2016–17 1 Caltech Catalog California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California 91125 (626) 395-6811 September 2016 The mission of the California Institute of Technology is to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education. We investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while edu- cating outstanding students to become creative members of society. While every effort has been made to ensure that this catalog is accurate and up to date, it may include typographical or other errors. The Institute reserves the right to change its policies, rules, regulations, requirements for graduation, course offerings, and any other contents of this catalog at any time. You can view the Caltech Catalog online at catalog.caltech.edu. Please note that the con- tents of websites that link to online course entries are not part of the official catalog. Cover: Lance R. Hayashida CONTENTS 1. General Information 2 9 Introduction 154 Energy Science and 12 Historical Sketch Technology 20 Buildings and Facilities 155 Environmental Science 30 Libraries and Engineering 31 Undergraduate Research 159 Geological and Planetary 32 Student Life Sciences 38 Student Health & 160 History and Philosophy Counseling Center of Science 39 Career Development 161 Humanities 41 Caltech Alumni 161 Interdisciplinary Studies Association Program 42 International Student 162 Information Science and Programs Technology 42 Auditing Courses 162 Materials Science 42 Grades and Grading 163 Mathematics 47 Notices and Agreements 164 Mechanical Engineering 54 Institute Policies 165 Medical Engineering 122 Student Affairs Policies 167 Microbiology 167 Neurobiology 168 Physics 2. Areas of Study and Research 171 Social Science 172 Systems Biology 125 Aerospace 129 Applied and Computational 3. Information for Mathematics Undergraduate Students 130 Applied Mechanics 131 Applied Physics 175 Admission to the 132 Astrophysics Freshman Class 135 Behavioral and Social 178 Admission to Upper Neuroscience Classes by Transfer 135 Biochemistry and 182 Study Abroad Molecular Biophysics 189 ROTC 136 Bioengineering 189 Registration Regulations 138 Biology 194 Scholastic Requirements 139 Chemical Engineering 199 Undergraduate Expenses 141 Chemistry 203 Financial Aid 143 Civil Engineering 219 Prizes 144 Computation and Neural 228 Graduation Systems Requirements, All 145 Computer Science Options 147 Computing and Mathematical Sciences 148 Control and Dynamical Systems 149 Electrical Engineering Contents 4. Information for 543 Environmental Science Graduate Students and Engineering 548 Film 305 Graduate Policies and 549 Freshman Seminars Procedures 551 Geological and Planetary 3 318 General Requirements for Sciences Graduate Degrees 566 History 326 Graduate Expenses 577 History and Philosophy 328 Financial Assistance of Science 330 Prizes 585 Humanities 335 Special Regulations of 592 Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Options Program 592 Information Science and Technology 5. Courses 592 Languages 596 Law 425 General Information 597 Materials Science 426 Aerospace 599 Mathematics 434 Anthropology 607 Mechanical Engineering 435 Applied and 613 Medical Engineering Computational 616 Music Mathematics 617 Neurobiology 441 Applied Mechanics 618 Performance and 442 Applied Physics Activities 447 Art History 620 Philosophy 450 Astrophysics 624 Physical Education 456 Biochemistry and 630 Physics Molecular Biophysics 639 Political Science 457 Bioengineering 641 Psychology 461 Biology 643 Social Science 475 Business Economics and 649 Writing Management 478 Chemical Engineering 483 Chemistry 6. Trustees, Administration, 493 Civil Engineering and Faculty 496 Computation and Neural Systems 653 Officers 500 Computer Science 653 Board of Trustees 511 Computing and 657 Administrative Officers Mathematical Sciences 659 Faculty Officers and 513 Control and Dynamical Committees Systems 663 Staff of Instruction and 514 Economics Research 517 Electrical Engineering 698 Officers and Faculty 527 Energy Science and Technology 528 Engineering (General) 737 Index 531 English 542 English as a Second Language Contents ACADEMIC CALENDAR December 23-26 2016-17 Christmas (Institute holiday) December 27– 30 FIRST TERM 2016 Special release days 4 September 14–16 International student orientation SECOND TERM 2017 September 18–25 January 2 New student check-in and orientation New Year’s Day Observed (Institute for undergraduates holiday) September 19-23 January 4 New student check-in and orientation Beginning of instruction—8 a.m. for graduate students January 5 September 22 Undergraduate Academic Standards and Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee—9 a.m. Honors Committee—1 p.m. January 16 September 26 Martin Luther King Day (Institute Beginning of instruction—8 a.m. holiday) October 14 January 25 Last day for adding courses and remov- Last day for adding courses and remov- ing conditions & incompletes ing conditions & incompletes October 26–November 1 February 3–9 Midterm examination period Midterm examination period November 7 February 13 Midterm deficiency notices due—9 a.m. Midterm deficiency notices due—9 a.m. November 16 February 20 Faculty meeting—noon to 1 p.m. Presidents’ Day (Institute holiday) Last day for dropping courses, exercising pass/fail option, and changing sections February 22 Faculty meeting—noon to 1 p.m. November 17–December 2 Last day for dropping courses, exercising Registration for second term, 2016–17 pass/fail option, and changing sections November 24–25 February 23–March 10 Thanksgiving (Institute holiday) Registration for third term, 2016–17 December 2 March 10 Last day of classes Last day of classes Last day to register for second term, Last day to register for third term, 2016–17, without a $50 late fee 2016–17, without a $50 late fee December 3-6 March 11–14 Study period Study period December 7*– 9 March 15*–17 Final examinations, first term, 2016–17 Final examinations, second term, 2016–17 December 9 End of first term, 2016–17 March 17 End of second term, 2016–17 December 10–January 3 Winter recess March 18–April 2 Spring recess December 14 Instructors’ final grade reports due— 9 March 20 a.m. Instructors’ final grades due—9 a.m. *First due date for final examinations Academic Calendar THIRD TERM 2017 June 12 Instructors’ final grade reports due for April 3 seniors and graduate students—9 a.m. Beginning of instruction—8 a.m. June 14 April 4 Curriculum Committee—10 a.m. 5 Undergraduate Academic Standards and Faculty meeting—2 p.m.-3 p.m. Honors Committee—9 a.m. June 14*–16 April 21 Final examinations for undergraduates, Last day for adding courses and remov- third term, 2016–17 ing conditions and incompletes June 16 May 3-9 Commencement—10 a.m. End of third Midterm examination period term, 2016–17 May 12 June 21 Last day for admission to candidacy Instructors’ final grades due for under- for the degrees of Master of Science graduates—9 a.m. and Engineer, and for scheduling an examination for the degree of Doctor of June 28 Philosophy Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee—9 a.m. May 15 Midterm deficiency notices due—9 a.m. July 3-4 Last day for seniors to remove condi- Independence Day (Institute holiday) tions and incompletes September 4 May 24 Labor Day (Institute holiday) Last day for dropping courses, exercising pass/fail option, and changing sections SUMMER TERM 2017 May 25-June 9 June 19 Registration for first term, 2017–18, and Summer Term begins for summer research September 1 May 29 Summer Term ends Memorial Day (Institute holiday) FIRST TERM 2017–18 June 2 Last day of classes—seniors and gradu- September 13–15 ate students International student orientation Last day for presenting theses for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and September 17–24 Engineer New student check-in and orientation for undergraduates June 3–6 Study period for seniors and graduate September 18-22 students New student check-in and orientation for graduate students June 7*–9 Final examinations for seniors and grad- September 21 uate students, third term, 2016–17 Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee—1 p.m. June 9 September 25 Last day of classes—undergraduates Beginning of instruction—8 a.m. Last day to register for first term, 2017– 18, without a $50 late fee June 10–13 Study period for undergraduates *First due date for final examinations Academic Calendar 6 A B C D E IMS S 10 INTERNATIONAL 1 11 SCHOLAR SVCS PAS ADE NA THEATER ARTS NC IAL FIRE S TATION 15 FINA # 34 (TACIT) S E RVIC E S 67 DE L MAR BLVD. 98 119 . AVE RY Lot 13 E Lot 10 HOUSE 9 118 V A RE C YC LING 70 12 0 C E NTE R N MUS IC 2 117 LIGO 125 A 122 G I Lot 9 Lot 8 STRATEGIC 116 H 71 C 12E 13A 99 COMMUNICATIONS I 115 Structure SFCC Lot 12 M 114 1 Moore Walk PARKING 113 ALUMNI HOUS E KECK CENTER S TEELE 112 123 BROAD 93 16 HOUS E 97 96c ANNE NBE RG 111 94 96 127 Lot 11 MOORE 110 Broad 109 Cafe’ 7 LIGO PARKING E INS TE IN PAPE RS BE C KMAN 69 6 6 INS TITUTE UNDERGRAD 108 121 WATSON LABS C E S Structure 4 ADMISSIONS 107 & FIN. AID 136 Beckman BE C KMAN Lawn Gene Pool AUD. 95 85 90 100 91 101 74 105 Structure 3 . E . 2 S V E E 102 . H R 81 C A I V V E 82 220 R A PARKING N V 106 86 E S . A A NOYE S O ME AD TRANSPORT T E T N 124 N STEELE LAB N I R 103 E V & GROUNDS S 73 72 E I D L B O A l 104 T U l A L A 84 X T L S a L L S A T BIOLOGY S HOPS L M K B L I O A I C - n L E H a C H W H 20 L K J ORGE NS E N T E m Lot 7 BECKMAN BEHAVIORAL O k BRAUN W 80 O SCHLINGER c O e LABS B MARKS P BRAUN HSE Lot 14 76 B 77 78 79 FAC ILITIE S 75 Ramo 89 Auditorium 83 88 S AN PAS QUAL S T.