student began studies at
Caltech. Please see the catalog online, from this and previous years, for
information regarding the applicable option requirements.

Option Requirements
1. Ec 11.
2. Theory: Ec 121 ab and PS/Ec 172.
3. Data analysis: Ec 122.
4. Applied microeconomics: one of Ec 105 or Ec 135.
5. Macroeconomics and growth: one of Ec/SS 129, 130, or Ec
140.
6. Ma 3.
7. 45 additional units of advanced economics and social science
courses. (Courses that are used to fulfill the Institute advanced
social science requirement [courses numbered 100 and above]
will also count toward this requirement.) Students may also
take classes from the following list in partial fulfillment of this

Undergraduate Information
 requirement: any BEM course except BEM 102; ACM 113 and
ACM/EE 116.
8. 45 additional units of advanced science, social science, math-
ematics, and engineering courses. The requirement cannot be
satisfied by any course with a number less than 100.
9. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
all courses used to satisfy the above requirements.
10. Writing/oral presentation courses: a scientific writing require-
ment course, and a three-unit course in oral communication,
offered by any division (some options combine these two
requirements into one course, that can be taken to satisfy this
requirement), or En/Wr 84. The course used to satisfy this
requirement must be taken on grades.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 3 Sophomore
- 9 - 257
Mathematics
Menu Course - - 9
Ec 11 Introduction to
9 - -
Economics
PS 12 Introduction to Political
- - 9
Science
Electives 1 27 27 27
36 36 45
Third Year
Ec 105 Industrial Organization 9 - -
Ec 121ab Theory of Value 9 9 -
PS/Ec 172 Game Theory - 9 -
Ec 122 Econometrics 9 - -
Electives 1 18 27 45
45 45 45
Fourth Year
En/Wr 84 (or 3 unit course in oral commu-
nication and a scientific writing requirement - - 9
course)
Electives 1 45 45 36
45 45 45
1 See option requirements 5 and 7.

Graduation Requirements/Economics
 Electrical Engineering Option
The objective of the undergraduate program in Electrical
Engineering at Caltech is to produce graduates who will attain careers
and higher education that ultimately lead to leadership roles in aca-
demia, industry, and government in areas of rapidly advancing interdis-
ciplinary technology related to telecommunications, solid-state, robotics,
information, computer and electrical systems.
The program prepares its students for either graduate study, entre-
preneurial careers, or research and development work in government or
industrial laboratories. It inspires them to undertake careers and pro-
fessional practices that provide an opportunity to address the pressing
technological needs of society. It accomplishes this by building on the
core curriculum to provide a broad and rigorous exposure to the funda-
mentals (e.g., math, science, and principles of engineering) of electrical
engineering. EE’s other program objectives are multiple. The program
strives to maintain a balance between classroom lectures and laboratory
and design experience, and it emphasizes the problem formulation,
system-design, and solving skills that are essential to any engineering
discipline. The program is also intended to develop in each student
self-reliance, creativity, teamwork ability, professional ethics, commu-
258 nication skills, and an appreciation of the importance of contemporary
issues and lifelong intellectual growth. For interested students, there are
opportunities to conduct research with a faculty member.
Students electing this option normally choose to take the introduc-
tory seminar EE 1 as a freshman-year elective. The formal study of
electrical engineering begins in the sophomore year with courses such
as, circuits and systems, EE 44; Introduction to Digital Logic and
Embedded Systems EE 10ab; semiconductor sensors and actuators, EE
40; the theory and laboratory practice of analog circuits, EE 45; and
then a course on feedback control systems, EE 113 or CDS 110. The
junior year features the fundamentals of signals and systems and digital
signal processing, EE 111; random variables and stochastic processes,
ACM/EE 116; electromagnetic engineering, EE 151; and an analog
electronics laboratory, EE 90. In the senior year, the student will be
asked to demonstrate his or her ability to formulate and carry out a
design project through independent research or either a senior thesis,
EE 80 abc, or two courses selected from the senior project design lab-
oratory, EE 91 ab, EE/CS 53, and CS/EE/ME 75 c. In addition, the
student throughout his/her studies and especially in the senior year, will
have a significant opportunity to take elective courses that will allow
him/her to explore earlier topics in depth, or to investigate topics that
have not been covered previously. (See the “suggested electives” section,
page 262.)
A student whose interests lie in the electrical sciences but who wishes
to pursue a broader course of studies than that allowed by the require-
ments of the electrical engineering option may elect the engineering and
applied science option.
Attention is called to the fact that any student who has a grade-point
average less than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the subjects list-

Undergraduate Information
ed under electrical engineering may be refused permission to continue
work in this option.

Double Majors
The electrical engineering option allows interested students to declare
electrical engineering as one of the majors in a double major pursuit. To
enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss his/her plans
with the option representative. In general, approval is contingent on
good academic performance by the student and demonstrated ability for
handling the heavier course load. For students simultaneously pursuing
a degree in a second option, courses taken as required courses for that
option can also be counted as EE electives where appropriate. However,
courses that count toward the electives requirement in the other option
cannot be simultaneously counted toward satisfying the elective require-
ment in EE. To qualify for an EE degree, the student would need to
complete all option requirements.

Option Requirements
1. Ma 2, Ma 3, Ph 2 abc.
2. APh/EE 9 a or APh 109.
3. EE 1, E 10, E 11, EE 10ab, 40, 44, 45, 90, 111, 151, 163a, and 259
ACM/EE 116.
4. ACM 95 ab.
5. EE 113 or CDS 110.
6. One term of EE 91.
7. EE 80 abc, or a sequence consisting of CS/EE 143, 144, 145,
or a sequence consisting of BE/EE/MedE 189 a, or one course
selected from an additional term of EE 91, EE/CS 53, EE 119
c, and CS/EE/ME 75 c (note that CS/EE/ME 75 ab does not
satisfy this requirement).
8. In addition to the above courses, 45 units selected from any EE
course numbered over 100, or any cross-listed courses num-
bered over 100 that include EE in the listing. These units must
also include at least one course taken for two quarters (an ab
sequence). Included in these units must be at least one of EE
112, EE/Ma/CS 126a, or EE/Ma/CS 127.
9. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
courses listed above. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1
through 8 must be taken for grades, unless they are only offered
pass/fail.

Typical Course Schedule1

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd

Second Year – Schedule 1

Ph 2 abc Sophomore Physics 9 9 9

Graduation Requirements/Electrical Engineering

 Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
HSS electives 1 9 9 9
Introduction to
EE 40 Semiconductors - - 9
and Sensors
EE 44 Circuits and Systems 12 - -
EE 45 Electronics Laboratory - 12 -
Feedback and Control
EE 113 - - 9
Systems

Introduction to Digital
EE 10 ab Logic and Embedded - 6 6
Systems

Electives 9 - -
48 45 42
Second Year – Schedule 2
Ph 2 abc Sophomore Physics 9 9 9
Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
260
HSS electives 9 9 9
Introduction to
EE 40 - - 9
Semiconductors and Sensors
EE 44 Circuits and Systems 12 - -
EE 45 Electronics Laboratory - 12 -
Feedback and Control
EE 113 - - 9
Circuits
Intro. Methods of Applied
ACM 95 ab - 12 12
Math.
Electives 9 - -
48 51 48
Third Year – Schedule 1
E 10 Technical Seminar Presentations 3 - -
Written Technical
E 11 - 3 -
Communication
ACM 95 Intro. Methods of Applied
- 12 12
ab Math.
HSS electives1 9 9 9
EE 151 Electromagnetic Engineering - - 9
Signals, Systems, and
EE 111 9 - -
Transforms
Introduction to Digital Logic
EE 163a - 9 -
and Embedded Systems
EE 90 Analog Electronics Project Lab - - 9

Undergraduate Information
 ACM/EE Introduction to Probability
9 - -
116 Models
Electives 9 9 9
39 42 48
Third Year – Schedule 2
Technical Seminar
E 10 3 - -
Presentation
Written Technical
E 11 - 3 -
Communication
Introduction to Digital
EE 10 ab Logic and Embedded - 6 6
Systems
HSS electives 9 9 9
Electromagnetic
EE 151 - - 9
Engineering
Signals, Systems, and
EE 111 9 - -
Transforms
EE 163a Communication Theory - 9 -
261
Analog Electronics Project
EE 90 - - 9
Lab
Introduction to Probability
ACM/EE 116 9 - -
Models
Electives 9 18 9
39 45 42
Fourth Year (for project)
HSS electives1 9 9 9
Experimental Projects in
EE 91 ab2 12 - -
Electronic Circuits
EE electives 9 9 9
Electives 9 18 18
39 36 36
Fourth Year (for thesis)
HSS electives1 9 9 9
Experimental Projects in
EE 91 ab2 Electronic 12 - -
Circuits
EE 80 Senior Thesis 9 9 9
EE electives 9 9 9
Electives 3 9 9
42 36 36
1 See Institute requirements for specific rules regarding humanities and social sciences.
2 See option requirements 6 and 7.

Graduation Requirements/Electrical Engineering

 Suggested Electives
First-year students interested in electrical engineering should con-
sider taking APh/EE 9 a (or APh 109 later), which is an EE option
requirement (though it need not be taken freshman year).
Suggested elective courses for the second, third, and fourth year for
various specializations within electrical engineering are given below.
Students interested in other areas of specialization or interdisciplinary
areas are encouraged to develop their own elective program in consul-
tation with their faculty adviser.
Bioengineering
Second Year: Bi 9, Bi 10, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: Bi/Ch 110, Bi/Ch 113, EE/MedE 114,
BE 141, EE/BE/MedE 166, EE/BE/MedE 185, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB
186, BE/EE/MedE 189 ab.

Communications and Signal Processing

Second Year: Selected from APh 17 abc, APh 23, APh 24, EE/CS 53.
Third and Fourth Year: EE 112, EE/Ma/CS 126 ab, 127 ab, EE 128
ab, 161, 163 ab, 164, 167, EE/APh 131, APh/EE 130, 132, Ma 112 a.
262 Control
Second Year: APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: CDS 110, and selections from EE 112, EE
128 ab, EE 164.

Electronic Circuits
Second Year: EE 113, CDS 101, APh/EE 183.
Third and Fourth Year: EE/MedE 114 ab, 124, EE 110abc, 125, 153,
119 ab, CS/EE 181 abc, and selections from EE 112, CS 185 abc,
EE/APh 180, EE 119, EE 160, EE 128 ab.
Microwave and Radio Engineering
Second Year: APh 23, APh 24, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: EE 153, EE/Ae 157 ab, EE/MedE 114 ab,
EE/APh 131, APh/EE 130, 132, APh/EE 183.

Optoelectronics
Second Year: APh 23, APh 24, APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: APh/EE 130, 132, APh 105 abc, APh 114
abc, APh/EE 183, APh 190 abc, EE/APh 131, EE 153.

Solid-State Electronics and Devices

Second Year: APh 17 abc.
Third and Fourth Year: APh/EE 183, and selections from APh 105
abc, APh 114 ab, EE 153, EE/BE 185, EE/MedE 187.

Engineering and Applied Science Option

The engineering and applied science (EAS) option offers students the
opportunity for study in a wide variety of challenging areas of science

Undergraduate Information
and technology and includes a concentration in computation and neu-
ral systems. In addition, the EAS option offers students the possibility
of designing a customized course of study that has breadth, depth, and
rigor similar to the concentrations listed above.
The aim of the EAS option is to prepare students for research and
professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary
technology. The program builds on the core curriculum to combine
individual depth of experience and competence in a particular cho-
sen engineering specialty, and a strong background in the basic and
engineering sciences, with laboratory and design, culminating in a
capstone design experience. It strives to develop professional indepen-
dence, creativity, leadership, and the capacity for continuing profes-
sional and intellectual growth.
The first year of the four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor
of Science degree is common for all students of the Institute, although
freshman elective subjects are available as an introduction to various
aspects of engineering and applied science. At the end of the first
year, students who elect the EAS option are assigned advisers as
close to their expressed field of interest as possible, and together with
their advisers they develop programs of study for the next three years.
Beyond the Institute-wide requirements of physics, mathematics, and 263
humanities, the EAS option requires one year of applied and compu-
tational mathematics and a prescribed number of units selected from a
wide variety of engineering and applied science courses. Engineering
design (synthesis), as distinct from analysis, is considered an essential
part of every engineer’s capability. Advisers will expect students to
select a sufficient number of courses that place emphasis on design.
Any student in the EAS option whose grade-point average is less
than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the subjects listed in the
option requirements may be refused permission to continue to work in
the EAS option.

Option Requirements
Students who have elected the EAS option must either chose one of
the approved areas of concentration (see item 7 a below), or by the end
of the third term of the sophomore year submit a written proposed
customized course of study and obtain approval for it from the EAS
option oversight committee (see item 7 b below).
The course of study must include each of the following elements:
1. Fulfillment of core requirements in differential equations
(Ma2 or equivalent); Probability and Statistics (Ma3, Ge/
ESE118 or equivalent); Waves (Ph2a, Ph12a or equivalent),
Quantum Mechanics (Ph2b, Ph12b, Ch21a or equivalent);
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Ph2c, Ph12c,
ChE63, ME11, Ch21c or equivalent);
2. Demonstration of computer programming competency by
taking CS 1, or by taking an approved alternative course, or by
passing a placement exam administered by the computer science
option by first term of sophomore year.

Graduation Requirements/Engineering and Applied Science

 3. a. 27 units of advanced EAS courses with the prefixes Ae,
ACM, AM, APh, BE, CE, CNS, CS, CDS, EE, ESE, MS, or
ME;
and
b. 27 additional units of either advanced EAS courses or
advanced science courses offered by the biology, CCE, GPS,
or PMA divisions.
4. a. 9 units of laboratory courses taken from the following list:
APh 77 bc, Ae/APh 104 bc, CE 180, CS/CNS 171, 174, EE
45, EE/CS 52 ab, 53, EE 90, EE 91 ab, MS 90, MS 125, ME
72 ab, ME 50ab, ME 90 bc;
and
b. 9 units of additional laboratory courses either from the list
in 3 a or from EAS courses with the word “laboratory” in the
title, but excluding those courses for which freshman laboratory
credit is allowed.
5. ACM 95 ab or Ma 108 abc or Ma 109 abc. None of these
course sequences may be taken pass/fail.
6. E 10 or equivalent; E 11 or equivalent.
7. Courses used to satisfy requirements 1–5 above must also satisfy
264 a depth requirement, which must be met by either:
a. the concentration requirements listed below for
computation and neural systems
or
b. a customized schedule of requirements that is similarly
rigorous to 6 a, has both breadth and depth, and that
includes a senior thesis or capstone design project, such
as, but not restricted to, EE 80 abc, CS 80 abc, ME 90 abc,
or two terms chosen from EE 91 ab and EE/CS 53. To
select this alternative, the student must submit a written
proposal to, and obtain the approval of, the EAS option
oversight committee. This approval must be obtained by the
end of the third term of the sophomore year.
(Note: Students who meet the depth requirement by satisfying
one of the concentration requirements listed in 7 a will have
both the EAS option and the name of the concentration listed
on their transcript, while students who satisfy the depth require-
ment using 7 b will have only the EAS option listed on their
transcript.)
8. At least 117 units of EAS courses not including those used to
satisfy requirements 4, 5, and 6 above. Concentrations marked
with a dagger (†) in the list below include sufficient EAS courses
to automatically satisfy this requirement; concentrations marked
with an asterisk (*), and also the customized schedule given in
7 b, do not do so, in which case students will have to select suf-
ficient additional EAS courses to bring the total to 117 units.
Courses in ChE count toward this requirement.
9. All concentrations and the customized schedule of requirements
described in 7 b shall include a major design experience.

Undergraduate Information
 10. Passing grades must be earned in at least 486 units, including
those listed in requirements 1–8 above.

Discipline Concentration Requirements (to satisfy requirements 7a a

and 8 above)

Computation and Neural Systems*

CNS 100, ACM 11, Bi/CNS/NB 150, Bi/CNS/NB 153, Bi/CNS/
NB 157, Bi/CNS/NB 164, BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191a, CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/
NB 187, CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186, EE 111, Bi 8 (or Bi 1x or Bi 9),
Ph 2 abc, Ma 2, Ma 3 and CS 2 is required in addition to CS 1 for
the CNS concentration. In addition, the laboratory course Bi/CNS
162 is required. The project for CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186 shall be
organized as a design project drawing on the ensemble of CNS disci-
plines.

Typical Course Schedules by Concentration

Variation of the course schedule from these examples should be made
in consultation with the student’s academic adviser and must satisfy
the discipline concentration requirements listed above.
Computation and Neural Systems 265

First Term Second Term Third Term

First Year CS 1 CS 2 Elective
Bi 8
Second Year CNS 100 Elective ACM 11
EE 111

Bi/CNS/NB 150

Ma 2 Ma 3

Ph 2 a Ph 2 b Ph2 c

Third Year CNS 1861 Bi/CNS 1621

ACM 95 a ACM 95 b
Fourth Year CNS 187 Bi 153 Bi 157
E 10 Bi/CNS 164

BE/CS 191 a
1 Offered biannually.

English Option and Minor

The option in English provides students with a broad and intensive
education in the rich traditions of literature in English from the
Middle Ages to the present day, with a particular emphasis on
British and American writing. The English faculty expects under-

Graduation Requirements/English
 graduate option students to become familiar with a range of literary
forms, genres, and styles of expression; to understand how authors and
texts can be shaped by historical contexts; to appreciate differences
in literary expression across time periods and national traditions; to
develop critical reading skills through analysis and interpretation of
literary texts; and to become effective writers in matters of style, orga-
nization, and interpretive argument.
During the senior year, and typically in the first two terms, English
option students enroll in En 99 ab (Senior Tutorial for English
Majors) with a faculty member chosen by mutual agreement. The
Senior Tutorial introduces students to advanced methods in literary
research and analysis and provides an important means for assessing
the progress of English option students in the rigorous study of lit-
erary texts and contexts. Students research, write, and revise a 25-30
page paper on a topic in British or American literature; En 99 a is
primarily a research term, and En 99 b is primarily a writing term.
Both terms involve regular tutorial consultation with the faculty
instructor. English option students should begin considering a senior
thesis topic in the third term of their junior year in consultation with
the option representative or option adviser.
266 In addition to the Senior Tutorial, the English option requires nine
courses, which must include at least one course in each of the follow-
ing areas: British literature, American literature, and literature before
1850. All English option students are assigned an adviser who will
help select courses best suited to their needs and interests, including
where appropriate a limited number of courses in related fields such as
history, film, and literature other than British and American. Students
should consult their option adviser in advance of registration for each
term. All courses counted toward the option must be taken for grades
except for a freshman humanities course in English when taken in the
first two quarters of the freshman year.
Most students pursue English as a second option. The emphasis on
writing and on critical reading helps students develop communication
skills that can enhance their careers as scientists, engineers, and medical
professionals. The English option also provides excellent preparation
for those seeking careers in law, business, and administration, and in
any field that involves extensive communication.

Option Requirements
1. En 99 ab.
2. 81 additional units of English courses numbered 99 and above.
27 of these units must include one course in British literature,
one course in American literature, and one course in literature
before 1850 (En 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 122, 125, 127, 129,
188, 189, 190, and En/H 193, 197). Courses cannot be counted
twice in meeting these distribution requirements. Up to nine
units of freshman humanities in English (courses cross-listed
Hum/En numbered 50 or below) and/or up to nine units of En
98 may be substituted for up to 18 of the remaining 54 English

Undergraduate Information
 units. Students may also substitute courses in foreign literature
(in the original or in translation) and/or, with authorization of the
adviser, related humanities courses numbered above 99, for up to
18 of the remaining 54 English units.
3. 54 additional units of science, mathematics, and engineering
courses. This requirement cannot be satisfied by courses listed
as satisfying the introductory laboratory requirement or by a
course with a number less than 10.
4. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.
Courses used to complete the English option under categories 1
and 2 above may not be used to satisfy the requirements of another
option or minor. However, these courses may be used to satisfy core
Institute requirements in the humanities.

English Minor Requirements

The English minor is designed for students who want to pursue concen-
trated study in English and/or American literature, without the exten-
sive course work and the senior thesis required by the English option.
English minors must take 72 units of English courses. These units
may include one freshman humanities course; they may also include 267
one directed reading course (En 98). Students wishing to do a minor in
English must declare a minor with the English option representative.
All courses to be counted toward the option in English must be taken
for grades except for a freshman humanities course in English when
taken in the first two quarters of the freshman year. Students com-
pleting the English minor requirements will have the phrase “minor in
English” added to their transcripts.
1. 72 units of English courses numbered 99 or above.
2. Nine units of freshman humanities in English (courses cross-list-
ed Hum/En numbered 50 or below) may be substitute for any
nine of the 72 units required for the minor.
3. Nine units of En 98 may be substituted for any nine of the 72
units required for the minor.
Courses used to complete the English minor may not be used to sat-
isfy the requirements of another option or minor. However, these cours-
es may be used to satisfy core Institute requirements in the humanities.

Environmental Science and Engineering Minor

The ESE minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech’s under-
graduate degrees. It is designed for students who wish to broaden their
studies beyond their major to include environmental science and engi-
neering. Students completing the ESE minor requirements will have
the phrase “minor in environmental science and engineering” added to
their transcripts.

ESE Minor Requirements

1. Complete 27 units of ESE 1, 101, 102, or 103
2. Complete 27 additional units of ESE courses (which may

Graduation Requirements/Environmental Science and Engineering

 include up to 18 units of research under ESE 90, including the
required written report).
Except for research courses, all ESE courses to be applied to fulfill the
minor requirements must be taken for grades, and students must maintain
a minimum grade average of B- in this ESE coursework. Courses that
are used to satisfy the ESE minor requirements cannot be used to satisfy
course requirements in the major.

Geobiology, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics,

and Planetary Science Options
The aim of this undergraduate program is to provide thorough training
in the geological and planetary sciences and, wherever possible, to inte-
grate these studies with courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and
biology taken during the student’s earlier years at the Institute. Active
involvement in research, particularly during the summer, is encouraged.
For geologists, field work is important because it provides firsthand
experience with geological phenomena that can never be satisfactorily
grasped or understood solely from classroom or laboratory treatment.
Options are offered in geology, geobiology, geochemistry, geophysics,
and planetary science. Electives permit students to follow lines of special
268 interest in related scientific and engineering fields. Those who do well
in the basic sciences and at the same time have a compelling curiosity
about the earth and the other planets are likely to find their niche in
these options, especially if they enjoy grappling with complex problems
involving many variables. Most students majoring in the earth and plan-
etary sciences now pursue further training at the graduate level.
Under the geobiology option, a student can be associated with either
the biology or the GPS division. This association formally will only
affect which course the students elect to satisfy the Institute-wide oral
presentation requirement; all other geobiology option requirements are
independent of GPS or biology affiliation. In practice, however, we
expect that students’ affiliation with one division or another will signifi-
cantly shape their choice of elective courses.
For students beginning their junior year, it is possible to complete
the requirements for geochemistry, geophysics, and planetary science
options within two years, but there are benefits from starting with the
Ge 11 sequence in the sophomore year. Because Ge 120 ab may not be
offered every year, students in the geology option may also need to take
Ge 106 and Ge 120 a in winter and spring term of their sophomore year
in order to prepare for Ge 120 b the following summer.
Double Majors
For students simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option,
courses taken as required courses for that option can also be counted
as Ge electives where appropriate. However, courses that count toward
the electives requirement in the other option cannot simultaneously be
counted toward satisfying the elective requirement in GPS.

Undergraduate Information
Option Requirements

Geology Option Requirements

1. Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c or Ge 11 d1, Ge 109, and any writing
class that satisfies the Institute scientific writing requirement2.
2. Ma 2 and one choice from: Ma 3, Ge/ESE 118, or Ge/Ay 117.
3. Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a plus an additional quarter of sophomore-level
physics (Ph 2 b, 2 c, 12 b, or 12 c).
4. Either ACM 95 ab or the combination of a full-year chemistry
sequence (Ch 41 abc or Ch 21 abc).
5. Ge 106, 114 ab, 115 ab, 120 ab3.
6. Ge 111 ab or Ge 11 d.
7. Ge 112 or Ge 125.
8. Elective courses in Ge or cross-listed with Ge to bring the total
option units up to 210.
1 No class may be used to simultaneously satisfy more than one of these requirements.
2 For example, E 11 or En/Wr 84.
3 If Ge 120b is not offered, a suitable 3-5 week field camp may be substituted.

Typical Course Schedules

Units per term 269
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 2 & 3 Sophomore mathematics 9 9 -
Ph 2 a & c Sophomore physics 9 - 9
Intro. To Earth and Planetary
Ge 11 abc 9 9 9
Sci.
Ge 106 Intro. to Structural Geology - 9 -
Ge 120a Field Geology Intro. - - 6
HSS electives 9 9 9
36 36 33
Summer
Ge 120 b Field Geology Camp - - 18
Third year
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12
Ge 112 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 12 - -
Ge 114 ab Mineralogy 12 - -
Ge 115 a Petrology and Petrography - 9 -
Ge 111 ab Applied Geophysics - 6 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
33 36 30

Graduation Requirements/Geological and Planetary Sciences

 Fourth Year
Geology electives 9 9 9
Ge 115 b Petrology and Petrography - 9 -
HSS electives 9 9 9
Scientific Writing - - 3
Ge 109 Oral Presentation - - 3
18 27 24

Geobiology Option Requirements

1. Ge 11 abc
2. Bi 8, 9
3. Ma 2 and one course in statistics and data analysis (Ma 3, Bi/
CNS/NB 195, Ge/Ay 117, or Ge/ESE 118).
4. Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a plus an additional quarter of sophomore-level
physics (Ph2 b, c, 12 b, or c).
5. Ch 41 abc and Bi/Ch 110.
6. Ge 109 and any writing class that satisfies the Institute scientific
270 writing requirement 1; or Bi 24.
7. At least 9 units of laboratory instruction from: Bi 10, Ch 7, Ch
8, Ch 15, Ge 116, or Ge 120ab2.
8. Any six courses from the geobiology core: Bi 117, Bi 122, ESE/
Bi 166, ESE/ Bi 168, Ge/ESE 170, Ge 112, Ge/ESE 143, or
Ge 124 ab.
9. 27 units of geobiology electives in geology, biology, chemistry,
and/or environmental engineering to be chosen in consultation
with adviser3.
1For example, E 11 or En/Wr 84; with the approval of their adviser, students may also petition
to do independent writing with a faculty member under Ge 40
2May also be satisfied by units from other courses that have a laboratory component, or substitute

thesis research or independent laboratory research, all with approval of option representative
3May include any courses lsited above that are not being used to fulfill a separate requirement

Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 2 & other Sophomore mathematics 9 9 -
Ph 2 a,c Sophomore physics 9 - 9
Ge 11 abc Intro. to Earth and Planetary Sci. 9 9 9
Ge 109 Oral Presentation - - 5
Introduction to Molecular
Bi 8 - 9 -
Biology
Bi 9 Cell Biology - - 9

Undergraduate Information
 Bi 10 Cell Biology Laboratory - - 6
HSS electives 9 9 9
36 36 47
Third Year
Bi/Ch 110 Intro. to Biochemistry 12 - -
Ge 124 ab Paleomagnetism - - 15
Ge 143 Organic Geochemistry 9 - -
Scientific Writing - 3 -
Ch 41 abc Organic Chemistry 9 9 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
Geobiology electives - 9 -
39 30 42
Fourth Year
ESE/Bi 166 Microbial Physiology 9 - -
ESE/Bi 168 Microbial Metabolic Diversity - 9 -
Ge/ESE 170 Microbial Ecology - - 9 271
Bi 122 Genetics 9 - -
Ge 112 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 12 - -
Ge 116 Analytical Laboratory Techniques - 9 -
HSS electives 9 9 9
Geobiology electives - - 9
39 27 27

Geochemistry Option Requirements1

1. Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c or Ge 11 d, Ge 109, and a science writ-
ing course.2
2. Ma 2 and one choice from: Ma 3, Ge/ESE 118, Ge/Ay 117,
Ph 2c, or Ch 21c.
3. Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a plus an additional quarter of sophomore-level
physics (Ph 2 b, Ph 2 c, Ph 12 b, or Ph 12 c).
4. Either ACM 95 ab or the combination of a full-year chemistry
sequence (Ch 21 abc or Ch 41 abc) plus Ge/ESE 118.
5. Three courses from the list below:
Ge 114 ab (counts as one course), Ge 116, Ge 140 a, Ge 140 b,
Ch 41 a, Ch 21 a, ESE/Ge/Ch 171, Ge/ESE 149.
6. A total of 105 units from this and item 5 that include at least
four courses in the Ge-option:
Ch electives: Ch 4 a, b, Ch 6a, b, Ch 8, Ch/ChE 9, Ch 14, Ch
15, Ch 21 bc, Ch 41 bc, Ch 102.
ChE electives: ChE 63 a, b.
ESE electives: ESE 142, Ge/ESE 143, ESE 103, Ge/ESE 154,
ESE/Ge/Ch 172, ESE/Ch 175, ESE/Ch 176.
Ge electives: Ge 40, Ge 106, Ge 112, Ge 115 a, b, c, Ge 120 a,

Graduation Requirements/Geological and Planetary Sciences

 b, Ge/Ch 127, Ge/Ch 128, Ge/Ay 132, Ge 191, Ge 212, Ge
214, Ge 215, Ge 232.
APh electives: APh 17 a, b, c.
MS electives: MS 105, MS 115, MS 125, MS 131, MS 133, MS
142, MS/ME 161
1 No class may be used to simultaneously satisfy more than one of these requirements.
2 For example, En/Wr 84.

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ge 11 abc Intro. to Earth and Planetary Sci. 9 9 9
Scientific Writing - - 3
Ge 109 Oral Presentation - - 3
Geochemistry core or electives 9 9 9
Ph 2 ab Sophomore Physics 9 9 -
Ma 2 & other Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
272 HSS electives 9 9 9
45 45 33
Third Year
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12
HSS electives 9 9 9
Geochemistry core or electives 18 18 18
27 39 39
Fourth Year
HSS electives 9 9 9
Geochemistry electives 9 9 9
18 18 18

Geophysics Option Requirements

1. Ge 11 a, Ge 11 b, or Ge 11/Ay c, Ge 109, and a science writ-
ing course.1
2. Ge 111 ab, Ge 11 d
3. Ph 2 a, Ph 12 a, Ph 2b or 12b, and one of the following: Ph 2c,
Ph 12c, ME 11a, APh 17a, Ch 21c, Ch 25.
4. Ma 2
5. One of Ma 3, Ge/Ay 117, Ge/ESE 118
6. ACM 95 ab
7. 36 units of advanced science courses selected in consulta-
tion with adviser and approved by the option representative.
Appropriate choices include (but are not limited to): up to 18
units of Me 11and 12, ME 65, 66, AM 125 abc, Ae/Ge/ME

Undergraduate Information
 160, Ph 106 abc, MS 115, MS 133, MS/ME/MedE 116.
8. 36 units of geophysics electives (selected in consultation with
adviser and approved by the option representative). Appropriate
choices include (but are not limited to): up to 9 units of Ge 40
and Ge 41abc, Ge 161–168, Ge 261, Ge 263, ME/Ge/Ae 266ab.
1
For example, E 11, or En/Wr 84.

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Intro. to Earth and Planetary
Ge 11 abc 9 9 9
Sciences
Scientific Writing - - 3
Ge 109 Oral Presentation - - 3
Ph 2 abc Sophomore Physics 9 9 9
Ma 2 & Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
HSS electives 9 9 9
36 36 33 273
Third Year
Intro. to Methods of Applied
ACM 95 ab - 12 12
Math.
Advanced Science Electives 9 9 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
Ge 111 ab Applied Geophysics Seminar - 6 9
Ge 11 d Geophysics - 9 -
18 45 39
Fourth Year
Geophysics electives 18 18 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
27 27 18

Planetary Science Option Requirements

1. Ma 2, 3, Ge/Ay 117 or Ge/ESE 118 may substitute for Ma 3.
2. Ph2 a or 12 a, Ph 2 b or 12 b, and one of the following: Ph 2 c,
Ph 12 c, APh 17 a, Ch 21 c, Ch 25, ME 11 a.
3. Ge 11 ab, Ge/Ay 11 c, Ge 109, and a science writing course.1
4. ACM 95 ab.
5. 45 units of advanced science courses selected in consultation
with adviser and planetary science option representatives.
Appropriate choices include (but are not limited to): Ae/APh/
CE/ME 101 abc, Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab, Ch 21 abc, Ph 101, 106
abc, 125 abc, Ge/ESE 118, ME 12 abc, APh 17 abc, Ay 20,
21, 101, 102, ChE 63 ab, Ch 6 ab, CS 1-3, Ma 112 ab, ME 11
abc, 65, 66, AM 125 abc.

Graduation Requirements/Geological and Planetary Sciences

 6. 63 units selected from Ge 11 d, Ge 40, 41, 102, Ge/Ay 117, Ge/
Ch 128, Ge 131, Ge/Ay 132, Ge/Ay 133, ESE 101-103, Ge/
ESE 150, Ge 151, Ge/EE/ESE 157 c, ESE 130, Ge/ESE 139.
1 For example, E 11, or En/Wr 84.

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ge 11 abc Intro. to Earth and Planetary Sci. 9 9 9
Scientific Writing - - 3
Ge 109 Oral Presentation - - 3
Ph 2 abc Sophomore Physics 9 9 9
Ma 2, 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
HSS electives 9 9 9
36 36 33
Third Year

274 ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12

HSS electives 9 9 9
Advanced science 9 9 9
Planetary science 9 9 9
18 39 30
Fourth Year
HSS electives 9 9 9
Planetary science 9 9 9
Additional science and engineer-
ing 9 9 9
27 27 27

GPS Division Minor Requirements

The minors in the GPS Division are intended for non-GPS under-
graduates to supplement a major degree with knowledge of earth
and planetary science. Students may complete a minor in either
Geobiology, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Planetary Sciences
or a general GPS minor, and will have the phrase “minor in [the
appropriate option]” added to their transcript. Any student interested
in a minor in GPS is urged to contact the appropriate option repre-
sentative in the division.
1. Ge 11 a and Ge 11 b.
2. One of Ge/Ay 11 c or Ge 11 d.
3. 27 units of 100-level or higher GPS courses, excluding Ge 108
and Ge 109, which must be approved by the appropriate option
representative.

Undergraduate Information
History Option and Minor
Students who choose the history option will learn how to do histo-
ry—how to think critically about past societies and their development,
how to read evidence closely, and how to express arguments in writing.
With the guidance of a faculty adviser in history, students taking the
option will explore the range of human experience in the realms of
politics, culture, religion, and economics, as well as science and tech-
nology. They will learn both to challenge and revise existing historical
narratives and question their own ideas and assumptions about the
past. Students will develop the writing skills that will enable them to
use historical sources to make effective arguments, and they will receive
extensive feedback on their writing from their adviser and from other
faculty members.
The history option thus provides science and engineering students
with an important supplement to the scientific training and technical
skills they acquire in other courses and options. It will help them to
understand the world of human beings and human behavior outside of
science with which they will interact and which their scientific work
will affect; to set themselves and their work as scientists and engineers
in this wider context; and to communicate what they are doing to a
wider public as well as to their colleagues. In addition, it offers excel- 275
lent preparation for careers in business, administration, law, journalism,
or public affairs, as well as a solid foundation for graduate work in
history.
History majors must take at least 99 units of history courses (which
may include a freshman humanities course in history) during their four
years as undergraduates. Of these, 27 must be in the senior tutorial
(H 99 abc). All courses to be counted toward the history option must
be taken for grades except for a freshman humanities course in history
when taken in the first two quarters of the freshman year. History
majors may also choose to take one term of H 98, an individual pro-
gram of directed reading that will allow students to explore areas of
history not covered by regular courses.
Each history major will choose an area of concentration in con-
sultation with his or her adviser and the history option representative.
These areas might include, but are not restricted to, fields such as
ancient history, medieval Europe, early-modern Europe, modern
Europe, Russian history, American history pre- 1865, American history
post-1865, early-modern history of science, modern history of science,
or economic history. He or she must take 63 units of courses in this
area; 27 of these units must be in the senior tutorial H 99 abc.
In the senior tutorial, students will have the opportunity over the
course of three terms to explore in depth an historical subject of par-
ticular interest to them, while working one-on-one with a member of
the history faculty. They will learn how to carry out historical research,
in libraries as well as on-line, and engage critically with both primary
and secondary historical sources. Finally, they will learn, under the
direct supervision of their faculty mentor, to organize and to write an
extensive research paper, of at least 30 pages, that makes an original,

Graduation Requirements/History
 clear and persuasive scholarly argument. In H 99a, students will carry
out general research in their area of interest, and identify the specific
topic on which they wish to write. In H 99b they will learn to frame
a research question, carry out independently the necessary research to
answer it, and generate an outline of their paper. In H 99c they will
write and revise their paper in response to feedback from their faculty
mentor.
Each student must take the remaining 36 units of history required by
the option in areas other than the area of concentration, again defined
in consultation with his or her adviser and the history option represen-
tative. These areas may include not only fields within the discipline of
history proper, but also useful cognate fields such as economics, political
science, anthropology, law, English, or a foreign language.
A student considering the history option when he or she comes to
Caltech will be well advised to take a freshman humanities course in
history (courses cross-listed Hum/H numbered 50 or below). In the
sophomore year, the student should take upper-level history courses,
but this is also a good time to pursue the study of English or philoso-
276 phy, to begin or continue a foreign language, and to do introductory
work in the social sciences. A student will normally make a commit-
ment to an area of concentration early in the junior year. At the begin-
ning of the senior year, a history major will enroll in H 99 abc with a
faculty member in his or her area of concentration.

Option Requirements
1. H 99 abc.
2. 72 additional units of history courses numbered 99 or above.
Up to nine units of freshman humanities in history (courses
cross-listed Hum/H numbered 50 or below) and/or up to nine
units of H 98 may be substituted for up to 18 of these units.
3. 63 of the total history units, including H 99 abc, must be in an
area of concentration, as defined in consultation with the stu-
dent’s adviser and the history option representative.
4. 36 of the total history units must be in an area or areas other
than the area of concentration, as defined in consultation with
the student’s adviser and the history option representative. H 99
abc may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
5. 54 additional units of science, mathematics, and engineering
courses. This requirement cannot be satisfied by courses list-
ed as satisfying the introductory laboratory requirement or by
menu courses.
6. Three units of oral communication. En 84 satisfies this require-
ment, as do oral communication courses offered by other
options.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.
Courses used to complete the history option under categories 1,
2, or 3 above may not be used to satisfy the requirements of another
option or minor.

Undergraduate Information
History Minor Requirements
The history minor is designed for students who want to pursue
concentrated study in history without the extensive course work and
the senior thesis required by the history option.
History minors must take 72 units of history courses. These units
may include one freshman humanities course; they may also include
one directed reading course (H 98). All courses to be counted toward
the history minor must be taken for grades except for a freshman
humanities course in history when taken in the first two quarters of
the freshman year. Students wishing to do a minor in history must
declare a minor with the history option representative. Students com-
pleting the history minor requirements will have the phrase “minor in
history” added to their transcripts.
1. 72 units of history courses numbered 99 or above.
2. Nine units of freshman humanities in history (courses cross-
listed Hum/H numbered 50 or below) may be substituted for
any nine of the 72 units required for the minor.
3. Nine units of H 98 may be substituted for any nine of the 72
units required for the minor. 277
Students cannot use history minor requirements to satisfy a differ-
ent option or minor.

History and Philosophy of Science Option and Minor

The history and philosophy of science option (HPS) provides students
the opportunity to explore the historical evolution of the sciences and
the philosophical perspectives that inform them, as well as the dynamics
between science, technology, and other human endeavors.
HPS courses in history help students learn about the origins of exper-
imental practice; the social and institutional contexts of science; the
origins and applications of quantitative methods; specific developments
since antiquity in physics, biology, chemistry, geography and cartography,
medicine; and biographical and comparative studies in these fields. HPS
courses in philosophy deal with issues in causation and explanation; the
foundations of probability and statistical inference; and philosophical
problems in particular fields such as biology, mathematics, medicine, neu-
roscience, and physics. In their coursework, students receive regular feed-
back from the faculty on their research, writing, and presentation skills.
They have the opportunity to carry out independent research, especially in
their thesis work, and present their findings in a seminar setting.
This option thus aims to give students a broad, basic understanding
of how science is practiced and how that practice has changed over time.
Students learn to address questions such as: To what extent was the
scientific revolution revolutionary? What is a scientific explanation and
how do scientists go about constructing and justifying one? How have
conceptions of scientific experimentation changed? What are the ethical
issues raised by experimentation with human or animal subjects? How has
relativity theory changed our conceptions of space and time? The option is
designed to complement the regular science curriculum at Caltech, offer-
ing students the opportunity to enlarge upon, and to contextualize, the
strong technical skills they acquire in other courses and options.

Graduation Requirements/History and Philosophy of Science

 Because of its emphasis on essay writing and formulating complex
philosophical and historical arguments, our curriculum provides training
in writing and communication skills that are increasingly vital today.
The HPS option provides excellent preparation for students going into
law, business, medicine, science journalism and public affairs, and it also
prepares students for graduate work in the history and/or philosophy of
science.

Option Requirements
1. Hum/H/HPS 18; HPS 102 ab; HPS/Pl 120; and HPS 103 (one
quarter). (HPS 102 b fulfills the Institute science writing require-
ment.)
2. One advanced course in the history of science, chosen from
HPS/H offerings with a course number of 98 or higher; one
advanced course in philosophy of science, chosen from HPS/
Pl offerings with a course number of 98 or higher; and any four
courses in HPS. (No more than 9 units of HPS 98 may be counted
towards the HPS major.)
3. 45 units of courses in science, mathematics, and engineering. This
requirement cannot be satisfied by courses listed as satisfying the
278 introductory laboratory requirement or by a course with a number
less than 10.
4. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including all
courses used to satisfy the above requirements.
Courses used to complete the history and philosophy of science option
under categories 1, 2, or 3 above may not be used to satisfy the require-
ments of another option or minor.
We recommend that students intending to follow the HPS option
take Hum/H/HPS 18, Introduction to History of Science, as one of their
freshman humanities courses. Students making the decision to follow this
option in their sophomore year should take Hum/H/HPS 18 and HPS/
Pl 120, Introduction to Philosophy of Science, as early as possible in that
year. Students may also enter the option in their junior year if they can
complete the option’s requirements in time for graduation. Please also
note the following:
Not all required courses are offered each term; students should consult
the current catalog to determine which terms required courses are being
offered, and should construct their course plan for the year accordingly.
We encourage students to choose their advanced social science electives
from among courses that will enlarge their perspective on topics related to
HPS (for example, Ec 118, Ec/SS 128, Ec/SS 129, Ec/SS 130, PSY 101,
PSY 115, PSY 125, PSY 130, PS 120, PS 121, PS 122, An 22).
HPS 102ab, the Senior Research Seminar, may be taken in any two
consecutive terms in the Senior year. Students should coordinate with
their HPS adviser in determining their course schedule.

Undergraduate Information
Typical Course Schedule

First Year
It is recommended that students intending to follow the HPS option take
Hum/H/HPS 18 as one of their freshman humanities courses.

Units per term

1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
HPS 181 Introduction to History of Science 9 - -
HPS/Pl 1201 Introduction to Philosophy of Science - 9 -
Advanced HPS/history - - 9
HPS 103 Public Lecture Series 1 1 1
Menu course - - 9
Ec 11
Introductory Social Science 9 - -
or PS 12
Other electives 27 36 27
46 46 46 279

Third Year
HPS 103 Public Lecture Series 1 1 1
Advanced HPS/history - 9 9
Advanced HPS/philosophy 9 9 9
Science, math, engineering 9 9 9
Advanced social science2 9 - -
Other electives 18 18 18
46 46 46
Fourth Year
HPS 103 Public Lecture Series 1 1 1
HPS 102 ab3 Senior Research Seminar - 12 12
Advanced social science2 9 - -
Science, math, engineering 9 9 9
Other electives 27 18 18
46 40 40

1 Not all required courses are offered each term; students should consult the current catalog to
determine which terms required courses are being offered, and they should construct their course
plan for the year accordingly.
2 We encourage students to choose their advanced social science electives from among courses that
will enlarge their perspective on topics related to HPS (for example, Ec 118, Ec/SS 128, Ec/SS
129, Ec/SS 130, PSY 101, PSY 115, PSY 125, PSY 130, PS 120, PS 121, PS 122, An 22)

Graduation Requirements/History and Philosophy of Science

 3 Finally, HPS 102 ab, Senior Research Seminar, may be taken in any two consecutive terms in
the senior year. Students should coordinate with their HPS adviser in determining their course
schedule.

History and Philosophy of Science Minor Requirements
The minor in HPS is designed for students who want to pursue con-
centrated study in the field without the extensive course work and the
senior thesis required by the HPS option.
HPS minors must complete 72 units of HPS courses. Freshman
Humanities courses other than Hum/H/HPS 18 may not be counted
towards an HPS minor. Students wishing to do a minor in HPS must
declare a minor with the HPS option representative. Those com-
pleting the HPS minor requirements will have the phrase “minor in
History and Philosophy of Science” added to their transcripts.
72 units of HPS courses numbered 99 or above.
9 units of HPS 98 may be substituted for any 9 of the 72 unit
required for the minor.
9 units of Hum/H/HPS 18 may be substituted for any 9 of the 72
units required for the minor.
Students cannot use HPS minor requirements to satisfy a different
280 option or minor.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program

The Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP) is an undergraduate
option that allows the student to create his or her own scholastic
requirements, under faculty supervision, and to pursue positive edu-
cational goals that cannot be achieved in any of the other available
options. A student’s program may include regular Caltech courses,
research courses, courses at other schools, and interdisciplinary study
courses (item 5, next page). In scope and depth, the program must
be comparable to a normal undergraduate program, but it need not
include all of the specific courses or groups of courses listed in the for-
mulated Institute option requirements for undergraduates.
The Curriculum Committee, a standing committee of the faculty,
has overall responsibility for the program. In addition, each student
has his or her own committee of at least two advisers, two of whom
must be professorial faculty. Application material may be obtained at
the dean of undergraduate students' office or website.

Administrative Procedures and Guidelines

1. An interested student must recruit at least two professorial faculty
members representing at least two different degree-granting options
to serve as the ISP faculty committee. Each member of the faculty
committee must provide a letter that includes:
a. Faculty name and department/division, and the discipline they
“represent” within the proposed ISP.
b. Faculty’s assessment of the student’s ISP proposal, including
the proposed degree title, as it relates to that faculty’s
discipline.
c. Faculty assessment of whether the student could choose an

Undergraduate Information
 existing degree-granting option with some acceptable
accommodations, rather than create an ISP. That is, does this
ISP enable something that could not be accomplished in a
single option or major/minor combination.
2. Send the ISP proposal (cover sheet, proposed curriculum,
and the aforementioned letters from professorial faculty
advisers to the dean of undergraduate students for review
and approval.
3. The dean of undergraduate students sends the ISP petition
to the Curriculum Committee for review and final approval.
This contract includes the agreed-upon content of the student’s
program and the methods for ascertaining satisfactory progress
for those parts of the student’s program that are not standard
Institute courses. This contract may of course be amended, but
any amendments must be approved by the committee of two
and the Curriculum Committee. Copies of each student’s con-
tract and of all amendments thereto, along with all ISP records
for each student and his or her transcript, are kept in the per-
manent files of the Registrar’s Office. Passing grades must be
earned in a total of 486 units.
4. The progress of each student in the ISP is monitored each 281
quarter by the registrar, and any deviations from the terms
of the contract are reported to the chair of the Curriculum
Committee. Standards for acceptable progress and for satisfactory
completion of the terms of the contract are the responsibility of
the Curriculum Committee. When the Committee is satisfied
that the terms of the contract have been fulfilled by the student,
it recommends the student to the faculty for graduation.
5. A plan of study may include special ISP courses to accommo-
date individual programs of study or special research that
falls outside ordinary course offerings. In order that credit be
received for an ISP course, a written course contract specifying
the work to be accomplished, time schedule for progress reports
and completed work, units of credit, and form of grading must
be agreed upon by the instructor, the student, and the commit-
tee of two, and submitted to the registrar prior to initiating the
work in the course. ISP courses are recorded on the student’s
transcript in the same manner as are other Caltech courses.
6. ISPs are intended for multiyear programs. Accordingly, the
Curriculum Committee urges students contemplating an ISP to
submit their petition during their second year and will not nor-
mally consider such petitions any later than the first term of the
student’s third year.

Materials Science Option

The aim of the Materials Science option is to prepare students for
research, professional practice, or advanced study in a rapidly advanc-
ing interdisciplinary field. The program builds on the core curriculum
to develop analytical competence and use it for individualized research,

Graduation Requirements/Materials Science

 culminating in a one-year senior thesis. Materials Science students
develop professional independence, creativity, leadership, and the
capacity for continuing professional and intellectual growth.
The first year of the four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor
of Science degree is common for all students of the Institute, although
freshman elective subjects are available as an introduction to various
aspects of engineering and applied science. At the end of the first year,
students who elect the Materials Science option are assigned advisers
appropriate for their expressed field of interest. Together with their
advisers, they develop programs of study for the next three years.
Beyond the Institute-wide requirements of physics, mathematics, and
humanities, the Materials Science option requires one year of applied
and computational mathematics and a prescribed number of units
selected from a wide variety of courses in science and engineering. An
undergraduate thesis is an essential part of the academic program.
Any student in the Materials Science option whose grade-point
average is less than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the subjects
listed in the option requirements may be refused permission to contin-
ue to work in the Materials Science option.

282 Option Requirements

1. Fulfillment of extended core requirements in Differential
Equations (Ma 2 or equivalent); Probability and Statistics (Ma
3, Ge/ESE 118 or equivalent); Waves (Ph 2a, Ph 12a or equiv-
alent), Quantum Mechanics (Ph 2b, Ph 12b, Ch 21a or equiv-
alent); Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (Ph 2c, Ph
12c or equivalent).
2. Demonstration of competency in computer programming or
computer science by taking CS 1, or by taking an approved
alternative course, or by passing a placement exam administered
by the computer science option.
3. 9 units of laboratory courses taken from the following list: APh
77 bc, Ae/APh 104 bc, CE 180, CS/CNS 171, CS/CNS 174,
EE 45, EE/CS 52 ab, EE/CS 53, EE 90, EE 91 ab, MS 122,
MS 125, MS 142, ME 72 ab, ME 50ab.
4. 9 units of additional laboratory courses either from the list
above or from EAS courses with the word “laboratory” in the
title, but excluding those courses for which freshman laboratory
credit is allowed.
5. ACM 104 and ACM 95 ab, or Ma 108 abc, or Ma 109 abc.
6. E 10 or equivalent; E 11 or equivalent.
7. APh 17 ab or ChE 63 ab or APh 105 ab.
8. MS 115 and MS/ME/MedE 116 and MS 90 (or other appro-
priate laboratory in MS).
9. At least 45 of additional units from the following list of restrict-
ed electives: ACM 104, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, APh 105
abc, APh 114 abc, APh/EE 130, APh/EE 183, Ch 21 abc, Ch
120 ab, Ch 121 ab, Ch 125 abc, Ch/ChE 147, ChE/Ch 148,
CS 11, Ge 114 ab, ME 12 abc, MS 122, MS 125, MS 131,

Undergraduate Information
 MS 132, MS 133, MS 142, Ph 125 abc. Substitution of courses
may be approved at the discretion of the option representative.
10. Senior thesis MS 78 abc.
Passing grades must be earned in at least 486 units, including those
listed in requirements 1–10 above.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
CS 1 Intro. to Computer Programming 9 - -
Ma 2 Differential Equations 9 - -
Ma 3 Intro. to Probability and Statistics - 9 -
MS 90 Materials Science Laboratory - - 9
MS 115 Fundamentals of Materials Science 9 - -
MS 116 Mechanical Behavior of Materials - 9 -
Ph 2 abc or Waves, Quantum Mechanics and
9 9 9 283
Ph 12 abc Statistical Physics
HSS Electives - 9 18
36 36 36
Third Year
ACM 104 Applied Linear Algebra 9 - -
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12
APh 105abc States of Matter 9 9 9
MS 131 Structure and Bonding in Materials 9 - -
MS 132 Diffraction and Structure - 9 -
MS 133 Kinetic Processes in Materials - - 9
HSS Electives 9 9 9
Lab Class 9 9 -
Restricted Electives (from 11) - 9 9
45 48 48
Fourth Year
E 10 Technical Seminar Presentation 3 - -
E 11 Written Technical Communication - 3 -
MS 78abc Senior Thesis 9 9 9
HSS Electives 9 9 9
Lab Class 9 - -
Restricted Electives 18 18 18
48 39 36

Graduation Requirements/Materials Science

 Mathematics Option
The four-year undergraduate program in mathematics leads to the
degree of Bachelor of Science. The purpose of the undergraduate
option is to give students an understanding of the broad outlines
of modern mathematics, to stimulate their interest in research, and
to prepare them for later work, either in pure mathematics or allied
sciences. Unless students have done very well in mathematics courses
in their freshman and sophomore years, they should not contemplate
specializing in mathematics.
Since the more interesting academic and industrial positions open
to mathematicians require training beyond a bachelor’s degree, students
who intend to make mathematics their profession must normally plan
to continue with graduate study. Some students use their background in
mathematics as an entry to other fields, such as physics, computer sci-
ence, statistics, economics, business, finance, medicine, or law.
The schedule of courses in the undergraduate mathematics option is
flexible. It enables students to adapt their programs to their needs and
mathematical interests and gives them the opportunity to become
familiar with creative mathematics early in their careers. In particular,
students are encouraged to consider courses in areas such as applied
284 and computational mathematics, physics, finance, economics, control
and dynamical systems, computer science, electrical engineering, and com-
putation and neural systems.
Freshman considering majoring in mathematics should be aware
that the department strongly recommends taking the analytical
track of Ma 1 bc. During each term of their junior and senior
years, students normally take 18 units of courses in mathematics or
applied and computational mathematics, including the required cours-
es Ma 108 abc and 109 abc. Any course listed under applied and compu-
tational mathematics is regarded as an elective in mathematics and not
as an elective in science, engineering, or humanities. Those who have
not taken Ma 5 as sophomores must do so as juniors. Overloads in
course work are strongly discouraged; students are advised instead to
deepen and supplement their course work by independent reading.
A student whose grade-point average is less than 1.9 at the end of
the academic year in the subjects under mathematics and applied and
computational mathematics may, at the discretion of the department,
be refused permission to continue work in the mathematics option.

Option Requirements
1. Ma 2.
2. Ma 3 or Ma 144a.
3. Either Ph 2bc or Ph 12abc (the departmental recommendation
is the Ph 12abc sequence).
4. Ma 5 abc, Ma 10, Ma 108 abc, Ma 109 abc.
5. Ma/CS 6 a or Ma 121 a.
6. Ma/CS 6 c or Ma 116 a or Ma/CS 117 a.
7. 45 additional units in Ma numbered 110 or above or ACM
numbered 95 or above. Courses in other options with high
mathematical content may be used to fulfill this requirement

Undergraduate Information
 with the approval of the executive officer for mathematics. Of
these 45 units, at most 18 can be in ACM or other courses out-
side Ma. Math courses taken elsewhere and allowed (such as in
a study abroad program) are included in this 18 units outside of
Caltech Ma courses.
8. Math majors must take two quarters (18 units) of a single
course, chosen from the Ma course listings with numbers
between 110 and 190, inclusive. (In years where one of these
courses is given as a one-term course only, it cannot be used to
satisfy this requirement.) These two quarters may be used to
meet requirements 2, 5, 6 or 7.
9. Unlike courses satisfying requirements 7 and 8, which may be
taken pass/fail, none of the courses satisfying requirements 1–6
may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
10. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
285
Second Year
Ma 2, 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
Ph 2 bc Sophomore Physics - 9 9
Ma 5 abc Introduction to Abstract Algebra 9 9 9
HSS electives 9 9 9
Electives 1 18 9 18
45 45 45
Third Year
Ma 10 Oral Presentation 3 - -
Ma 108 abc Classical Analysis 9 9 9
Introduction to Discrete
Ma/CS 6 ac 9 - 9
Mathematics
HSS electives 9 9 9
Electives1 18 27 18
48 45 45
Fourth Year
Introduction to Geometry and
Ma 109 abc 9 9 9
Topology
HSS electives 9 9 9
Electives1 27 27 27
45 45 45
1 Includesmenu course (second year, if not taken in freshman year). Also must include courses
to meet option requirements 4, 5.

Graduation Requirements/Mathematics
Historical Sketch
 Mechanical Engineering Option
The objective of the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering
at Caltech is to produce graduates who will attain careers and higher
education that ultimately lead to leadership roles in academia, industry
and government in areas of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technolo-
gy related to fluid, solid, thermal and mechanical systems.
The program prepares students for graduate school and professional
practice and inspires them to undertake careers that provide an opportu-
nity to address the pressing technological needs of society. Specifically,
the program builds on Caltech’s core curriculum to combine individual
depth of experience and competence in a particular chosen mechanical
engineering specialty with a strong background in the basic and engi-
neering sciences. It maintains a balance between classroom lectures and
laboratory and design experience, and emphasizes the problem-formu-
lation and solving skills that are essential to any engineering discipline.
The program also strives to develop in each student self-reliance, cre-
ativity, leadership, professional ethics, and the capacity for continuing
professional and intellectual growth. For interested students, there are
opportunities to conduct research with a faculty member.
The outcome of the undergraduate program is to prepare the student
286 to build on a fundamental education in physics, mathematics, chem-
istry and biology and to apply those principles to the solution of open
ended engineering problems; to design, analyze, measure, and evaluate
fluid, thermal and mechanical systems; to work effectively as part of a
team; to communicate effectively; to apply ethical considerations; and to
understand the broader impacts of engineering developments, including
societal, cultural and environmental concerns.
Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that is generally
concerned with understanding forces and motion, and their application
to solving problems of interest to society. The field includes aspects of
thermodynamics, fluid and solid mechanics, mechanisms, materials, and
energy conversion and transfer, and involves the application of physics,
mathematics, chemistry, and increasingly, biology and computer sci-
ence. Importantly, the field also emphasizes the process of formulation,
design, optimization, manufacture, and control of new systems and
devices.
Technical developments in the last decade have established the
importance of interdisciplinary engineering and science, and as a result,
new technical disciplines within mechanical engineering have emerged.
These new areas build on an understanding of the fundamental behavior
of physical systems; however, the focus of this work is at the interfaces
between traditional disciplines. Examples of the new disciplines include:
micro- and nano-mechanical systems, simulation and synthesis, inte-
grated complex distributed systems, and biological engineering.
Mechanical engineers can be found in many fields including auto-
motive, aerospace, materials processing and development, power pro-
duction, consumer products, robotics and automation, semiconductor
processing, and instrumentation. Mechanical engineering can also be the
starting point for careers in bioengineering, environmental and aeronau-
tical engineering, finance, and business management.

Undergraduate Information
 The mechanical engineering option is accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050,
Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, (410) 347-7700.
At the end of the first year, students who elect the mechanical engi-
neering option are assigned advisers as close to their expressed field of
interest as possible, and together they develop programs of study for the
next three years.
A student whose interests relate to mechanical engineering, but
who wishes to pursue a broader course of study than that allowed by
the requirements below, may elect the engineering and applied science
option.
Attention is called to the fact that any student whose grade-point
average is less than 1.9 at the end of the academic year in the required
courses listed below may be refused permission to continue work in this
option.

Option Requirements
1. Technical communication: E10 and E11
2. Mathematics: Ma 2, ACM 95 a, ACM 95 b, and 18 units
selected from Ma 3, 4, 5abc, 6abc, 7, or any Math or ACM
courses numbered 100 and above. 295
287
3. Physics: 18 units selected from Ph 2abc.
4. Computing: 9 units selected from ACM 11, CS1, CS2, CS11,
or EE/CS 51.
5. ME Core: ME10, ME11abc, ME12abc, ME13, ME14, and
ME 50ab.
6. Capstone design: ME72ab or E/ME 105ab or ME90abc or
CS/EE/ME75abc*.
7. 45 units of advanced mechanical engineering electives selected
from ME courses with numbers greater than 100, excluding
courses listed above, and/or advanced courses in related disci-
plines**.
8. Courses satisfying requirements 1 through 7 must be taken for
grades, unless they are only offered pass/fail.
* Students electing CS/EE/ME 75abc must complete at least 18 units distributed amongst all three quarters
** These courses are selected in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser and typically taken in the third and fourth years.
The course selections must be approved in advance by the adviser, but can be later modified, again with the approval of the adviser.
Specialization tracks include micro- and nano-mechanical systems, systems, kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics,
control systems, design, thermal systems, energy, combustion, and biological engineering. Please consult the Mechanical and Civil
Engineering website and/or the adviser for further information.

Typical Course Schedule

Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 2 Differential Equations 9 - -
Computing Elective 9 - -
ME10 Thinking Like an Engineer 1 - -

Graduation Requirements/Mechanical
Historical
Engineering
Sketch
 ME 11 abc Thermal Science 9 9 9
ME 12 abc Mechanics 9 9 9
ME 13 Mechanical Prototyping - 4 -
ME 14 Design and Fabrication - - 9
37 22 27
Third Year
Math Electives 9 - -
Physics Electives 9 - 9
ACM 95
Intro. Meth. Applied Math. - 12 12
ab
ME 50 ab Exp. and Modeling in ME - 9 9
Capstone Design 9 9 -
E 10 Technical Seminar Presentation - - 3
E 11 Written Technical Communication 3 - -
30 30 33

288 Fourth Year

Math Electives - 9 -
Advanced ME electives 18 18 9
18 27 9

Philosophy Option and Minor

The philosophy option provides students with a broad education in
philosophy that is designed to complement the scientific curriculum
at Caltech. Philosophy majors will be expected to learn about some
of the major figures and movements in the history of philosophy, and
to learn about contemporary philosophical debates. The philosophy
option also aims to provide students with new perspectives on the
material they learn in their science courses, and to enable them to
bring their technical skills and scientific learning to traditional prob-
lems in philosophy.
The philosophy curriculum will help students to acquire the basic
tools of philosophical analysis: the ability to read and interpret philo-
sophical texts; the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of phil-
osophical arguments; the ability to develop well-reasoned defenses of
philosophical positions; and the ability to anticipate objections to one’s
own views. In addition, the philosophy option will train students to
express themselves clearly and concisely in both writing and speaking.
These critical thinking and communication skills provide an excellent
foundation for any intellectual endeavor, and are critical to those pur-
suing careers in fields such as law, business, medicine, and scientific
research.

Undergraduate Information
 The courses in the philosophy option concentrate in four major
areas: philosophy of science; philosophy of mind, brain, and behavior;
history of philosophy; and ethics. In their coursework, students will
have the opportunity to discuss and debate philosophical issues in
small groups, and will learn how to offer and receive constructive
criticism. They will also receive detailed feedback on their per-
suasive writing from several different members of the philosophy
faculty.

In their senior thesis, philosophy majors will have the opportunity

to pursue more intensive research in one particular area of philosophy,
and to sustain an argument on a larger scale, while working one-on-
one with a member of the philosophy faculty. This will provide inter-
ested students with a solid foundation for graduate work in philosophy
and related fields.
Philosophy majors must take at least 99 units of philosophy courses
during their four years as undergraduates. These must include 18 units
of Pl 90 ab, to be taken in any two consecutive terms in the senior
year. The 99 units may include nine units of freshman humanities in
philosophy (courses cross-listed Hum/Pl numbered 50 or below), nine
units of Pl 98, and up to 18 units of study in related disciplines. 289
Depending on their interests, philosophy majors may be required
by the option representative or their advisers to take up to 18 units in
one or more related areas. For example, students writing on political
philosophy or philosophy of neuroscience will be expected to have the
appropriate political science or neuroscience background. Students
whose primary interest lies in the philosophy of science—particularly
in the philosophy of specific sciences such as physics or biology—will
have their intellectual interests best served by taking classes in both
the history and philosophy of science. Such students are encouraged to
pursue the HPS option; or, if they choose the philosophy option, they
may be required to take some history of science courses as part of their
99-unit requirement.
Students considering the philosophy option will be well advised to
take a freshman humanities course in philosophy. From the sopho-
more year onward, they should plan on taking one philosophy course
per term, culminating in two terms of Pl 90 ab in the senior year.
Students in Pl 90 ab work with a faculty adviser to write a 10,000- to
12,000-word paper on a topic of mutual interest. Senior theses are
expected to be of a high standard and to form the basis of students’
applications to graduate study in philosophy, should they so desire.
With the exception of Pl 98 and courses taken during the first two
quarters of the freshman year, all courses to be counted toward the
philosophy option must be taken for grades unless special permission
is granted by the option representative.

Option Requirements
1. Pl 90 ab.
2. 63 units of advanced philosophy courses, numbered 99 or above.

Graduation Requirements/Philosophy
Historical Sketch
 Up to nine units of freshman humanities in philosophy (courses
cross-listed Hum/Pl numbered 50 or below) and/or up to nine
units of Pl 98 may be substituted for up to 18 of these advanced
units.
3. 18 units of advanced philosophy courses numbered 99 or above,
or advanced non-philosophy courses that are closely related to
the student’s area(s) of philosophical interest. (Students wishing
to count non-philosophy courses toward their option require-
ments must obtain prior approval from the philosophy option
representative or their adviser. Students will normally not be
permitted to satisfy this requirement with core courses.)
4. 54 units of science, mathematics, and engineering courses in
addition to the core. This requirement cannot be satisfied by
core or menu courses, or by courses listed as satisfying the
introductory laboratory requirement. Students are strongly
encouraged to choose their additional courses in areas that com-
plement their philosophy studies.
5. Three units of oral communication. En 84 satisfies this
requirement, as do oral communication courses offered by other
options.
290 6. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.
Courses used to complete the philosophy option under categories 1,
2, or 3 above may not be used to satisfy the requirements of another
option or minor.

Philosophy Minor Requirements

The minor in philosophy is designed for students who want to pursue
concentrated study in philosophy without the extensive course work
and the senior thesis required by the philosophy option.
Philosophy minors must complete 72 units of philosophy courses.
Students wishing to do a minor in philosophy must declare a minor
with the philosophy option representative. Students completing the
philosophy minor requirements will have the phrase “minor in phi-
losophy” added to their transcripts. With the exception of Pl 98 and
courses taken during the first two semesters of freshman year, all
courses to be counted toward the philosophy option or minor must
be taken for grades unless special permission is granted by the option
representative.
1. 72 units of philosophy courses numbered 99 or above.
2. Nine units of Pl 98 may be substituted for any nine units of the
72 required for the minor.
3. Nine units of freshman humanities in philosophy (courses
cross-listed Hum/Pl numbered 50 or below) may be substituted
for any nine units of the 72 required for the minor.
Courses used to complete the philosophy minor may not be used to
satisfy the requirements of another option or minor.

Undergraduate Information
Physics Option
The physics option offers instruction in the fundamentals of modern
physics and provides a foundation for graduate study, which is gener-
ally necessary for a career in basic research. The physics program also
forms an excellent basis for future work in a variety of applied fields.
An intensive version of the sophomore physics course (waves,
quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics) is offered for those
planning further study in physics, and the required junior-lev-
el courses give a thorough treatment of fundamental principles.
Elective courses taken during the junior and senior years allow
students to explore their particular interests. Some electives offer
broad surveys, while others concentrate on particular fields of cur-
rent research. A choice of laboratory courses is offered at several
levels.
Students are encouraged to become active participants in
research on campus, both during the summer and during the
school year. Academic credit for physics work done outside of the
classroom can be awarded in a variety of ways.
Students must maintain a grade-point average of 1.9 or better
each year in the subjects listed under this division to remain in the
physics option. 291

Option Requirements
The first five requirements should be completed by the end of the
second year. In planning a program, note that Ph 6 and Ph 7 are each
offered only once per year, in the second and third terms, respectively.
1. Ph 3.1
2. Ma 2 and Ma 3.
3. Ph 12 abc.
4. Ph 6.
5. Ph 7.
6. 27 units of Ph 78, or 18 units of Ph 77, or 9 units of Ph 77 and
9 units from APh 77 or Ay 105.
7. Ph 70.2
8. Ph 106 abc.
9. Ph 125 abc.
10. Ph 127 a.
11. Ph 21 or Ay 190.
1 Other laboratory courses may be substituted for the Ph3 requirement, including Ph 5,
Ph 8bc, or APh 9a.
2 Other communication courses (e.g., AY 30 and 31 or MA 10 and 11 may be substituted for P
h 70.

Required Electives
1. 72 units of Advanced Physics Electives, in addition to the
above, including any of the following: any Ph, APh, or Ay,
course numbered 100 or above, or any of Ph 5, Ph 22, Ph 78,
Ph 79, ACM 95, ACM 101, Ma 5, Ma 108, or up to 10 units
of Ay 20–21. Nine units toward the 72-unit requirement will
be given for taking three terms of Ph 77. Students are encour-

Graduation Requirements/Physics
Historical Sketch
 aged to take ACM 95 as part of this requirement. The pass/fail
option cannot be exercised on any courses used for this require-
ment, with the exception of ACM 95 and courses that do not
offer grades. No more than 36 units of Ph courses numbered
200 or above taken on a pass/fail basis may apply toward this
requirement. No more than 18 units of Ph 171–173 may apply
toward this requirement without permission from the Physics
Executive Officer. Additionally, Ph 171-173 may only apply
towards this requirement if taken in increments of six units
or more. Students may also petition the Executive Officer to
request that other courses with suitable physics content apply
toward this requirement, as part of a specified overall list of
Advanced Physics Electives.
2. Nine units of science or engineering electives outside of Ph,
Ay, APh, Ma, and ACM. These units are in addition to the
required Core science electives.
3. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
the courses listed above.

Typical Course Schedule

292 Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ph 12 abc Waves, Quantum Physics, and
Statistical Mechanics 9 9 9
Ma 2, Ma 3 Sophomore Mathematics 9 9 -
HSS and/or PE electives 18 9 9
Physics laboratory - 9 9
ACM 95 ab Intro. Methods of Applied Math. - 12 12
Computational Physics 9 - -
Core Science Elective - - 9
45 48 48
Third Year
Ph 106 abc Topics in Classical Physics 9 9 9
Ph 125 abc Quantum Mechanics 9 9 9
Ph 127 a Statistical Physics 9 - -
HSS and/or PE electives 9 9 9
Electives 9 18 18
45 45 45
Fourth Year
Ph 77 abc Advanced Physics Laboratory 9 9 -

Undergraduate Information
 Oral and Written
Ph 70 - 6 -
Communication
Advanced physics electives 18 18 18
Electives 9 6 18
HSS and/or PE electives 9 9 9
45 48 45

Political Science Option

The political science option provides students with training in the sub-
stance and methods of modern political science, including the analysis
of representative democracy, electoral institutions, the allocation of
public goods, and regulatory behavior. The option emphasizes for-
mal tools like game theory, social choice theory, and formal political
theory along with quantitative methodologies to test those theories.
In addition, the option encourages original research. The design of
the political science option ensures that students will be well suited to
pursue careers in government or the private sector, as well as to pursue
graduate work in political science, law, or public policy.
Students who complete the political science option can expect the
293
following learning outcomes:
• an understanding of and ability to use the theoretical tools of social
choice and game theory as applied to politics;
• an understanding and knowledge of how to apply quantitative
methods to study politics;
• the ability to present complex theoretical and quantitative material
in research reports and presentations; and the skills necessary
to pursue graduate education and careers in law, government,
politics, or public policy.
Note: The official source on requirements for graduation is the
Caltech catalog from the year in which a student began studies at
Caltech. Please see the catalog online, from this and previous years, for
information regarding the applicable option requirements.

Option Requirements
1. PS 12, PS 132, Ec 122.
2. Four political science courses from the list: PS 120, 123, 126,
130, 135, PS/SS 139, PS 141, Law/PS/H 148 ab, or PS/Ec
172.
3. PS 99 ab.
4. Ma 3.
5. 36 additional units in advanced political science, economics,
law, social science, psychology, or history.
6. 36 additional units in advanced social science, science, engineer-
ing, or mathematics.
7. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including
all courses used to satisfy the above requirements.

Graduation Requirements/Political
HistoricalScience
Sketch
 Typical Course Schedule
Units per term
1st 2nd 3rd
Second Year
Ma 3 Probability & Statistics - 9 -
PS 12 Introduction to Political Science 9 - -
PS 132 Formal Theories in Political Science 9 - -
Ec 122 Econometrics 9 - -
Electives 18 36 45
45 45 45
Third Year
Political
science 18 18 18
electives 1
Electives 27 27 27
45 45 45
294 Fourth Year
PS 99 ab Research in Political Science - 9 9
Political
Science 18 18 18
electives 1
Electives 27 18 18
45 45 45
1 See option requirements 2, 5, and 6.

Structural Mechanics Minor

This minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech’s undergrad-
uate degrees and is designed for students who wish to broaden their
knowledge beyond their normal major, especially for those who wish
to join the structural engineering profession after graduation or
pursue a graduate degree in structural mechanics or structural engineer-
ing. Students completing the structural mechanics minor requirements
will have the phrase “minor in structural mechanics” added to their
academic transcripts.

Minor Requirements
The student must complete 54 units of classes selected from Ae/AM/
CE 102 abc, AM/CE 151 ab, Ae/CE 221, Ae/CE 165ab and CE
160 ab, and obtain a grade of B– or higher. Courses taken as part of
the structural mechanics minor are counted toward the total 486-unit
Institute graduation requirement.

Undergraduate Information
 295

Graduation Requirements/Structural
Historical
Mechanics
Sketch