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Undergraduate Core

Core Institute Requirements (Catalog year 2023-24)

Incoming First-Year students and transfer student are tied to the Core requirements for their incoming year. Check the appropriate catalog to ensure you are following the requirements for your cohort.

The below info page is a tool to help advise students. It takes information from the catalog and adds supplemental guidance and information. The policy in the Catalog is the official policy. If you would like assistance interpreting an academic policy in the catalog, please contact the Registrar's Office at regis@caltech.edu.

Undergraduate Core

Requirements

Courses Units
1. First-Year Mathematics (Ma 1 abc) 27
2. First-Year Physics (Ph 1 abc) 27
3. First-Year Chemistry (Ch 1 ab) 15
4. First-Year Biology (Any Bi 1 course or Bi 8 and Bi 9) 1 9
5. Menu Class (currently Ay 1, EE 1, ESE 1, Ge 1, or IST 4) 9
6. First-Year Chemistry Laboratory (Ch 3 a) 2 6
7. Additional Introductory Laboratory 6
8. Scientific Writing 3 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 The biology core requirement can be met by any Bi 1 course. Alternatively, the requirement may be fulfilled by taking both Bi 8 and Bi 9. Nine units must be taken on grades.

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.

First-Year Mathematics (Ma 1 abc)

This is a fall/winter/spring sequence

First-Year students have their first two terms on pass/fail grading, and Ma 1ab are therefore usually taken on pass/fail. The grading scheme options can change term-to-term for Ma 1c, because it is up to the instructor and department. Check the Schedule of Classes to verify your grading options. NOTE: after their first two terms, traditional undergraduates (i.e. non-transfer students) may elect to take some Core courses on pass/fail grading. Ma 1c can be used towards the Core on pass/fail grading.

First-Year Physics (Ph 1 abc)

This is a fall/winter/spring sequence

First-Year students have their first two terms on pass/fail grading, and Ph 1ab are therefore usually taken on pass/fail. The grading scheme options can change term-to-term for Ph 1c, because it is up to the instructor and department. Check the Schedule of Classes to verify your grading options. NOTE: after their first two terms, traditional undergraduates (i.e. not transfer students) may elect to take some Core courses on pass/fail grading. Ph 1c can be used towards the Core on pass/fail grading.

First-Year Chemistry (Ch 1 ab)

This is a fall/winter sequence

First-Year students have their first two terms on pass/fail grading, and Ch 1ab are therefore usually taken on pass/fail.

First-Year Biology

Offerings each term

All students are required to take 9 units of first-year biology, which can be satisfied by taking any course numbered Bi 1. Several different course options are available, with each Bi 1 course representing a different approach to providing an introductory understanding of the biological sciences. Bi 1 courses are offered in different terms (for 2023-24 we anticipate offering them in all three terms). All Bi 1 courses may be taken pass/fail if they are taken in a first-year student's first year, independent of the term in which the course is taken. For students who are interested in a more in-depth introduction to biology, the first-year biology requirement can also be satisfied by completing both Bi 8 and Bi 9. If a student opts to complete with Bi 8 and Bi 9, nine units must be taken on grades.

Menu Class

Offered spring term only

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.

Failure to complete the menu course by the end of sophomore year can lead to scheduling complications. The offering times of menu courses are for the First-Year schedule. Some options may be recommend their students take their menu course during their first year in order to avoid time conflicts with sophomore option required courses.

Current list of possible menu courses are: Ay 1, EE 1, ESE 1, Ge 1, and IST 4. Offerings can vary by year.

First-Year Chemistry Laboratory

Offerings each term

Ch 3a (6 units) or Ch 3x (6 units) shall be taken during the first year. Rules on pass/fail grading are on the course. For 2023-24, the courses' rules were:

Students entering in the academic year 2020 and before must take Ch 3 in their first nine terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail. First-year undergraduate students entering in the academic year 2021 and thereafter must take Ch 3 in their first six terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail.

This rule can change in future years, and students are held to the rule for the year that they are taking it. This rule is published on the course description in the catalog.

Additional Introductory Laboratory

Offerings each term

All students are required to take at least 12 units of laboratory work in experimental science during their first-year and sophomore years. As noted above, Ch 3 a (6 units) or Ch 3 x (6 units) shall be taken during the first two years.

The additional 6 units must be chosen from one of the following:
APh/EE 9 (6 units)
APh/EE 24 (9 units)
Bi 1x (9 units but only if Bi 1x is not being used to satisfy the biology core requirement)
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 (9 units)
ME 8 (6 units)
Ph 3 (6 units)
Ph 5 (9 units)
Ph 8 bc (6 units)
-or a more advanced laboratory*


*Only by petition being approved by the Curriculum Committee
Computational laboratory courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement
Petition can be found on the Registrar's Office's forms page

The course used to satisfy the additional introductory lab can be taken on pass/fail if the course has a pass/fail option. However, if a student is double-counting it with their option because it's a required course for their option, and they didn't take it during their first two terms, it must be taken on grades*.

*Unless otherwise noted in the option's requirements section of the catalog. Remember, option requirements must be on grades unless otherwise noted in the catalog.

Scientific Writing Requirement

Double-counts towards your option's scientific writing requirement

The scientific writing requirement can be satisfied by taking an appropriate course offered by any division, or by taking En/Wr 84 (9 units). 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 6 or more united course (note where it says "same" in the below grid).

At the discretion of the option, the scientific writing requirement can be satisfied by three units of additional work associated with a senior thesis, focused on effective written scientific communication.

Your Option Your Option's Requirement (Oral communication) Core Requirement (Written communication)
ACM, APh, CNS,
CS, EE, EAS, IDS, ME, MS
SEC 10 one of SEC 11, SEC 12, or SEC 13
Ay Ay 30 Ay 31
Bi, BE Bi/BE 24 (6 units) same
BEM, Ec, PS En/Wr 84 (9 units) same
ChE ChE 126 Ch/ChE 91
Ch Ch 90 Ch/ChE 91
En, H, HPS, Pl En/Wr 84 (9 units) same
GPS See Option Requirements En/Wr 84 ( (9 units) or one of SEC 11, SEC 12, or SEC 13
Ma Ma 10 Ma 11
Ph Ph 70 (6 units) same

First-Year Humanities (18 units)

Entering first-year students are required to take two terms of first-year humanities

They must be cross-listed humanities courses numbered 60 or below in the Catalog. The 18 units of first-year humanities must be completed prior to being allowed to enroll in advanced humanities courses. Students must spread them out over at least 2 terms (i.e. you cannot take two in one term).

These classes introduce students to the basic issues and methods in the disciplines of English, history, philosophy, and visual culture. Successful completion of two terms of first-year humanities is a prerequisite for all humanities courses, except for foreign languages. It is not a prerequisite, however, for introductory social sciences. The first-year humanities classes may be taken in any two terms of the first year.

To encourage breadth, students will have to take their two first-year humanities courses in different disciplines, the disciplines being English, history, philosophy, and visual culture.

Advanced Humanities (18 units)

Students must take 18 units of advanced humanities courses

The classes that count as advanced humanities courses are those numbered 90 or above in English, history, history and philosophy of science, humanities, music, philosophy, and visual culture. 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 humanities or visual culture (enroll in the course cross-listed with the non-Language discipline).

Courses used to fulfill the advanced humanities requirement must be taken for grades.

The disciplines for the advanced humanities do not have to match the disciplines of the student's first-year hums. Students may also take more than one of the same discipline (i.e. two advanced history courses).

Is your advanced humanities course cross-listed with a science discipline?
Please note that the Catalog policy states, "Courses used to satisfy core requirements may not be used to satisfy option electives." (double-counting is only permitted between Core humanities/social sciences and the Humanities and Social Science options and minors)

Introductory Social Science (18 units)

Students are required to take two introductory social science courses

The introductory social science courses must be drawn from the following list: either An 14 or An 15 or An 16, Ec 11, PS 12, or Psy 13. Courses used down the line to fulfill the Advanced Social Sciences requirement will need to correspond with one of the introductory social sciences. See the below grid for which social science discipline corresponds with which introductory social science class.

Advanced Social Sciences (18 units)

Students are required to take 18 units of advanced undergraduate social science courses that are related to their introductory social science courses

Courses used to fulfill the advanced social science requirement must be taken for grades.

The introductory social science courses must be drawn from the following list: either An 14 or An 15 or An 16, Ec 11, PS 12, or Psy 13. The 18 units of advanced undergraduate social science courses (numbered 100 and above), in fields of anthropology (An), business economics and management (BEM), economics (Ec), political science (PS), or psychology (Psy).

The advanced social science courses could correspond with different completed introductory social sciences, or they can correspond with one. For example, if a student took Ec 11 and PS 12, they could use for their advanced social sciences...

two BEM courses or
two Economics courses or
one BEM and one Economics course or
one BEM and one Political Science course or
one Ec and one Political Science course or
two Political Science courses

Is your advanced social science course cross-listed with a science discipline?
Please note that the Catalog policy states, "Courses used to satisfy core requirements may not be used to satisfy option electives." (double-counting is only permitted between Core humanities/social sciences and the Humanities and Social Science options and minors)

Advanced social sciences must follow at least one of the completed introductory courses as indicated here:

Introductory Course Following Course
An 14, 15 or 16 advanced anthropology (An)
Ec 11 advanced economics (Ec) or
BEM (except BEM 102)
PS 12 advanced political science (PS)
Psy 13 advanced psychology (Psy)

Additional Humanities and Social Sciences (36 units)

We call this the "Additional HSS" category

They can be taken on pass/fail if the course has a pass/fail option (noted on the Schedule of Classes or REGIS) and the student hasn't exceeded the limit of 2 courses per term with a pass/fail election. Students may not elect to take more than 2 classes on pass/fail grading each term (courses offered ONLY on pass/fail grading do not count towards this limit).

NOTE: If you're double-counting one of the courses in this requirement with the Writing Intensive requirement, you'll need to take it on letter grade

Additional HSS Includes:
Disciplines of English (En), history (H), history and philosophy of science (HPS), humanities (Hum), music (Mu), philosophy (Pl), visual culture (VC), anthropology (An), business economics and management (BEM), economics (Ec), law (Law), political science (PS), psychology (Psy), social science (SS), and language (Lang). May also include up to 9 units of either Wr 1 or Wr 2.

Additional HSS Excludes:
First-Year Humanities courses (numbered 60 or below)
BEM102
Cross-listed courses being used for option electives. Catalog policy states, "Courses used to satisfy core requirements may not be used to satisfy option electives." (double-counting is only permitted between Core humanities/social sciences and the Humanities and Social Science options and minors)

Writing Intensive Requirement

This is a requirement that double counts with your other Humanities and Social Science Core requirements

Included in the 12 humanities and social science courses, students must take at least 3 writing-intensive courses.

They must be taken on grades.

A student's completed 18 units of advanced humanities courses count towards this total.

The final 9 units can be double-counted with either the "Additional HSS" requirement or the Advanced Social Science requirement.

What counts as writing intensive?

  1. All advanced humanities numbered 90 or above in English (En), history (H), history and philosophy of science (HPS), music (Mu), philosophy (Pl), and visual culture (VC)
  2. Some advanced social sciences - current list of social science courses designated as writing intensive: An/PS 127, Ec 105, Ec 129, Ec 130, Ec 140, PS 99 ab, PS 120, PS 123, or PS 141

Because only some advanced social sciences are writing intensive, we add notes to them on the Schedule of Classes. Feel free to Ctrl+F and search "writing intensive" to find the current offerings!

Writing Intensive