Undergraduate Core (2024-25 cohort)

Incoming First-Year 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 for the 2024-25 cohort and 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.

Pass/Fail Grades
Core courses taken in the first two terms will be graded on pass/fail.
Introductory courses (from below list) taken in the first two terms will be graded on pass/fail. If a first-quarter or second-quarter First-Year student is enrolled in a course from the list of introductory courses below, and the instructor gives letter grades, the Registrar will record P for all passing grades. D is considered passing.

The list of introductory classes to which this policy applies is:
Bi 8, Ma 2, Ma 3, Ph 2 ab, Ph 12 ab, and Ch 41 ab

Letter Grades
Students who wish to take non-Core and non-introductory classes (see above list), must take those classes according to the published grading scheme. In other words, classes that are not part of the Core curriculum or the list of introductory classes above, even if taken in the first two quarters of the first year, can only count towards fulfilling graduation requirements if their grading scheme meets the requirement of the particular option.

Example
Suppose an incoming First-Year student wants to fulfill their graduation requirements for the Computer Science (CS) option with courses taken during their first two terms. In that case, they cannot take a CS course that is not part of the Core curriculum as pass/fail and use it to meet the requirements for the option. This is because the CS option prohibits pass/fail grading schemes for fulfilling its requirements. As a result, the student must take the CS course for a grade if they wish to fulfill the CS option requirement.

[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 can also be met by completing CS 1x, which is by placement only

[4] 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 83 or En/Wr 84.

This is a fall/winter/spring sequence

Starting 2024-25: First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and Ma 1ab are therefore taken on pass/fail.

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 letter or pass/fail grading. The grading scheme options can change term-to-term for Ma 1c because it is up to the instructor and department. Check the latest Current Course Schedule to verify your grading options.

This is a fall/winter/spring sequence

Starting 2024-25: First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and Ph 1ab are therefore taken on pass/fail.

NOTE: after their first two terms, traditional undergraduates (i.e. non-transfer students) may elect to take some Core courses on pass/fail grading. Ph 1c can be used towards the Core on letter or pass/fail grading. The grading scheme options can change term-to-term for Ph 1c because it is up to the instructor and department. Check the latest Current Course Schedule to verify your grading options.

This is a fall/winter sequence

Starting 2024-25: First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and Ch 1ab are therefore taken on pass/fail.

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 generally offered every term.

Starting 2024-25: First-year students will receive pass/fail grading on this requirement if taken in their first two terms. In addition, 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. This means that students may opt to take Bi 1 in their third term (spring) for letter or pass/fail.

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.

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.

NOTE: 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. Grading scheme (i.e. pass/fail option or letter grade only) may vary by course.

Offerings each term

Ch 3a (6 units) or Ch 3x (6 units). First-year undergraduate students entering in the academic year 2021 and thereafter must take Ch 3 a or x in their first six terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail.

Starting 2024-25: The chemistry department's policy is that all Ch 3a or Ch 3x courses will be on pass/fail if they are taken in a traditional undergraduate student's first six terms. After six attempted terms, Ch 3 a or x enrollments will be on letter grade.

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 annually in the course description in the catalog.

Offerings each term

First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and intro labs (not advanced) from the below list usually taken on pass/fail if taken during the first-two terms.

Starting 2024-25: First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading. Therefore, the Core's additional introductory lab would be on pass/fail grading if taken during a student's first two terms.

Students may opt to take their additional Core introductory lab any time after their second term for letter or pass/fail. Please note that grading scheme (i.e. pass/fail option or letter grade only) may vary by course.

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. Therefore, you would need to take at least 6 units of additional introductory lab.

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 during the first two terms of a First-Year student's first year. However, if a student is double-counting it with their option because it's a required course for their option, and they did not 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.

Double-counts towards your option's scientific writing requirement

The course used to satisfy this requirement must be taken on grades.

The scientific writing requirement can be satisfied by taking an appropriate course offered by any division, or by taking En/Wr 83 or En/Wr 84 (9 units). 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.

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

First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and First-Year humanities are therefore usually taken on pass/fail.

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.

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)

Students are required to take two introductory social science courses

First-Year students have their first two terms of Core on pass/fail grading, and introductory social sciences are therefore usually taken on pass/fail.

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.

Students are required to take 9 units of advanced undergraduate social science courses that are related to their introductory social science courses

The course used to fulfill the advanced social science requirement must be taken on grades.

The introductory social science courses must be drawn from the following list: either Ec 11, PS 12, or Psy 13. The 9 units of advanced undergraduate social science courses (numbered 100 and above), in fields of business economics and management (BEM), economics (Ec), political science (PS), or psychology (Psy).

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)

The Advanced Social Science must follow at least one of the completed introductory courses as indicated here:

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 Current Course Schedule 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)

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.

Courses used for this requirement 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, BEM109, Ec 105, Ec 109, 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 Current Course Schedule. Feel free to Ctrl+F and search "writing intensive" to find the current offerings!