Physics Undergraduate Program Description
Credit: Caltech Strategic Communications
The undergraduate physics program provides students with extensive training in the fundamentals of modern physics, ensuring that they have the foundation to pursue graduate study and careers in basic research as well as various industry sectors. All Caltech undergraduates are required to complete three terms of introductory physics, though most options require additional physics. Those who choose to pursue the physics option go on to study the discipline in much greater depth. Sophomore-level courses explore waves, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. Elective courses taken during the junior and senior year allow students to explore their particular interests through a wide variety of options, including special topics theory courses, advanced labs, and independent study. Active involvement in research, both during the summer and school year, is strongly encouraged for all Physics undergraduates. Students often receive academic credit for the physics research that they do outside of the classroom. In addition, most physics undergraduates complete at least one Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF).
Mission of the Caltech Physics Undergraduate Program
Physics constitutes the study of the workings of our world and provides the intellectual bedrock of our technology. Our program aims to provide students with a broad overview of the modern understanding of physical laws, extensive practical lab experience, and research experience with leading research groups. The mission is fulfilled through coursework, a multitude of lab classes, and research opportunities, primarily through our SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) program and the freshman seminar courses.
Our program has a special emphasis on equipping students with needed tools for a successful research career. The program requires computational physics and programming classes, a writing and presentation class, and offers an electronic design lab class, as well as a sequence of mathematical methods classes. Connections of coursework material and technological applications are emphasized through several innovative classes and freshman seminars.
Learning Outcomes
By graduation time, our students are expected to have:
1. Broad knowledge of fundamental physical laws applying to the world at scales ranging from the nuclear to the cosmological.
2. Experience in data and statistical analysis as well as experimental techniques.
3. The equivalent of several quarters of research work.
4. Experience in computational physics programming.
5. A broad range of problem solving skills.
6. Training in oral and written scientific communication.
The knowledge and skills acquired are consistent with admissions to graduate programs in peer institutions.
Means of Evaluation
The outcomes of our program are regularly evaluated through several channels: students provide course feedback through mid-quarter surveys and the online Teaching Quality Feedback Reports (TQFR) system; graduating students fill out an exit survey; all residence houses have an Ombuds person for each of the introductory physics classes; students collectively discuss the program once every two years with representatives of the faculty, as part of the Student Faculty Conference; and alumni outcomes are monitored. The information gathered is used to improve class teaching and professorial assignments as well as to motivate curriculum changes.