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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 engineering foundations of the discipline. It provides considerable flexibility in course selection, together with a capstone project giving an opportunity for independent work in an area of the student’s choice. Individual programs will be worked out in consultation with faculty advisers (the materials at 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 continue work in the option.
Students interested in simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option must fulfill all the requirements of the computer science option. Specific courses that are explicitly required by both options only need to be taken once. For example, if both options require CS 38, then it can count for both. However, elective courses that satisfy the “Advanced CS” requirement or the “Breadth” requirement cannot be double counted. That is, Requirements 4 and 8 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 their 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.
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.
| Units per term | ||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| Second Year | ||||
| Scientific Fundamentals | 9 | 9 | - | |
| Ma 2, Ma 3 | Sophomore Mathematics | 9 | 9 | - |
| CS 1 | Intro. to Computer Programming 1 | 9 | - | - |
| CS 2 | Intro. to Programming Methods 1 | - | 9 | - |
| CS 4 | Fundamentals of Computer Program | - | 9 | - |
| CS 13 | Math Foundations for Computing | 9 | - | - |
| CS 21 | Decidability and Tractability | - | 9 | - |
| CS 3 | Intro. to Software Design 1 | - | - | 9 |
| CS 38 | Introduction to Algorithms | - | - | 9 |
| HSS electives | 9 | - | 18 | |
| Other electives | - | - | 9 | |
| Total | 45 | 45 | 45 | |
| Third Year | ||||
| CS courses | - | 9 | 9 | |
| CS 24 | Intro. to Computing Systems | 9 | - | - |
| CS project | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| SEC 10 | Technical Seminar Presentations | - | - | 3 |
| EAS/Ma courses | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Other electives | 9 | 9 | - | |
| Total | 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 | |
| Total | 45 | 36 | 36 | |
1 Commonly taken during the first year.
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.
