Minor in Computational Science and Engineering

Aims and Scope of the Minor

Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) may be pursued as a subject minor by graduate students who are pursuing Ph.D. degrees in any option. The CSE minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech's graduate degrees and is designed for students who wish to broaden their knowledge of CSE beyond their major field of study. The CSE minor is also intended to recognize graduate students' interest in and dedication to CSE as demonstrated by the successful completion of a program of study in the field. Completion of the CSE minor program of study will be recognized on the Ph.D. diploma by the statement: " [...] and by additional studies constituting a minor in Computational Science and Engineering".

To receive the CSE minor, graduate students must take 18 units (two terms) from the classes listed below:

Option(s)	Class	Title
ACM/EE	106 ab	Introductory Methods of Computational Mathematics
ACM/CMS	113	Mathematical Optimization
ACM/CS	114 ab	Parallel Algorithms for Scientific Applications
ACM/ESE	116	Probability Models
ACM/CMS	117	Probability and Random Processes
ACM/CS	157	Statistical Inference
ACM/CS	158	Mathematical Statistics
ACM	210ab	Numerical Methods for PDEs
ACM	216	Markov Chains, Discrete Stochastic Processes and Applications

18 units (two terms) from the classes listed below:

Option(s)	Class	Title
CS	115	Functional Programming
CS	138 abc	Computer Algorithms
CMS/CS	139	Analysis and Design of Algorithms
CS/EE	143	Communication Networks
CS	150	Probability and Algorithms
CS/CNS/EE	155	Machine Learning Data Mining
CS/CNS/EE	156 a	Learning Systems
CS	179	GPU Programming

9 units (one term) from the classes listed below:

Option(s)	Class	Title
Ae/AM/CE/ME	214 abc	Computational Solid Mechanics
Ae/ACM/ME	232 ab	Computational Fluid Dynamics
Ay	199	Special Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics (eScience)
Ch	121 ab	Atomic Level Simulations of Materials and Molecules
Ge	263	Computational Geophysics
Ph/CS	214 abc	Quantum Computation

All courses to be applied toward the CSE minor requirements must be taken on a graded basis and students must obtain a grade of B or higher on all courses. Courses that are used to satisfy the CSE minor cannot be used to satisfy course requirements in the major options unless absolutely required by the option. Courses taken as part of the CSE minor are counted toward the total number of units required for the completion of the Ph.D. degree.

Note that a number of other (graduate or undergraduate) classes in the Caltech catalog can be of value to graduate students interested in broadening their knowledge. The table below gives a few examples:

Option(s)	Class	Title
ACM	256 & 257	Advanced Topics in ACM
CDS	270	Advanced Topics in Systems and Control
CS	24	Introduction to Computing Systems
CS	38	Algorithms
CS	121	Relational Databases
CS	151	Complexity Theory

CSE Minor Administration

The CSE minor is administered by an oversight committee consisting of:

Oscar P. Bruno, Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics
Dan Meiron, Fletcher Jones Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics
Michael Ortiz, Dotty and Dick Hayman Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering
Mark Simons, John W. and Herberta M. Miles Professor of Geophysics

These four faculty members report to the chair of the Engineering and Applied Science division. In consultation with the students' advisers and, if needed, with the CSE Oversight Committee, students formulate a program of approved courses individually tailored to each student's background and needs, with the objective that the student achieve a level of competence in specific subjects relevant to CSE. Students must petition the CSE Oversight Committee for approval of their program of study. Upon completion of the program of study, the CSE Oversight Committee will verify that the CSE minor requirements have been fulfilled.