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Welcome To @caltech!

The document provides an overview of the CS major requirements at Caltech. It outlines the core CS courses that must be completed by the end of sophomore year as well as intermediate and advanced CS courses. It also details the project requirement that can be fulfilled through a project sequence or senior thesis. The major emphasizes flexibility for students to pursue interests in theory, systems, learning, graphics or other areas. It encourages taking advantage of opportunities to connect CS with other disciplines. Around 20-25% of CS students double major with many choosing math, BEM, or engineering. Minors in engineering are also common. Students are advised to consider research, internships or industry jobs during the summer. Around half of CS students attend graduate school with

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Rahul Menon
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61 views

Welcome To @caltech!

The document provides an overview of the CS major requirements at Caltech. It outlines the core CS courses that must be completed by the end of sophomore year as well as intermediate and advanced CS courses. It also details the project requirement that can be fulfilled through a project sequence or senior thesis. The major emphasizes flexibility for students to pursue interests in theory, systems, learning, graphics or other areas. It encourages taking advantage of opportunities to connect CS with other disciplines. Around 20-25% of CS students double major with many choosing math, BEM, or engineering. Minors in engineering are also common. Students are advised to consider research, internships or industry jobs during the summer. Around half of CS students attend graduate school with

Uploaded by

Rahul Menon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Welcome to CS@Caltech!

What is CS@Caltech?
Youve (hopefully) already had CS9!
What to expect over the next 3 years?
This talk

The requirements

Course planning? Double majoring?


Project courses? Senior thesis?

Beyond the requirements

Summers? Research? Grad school vs industry?


Lunch Bunch? SURFs? Internships?

Questions?

Philosophy of the major:


Students should have the flexibility to follow their passion.

Strengths of the major:


Mathematical foundations of CS & connections to other disciplines.
quantum computing, DNA computing, biological connections
to vision/learning, economics of networks,

The Requirements
CS Fundamentals:
CS1, Intro to Computer Programming (dont need any prior CS experience)
CS2, Intro to Programming Methods
CS4, Fundamentals of Computer Programming (Intro to Functional Programming)
CS11, Computer Language Shop
Intermediate CS:
CS21, Decidability and Tractability (Intro to Complexity Theory)
CS24, Intro to Computing Systems
CS 38, Intro to Algorithms
Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a
Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

The Requirements
CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11

Typically finished by the end of sophomore year

Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38
Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a
Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

The Requirements
CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11
Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38

Project Requirement:
Complete a project sequence or senior thesis
Project sequences:
- Databases
- VLSI
- Networking & Distributed Systems
- Learning & Vision
- Graphics
- Self-defined (CS81)
Senior thesis: 80abc

Typically finished
during junior year

Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a


Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

The Requirements
CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11
Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38

Project Requirement:
Complete a project sequence or senior thesis
Project sequences:
- Databases
- VLSI
- Networking & Distributed Systems
- Learning & Vision
- Graphics
- Self-defined (CS81)
Senior thesis: 80abc

Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a


Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

The Requirements
CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11

Project Requirement:
Complete a project sequence or senior thesis

Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38

Breadth:
36 units of CS/Ma/ACM
17 units of EAS/Ma

Advanced CS:
63 units of advanced CS
Typically finished during
junior & senior years

Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a


Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

Planning your schedule


By the end of sophomore year:
CS1, CS2, CS4, Ma/CS 6a or Ma 121a, CS11, CS21, CS24, CS 38
During your junior year:
Start 2 project sequences & finish 1
During your senior year:
Finish your CS/Ma/ACM/EAS electives and consider doing a senior thesis

So, youre a ?????? person

So, youre a theory person


- Take CS21 & CS38 as early as possible.
- Take any special topics course offered by Umans, Schulman, Ligett
- Think about an ACM or Ma double major
- Try out quantum computing (a caltech strength)
- Try out algorithmic economics (a caltech strength)
- Consider a senior thesis for your project sequence

So, youre a systems person


- Take CS24 & CS3 as early as possible.
- Take both the Databases and Networking project sequences
- Take lots of CS11s
- Look out for special topics courses from Chandy, Low, Wierman
- Contribute to an open source project or topcoder in your spare time
(companies pay a lot of attention to this)

So, youre a learning person


- Take ACM 116 as early as possible
- Take the Learning & Vision project sequence as early as possible
- Consider taking the robotics & vision courses
- Look out for special topics courses from Perona, Abu-Mostafa, Burdick
- Take lots of CS11s
- Contribute to an open source project or topcoder in your spare time
(companies pay a lot of attention to this)

So, youre a graphics person


- Take the graphic project sequence as early as possible.
- Take any special topics course offered by Schroeder, Desbrun, Barr
- Think about an ACM double major
- Dont ignore your physics!

So, you like matter-computes


- Take lots of Bio/Chem/Physics/CNS courses.
- Take any course offered by Kitaev, Winfree, Preskill
- Get involved with research early (SURFs and during the term)
- Dont ignore your CS theory!

Tips for along the way


Take CS 11s every year
theyre a unique and valuable opportunity
If need be, create your own courses
If we dont offer something, use CS 90 (Undergraduate Reading) to learn it
Plan ahead for project sequences
the courses vary year to year, especially for the Learning & Vision sequence
Attend Lunch Bunch
Tuesdays 12-1 in Annenberg 105

Most importantly
Take advantage of the connections with other disciplines
This is what makes Caltech special.
quantum computing
molecular programming
biological underpinnings of learning and vision
interaction between economics and networks
scientific computing
and many others

Double majoring in CS

Students interested in simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option must fulfill


all the requirements of the computer science option. Courses may be used to
simultaneously fulfill requirements in both options. However, it is required that
students have at least 63 units of computer science courses numbered 80abc, 81abc,
or 114 and above that are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of the
second option, i.e., requirement 4 in computer science must be fulfilled using courses
that are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of the second option. To
enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss his/her plans with the
option representative. In general, approval is contingent on good academic performance
by the student and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load.

Double majoring in CS
CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11

Project Requirement:
Complete a project sequence or senior thesis

Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38

Breadth:
36 units of CS/Ma/ACM
17 units of EAS/Ma

Cant be double counted


Advanced CS:
63 units of advanced CS

Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a


Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

Double majoring in CS

Students interested in simultaneously pursuing a degree in a second option must fulfill


all the requirements of the computer science option. Courses may be used to
simultaneously fulfill requirements in both options. However, it is required that
students have at least 63 units of computer science courses numbered 80abc, 81abc,
or 114 and above that are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of the
second option, i.e., requirement 4 in computer science must be fulfilled using courses
that are not simultaneously used for fulfilling a requirement of the second option. To
enroll in the program, the student should meet and discuss his/her plans with the
option representative. In general, approval is contingent on good academic performance
by the student and demonstrated ability for handling the heavier course load.

Stats: 20-25% of CS students double major, depending on the year


Common double majors (in order): BEM > Math > Mech E ~ CNS ~ Physics ~ Chem E

Minoring in CS

Its still new, so spread the word!


Common Minors: ME, EE, Physics

CS Fundamentals:
CS1
CS2
CS4
CS11

Project Requirement:
Complete a project sequence or senior thesis

Intermediate CS:
CS21
CS24
CS 38

Breadth:
36 units of CS/Ma/ACM
17 units of EAS/Ma

Cant be double counted


Advanced CS:
9
63 units of advanced CS

Mathematical fundamentals: Ma2, Ma3, Ma/CS6a or Ma121a


Scientific fundamentals: 18 units from Bi8, Bi9, Ch21abc, Ch24, Ch25, Ch41abc,
Ph2abc, Ph12abc, or a 100+ course in Bi, Ch, Ph

The requirements

Course planning? Double majoring?


Project courses? Senior thesis?

Beyond the requirements

Summers? Research? Grad school vs industry?


SURFs? Internships?

Questions?

Summers
Internships vs. Research
For most people its good to try both (but it depends on your goals)
The best year for research is after junior year
Research
SURFs can be great, but be careful when choosing.
some people look list CS SURFs that are purely coding.
there are also great research programs outside of Caltech (Look for NSF REUs)
Internships
plan your courses to prepare you for interviews
startup vs. big company can lead to very different experiences

The big question: Grad school vs. Industry


Why consider grad school?

- it gives you lots of freedom


- you work for yourself
- you get to work on the hardest problems
- you LOVE doing research

Why avoid grad school?

- you arent sure about research


- it is extremely unstructured
- it can take a long time
- the opportunity cost is VERY HIGH

My advice: Dont view go to grad school as a means to an end.


The experience should be the goal in and of itself.

The big question: Grad school vs. Industry


The data:
Grad school
Startups
Industry

CS
~33%
~33%
~33%

Caltech
~50 %
~50%

Many CS students take industry jobs and come


back grad school later, so the percentage rises.

The big question: Grad school vs. Industry


The answer determines lots about your next 3 years
Grad School

Industry

- attend lunch bunches & seminars


(they will give research examples)
- do summer research with multiple people
(be careful of programming-only SURFs)
(consider combining SURF with CS81 during the term)
(consider both SURFs and REUs at other schools)
- consider a senior thesis
- attend the IEEE How to apply to grad school this year!

Not sure

The big question: Grad school vs. Industry


The answer determines lots about your next 3 years
Grad School

Industry

Not sure

- find your internships early


(try out both big companies and small startups)
- take CS11s & CS3 to help prep for interviews
(the more CS11s the better)
- contribute open source project or topcoder
(companies pay a lot of attention to this)

The big question: Grad school vs. Industry


The answer determines lots about your next 3 years
Grad School

Industry

Not sure

- attend lunch bunches


(they will give you examples of both)
- try out both during the summers
(consider doing an intern before doing a SURF)
- talk to your faculty adviser about it
(do this early and often)
- attend the IEEE How to apply to grad school talk

The requirements

Course planning? Double majoring?


Project courses? Senior thesis?

Beyond the requirements

Summers? Research? Grad school vs industry?


Lunch Bunch? SURFs? Internships?

Questions?

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