Section Five

Courses

446

Courses
Courses numbered below 100 are taken primarily by undergraduate students. Those
numbered from 100 to 199 are taken by both undergraduates and graduates, and
those numbered 200 and above are taken primarily by graduate students.
The school year is divided into three terms. The number of units assigned in any
term to any subject represents the number of hours spent in class, in laboratory, and
estimated to be spent in preparation per week. In the following schedules, figures in
parentheses denote hours in class (first figure), hours in laboratory (second figure),
and hours of outside preparation (third figure).
At the end of the seventh week of each term, a list of courses to be offered the
following term is published by the Registrar’s Office. On the day of registration (see
Academic Calendar), an updated and revised course schedule is published announc-
ing the courses, class hours, and room assignments for the term. Students may not
schedule two courses taught at the same time.

Abbreviations

Ae Aerospace FS Freshman Seminars

AN Anthropology Ge Geological and
ACM Applied and Planetary Sciences
Computational H History
Mathematics HPS History and Philosophy
AM Applied Mechanics of Science
APh Applied Physics Hum Humanities
Art Art History IDS Information and Data
Ay Astrophysics Sciences
BMB Biochemistry and IST Information Science
Molecular Biophysics and Technology
BE Bioengineering ISP Interdisciplinary
Bi Biology Studies Program
BEM Business, Economics L Languages
and Management Law Law
ChE Chemical Engineering MS Materials Science
Ch Chemistry Ma Mathematics
CE Civil Engineering ME Mechanical
CNS Computation and Engineering
Neural Systems MedE Medical Engineering
CS Computer Science Mu Music
CMS Computing and NB Neurobiology
Mathematical PVA Performing and Visual
Sciences Arts 447
CDS Control and Pl Philosophy
Dynamical Systems PE Physical Education
Ec Economics Ph Physics
EE Electrical Engineering PS Political Science
EST Energy Science and Psy Psychology
Technology SEC Scientific and
E Engineering (General) Engineering
En English Communication
ESL English As a Second SS Social Science
Language SA Student Activities
ESE Environmental Science VC Visual Culture
and Engineering Wr Writing
F Film
 AEROSPACE
Ae 100. Research in Aerospace. Units to be arranged in accordance
with work accomplished. Open to suitably qualified undergraduates and
first-year graduate students under the direction of the staff. Credit is
based on the satisfactory completion of a substantive research report,
which must be approved by the Ae 100 adviser and by the option
representative.

Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc. Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisites: APh 17 or ME 11 abc, and ME 12 or
equivalent, ACM 95/100 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently). Fun-
damentals of fluid mechanics. Microscopic and macroscopic properties
of liquids and gases; the continuum hypothesis; review of thermody-
namics; general equations of motion; kinematics; stresses; constitutive
relations; vorticity, circulation; Bernoulli’s equation; potential flow; thin-
airfoil theory; surface gravity waves; buoyancy-driven flows; rotating
flows; viscous creeping flow; viscous boundary layers; introduction
to stability and turbulence; quasi one-dimensional compressible flow;
shock waves; unsteady compressible flow; and acoustics. Instructors:
Dimotakis, Pullin

Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Mechanics of Structures and Solids. 9 units

(3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: ME 12 abc. Introduction
to continuum mechanics: kinematics, balance laws, constitutive laws
with an emphasis on solids. Static and dynamic stress analysis. Two-
and three-dimensional theory of stressed elastic solids. Wave propaga-
tion. Analysis of rods, plates and shells with applications in a variety of
fields. Variational theorems and approximate solutions. Elastic stability.
Instructors: Lapusta, Rosakis, Ravichandran.

Ae 103 ab. Aerospace Control Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second and

third terms. Prerequisites: CDS 110 (or equivalent), CDS 131 or permis-
sion of instructor. Part a: Optimization-based design of control systems,
including optimal control and receding horizon control. Introduc-
tory random processes and optimal estimation. Kalman filtering and
nonlinear filtering methods for autonomous systems. Part b: Nonlinear
448 control design for aerospace systems, flight dynamics, and attitude
dynamics. Guidance, navigation, and control of autonomous aerospace
systems. Instructor: Fragoso.

Ae/APh 104 abc. Experimental Methods. 9 units (3-0-6) first term; (0-6-3)
second, third terms. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent (may
be taken concurrently), Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent (may be
taken concurrently). Lectures on experiment design and implementation.
Measurement methods, transducer fundamentals, instrumentation, optical
systems, signal processing, noise theory, analog and digital electronic
fundamentals, with data acquisition and processing systems. Experiments
(second and third terms) in solid and fluid mechanics with emphasis on
current research methods. Ae/APh 104 a offered 2020-21.

Courses
Ae 105 abc. Space Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6) first term, (2-4-3) sec-
ond term, (0-8-1) third term; first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: ME
11 abc and ME 12 abc or equivalent. Part a: Design of space missions
based on astrodynamics. Topics include conic orbits with perturbations
(J2, drag, and solar radiation pressure), Lambert’s Theorem, periodic
orbits and ground tracks, invariant manifolds, and the variational
equation with mission applications to planetary flybys, constellation,
formation flying, and low energy planetary capture and landing. Part b:
Introduction to spacecraft systems and subsystems, mission design,
rocket mechanics, launch vehicles, and space environments; spacecraft
mechanical, structural, and thermal design; communication and power
systems; preliminary discussion and setup for team project leading to
system requirements review. Part c: Team project leading to preliminary
design review and critical design review Instructor: Chung.

CE/Ae/AM 108 ab. Computational Mechanics. 9 units (3-5-1). For

course description, see Civil Engineering.

Ae 115 ab. Spacecraft Navigation. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms.

Prerequisite: CDS 110 a. This course will survey all aspects of mod-
ern spacecraft navigation, including astrodynamics, tracking systems
for both low-Earth and deep-space applications (including the Global
Positioning System and the Deep Space Network observables), and the
statistical orbit determination problem (in both the batch and sequential
Kalman filter implementations). The course will describe some of the
scientific applications directly derived from precision orbital knowledge,
such as planetary gravity field and topography modeling. Numerous
examples drawn from actual missions as navigated at JPL will be dis-
cussed. Not offered 2020-21.

APh/Ph/Ae 116. Physics of Thermal and Mass Transport in Hydro-

dynamic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For course description,
see Applied Physics.

Ae/ME 118. Classical Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12, or equivalent. Fundamentals of clas-
sical thermodynamics. Basic postulates and laws of thermodynamics,
work and heat, entropy and available work, and thermal systems. Equa-
tions of state, compressibility functions, and the Law of Corresponding 449
States. Thermodynamic potentials, chemical and phase equilibrium,
phase transitions, and thermodynamic properties of solids, liquids, and
gases. Examples will be drawn from fluid dynamics, solid mechanics,
and thermal science applications. Instructor: Minnich

Ae/ME 120. Combustion Fundamentals. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Recommended: ME 118 and 119 or equivalent. The
course will cover chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, combus-
tion chemistry, transport phenomena, and the governing equations
for multicomponent gas mixtures. Topics will be chosen from non-
premixed and premixed flames, laminar and turbulent flames, com

Aerospace
 bustion-generated pollutants, and numerical simulations of reacting
flows. Instructor: Blanquart.

Ae 121 abc. Space Propulsion. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Open to all graduate students and to seniors with instructor’s per-
mission. Ae 121 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of chemical,
electric and advanced propulsion technologies. The course focuses on
the thermochemistry and aerodynamics of chemical and electrothermal
propulsion systems, the physics of ionized gases and electrostatic and
electromagnetic processes in electric thrusters. These analyses provide
the opportunity to introduce the basic concepts of non-equilibrium
gas dynamics and kinetic theory. Specific technologies such as launch
vehicle rocket engines, monopropellant engines, arcjets, ion thrusters,
magnetoplasmadynamic engines and Hall thrusters will be discussed.
Ae 121 also provides an introduction to advanced propulsion concepts
such as solar sails and antimatter rockets. Instructor: Polk.

Ae 150 abc. Aerospace Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; first, second,

third terms. Speakers from campus and outside research and manu-
facturing organizations discuss current problems and advances in
aerospace engineering. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Meiron.

EE/Ae 157 ab. Introduction to the Physics of Remote Sensing. 9

units (3-0-6); first, second terms. For course description, see Electrical
Engineering.

Ae 159. Optical Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:

Ph 2, EE/Ae 157, or equivalent; APh 23 desirable. This class covers both
the fundamentals of optical engineering and the development of space
optical systems. Emphasis is on the design and engineering of optical,
UV and IR systems for scientific remote sensing and imaging applica-
tions. Material covered is: first order optics to find the location, size
and orientation of an image; geometrical aberration theory balancing
tolerancing optical systems; transmittance, Etendu vignetting; radiative
transfer; scalar vector wave propagation—physical optics; scalar dif-
fraction image formation coherence; interferometry for the measurement
of optical surfaces astronomy; optical metrology wavefront sensing con-
trol (A/O); segmented and sparse aperture telescopes; and design top-
450 ics in coronagraphy, Fourier transform spectrometers, grating spectrom-
eters, and large aperture telescopes. Space optics issues discussed will
be segmented sparse aperture telescopes, radiation damage to glass,
thermal and UV contamination. Not offered 2020-21.

Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab. Continuum Mechanics of Fluids and Solids. 9

units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Elements of Cartesian tensors. Con-
figurations and motions of a body. Kinematics—study of deformations,
rotations and stretches, polar decomposition. Lagrangian and Eulerian
strain velocity and spin tensor fields. Irrotational motions, rigid motions.
Kinetics—balance laws. Linear and angular momentum, force, traction
stress. Cauchy’s theorem, properties of Cauchy’s stress. Equations of
motion, equilibrium equations. Power theorem, nominal (Piola-Kirchoff)

Courses
stress. Thermodynamics of bodies. Internal energy, heat flux, heat
supply. Laws of thermodynamics, notions of entropy, absolute tempera-
ture. Entropy inequality (Clausius-Duhem). Examples of special classes
of constitutive laws for materials without memory. Objective rates,
corotational, convected rates. Principles of materials frame indifference.
Examples: the isotropic Navier-Stokes fluid, the isotropic thermoelastic
solid. Basics of finite differences, finite elements, and boundary integral
methods, and their applications to continuum mechanics problems
illustrating a variety of classes of constitutive laws. Part a will be offered
in 2020-21 Instructor: Lapusta.

Ae/CE 165 ab. Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures.

9 units (2-2-5); first, second terms. Prerequisite: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 a.
Introduction and fabrication technology, elastic deformation of compos-
ites, stiffness bounds, on- and off-axis elastic constants for a lamina,
elastic deformation of multidirectional laminates (lamination theory, ABD
matrix), effective hygrothermal properties, mechanisms of yield and fail-
ure for a laminate, strength of a single ply, failure models, splitting and
delamination. Experimental methods for characterization and testing of
composite materials. Design criteria, application of design methods to
select a suitable laminate using composite design software, hand layup
of a simple laminate and measurement of its stiffness and thermoelastic
coefficients. Instructor: Pellegrino

Ae 200. Advanced Research in Aerospace. Units to be arranged.

Ae.E. or Ph.D. thesis level research under the direction of the staff. A
written research report must be submitted during finals week each term.

Ae 201 a. Advanced Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent; AM 125 abc or
ACM/IDS 101 (may be taken concurrently). Foundations of the mechan-
ics of real fluids. Basic concepts will be emphasized. Subjects covered
will include a selection from the following topics: physical properties of
real gases; the equations of motion of viscous and inviscid fluids; the
dynamical significance of vorticity; vortex dynamics; exact solutions;
motion at high Reynolds numbers; hydrodynamic stability; boundary
layers; flow past bodies; compressible flow; subsonic, transonic, and
supersonic flow; shock waves. Not offered 2020-21.
451
Ae 204 ab. Technical Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third
terms. Prerequisite: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent. External
and internal flow problems encountered in engineering, for which only
empirical methods exist. Turbulent shear flow, separation, transition,
three-dimensional and nonsteady effects. Basis of engineering practice
in the design of devices such as mixers, ejectors, diffusers, and control
valves. Studies of flow-induced oscillations, wind effects on structures,
vehicle aerodynamics. Instructor: Gharib.

Ae 205 ab. Advanced Space Project. 9 units (2-4-3); second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ae105 abc. This is an advanced course on the
design and implementation of space projects and it is currently focused

Aerospace
 on the flight project Autonomous Assembly of a Reconfigurable Space
Telescope (AAReST). The objective is to be ready for launch and opera-
tion in 2015. Each student will be responsible for a specific activity, cho-
sen from the following: optimization of telescope system architecture;
design, assembly and testing of telescope optics; telescope calibration
procedure and algorithms for wavefront control; thermal analysis; boom
design and deployment test methods; effects of spacecraft dynamics
on telescope performance; environmental testing of telescope system.
Each student will prepare a survey of the state of the art for the selected
activity, and then develop a design/implementation plan, execute the
plan and present the results in a final report. Not offered 2020-21.

Ae 208 abc. GALCIT Colloquium. 1 unit; first, second, third terms.

A seminar course in fluid, solid, space, and bio mechanics. Weekly
lectures on current developments are presented by staff members,
graduate students, and visiting scientists and engineers. Graded pass/
fail. Instructors: McKeon, Chung.

Note: The following courses, with numbers greater than 209, are one-,
two-, or three-term courses offered to interested students. Depending
on conditions, some of the courses may be taught as tutorials or read-
ing courses, while others may be conducted more formally.

Ae/AM/MS/ME 213. Mechanics and Materials Aspects of Fracture.

9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc (concur-
rently) or equivalent and instructor’s permission. Analytical and experi-
mental techniques in the study of fracture in metallic and nonmetallic
solids. Mechanics of brittle and ductile fracture; connections between
the continuum descriptions of fracture and micromechanisms. Discus-
sion of elastic-plastic fracture analysis and fracture criteria. Special
topics include fracture by cleavage, void growth, rate sensitivity, crack
deflection and toughening mechanisms, as well as fracture of nontra-
ditional materials. Fatigue crack growth and life prediction techniques
will also be discussed. In addition, “dynamic” stress wave dominated,
failure initiation growth and arrest phenomena will be covered. This will
include traditional dynamic fracture considerations as well as discus-
sions of failure by adiabatic shear localization. Not offered 2020-21.
452
Ae/AM/CE/ME 214 ab. Computational Solid Mechanics. 9 units
(3-5-1); second, third terms. Prerequisites: ACM 100 ab or equivalent;
CE/AM/Ae 108 ab or equivalent or instructor’s permission; Ae/AM/CE/
ME 102 abc or Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab or instructor’s permission. Introduction
to the use of numerical methods in the solution of solid mechanics and
multiscale mechanics problems. First term: Variational principles. Finite
element analysis. Variational problems in linear and finite kinematics.
Time integration, initial boundary value problems. Elasticity and inelas-
ticity. Constitutive modeling. Error estimation. Accuracy, stability and
convergence. Iterative solution methods. Adaptive strategies. Second
term: Multiscale modeling strategies. Computational homogenization in
linear and finite kinematics. Spectral methods. Atomistic modeling and
atomistic-to-continuum coupling techniques. Not offered 2020-21.

Courses
Ae/AM/ME 215. Dynamic Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6);
third term. Prerequisites: ACM 100 abc or AM 125 abc; Ae/AM/CE/ME
102 abc. Fundamentals of theory of wave propagation; plane waves,
wave guides, dispersion relations; dynamic plasticity, adiabatic shear
banding; dynamic fracture; shock waves, equation of state. Not offered
2020-21.

Ae/ME/APh 218. Statistical Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ae/ME 118, or equivalent. Overview of probability
and statistics, and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. Overview and
elements of Quantum Mechanics, degenerate energy states, particles
in a box, and energy-state phase space. Statistics of indistinguishable
elementary particles, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics, partition
functions, connections with classical thermodynamics, and the Law of
Equipartition. Examples from equilibrium in fluids, solid-state physics,
and others. Not offered 2020-21.

Ae 220. Theory of Structures. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Fundamentals of buckling and stability,
total potential energy and direct equilibrium approaches; classification
of instabilities into snap-through and bifurcations; eigenvalues and
eigenvectors of stiffness matrix; Rayleigh-Ritz estimates of buckling
loads; buckling of columns; imperfection sensitivity; elastic-plastic
buckling; buckling of plates and shells. Selected topics: localization and
wrinkling; design of imperfection insensitive shells and other topics. Not
offered 2020-21.

Ae/CE 221. Space Structures. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course
examines the links between form, geometric shape, and structural
performance. It deals with different ways of breaking up a continuum,
and how this affects global structural properties; structural concepts
and preliminary design methods that are used in tension structures and
deployable structures. Geometric foundations, polyhedra and tessella-
tions, surfaces; space frames, examples of space frames, stiffness and
structural efficiency of frames with different repeating units; sandwich
plates; cable and membrane structures, form-finding, wrinkle-free
pneumatic domes, balloons, tension-stabilized struts, tensegrity domes;
deployable and adaptive structures, coiled rods and their applications,
flexible shells, membranes, structural mechanisms, actuators, concepts 453
for adaptive trusses and manipulators. Not offered 2020-21.

Ae/AM/ME 223. Plasticity. 9 units (3-0-6); winter term. Prerequisite: Ae/

AM/CE/ME 102 abc or instructor’s permission. Theory of dislocations
in crystalline media. Characteristics of dislocations and their influence
on the mechanical behavior in various crystal structures. Application
of dislocation theory to single and polycrystal plasticity. Theory of the
inelastic behavior of materials with negligible time effects. Experimental
background for metals and fundamental postulates for plastic stress-
strain relations. Variational principles for incremental elastic-plastic
problems, uniqueness. Upper and lower bound theorems of limit
analysis and shakedown. Slip line theory and applications. Additional

Aerospace
 topics may include soils, creep and rate-sensitive effects in metals, the
thermodynamics of plastic deformation, and experimental methods in
plasticity. Not offered 2020-21.

ME/MS/Ae/AM 224. Multifunctional Materials. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. For course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Ae/AM/ME/Ge 225. Special Topics in Solid Mechanics. Units to be

arranged; first, second, third terms. Subject matter changes depending
on staff and student interest.

Ae/ACM/ME 232 ab. Computational Fluid Dynamics. 9 units (3-

0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or
equivalent; ACM 100 abc or equivalent. Development and analysis of
algorithms used in the solution of fluid mechanics problems. Numeri-
cal analysis of discretization schemes for partial differential equations
including interpolation, integration, spatial discretization, systems of
ordinary differential equations; stability, accuracy, aliasing, Gibbs and
Runge phenomena, numerical dissipation and dispersion; boundary
conditions. Survey of finite difference, finite element, finite volume and
spectral approximations for the numerical solution of the incompressible
and compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, including shock-
capturing methods. Instructors: Meiron, Pullin.

Ae 233. Hydrodynamic Stability. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequi-

sites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent. Laminar-stability theory as
a guide to laminar-turbulent transition. Rayleigh equation, instability cri-
teria, and response to small inviscid disturbances. Discussion of Kelvin-
Helmholtz, Rayleigh-Taylor, Richtmyer-Meshkov, and other instabilities,
for example, in geophysical flows. The Orr-Sommerfeld equation, the
dual role of viscosity, and boundary-layer stability. Weakly nonlinear
stability theory and phenomenological theories of turbulence. Instructor:
McKeon.

Ae 234 ab. Hypersonic Aerodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent, AM 125
abc, or instructor’s permission. An advanced course dealing with aero-
dynamic problems of flight at hyper-sonic speeds. Topics are selected
454 from hypersonic small-disturbance theory, blunt-body theory, boundary
layers and shock waves in real gases, heat and mass transfer, testing
facilities and experiment. Instructor: Austin.

Ae 235. Rarefied Gasdynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Molecular

description of matter; distribution functions; discrete-velocity gases.
Kinetic theory: free-path theory, internal degrees of freedom. Boltzmann
equation: BBGKY hierarchy and closure, H theorem, Euler equations,
Chapman-Enskog procedure, free-molecule flows. Collisionless and
transitional flows. Direct simulation Monte Carlo methods. Applications.
Not offered 2020-21.

Courses
Ae 237 ab. Nonsteady Gasdynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third
terms Part a: dynamics of shock waves, expansion waves, and related
discontinuities in gases. Adiabatic phase-transformation waves. Inter-
action of waves in one- and two-dimensional flows. Boundary layers
and shock structure. Applications and shock tube techniques. Part b:
shock and detonation waves in solids and liquids. Equations of state
for hydrodynamic computations in solids, liquids, and explosive reac-
tion products. CJ and ZND models of detonation in solids and liquids.
Propagation of shock waves and initiation of reaction in explosives.
Interactions of detonation waves with water and metals. Not offered
2020-21.

Ae 239 ab. Turbulence. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequi-

sites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc; AM 125 abc or ACM/IDS 101. Reynolds-
averaged equations and the problem of closure. Statistical description
of turbulence. Homogeneous isotropic turbulence and structure of fine
scales. Turbulent shear flows. Physical and spectral models. Subgrid-
scale modeling. Turbulent mixing. Structure of low and high Reynolds
number wall turbulence. Only part a will be offered in 2020-21. Instruc-
tor: McKeon.

Ae 240. Special Topics in Fluid Mechanics. Units to be arranged;

first, second, third terms. Subject matter changes depending upon staff
and student interest. (1) Educational exchange at Ecole Polytechnique.
Students participating in the Ecole Polytechnique educational exchange
must register for 36 units while they are on detached duty at Ecole Poly-
technique. For further information refer to the graduate option informa-
tion for Aerospace. Instructors: Meiron.

Ae 241. Special Topics in Experimental Fluid and Solid Mechan-

ics. Prerequisite: Ae/APh 104 or equivalent or instructor’s permission.
Units to be arranged; first, second, third terms. Subject matter changes
depending upon staff and student interest.

Ae/BE 242. Biological Flows: Propulsion. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent or ChE 103 a.
Physical principles of unsteady fluid momentum transport: equations
of motion, dimensional analysis, conservation laws. Unsteady vortex
dynamics: vorticity generation and dynamics, vortex dipoles/rings, 455
wake structure in unsteady flows. Life in moving fluids: unsteady drag,
added-mass effects, virtual buoyancy, bounding and schooling, wake
capture. Thrust generation by flapping, undulating, rowing, jetting. Low
Reynolds number propulsion. Bioinspired design of propulsion devices.
Not offered 2020–21.

MedE/BE/Ae 243. Physiological Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. For course description, see Medical Engineering.

Ae 250. Reading and Independent Study. Units to be arranged; first,

second, third terms. Graded pass/fail only.

Aerospace
 Ae/CDS/ME 251 ab. Closed Loop Flow Control. 9 units; (3-0-6 a, 1-6-
1 b); second, third term. Prerequisites: ACM 100abc, Ae/APh/CE/ME
101abc or equivalent. This course seeks to introduce students to recent
developments in theoretical and practical aspects of applying control to
flow phenomena and fluid systems. Lecture topics in the second term
drawn from: the objectives of flow control; a review of relevant concepts
from classical and modern control theory; high-fidelity and reduced-
order modeling; principles and design of actuators and sensors. Third
term: laboratory work in open- and closed-loop control of boundary
layers, turbulence, aerodynamic forces, bluff body drag, combustion
oscillations and flow-acoustic oscillations. Not offered 2020-21.

Ae/AM/CE/ME/Ge 265 ab. Static and Dynamic Failure of Brittle Sol-

ids and Interfaces, from the Micro to the Mega. 9 units; (3-0-6); First,
term. Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc (concurrently) or equiva-
lent and/or instructor’s permission. Linear elastic fracture mechanics
of homogeneous brittle solids (e.g. geo-materials, ceramics, metallic
glasses); small scale yielding concepts; experimental methods in frac-
ture, fracture of bi-material interfaces with applications to composites
as well as bonded and layered engineering and geological structures;
thin-film and micro-electronic components and systems; dynamic
fracture mechanics of homogeneous engineering materials; dynamic
shear dominated failure of coherent and incoherent interfaces at all
length scales; dynamic rupture of frictional interfaces with application to
earthquake source mechanics; allowable rupture speeds regimes and
connections to earthquake seismology and the generation of Tsunamis.
Only Part a will be offered in 2020-21. Instructor: Rosakis.

ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab. Dynamic Fracture and Frictional Faulting. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

ANTHROPOLOGY
An 14. Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology. 9 units (3-0-6);
second term. Introduction to anthropology. Exploration of hunters and
gatherers and other early forms of human subsistence and social or-
456 ganization. Evolution of contemporary human diversity and similarity in
kinship and marriage, gender relations, language, psychology, religion,
witchcraft, division of labor, economic organization, political systems,
law, and warfare. Contemporary tribalism and interethnic relations are
examined. Instructor: Ensminger.

An 15. Human Evolution. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. What makes hu-
mans unique and how did we evolve? This course will review 8 million
years of hominin evolutionary history, focusing on the origins of defining
features of our species including bipedalism, tool use, language, and
advanced cognition. We will examine evidence from primatology and
the genetic, fossil, and archaeological records. Concepts from evolu-
tionary biology and anthropology will be covered including adaptation,

Courses
phylogenetics, life history theory, behavioral ecology, and gene-culture
coevolution. Instructor: Alex.

An 16. World Archeology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. How do we know

what we think we know about ancient peoples and societies? Archaeol-
ogy is the study of past societies through the material traces they left
behind from the great pyramids to microscopic bits of garbage. This
course will review the global archaeological record from the earliest
stone tools, roughly 3.3 million years ago, through the rise and fall of
ancient civilizations of the Middle East, Africa, South and East Asia, and
the Americas. We will examine evidence and theories pertaining to glob-
al dispersals, origins of agriculture, urbanization and societal collapse.
Throughout the course we will discuss methodologies of site discovery,
excavation, chronometric dating, skeletal analysis, and artifact char-
acterization. We also discuss how the past is used for modern political
and social agendas. Students will create virtual museum exhibits on
archaeological topics of their choosing. Instructor: Alex.

An 97. Undergraduate Research. Units to be arranged; any term.

Prerequisites: advanced Anthropology and instructor’s permission.
This course offers advanced undergraduates the opportunity to pursue
research in Anthropology individually or in a small group. Graded pass/
fail.

An 101. Selected Topics in Anthropology. Units to be determined by

arrangement with the instructor; offered by announcement. Topics to be
determined by instructor. Instructor: Staff.

An/PS 127. Corruption. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: AN

14 or PS 12. Corruption taxes economies and individuals in both the
developing and the developed world. We will examine what corruption
means in different places and contexts, from grand financial scandals to
misappropriation of all manner of public resources. How do we measure
corruption? What are its costs and social consequences? What have
culture and psychology got to do with it? How much do governance
and a free press matter? What are the potential solutions? Students
will work closely with the professor to develop an independent and
original research project of their choice. Limited enrollment. Instructor:
Ensminger. 457

APPLIED AND COMPUTATIONAL

MATHEMATICS
ACM 11. Introduction to Matlab and Mathematica. 6 units (2-2-2);
third term. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc. CS 1 or prior programming experi-
ence recommended. Matlab: basic syntax and development environ-
ment; debugging; help interface; basic linear algebra; visualization and
graphical output; control flow; vectorization; scripts, and functions;
file i/o; arrays, structures, and strings; numerical analysis (topics may

Applied and Computational Mathematics

 include curve fitting, interpolation, differentiation, integration, optimi-
zation, solving nonlinear equations, fast Fourier transform, and ODE
solvers); and advanced topics (may include writing fast code, paral-
lelization, object-oriented features). Mathematica: basic syntax and the
notebook interface, calculus and linear algebra operations, numerical
and symbolic solution of algebraic and differential equations, manipula-
tion of lists and expressions, Mathematica programming (rule-based,
functional, and procedural) and debugging, plotting, and visualization.
The course will also emphasize good programming habits and choosing
the appropriate language/software for a given scientific task. Instructor:
Qian.

ACM 80 abc. Undergraduate Thesis. 9 units; first, second, third terms.

Prerequisites: instructor’s permission, which should be obtained suf-
ficiently early to allow time for planning the research. Individual research
project, carried out under the supervision of a member of the ACM
faculty (or other faculty as approved by the ACM undergraduate option
representative). Projects must include significant design effort. Written
report required. Open only to upper class students. Not offered on a
pass/fail basis. Instructor: Staff.

ACM 81 abc. Undergraduate Projects in Applied and Computational

Mathematics. Units are assigned in accordance with work accom-
plished; first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Consent of supervisor
is required before registering. Supervised research or development in
ACM by undergraduates. The topic must be approved by the project
supervisor, and a formal final report must be presented on completion of
research. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

ACM 95/100 ab. Introductory Methods of Applied Mathematics for

the Physical Sciences. 12 units (4-0-8); second, third terms. Prereq-
uisites: Ma 1 abc, Ma 2 or equivalents. Complex analysis: analyticity,
Laurent series, contour integration, residue calculus. Ordinary dif-
ferential equations: linear initial value problems, linear boundary value
problems, Sturm-Liouville theory, eigenfunction expansions, transform
methods, Green’s functions. Linear partial differential equations: heat
equation, separation of variables, Laplace equation, transform methods,
wave equation, method of characteristics, Green’s functions. Instruc-
458 tors: Zuev, Meiron.

ACM/IDS 101 ab. Methods of Applied Mathematics. 12 units (4-4-

4); first, second terms. Prerequisites: Math 2/102 and ACM 95 ab or
equivalent. First term: Brief review of the elements of complex analysis
and complex-variable methods. Asymptotic expansions, asymptotic
evaluation of integrals (Laplace method, stationary phase, steepest
descents), perturbation methods, WKB theory, boundary-layer theory,
matched asymptotic expansions with first-order and high-order match-
ing. Method of multiple scales for oscillatory systems. Second term:
Applied spectral theory, special functions, generalized eigenfunction ex-
pansions, convergence theory. Gibbs and Runge phenomena and their
resolution. Chebyshev expansion and Fourier Continuation methods.

Courses
Review of numerical stability theory for time evolution. Fast spectrally-
accurate PDE solvers for linear and nonlinear Partial Differential Equa-
tions in general domains. Integral-equations methods for linear partial
differential equation in general domains (Laplace, Helmholtz, Schroed-
inger, Maxwell, Stokes). Homework problems in both 101 a and 101 b
include theoretical questions as well as programming implementations
of the mathematical and numerical methods studied in class. Instructor:
Bruno.

ACM/IDS 104. Applied Linear Algebra. 9 units (3-1-5); first term. Pre-
requisites: Ma 1 abc, some familiarity with MATLAB, e.g. ACM 11 is
desired. This is an intermediate linear algebra course aimed at a diverse
group of students, including junior and senior majors in applied math-
ematics, sciences and engineering. The focus is on applications. Matrix
factorizations play a central role. Topics covered include linear systems,
vector spaces and bases, inner products, norms, minimization, the
Cholesky factorization, least squares approximation, data fitting, inter-
polation, orthogonality, the QR factorization, ill-conditioned systems,
discrete Fourier series and the fast Fourier transform, eigenvalues
and eigenvectors, the spectral theorem, optimization principles for
eigenvalues, singular value decomposition, condition number, principal
component analysis, the Schur decomposition, methods for computing
eigenvalues, non-negative matrices, graphs, networks, random walks,
the Perron-Frobenius theorem, PageRank algorithm. Instructor: Zuev.

ACM 105. Applied Real and Functional Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 108a, ACM/IDS 104 or equivalent.
This course is about the fundamental concepts in real and functional
analysis that are vital for many topics and applications in mathematics,
physics, computing and engineering. The aim of this course is to pro-
vide a working knowledge of functional analysis with an eye especially
for aspects that lend themselves to applications. The course gives an
overview of the interplay between different functional spaces and focus-
es on the following three key concepts: Hahn-Banach theorem, open
mapping and closed graph theorem, uniform boundedness principle.
Other core concepts include: normed linear spaces and behavior of
linear maps, completeness, Banach spaces, Hilbert spaces, Lp spaces,
duality of normed spaces and dual operators, dense subspaces and
approximations, hyperplanes, compactness, weak and weak* conver- 459
gence. More advanced topics include: spectral theory, compact opera-
tors, theory of distributions (generalized functions), Fourier analysis,
calculus of variations, Sobolev spaces with applications to PDEs, weak
solvability theory of boundary value problems. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM/EE 106 ab. Introductory Methods of Computational Math-

ematics. 12 units (3-0-9); first, second terms. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc,
Ma 2, Ma 3, ACM 11, ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. The sequence
covers the introductory methods in both theory and implementation
of numerical linear algebra, approximation theory, ordinary differential
equations, and partial differential equations. The linear algebra parts
covers basic methods such as direct and iterative solution of large linear

Applied and Computational Mathematics

 systems, including LU decomposition, splitting method (Jacobi iteration,
Gauss-Seidel iteration); eigenvalue and vector computations including
the power method, QR iteration and Lanczos iteration; nonlinear alge-
braic solvers. The approximation theory includes data fitting; interpola-
tion using Fourier transform, orthogonal polynomials and splines; least
square method, and numerical quadrature. The ODE parts include initial
and boundary value problems. The PDE parts include finite difference
and finite element for elliptic/parabolic/hyperbolic equation. Stability
analysis will be covered with numerical PDE. Programming is a signifi-
cant part of the course. Instructor: Hou.

CMS/ACM/IDS 107. Linear Analysis with Applications. 12 units (3-0-

9). See course description in Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

ACM 109. Mathematical Modelling. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent. This course gives an overview of
different mathematical models used to describe a variety of phenomena
arising in the biological, engineering, physical and social sciences. Em-
phasis will be placed on the principles used to develop these models,
and on the unity and cross-cutting nature of the mathematical and com-
putational tools used to study them. Applications will include quantum,
atomistic and continuum modeling of materials; epidemics, reacting-
diffusing systems; crowd modeling and opinion formation. Mathematical
tools will include ordinary, partial and stochastic differential equations,
as well as Markov chains and other stochastic processes. Instructor:
Stuart

Ec/ACM/CS 112. Bayesian Statistics. 9 units (3-0-6). See course

description in Economics.

CMS/ACM/IDS 113. Mathematical Optimization. 12 units (3-0-9). See

course description in Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

ACM/EE/IDS 116. Introduction to Probability Models. 9 units (3-1-

5); first term. Prerequisites: Ma 3, some familiarity with MATLAB, e.g.
ACM 11 is desired. This course introduces students to the fundamental
concepts, methods, and models of applied probability and stochastic
processes. The course is application oriented and focuses on the devel-
460 opment of probabilistic thinking and intuitive feel of the subject rather
than on a more traditional formal approach based on measure theory.
The main goal is to equip science and engineering students with neces-
sary probabilistic tools they can use in future studies and research.
Topics covered include sample spaces, events, probabilities of events,
discrete and continuous random variables, expectation, variance, cor-
relation, joint and marginal distributions, independence, moment gen-
erating functions, law of large numbers, central limit theorem, random
vectors and matrices, random graphs, Gaussian vectors, branching,
Poisson, and counting processes, general discrete- and continuous-
timed processes, auto- and cross-correlation functions, stationary
processes, power spectral densities. Instructor: Zuev.

Courses
CMS/ACM 117. Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes. 12
units (3-0-9). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

ACM 118. Stochastic Processes and Regression. 12 units (3-0-

9); second term. Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107 or equivalent, CMS
117 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Stochastic processes:
Branching processes, Poisson point processes, Determinantal point
processes, Dirichlet processes and Gaussian processes (including the
Brownian motion). Regression: Gaussian vectors, spaces, conditioning,
processes, fields and measures will be presented with an emphasis on
linear regression. Kernel and variational methods in numerical approxi-
mation, signal processing and learning will also be covered through their
connections with Gaussian process regression Instructor: Owhadi.

AM/ACM 127. Calculus of Variations. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Applied Mechanics.

Ma/ACM/IDS 140 ab. Probability. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms.

For course description, see Mathematics.

Ma/ACM 142 ab. Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Mathematics.

ACM/IDS 154. Inverse Problems and Data Assimilation. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Prerequisites: Basic differential equations, linear algebra,
probability and statistics: ACM/IDS 104, ACM/EE 106 ab, ACM/EE/IDS
116, IDS/ACM/CS 157 or equivalent. Models in applied mathematics
often have input parameters that are uncertain; observed data can be
used to learn about these parameters and thereby to improve predictive
capability. The purpose of the course is to describe the mathematical
and algorithmic principles of this area. The topic lies at the intersection
of fields including inverse problems, differential equations, machine
learning and uncertainty quantification. Applications will be drawn from
the physical, biological and data sciences. Not offered 2020-21.

IDS/ACM/CS 157. Statistical Inference. 9 units (3-2-4). For course

description, see Information and Data Sciences.
461
IDS/ACM/CS 158. Fundamentals of Statistical Learning. 9 units (3-3-
3). For course description, see Information and Data Sciences.

ACM/EE/IDS 170. Mathematics of Signal Processing. 12 units (3-

0-9); third term. Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, CMS/ACM/IDS 113, and
ACM/EE/IDS 116; or instructor’s permission. This course covers classi-
cal and modern approaches to problems in signal processing. Problems
may include denoising, deconvolution, spectral estimation, direction-of-
arrival estimation, array processing, independent component analysis,
system identification, filter design, and transform coding. Methods rely
heavily on linear algebra, convex optimization, and stochastic modeling.
In particular, the class will cover techniques based on least-squares and

Applied and Computational Mathematics

 on sparse modeling. Throughout the course, a computational viewpoint
will be emphasized. Instructor: Hassibi.

CS/ACM 177 ab. Discrete Differential Geometry: Theory and Appli-

cations. 9 units (3-3-3). For course description, see Computer Science.

ACM 190. Reading and Independent Study. Units by arrangement.

Graded pass/fail only.

ACM 201. Partial Differential Equations. 12 units (4-0-8); first term.

Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab, ACM/IDS 101 ab, ACM 11 or equiva-
lent. This course offers an introduction to the theory of Partial Differ-
ential Equations (PDEs) commonly encountered across mathematics,
engineering and science. The goal of the course is to study properties
of different classes of linear and nonlinear PDEs (elliptic, parabolic
and hyperbolic) and the behavior of their solutions using tools from
functional analysis with an emphasis on applications. We will discuss
representative models from different areas such as: heat equation,
wave equation, advection-reaction-diffusion equation, conservation
laws, shocks, predator prey models, Burger’s equation, kinetic equa-
tions, gradient flows, transport equations, integral equations, Helm-
holtz and Schrödinger equations and Stoke’s flow. In this course you
will use analytical tools such as Gauss’s theorem, Green’s functions,
weak solutions, existence and uniqueness theory, Sobolev spaces,
well-posedness theory, asymptotic analysis, Fredholm theory, Fourier
transforms and spectral theory. More advanced topics include: Perron’s
method, applications to irrotational flow, elasticity, electrostatics, special
solutions, vibrations, Huygens’ principle, Eikonal equations, spherical
means, retarded potentials, water waves, various approximations, dis-
persion relations, Maxwell equations, gas dynamics, Riemann problems,
single- and double-layer potentials, Navier-Stokes equations, Reynolds
number, potential flow, boundary layer theory, subsonic, supersonic and
transonic flow. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM/IDS 204. Topics in Linear Algebra and Convexity. 9 units (3-0-

6); second term. Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104 and ACM/EE 106 a, CMS
117, or instructor’s permission. Topic varies by year. 2019–20: Random-
ized algorithms for linear algebra. This class offers an introduction to
462 the emerging field of randomized algorithms for solving linear algebra
problems. Material may include trace estimation, norm estimation,
matrix approximation by sampling, random projections, approximat-
ing least-squares problems, randomized SVD algorithms, approximate
preconditioners, spectral computations, kernel methods, and fast linear
system solvers. Assignments will require mathematical proofs, program-
ming, and computer simulation. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM 210. Numerical Methods for PDEs. 9 units (3-0-6); third terms.
Prerequisite: ACM 11, 106 or instructor’s permission. Finite difference
and finite volume methods for hyperbolic problems. Stability and error
analysis of nonoscillatory numerical schemes: i) linear convection: Lax
equivalence theorem, consistency, stability, convergence, truncation
error, CFL condition, Fourier stability analysis, von Neumann condi-

Courses
tion, maximum principle, amplitude and phase errors, group velocity,
modified equation analysis, Fourier and eigenvalue stability of systems,
spectra and pseudospectra of nonnormal matrices, Kreiss matrix theo-
rem, boundary condition analysis, group velocity and GKS normal mode
analysis; ii) conservation laws: weak solutions, entropy conditions,
Riemann problems, shocks, contacts, rarefactions, discrete conserva-
tion, Lax-Wendroff theorem, Godunov’s method, Roe’s linearization,
TVD schemes, high-resolution schemes, flux and slope limiters, systems
and multiple dimensions, characteristic boundary conditions; iii) adjoint
equations: sensitivity analysis, boundary conditions, optimal shape
design, error analysis. Interface problems, level set methods for multi-
phase flows, boundary integral methods, fast summation algorithms,
stability issues. Spectral methods: Fourier spectral methods on infinite
and periodic domains. Chebyshev spectral methods on finite domains.
Spectral element methods and h-p refinement. Multiscale finite element
methods for elliptic problems with multiscale coefficients. Not offered
2020-21.

ACM/IDS 213. Topics in Optimization. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, CMS/ACM/IDS 113. Material varies
year-to-year. Example topics include discrete optimization, convex and
computational algebraic geometry, numerical methods for large-scale
optimization, and convex geometry. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM/IDS 216. Markov Chains, Discrete Stochastic Processes and

Applications. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: ACM/EE/IDS
116 or equivalent. Stable laws, Markov chains, classification of states,
ergodicity, von Neumann ergodic theorem, mixing rate, stationary/equi-
librium distributions and convergence of Markov chains, Markov chain
Monte Carlo and its applications to scientific computing, Metropolis
Hastings algorithm, coupling from the past, martingale theory and
discrete time martingales, rare events, law of large deviations, Chernoff
bounds. Instructor: Owhadi.

ACM 217. Advanced Topics in Stochastic Analysis. 9 units (3-0-

6); second term. Prerequisites: ACM/CMS/EE/IDS 117. The topic of this
course changes from year to year and is expected to cover areas such
as stochastic differential equations, stochastic control, statistical esti-
mation and adaptive filtering, empirical processes and large deviation 463
techniques, concentration inequalities and their applications. Examples
of selected topics for stochastic differential equations include continu-
ous time Brownian motion, Ito’s calculus, Girsanov theorem, stopping
times, and applications of these ideas to mathematical finance and
stochastic control. Instructor: Tropp.

Ae/ACM/ME 232 abc. Computational Fluid Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Aerospace.

ACM 256. Special Topics in Applied Mathematics. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Prerequisite: ACM/IDS 101 or equivalent. Introduction to finite
element methods. Development of the most commonly used method—

Applied and Computational Mathematics

 continuous, piecewise-linear finite elements on triangles for scalar el-
liptic partial differential equations; practical (a posteriori) error estimation
techniques and adaptive improvement; formulation of finite element
methods, with a few concrete examples of important equations that are
not adequately treated by continuous, piecewise-linear finite elements,
together with choices of finite elements that are appropriate for those
problems. Homogenization and optimal design. Topics covered include
periodic homogenization, G- and H-convergence, Gamma-conver-
gence, G-closure problems, bounds on effective properties, and optimal
composites. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM 257. Special Topics in Financial Mathematics. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. Prerequisite: ACM 95/100 or instructor’s permission. A basic
knowledge of probability and statistics as well as transform methods for
solving PDEs is assumed. This course develops some of the techniques
of stochastic calculus and applies them to the theory of financial asset
modeling. The mathematical concepts/tools developed will include in-
troductions to random walks, Brownian motion, quadratic variation, and
Ito-calculus. Connections to PDEs will be made by Feynman-Kac theo-
rems. Concepts of risk-neutral pricing and martingale representation
are introduced in the pricing of options. Topics covered will be selected
from standard options, exotic options, American derivative securities,
term-structure models, and jump processes. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM 270. Advanced Topics in Applied and Computational Mathe-

matics. Hours and units by arrangement; second, third terms. Advanced
topics in applied and computational mathematics that will vary accord-
ing to student and instructor interest. May be repeated for credit.

ACM 300. Research in Applied and Computational Mathematics.

Units by arrangement.

APPLIED MECHANICS
Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Mechanics of Structures and Solids. 9 units
(3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.
464
CE/Ae/AM 108 ab. Computational Mechanics. 9 units (3-5-1). For
course description, see Civil Engineering.

AM/ACM 127. Calculus of Variations. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisites: ACM 95/100. First and second variations; Euler-Lagrange
equation; Hamiltonian formalism; action principle; Hamilton-Jacobi
theory; stability; local and global minima; direct methods and relaxation;
isoperimetric inequality; asymptotic methods and gamma convergence;
selected applications to mechanics, materials science, control theory
and numerical methods. Not offered 2020–21.

Courses
AM/CE/ME 150 abc. Graduate Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; each
term; first, second, third terms. Students attend a graduate semi-
nar each week of each term and submit a report about the attended
seminars. At least four of the attended seminars each term should be
from the Mechanical and Civil Engineering seminar series. Students not
registered for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees must receive the instructor’s
permission. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

AM/CE 151. Dynamics and Vibration. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Equi-
librium concepts, conservative and dissipative systems, Lagrange’s
equations, differential equations of motion for discrete single and multi
degree-of-freedom systems, natural frequencies and mode shapes
of these systems (Eigenvalue problem associated with the governing
equations), phase plane analysis of vibrating systems, forms of damping
and energy dissipated in damped systems, response to simple force
pulses, harmonic and earthquake excitation, response spectrum con-
cepts, vibration isolation, seismic instruments, dynamics of continuous
systems, Hamilton’s principle, axial vibration of rods and membranes,
transverse vibration of strings, beams (Bernoulli-Euler and Timoshenko
beam theory), and plates, traveling and standing wave solutions to
motion of continuous systems, Rayleigh quotient and the Rayleigh-Ritz
method to approximate natural frequencies and mode shapes of dis-
crete and continuous systems, frequency domain solutions to dynami-
cal systems, stability criteria for dynamical systems, and introduction to
nonlinear systems and random vibration theory. Instructor: Asimaki.

AM/ME 165. Finite Elasticity. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:

Ae/Ge/ME 160 a. Finite theory of elasticity: constitutive theory, semi-
inverse methods. Variational methods. Applications to problems of
current interest. Not offered 2020–21.

AM 200. Advanced Work in Applied Mechanics. Hours and units

by arrangement. A faculty mentor will oversee a student proposed,
independent research or study project to meet the needs of graduate
students. Graded pass/fail. The consent of a faculty mentor and a writ-
ten report is required for each term of work.

AM 201. Advanced Topics in Applied Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. The faculty will prepare courses on advanced topics to meet 465
the needs of graduate students. Instructor: Andrade.

Ae/AM/MS/ME 213. Mechanics and Materials Aspects of Fracture.

9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 214 ab. Computational Solid Mechanics. 9 units

(3-5-1). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/ME 215. Dynamic Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Aerospace.

Applied Mechanics
 Ae/AM/ME 223. Plasticity. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Aerospace.

ME/MS/Ae/AM 224. Multifunctional Materials. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. For course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Ae/AM/ME/Ge 225. Special Topics in Solid Mechanics. Units to be

arranged. For course description, see Aerospace.

AM/CE/ME 252. Linear and Nonlinear Waves in Structured Media. 9

units (2-1-6); second term. The course will cover the basic principles
of wave propagation in solid media. It will discuss the fundamental
principles used to describe linear and nonlinear wave propagation in
continuum and discrete media. Selected recent scientific advancements
in the dynamics of periodic media will also be discussed. Students learn
the basic principles governing the propagation of waves in discrete and
continuum solid media. These methods can be used to engineer materi-
als with predefined properties and to design dynamical systems for a
variety of engineering applications (e.g., vibration mitigation, impact
absorption and sound insulation). The course will include an experi-
mental component, to test wave phenomena in structured media. Not
offered 2020-2021.

Ae/AM/CE/ME/Ge 265ab. Static and Dynamic Failure of Brittle Sol-

ids and Interfaces, from the Micro to the Mega. 9 units; (3-0-6). For
course description, see Aerospace.

AM 300. Research in Applied Mechanics. Hours and units by arrange-

ment. Research in the field of applied mechanics. By arrangement with
members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed
in research.

APPLIED PHYSICS
APh/EE 9 ab. Solid-State Electronics for Integrated Circuits. 6
units (2-2-2); first, third terms; six units credit for the freshman labora-
466 tory requirement. Prerequisite: Successful completion of APh/EE 9 a is
a prerequisite for enrollment in APh/EE 9 b. Introduction to solid-state
electronics, including physical modeling and device fabrication. Topics:
semiconductor crystal growth and device fabrication technology, carrier
modeling, doping, generation and recombination, pn junction diodes,
MOS capacitor and MOS transistor operation, and deviations from ideal
behavior. Laboratory includes computer-aided layout, and fabrication
and testing of light-emitting diodes, transistors, and inverters. Students
learn photolithography, and use of vacuum systems, furnaces, and
device-testing equipment. Instructor: Scherer. APh/EE 9b not offered
2020-21.

Courses
APh 17 abc. Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc. Introduction to the use of
thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in physics and engineer-
ing. Entropy, temperature, and the principal laws of thermodynamics.
Canonical equations of state. Applications to cycles, engines, phase
and chemical equilibria. Probability and stochastic processes. Kinetic
theory of perfect gases. Statistical mechanics. Applications to gases,
gas degeneration, equilibrium radiation, and simple solids. Not offered
2020-21.

APh/EE 23. Demonstration Lectures in Classical and Quantum

Photonics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc. This
course covers fundamentals of photonics with emphasis on modern
applications in classical and quantum optics. Classical optical phenom-
ena including interference, dispersion, birefringence, diffraction, laser
oscillation, and the applications of these phenomena in optical systems
employing multiple-beam interferometry, Fourier-transform image
processing, holography, electro-optic modulation, optical detection and
heterodyning will be covered. Quantum optical phenomena like single
photon emission will be discussed. Examples will be selected from
optical communications, radar, adaptive optical systems, nano-photonic
devices and quantum communications. Prior knowledge of quantum
mechanics is not required. Instructor: Faraon.

APh/EE 24. Introductory Optics and Photonics Laboratory. 9 units

(1-3-5); second term. Prerequisites: APh 23. Laboratory experiments to
acquaint students with the contemporary aspects of optics and photon-
ics research and technology. Experiments encompass many of the
topics and concepts covered in APh 23. Instructor: Faraon.

APh 77 bc. Laboratory in Applied Physics. 9 units (0-9-0); second,

third terms. Selected experiments chosen to familiarize students with
laboratory equipment, procedures, and characteristic phenomena in
plasmas, fluid turbulence, fiber optics, X-ray diffraction, microwaves,
high-temperature superconductivity, black-body radiation, holography,
and computer interfacing of experiments. Not offered 2020-21.

APh 78 abc. Senior Thesis, Experimental. 9 units (0-9-0); first, sec-

ond, third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Supervised ex- 467
perimental research, open only to senior-class applied physics majors.
Requirements will be set by individual faculty member, but must include
a written report. The selection of topic must be approved by the Applied
Physics Option Representative. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Final
grade based on written thesis and oral exam. Instructor: Staff.

APh 79 abc. Senior Thesis, Theoretical. 9 units (0-9-0); first, second,

third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Supervised theoretical
research, open only to senior-class applied physics majors. Require-
ments will be set by individual faculty member, but must include a
written report. The selection of topic must be approved by the Applied
Physics Option Representative. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Final

Applied Physics
 grade based on written thesis and oral exam. This course cannot be
used to satisfy the laboratory requirement in APh. Instructor: Staff.

APh 100. Advanced Work in Applied Physics. Units in accordance

with work accomplished. Special problems relating to applied physics,
arranged to meet the needs of students wishing to do advanced work.
Primarily for undergraduates. Students should consult with their advis-
ers before registering. Graded pass/fail.

Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc. Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

Ae/APh 104 abc. Experimental Methods. 9 units (3-0-6 first term; 1-3-
5 second, third terms). For course description, see Aerospace.

APh/MS 105 abc. States of Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisites: APh 17 abc or equivalent. Thermodynamics and
statistical mechanics, with emphasis on gases, liquids, materials, and
condensed matter. Effects of heat, pressure, and fields on states of
matter are presented with both classical thermodynamics and with
statistical mechanics. Conditions of equilibrium in systems with multiple
degrees of freedom. Applications include ordered states of matter and
phase transitions. The three terms cover, approximately, thermodynam-
ics, statistical mechanics, and phase transitions. APh/MS 105ab not
offered 2020–21. APh/MS 105c Instructor: Falson.

APh/EE 109. Introduction to the Micro/Nanofabrication Lab. 9 units

(0-6-3); first, second, third terms. Introduction to techniques of micro-
and nanofabrication, including solid-state, optical, and microfluidic
devices. Students will be trained to use fabrication and characterization
equipment available in the applied physics micro- and nanofabrication
lab. Topics include Schottky diodes, MOS capacitors, light-emitting
diodes, microlenses, microfluidic valves and pumps, atomic force mi-
croscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron-beam writing. In-
structors: Troian, Ghaffari.

APh 110. Topics in Applied Physics. 2 units (2-0-0); first, second

terms. A seminar course designed to acquaint advanced undergradu-
468 ates and first-year graduate students with the various research areas
represented in the option. Lecture each week given by a different
member of the APh faculty, who will review his or her field of research.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Bellan.

APh 114 abc. Solid-State Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisite: Ph 125 abc or equivalent. Introductory lecture and
problem course dealing with experimental and theoretical problems in
solid-state physics. Topics include crystal structure, symmetries in sol-
ids, lattice vibrations, electronic states in solids, transport phenomena,
semiconductors, superconductivity, magnetism, ferroelectricity, defects,
and optical phenomena in solids. Instructors: Nadj-Perge, Schwab.

Courses
APh/Ph 115. Physics of Momentum Transport in Hydrodynamic
Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: ACM 95 or equiva-
lent. Contemporary research in many areas of physics requires some
knowledge of the principles governing hydrodynamic phenomena such
as nonlinear wave propagation, symmetry breaking in pattern forming
systems, phase transitions in fluids, Langevin dynamics, micro- and
optofluidic control, and biological transport at low Reynolds number.
This course offers students of pure and applied physics a self-contained
treatment of the fundamentals of momentum transport in hydrodynamic
systems. Mathematical techniques will include formalized dimensional
analysis and rescaling, asymptotic analysis to identify dominant force
balances, similitude, self-similarity and perturbation analysis for examin-
ing unidirectional and Stokes flow, pulsatile flows, capillary phenomena,
spreading films, oscillatory flows, and linearly unstable flows leading to
pattern formation. Students must have working knowledge of vector
calculus, ODEs, PDEs, complex variables and basic tensor analysis.
Advanced solution methods will be taught in class as needed. Instruc-
tor: Troian.

APh/Ph/Ae 116. Physics of Thermal and Mass Transport in Hydro-

dynamic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: ACM 95
or equivalent and APh/Ph 115 or equivalent. Contemporary research in
many areas of physics requires some knowledge of how momentum
transport in fluids couples to diffusive phenomena driven by thermal
or concentration gradients. This course will first examine processes
driven purely by diffusion and progress toward description of systems
governed by steady and unsteady convection-diffusion and reaction-
diffusion. Topics will include Fickian dynamics, thermal transfer in Peltier
devices, Lifshitz-Slyozov growth during phase separation, thermocouple
measurements of oscillatory fields, reaction-diffusion phenomena in
biophysical systems, buoyancy driven flows, and boundary layer forma-
tion. Students must have working knowledge of vector calculus, ODEs,
PDEs, complex variables and basic tensor analysis. Advanced solution
methods such as singular perturbation, Sturm-Liouville and Green’s
function analysis will be taught in class as needed. Instructor: Troian.

Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 abc. Physics of Measurement. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Physics.
469
EE/APh 120. Physical Optics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For course
description, see Electrical Engineering.

MS/APh 122. Diffraction, Imaging, and Structure. 9 units (0-4-5); third

term. For course description, see Materials Science.

EE/APh 123. Advanced Lasers and Photonics Laboratory. 9 units (1-

3-5); first term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

APh/EE 130. Electromagnetic Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Elec-

tromagnetic fields in vacuum: microscopic Maxwell’s equations. Mono-
chromatic fields: Rayleigh diffraction formulae, Huyghens principle,

Applied Physics
 Rayleigh-Sommerfeld formula. The Fresnel-Fraunhofer approximation.
Electromagnetic field in the presence of matter, spatial averages, mac-
roscopic Maxwell equations. Helmholtz’s equation. Group-velocity and
group-velocity dispersion. Confined propagation, optical resonators,
optical waveguides. Single mode and multimode waveguides. Nonlinear
optics. Nonlinear propagation. Second harmonic generation. Parametric
amplification. Not offered 2020-21.

EE/APh 131. Light Interaction with Atomic Systems—Lasers. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: APh/EE 130. For course description,
see Electrical Engineering.

APh/EE 132. Special Topics in Photonics and Optoelectronics. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. Interaction of light and matter, spontaneous and
stimulated emission, laser rate equations, mode-locking, Q-switching,
semiconductor lasers. Optical detectors and amplifiers; noise charac-
terization of optoelectronic devices. Propagation of light in crystals,
electro-optic effects and their use in modulation of light; introduction
to nonlinear optics. Optical properties of nanostructures. Not offered
2020-21.

Ph/APh 137 abc. Atoms and Photons. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Physics.

APh/Ph 138 ab. Quantum Hardware and Techniques. 9 units (3-0-

6); second and third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 125abc or Ph 127abc or
Ph137ab or instructor’s permission. This class covers multiple quantum
technology platforms and related theoretical techniques, and will provide
students with broad knowledge in quantum science and engineering. It
will be split into three-week modules covering: applications of near-term
quantum computers, superconducting qubits, trapped atoms and ions, to-
pological quantum matter, solid state quantum bits, tensor-product states.
APh/Ph 138a will not be offered 2020-21. APh/Ph 138b Instructors: Endres,
Faraon, Hsieh, Painter

EE/APh 149. Frontiers of Nonlinear Photonics. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

470 APh 150. Topics in Applied Physics. Units and terms to be arranged.
Content will vary from year to year, but at a level suitable for advanced
undergraduate or beginning graduate students. Topics are chosen
according to the interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may
present portions of this course.

APh 156 abc. Plasma Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisite: Ph 106 abc or equivalent. An introduction to the
principles of plasma physics. A multitiered theoretical infrastructure will
be developed consisting of the Hamilton-Lagrangian theory of charged
particle motion in combined electric and magnetic fields, the Vlasov
kinetic theory of plasma as a gas of interacting charged particles, the
two-fluid model of plasma as interacting electron and ion fluids, and

Courses
the magnetohydrodynamic model of plasma as an electrically conduct-
ing fluid subject to combined magnetic and hydrodynamic forces. This
infrastructure will be used to examine waves, transport processes, equi-
librium, stability, and topological self-organization. Examples relevant
to plasmas in both laboratory (fusion, industrial) and space (magneto-
sphere, solar) will be discussed. Instructor: Bellan.

EE/APh 158. Quantum Electrical Circuits. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

BE/APh 161. Physical Biology of the Cell. 12 units (3-0-9). For course
description, see Bioengineering.

MS/APh 171. Inelastic Scattering of Materials, Molecules, and

Condensed Matter. (3-0-6); spring term. For course description, see
Materials Science.

EE/APh 180. Nanotechnology. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description,

see Electrical Engineering.

APh/EE 183. Physics of Semiconductors and Semiconductor De-

vices. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Principles of semiconductor electronic
structure, carrier transport properties, and optoelectronic properties
relevant to semiconductor device physics. Fundamental performance
aspects of basic and advanced semiconductor electronic and optoelec-
tronic devices. Topics include energy band theory, carrier generation
and recombination mechanisms, quasi-Fermi levels, carrier drift and
diffusion transport, quantum transport. Instructor: Nadj-Perge.

APh 190 abc. Quantum Electronics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisite: Ph 125 or equivalent. Generation, manipulations,
propagation, and applications of coherent radiation. The basic theory of
the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with resonant atomic transi-
tions. Laser oscillation, important laser media, Gaussian beam modes,
the electro-optic effect, nonlinear-optics theory, second harmonic gen-
eration, parametric oscillation, stimulated Brillouin and Raman scatter-
ing. Other topics include light modulation, diffraction of light by sound,
integrated optics, phase conjugate optics, and quantum noise theory.
APh 190c not offered 2020-21. Instructor for APh 190 ab : Vahala. 471

APh 200. Applied Physics Research. Units in accordance with work

accomplished. Offered to graduate students in applied physics for
research or reading. Students should consult their advisers before regis-
tering. Graded pass/fail.

Ae/ME/APh 218. Statistical Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

Ph/APh 223 ab. Advanced Condensed-Matter Physics. 9 units (3-0-

6); second, third terms. For course description, see Physics.

Applied Physics
 APh 250. Advanced Topics in Applied Physics. Units and term to be
arranged. Content will vary from year to year; topics are chosen ac-
cording to interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may present
portions of this course. Instructor: Staff.

APh/MS 256. Computational Solid State Physics and Materials

Science. 9 units (3-3-3); third term. Prerequisites: Ph125 or equiva-
lent and APh114ab or equivalent. The course will cover first-principles
computational methods to study electronic structure, lattice vibrations,
optical properties, and charge and heat transport in materials. Topics
include: Theory and practice of Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the
total-energy pseudopotential method. DFT calculations of total energy,
structure, defects, charge density, bandstructures, density of states, fer-
roelectricity and magnetism. Lattice vibrations using the finite-difference
supercell and Density Functional Perturbation Theory (DFPT) methods.
Electron-electron interactions, screening, and the GW method. GW
bandstructure calculations. Optical properties, excitons, and the GW-
Bethe Salpeter equation method. Ab initio Boltzmann transport equation
(BTE) for electrons and phonons. Computations of heat and charge
transport within the BTE framework. If time permits, selected advanced
topics will be covered, including methods to treat vander Waals bonds,
spin-orbit coupling, correlated materials, and quantum dynamics.
Several laboratories will give students direct experience with running
first-principles calculations. Not offered 2020-21.

APh 300. Thesis Research in Applied Physics. Units in accordance

with work accomplished. APh 300 is elected in place of APh 200 when
the student has progressed to the point where his or her research leads
directly toward a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Approval
of the student’s research supervisor and department adviser or registra-
tion representative must be obtained before registering. Graded pass/
fail.

ART HISTORY
(For course descriptions, please see Visual Culture page 702)

472
ASTROPHYSICS
Ay 1. The Evolving Universe. 9 units (3-3-3); third term; This course is
intended primarily for freshmen not expecting to take more advanced
astronomy courses and will satisfy the menu requirement of the Caltech
core curriculum. Introduction to modern astronomy that will illustrate
the accomplishments, techniques, and scientific methodology of
contemporary astronomy. The course will be organized around a set of
basic questions, showing how our answers have changed in response
to fresh observational discoveries. Topics to be discussed will include
telescopes, stars, planets, the search for life elsewhere in the universe,
supernovae, pulsars, black holes, galaxies and their active nuclei, and

Courses
Big Bang cosmology. A field trip to Palomar Observatory will be orga-
nized. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Djorgovski.

FS/Ay 3. Freshman Seminar: Automating Discovering the Universe.

6 units (2-0-4); second term. For course description, see Freshman
Seminar. Not offered 2020–21.

Ge/Ay 11 c. Planetary Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ay 20. Basic Astronomy and the Galaxy. 9 units (3-1-5); first term. Pre-
requisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc or instructor’s permission. The elec-
tromagnetic spectrum and basic radiative transfer; ground and space
observing techniques; “pictorial Fourier description” of astrophysical
optics; Kepler’s laws; exoplanets; stellar masses, distances, and mo-
tions; the birth, structure, evolution, and death of stars; the structure
and dynamics of the Galaxy. Lessons will emphasize the use of order-
of-magnitude calculations and scaling arguments in order to elucidate
the physics of astrophysical phenomena. Short labs will introduce
astronomical measurement techniques. Instructor: Hallinan.

Ay 21. Galaxies and Cosmology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Pre-

requisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc or instructor’s permission. Cosmological
models and parameters, extragalactic distance scale, cosmological
tests; constituents of the universe, dark matter, and dark energy; ther-
mal history of the universe, cosmic nucleosynthesis, recombination, and
cosmic microwave background; formation and evolution of structure
in the universe; galaxy clusters, large-scale structure and its evolu-
tion; galaxies, their properties and fundamental correlations; formation
and evolution of galaxies, deep surveys; star formation history of the
universe; quasars and other active galactic nuclei, and their evolution;
structure and evolution of the intergalactic medium; diffuse extragalactic
backgrounds; the first stars, galaxies, and the reionization era. Instruc-
tor: Djorgovski.

Ay 30. Introduction to Modern Research. 3 units (2-0-1); first term.

Weekly seminar open to declared Ay majors. At the discretion of the
instructor, nonmajors who have taken astronomy courses may be
admitted. Course is intended for sophomores and juniors. This seminar 473
is held in faculty homes in the evening and is designed to encourage
student communication skills as they are introduced to faculty mem-
bers and their research. Each week a student will review a popular-level
article in astronomy for the class. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Martin.

Ay 31. Writing in Astronomy. 3 units (1-0-2); third term. This course

is intended to provide practical experience in the types of writing
expected of professional astronomers. Example styles include research
proposals, topical reviews, professional journal manuscripts, and ar-
ticles for popular magazines such as Astronomy or Sky and Telescope.
Each student will adopt one of these formats in consultation with the
course instructor and write an original piece. An outline and several

Astrophysics
 drafts reviewed by both a faculty mentor familiar with the topic and the
course instructor are required. This course is most suitable for juniors
and seniors. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement. Instruc-
tors: Howard.

Ay 43. Reading in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Units in accor-

dance with work accomplished, not to exceed 3. Course is intended
for students with a definite independent reading plan or who attend
regular (biweekly) research and literature discussion groups. Instructor’s
permission required. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

Ay 78 abc. Senior Thesis. 9 units. Prerequisites: To register for this

course, the student must obtain approval of the astronomy option
representative and the prospective thesis adviser. Previous SURF or
independent study work can be useful experience. Course is open
to senior astronomy majors only. Research must be supervised by a
faculty member. Students wishing assistance in finding an adviser and/
or a topic for a senior thesis are invited to consult with the astronomy
option representative. The student will work with an adviser to formulate
a research project, conduct original research, present new results, and
evaluate them in the context of previously published work in the field.
During the first term, the student should be fully engaged in and make
significant progress on the research project. During second term, the
research continues and an outline of the thesis itself should be reviewed
with the adviser and the option representative. During third term, the
research work is completed and the focus should turn to thesis writing.
The written thesis of 20-100 pages must be completed and approved
by the adviser and the option representative before the end of the third
term. The first two terms are graded pass/fail and the grades are then
changed at the end of the course to the appropriate letter grade for all
three terms. Instructor: Staff.

Ay 101. Physics of Stars. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ay 20

is recommended. Physics of stellar interiors and atmospheres. Proper-
ties of stars, stellar spectra, radiative transfer, line formation. Stellar
structure, stellar evolution. Nucleosynthesis in stars. Stellar oscilla-
tions. Instructor: Kirby.

474 Ay 102. Physics of the Interstellar Medium. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisite: Ay 20 is recommended. An introduction to observa-
tions of the inter-stellar medium and relevant physical processes. The
structure and hydrodynamic evolution of ionized hydrogen regions as-
sociated with massive stars and supernovae, thermal balance in neutral
and ionized phases, star formation and global models for the interstellar
medium. Instructor: Hillenbrand.

Ay/Ph 104. Relativistic Astrophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisites: Ph 1, Ph 2 ab. This course is designed primarily for junior
and senior undergraduates in astrophysics and physics. It covers the
physics of black holes and neutron stars, including accretion, particle
acceleration and gravitational waves, as well as their observable conse-

Courses
quences: (neutron stars) pulsars, magnetars, X-ray binaries, gamma-ray
bursts; (black holes) X-ray transients, tidal disruption and quasars/active
galaxies and sources of gravitational waves. Not offered 2020-21.

Ay 105. Optical Astronomy Instrumentation Lab. 9 units (1-5-3); third

term. Prerequisites: Ay 20. An opportunity for astronomy and physics
undergraduates (juniors and seniors) to gain firsthand experience with
the basic instrumentation tools of modern optical and infrared astrono-
my. The 10 weekly lab experiments include radiometry measurements,
geometrical optics, polarization, optical aberrations, spectroscopy, CCD
characterization, vacuum and cryogenic technology, infrared detector
technology, adaptive optics (wavefront sensors, deformable mirrors,
closed loop control) and a coronography tuturial. Instructor: Mawet,
Hillenbrand.

Ay/Ge 107. Introduction to Astronomical Observation. 9 units

(1-1-7); first term. Prerequisites: CS1 or equivalent coding experience
recommended. This hands-on, project-based course covers the design,
proposal, and execution of astronomical observations, the basics of
data reduction and analysis, and interacting with astronomical survey
catalogs. In the first module, students will learn to use small, portable
telescopes and find and image objects of interest using finder charts. In
the second module, students will use Palomar Observatory to propose
and execute their own research projects focused on astrophysical or
planetary topics. In the third module, students will query and work
with data from on-line archives and catalogs. The scope of the course
includes imaging and spectroscopic observational techniques at optical
and infrared wavelengths. The format centers on projects and practi-
cal skills but also includes a lecture and problem set component to
establish the theoretical underpinnings of the practical work. The course
meets once a week in the evening, and there are 1-2 required field trips
to Palomar Observatory. Instructors: Hillenbrand, de Kleer. Not offered
2020-21.

Ay 111 ab. Introduction to Current Astrophysics Research. 1 unit

(1-0-0); first, second terms. This course is intended primarily for first-
year Ay graduate students, although participation is open and encour-
aged. Students are required to attend seminar-style lectures given by
astrophysics faculty members, describing their research, to attend the 475
weekly astronomy colloquia, and to follow these with additional read-
ings on the subject. At the end of each term, students are required to
summarize in oral or written form (at the discretion of the instructor),
one of the covered subjects that is of most interest to them. Instructors:
Hallinan, Hopkins.

Ge/Ay 117. Statistics and Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ay 119. Astroinformatics. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. This class is an in-

troduction to the data science skills from the applied computer science,
statistics, and information technology, that are needed for a modern

Astrophysics
 research in any data-intensive field, but with a special focus on the
astronomical applications. Open to graduate and upper-division on un-
dergraduate students in all options. The topics covered include design
of data systems, regression techniques, supervised and unsupervised
machine learning, databases, Bayesian statistics, high performance
computing, software carpentry, deep learning, and visualization. The
class will feature real-world examples from cutting-edge projects in
which the instructors are involved. Instructors: Djorgovski, Graham,
Mahabal, Duev.

Ay 121. Radiative Processes. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite:

Ph106bc, Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates). The interaction of ra-
diation with matter: radiative transfer, emission, and absorption. Comp-
ton processes, coherent emission processes, synchrotron radiation,
collisional excitation, spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Instructor:
Ravi.

Ay 122 abc. Astronomical Measurements and Instrumentation. 9

units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Prerequisites: Ph 106bc or equivalent.
Measurement and signal analysis techniques througout the electromag-
netic spectrum. Courses may include lab work and field trips to Caltech
observatories. Ay 122a concentrates on infrared, optical, and ultraviolet
techniques: telescopes, optics, detectors, photometry, spectroscopy,
active/adaptive optics, coronography. Imaging devices and image
processing. Ay 122b concentrates on radio through submillimeter tech-
niques: antennae, receivers, mixers, and amplifiers. Interferometers and
aperture synthesis arrays. Signal analysis techniques and probability
and statistics, as relevant to astronomical measurement. Ay 122c (not
offered 2020–21) concentrates on X-ray through gamma-ray techniques.
Instructors: Martin, Mawet, Hallinan, Ravi.

Ay 123. Structure and Evolution of Stars. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: Ay 101; Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates). Thermo-
dynamics, equation of state, convection, opacity, radiative transfer,
stellar atmospheres, nuclear reactions, and stellar models. Evolution of
low- and high-mass stars, supernovae, and binary stars. Instructors:
Howard, Mawet.

476 Ay 124. Structure and Evolution of Galaxies. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: Ay 21; Ph 106 or equivalent (undergraduates). Stellar
dynamics and properties of galaxies; instabilities; spiral and barred gal-
axies; tidal dynamics and galaxy mergers; stellar composition, masses,
kinematics, and structure of galaxies; galactic archeology; galactic star
formation; feedback from stars and super-massive black holes; circum-
galactic medium. Instructor: Hopkins.

Ay 125. High-Energy Astrophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites: Ph 106 and Ph 125 or equivalent (undergraduates). High-energy
astrophysics, the final stages of stellar evolution; supernovae, binary
stars, accretion disks, pulsars; extragalactic radio sources; active galac-
tic nuclei; black holes. Instructors: Kasliwal.

Courses
Ay 126. Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. Prerequisite: Ay 102 (undergraduates). Physical processes in
the interstellar medium. Ionization, thermal and dynamic balance of
interstellar medium, molecular clouds, hydrodynamics, magnetic fields,
H II regions, supernova remnants, star formation, global structure of
interstellar medium. Instructor: Kulkarni.

Ay 127. Astrophysical Cosmology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Pre-

requisites: Ay 21; Ph 106 or equivalent (undergraduates). Cosmology;
extragalactic distance determinations; relativistic cosmological models;
thermal history of the universe; nucleosynthesis; microwave background
fluctuations; large-scale structure; inter-galactic medium; cosmological
tests; galaxy formation and clustering. Instructor: Martin.

Ge/Ay 132. Atomic and Molecular Processes in Astronomy and

Planetary Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Geo-
logical and Planetary Sciences.

Ge/Ay 133. The Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Geological and Planetary Sci-
ences.

Ge/Ay 137. Planetary Physics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ay 141 abc. Research Conference in Astronomy. 3 units (1-0-2); first,

second, third terms. Oral reports on current research in astronomy,
providing students an opportunity for practice in the organization and
presentation of technical material. A minimum of two presentations
will be expected from each student each year. In addition, students
are encouraged to participate in a public-level representation of the
same material for posting to an outreach website. This course fulfills
the option communication requirement and is required of all astronomy
graduate students who have passed their preliminary exams. It is also
recommended for astronomy seniors. Graded pass/fail. Instructors:
Kasliwal, Kulkarni, Ravi.

Ay 142. Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Units in accor-

dance with work accomplished. The student should consult a member 477
of the department and have a definite program of research outlined. Ap-
proval by the student’s adviser must be obtained before registering. 36
units of Ay 142 or Ay 143 required for candidacy for graduate students.
Graded pass/fail.

Ay 143. Reading and Independent Study. Units in accordance with

work accomplished. The student should consult a member of the
department and have a definite program of reading and independent
study outlined. Approval by the student’s adviser must be obtained
before registering. 36 units of Ay 142 or Ay 143 required for candidacy
for graduate students. Graded pass/fail.

Astrophysics
 Ay 144. Independent Writing in Astronomy. 3 (0-0-3); offered every
term. Prerequisites: Ay 142. This course is intended to be taken by
students conducting minor study in the Ay option, subsequent to a term
of Ay 142 (Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics), or by students
who have completed a SURF with an astronomy faculty member and
are writing it up for publication. Students should sign up in the section
of the faculty member who supervised the research project. Course
requirements are (at minimum) bi-weekly meetings with the research
adviser and preparation of a 5-20 page write-up of the work in the style
of one of the major journals, such as ApJ/AJ or Science/Nature. This
course is required as part of the Ay minor. Instructor: Staff.

Ge/Ay 159. Astrobiology. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see

Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ay 190. Computational Astrophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ph 20–22 (undergraduates). Introduction to essential
numerical analysis and computational methods in astrophysics and
astrophysical data analysis. Basic numerical methods and techniques;
N-body simulations; fluid dynamics (SPH/grid-based); MHD; radiation
transport; reaction networks; data analysis methods; numerical relativity.
Not offered 2020–21.

Ay/Ge 198. Special Topics in the Planetary Sciences. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Topic for 2020–21 is Extrasolar Planets. Thousands of
planets have been identified in orbit around other stars. Astronomers
are now embarking on understanding the statistics of extrasolar planet
populations and characterizing individual systems in detail, namely star-
planet, planet-planet and planet-disk dynamical interactions, physical
parameters of planets and their composition, weather phenomena, etc.
Direct and indirect detection techniques are now completing the big
picture of extra-solar planetary systems in all of their natural diversity.
The seminar-style course will review the state of the art in exoplanet sci-
ence, take up case studies, detail current and future instrument needs,
and anticipate findings. Instructors: Howard, Mawet.

Ay 211. Contemporary Extragalactic Astronomy. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ay 123, Ay 124, and Ay 127. Topics in extragalactic
478 astronomy and cosmology, including observational probes of dark mat-
ter and dark energy; cosmological backgrounds and primordial element
abundances; galaxy formation and evolution, including assembly histories,
feedback and environmental effects; physics of the intergalactic medium;
the role of active galactic nuclei; galactic structure and stellar populations;
future facilities and their likely impact in the field. Not offered 2020-21.

Ay 215. Seminar in Theoretical Astrophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Course for graduate students and seniors in astronomy. Topic
for 2020–21 will be compact binaries containing white dwarfs, neutron
stars and black holes. Formation, mass transfer, accretion, X-ray and
pulsar binaries, magnetic and wind interactions, mergers, gravitational
waves. Students will be required to lead some discussions; homework

Courses
will consist exclusively of reading and working through selected papers
in preparation for discussions. Instructors: Kasliwal, Kulkarni.

Ay 218. Extrasolar Planets. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Not offered

2020–21.

Ay 219. Elements in the Universe and Galactic Chemical Evolu-

tion. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ay 121, 123, 124, 126.
Survey of the formation of the elements in the universe as a function
of cosmic time. Review of the determination of abundances in stars,
meteorites, H II regions, and in interstellar and intergalactic gas. Over-
view of models of galactic chemical evolution. Participants will measure
elemental abundances from the Keck spectrum of a star and construct
their own numerical chemical evolution models. Not offered 2020–21.

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR

BIOPHYSICS
Bi/BE/BMB 115. Viruses and Applications to Biological Systems. 9
units (3-2-4). For course description, see Biology.

Ch/BMB 129. Introduction to Biophotonics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Chemistry.

BMB/Bi/Ch 170. Biochemistry and Biophysics of Macromolecules

and Molecular Assemblies. 9 units (3- 0-6); first term. Prerequisites:
Ch/Bi 110. Detailed analysis of the structures of the four classes of bio-
logical molecules and the forces that shape them. Introduction to mo-
lecular biological and visualization techniques. Not offered in 2020-21.

BMB/Bi/Ch 173. Biophysical/Structural Methods. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Basic principles of modern biophysical and structural
methods used to interrogate macromolecules from the atomic to cellular
levels, including light and electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography,
NMR spectroscopy, single molecule techniques, circular dichroism, sur-
face plasmon resonance, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics
and systems biological simulations. Instructors: Jensen, and other guest 479
lecturers. Not offered 2020–21.

BMB/Bi/Ch 174. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecu-

lar Biophysics. 6 units (3-0-3). First term. Prerequisites: Ch/Bi 110 or
equivalent. Discussion of research fields in biochemistry and molecular
biophysics at Caltech. Development of skills in literature analysis and
information synthesis. Instructor: Shan, Semlow, and guest lecturers.

BMB/Ch 178. Macromolecular Function: kinetics, energetics,

and mechanisms. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ch/Bi 110
or equivalent. Discussion of the energetic principles and molecular
mechanisms that underlie enzyme’s catalytic proficiency and exquisite

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

 specificity. Principles of allostery, selectivity, and enzyme evolution.
Practical kinetics sections discuss how to infer molecular mechanisms
from rate/equilibrium measurements and their application to more
complex biological systems, including steady-state and pre-steadystate
kinetics, kinetic simulations, and kinetics at single molecule resolution.
Instructor: Shan.

BMB/Ch 202 abc. Biochemistry Seminar Course. 1 unit; first, sec-

ond, third terms. The course focuses on a seminar on selected topics
from outside faculty on recent advances in biochemistry. Components
for each faculty visit include participation in a recitation, a formal dis-
cussion section with visiting faculty, and attendance of the Biochemistry
seminar. Biochemistry Seminars take place 1-2 times per month (usually
4pm on Thursdays).

BMB/Ch 230. Macromolecular Structure Determination with

Modern X-ray Crystallography Methods. 12 units (2-4-6); third term.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Advanced course in macromo-
lecular crystallography integrating lecture and laboratory treatment of
diffraction theory, crystallization (proteins, nucleic acids and macromo-
lecular complexes), crystal characterization, X-ray sources and optics,
crystal freezing, X-ray diffraction data collection (in-house and synchro-
tron), data reduction, multiple isomorphous replacement, single- and
multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing techniques, molecular
replacement, electron density interpretation, structure refinement,
structure validation, coordinate deposition and structure presentation. In
the laboratory component, one or more proteins will be crystallized and
the structure(s) determined by several methods, in parallel with lectures
on the theory and discussions of the techniques Instructor: Hoelz. Not
offered in 2020-21.

Bi/BMB 251 abc. Current Research in Cellular and Molecular Biol-

ogy. 1 unit. For course description, see Biology.

BMB 278. Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Principles and mechanisms of DNA repair and replication, tran-
scription and splicing, and protein synthesis. Not offered 2020-21.

480 BMB 299. Graduate Research. Units to be arranged; first, second,

third terms. Students may register for research units after consultation
with their adviser.

Courses
BIOENGINEERING
BE 1. Frontiers in Bioengineering. 1 unit; second term. A weekly
seminar series by Caltech faculty providing an introduction to research
directions in the field of bioengineering and an overview of the courses
offered in the Bioengineering option. Required for BE undergraduates.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

Bi/BE 24. Scientific Communication for Biological Scientists and

Engineers. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biology.

BE 98. Undergraduate Research in Bioengineering. Variable units,

as arranged with the advising faculty member; first, second, third terms.
Undergraduate research with a written report at the end of each term; su-
pervised by a Caltech faculty member, or co-advised by a Caltech faculty
member and an external researcher. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

BE/Bi 101. Order of Magnitude Biology. 6 units (3-0-3); third term.

Prerequisites: none. In this course, students will develop skills in the
art of educated guesswork and apply them to the biological sciences.
Building from a few key numbers in biology, students will “size up”
biological systems by making inferences and generating hypotheses
about phenomena such as the rates and energy budgets of key biologi-
cal processes. The course will cover the breadth of biological scales:
molecular, cellular, organismal, communal, and planetary. Undergradu-
ate and graduate students of all levels are welcome. Instructors: Bois,
Phillips. Not offered 2020-21.

BE/Bi 103 a. Introduction to Data Analysis in the Biological Sci-

ences. 9 units (1-3-5); first term. Prerequisites: Bi 1, Bi 1x, Bi 8, or
equivalent; or instructor’s permission. This course covers tools needed
to analyze quantitative data in biological systems. Students learn basic
programming topics, data organization and wrangling, data display and
presentation, basic image processing, and resampling-based statistical
inference. Students analyze real data in class and in homework. Instruc-
tor: Bois.

BE/Bi 103 b. Statistical Inference in the Biological Sciences. 9 481

units (1-3-5); second term. Prerequisites: BE/Bi 103 a or equivalent;
Ma 1 abc and Ma 3, or Bi/CNS/NB 195, or equivalent; or instructor’s
permission. This course introduces students to statistical modeling and
inference, primarily taking a Bayesian approach. Topics include genera-
tive modeling, parameter estimation, model comparison, hierarchical
modeling, Markov chain Monte Carlo, graphical display of inference
results, and principled workflows. Other topics may also be included.
All techniques are applied to real biological data sets in class and in
homework. Instructor: Bois.

BE/Bi 106. Comparative Biomechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Have you ever wondered how a penguin swims or why a maple seed

Bioengineering
 spins to the ground? How a flea can jump as high as a kangaroo? If
spider silk is really stronger than steel? This class will offer answers to
these and other questions related to the physical design of plants and
animals. The course will provide a basic introduction to how engineering
principles from the fields of solid and fluid mechanics may be applied to
the study of biological systems. The course emphasizes the organismal
level of complexity, although topics will relate to molecular, cell, and
tissue mechanics. The class is explicitly comparative in nature and will
not cover medically-related biomechanics. Topics include the physical
properties of biological materials, viscoelasticity, muscle mechanics,
biological pumps, and animal locomotion. Instructor: Dickinson. Offered
2020-2021

BE 107. Exploring Biological Principles Through Bio-Inspired

Design. 9 units (3-5-1); third term. Prerequisites: none. Students will
formulate and implement an engineering project designed to explore
a biological principle or property that is exhibited in nature. Students
will work in small teams in which they build a hardware platform that
is motivated by a biological example in which a given approach or
architecture is used to implement a given behavior. Alternatively, the
team will construct new experimental instruments in order to test for the
presence of an engineering principle in a biological system. Example
topics include bio-inspired control of motion (from bacteria to insects),
processing of sensory information (molecules to neurons), and robust-
ness/fault-tolerance. Each project will involve proposing a specific
mechanism to be explored, designing an engineering system that can
be used to demonstrate and evaluate the mechanism, and building a
computer-controlled, electro-mechanical system in the lab that imple-
ments or characterizes the proposed mechanism, behavior or architec-
ture. Instructors: Dickinson, Murray. Not offered 2020–2021.

ChE/BE/MedE 112. Creativity and Technological Innovation with

Microfluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Chemical Engineering.

Bi/BE/BMB 115. Viruses and Applications to Biological Systems. 9

units (3-2-4). For course description, see Biology.

482 Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 abc. Physics of Measurement. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Physics.

BE 150. Biological Circuit Design. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites: Bi 1, Bi 8, or equivalent; Ma 2, Bi/CNS/NB 195, or equivalent;
or instructor’s permission. Quantitative studies of cellular and devel-
opmental systems in biology, including the architecture of specific
circuits controlling microbial behaviors and multicellular development
in model organisms. Specific topics include chemotaxis, multistability
and differentiation, biological oscillations, stochastic effects in circuit
operation, as well as higher-level circuit properties, such as robustness.
The course will also consider the organization of transcriptional and

Courses
protein-protein interaction networks at the genomic scale. Topics are
approached from experimental, theoretical, and computational perspec-
tives. Instructors: Bois, Elowitz.

BE 153. Case Studies in Systems Physiology. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Bi 8, Bi 9, or equivalent. This course will explore
the process of creating and validating theoretical models in systems
biology and physiology. It will examine several macroscopic physiologi-
cal systems in detail, including examples from immunology, endocrinol-
ogy, cardiovascular physiology, and others. Emphasis will be placed on
understanding how macroscopic behavior emerges from the interaction
of individual components. Instructor: Petrasek.

Bi/NB/BE 155. Neuropharmacology. 6 units (3-0-3). For course de-

scription, see Biology.

BE 159. Signal Transduction and Mechanics in Morphogenesis. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Bi 8, Bi 9, ACM 95/100 ab,
or instructor’s permission. This course examines the mechanical and
biochemical pathways that govern morphogenesis. Topics include
embryonic patterning, cell polarization, cell-cell communication, and cell
migration in tissue development and regeneration. The course empha-
sizes the interplay between mechanical and biochemical pathways in
morphogenesis. Instructor: Bois.

BE/APh 161. Physical Biology of the Cell. 12 units (3-0-9); second

term. Prerequisites: Ph 2 ab and ACM 95/100 ab, or background in dif-
ferential equations and statistical and quantum mechanics, or instruc-
tor’s written permission. Physical models applied to the analysis of
biological structures ranging from individual proteins and DNA to entire
cells. Topics include the force response of proteins and DNA, models
of molecular motors, DNA packing in viruses and eukaryotes, mechan-
ics of membranes, and membrane proteins and cell motility. Instructor:
Phillips.

ChE/BE 163. Introduction to Biomolecular Engineering. 12 units (3-

0-9). For course description, see Chemical Engineering.

BE 167. Research Topics in Bioengineering. 1 unit; first term. In- 483

troduction to current research topics in Caltech bioengineering labs.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

MedE/EE/BE 168 abc. Biomedical Optics: Principles and Imaging. 9

units (4-0-5). For course description, see Medical Engineering.

Bi/BE 177. Principles of Modern Microscopy. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Biology.

Bi/BE 182. Animal Development and Genomic Regulatory Network

Design. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Biology.

Bioengineering
 Bi/BE/CS 183. Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinfor-
matics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Biology.

EE/BE/MedE 185. MEMS Technology and Devices. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

ChE/BE/MedE 188. Molecular Imaging. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Chemical Engineering.

BE/EE/MedE 189 ab. Design and Construction of Biodevices. 189 a,

12 units (3-6-3) offered both first and third terms. 189b, 9 units (0-9-0)
offered only third term. Prerequisites: BE/EE/MedE 189 a must be taken
before BE/EE/MedE 189 b. Part a, students will design and implement
computer-controlled biosensing systems, including a pulse monitor, a
pulse oximeter, and a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction incubator.
Part b is a student-initiated design project requiring instructor’s permis-
sion for enrollment. Enrollment is limited to 24 students. Instructors:
Bois,Yang.

BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab. Biomolecular Computation. 9 units (3-0-6)

second term; (2-4-3) third term. Prerequisites: none. Recommended:
ChE/BE 163, CS 21, CS 129 ab, or equivalent. This course investigates
computation by molecular systems, emphasizing models of computa-
tion based on the underlying physics, chemistry, and organization of
biological cells. We will explore programmability, complexity, simulation
of, and reasoning about abstract models of chemical reaction networks,
molecular folding, molecular self-assembly, and molecular motors, with
an emphasis on universal architectures for computation, control, and
construction within molecular systems. If time permits, we will also dis-
cuss biological example systems such as signal transduction, genetic
regulatory networks, and the cytoskeleton; physical limits of computa-
tion, reversibility, reliability, and the role of noise, DNA-based computers
and DNA nanotechnology. Part a develops fundamental results; part
b is a reading and research course: classic and current papers will be
discussed, and students will do projects on current research topics.
Instructor: Winfree. Offered 2020-2021

BE/CS 196 a. Design and Construction of Programmable Molecu-

484 lar Systems. 12 units; a (3-6-3) second term; Prerequisites: none. This
course will introduce students to the conceptual frameworks and tools
of computer science as applied to molecular engineering, as well as to
the practical realities of synthesizing and testing their designs in the lab-
oratory. In part a, students will design and construct DNA logic circuits,
biomolecular neural networks, and self-assembled DNA nanostructures,
as well as quantitatively analyze the designs and the experimental data.
Students will learn laboratory techniques including fluorescence spec-
troscopy and atomic force microscopy, and will use software tools and
program in MATLAB or Mathematica. Enrollment in part a is limited to
12 students. Instructor: Qian. Offered 2020-2021

Courses
BE 200. Research in Bioengineering. Units and term to be arranged.
By arrangement with members of the staff, properly qualified graduate
students are directed in bioengineering research.

BE 201. Reading the Bioengineering Literature. 4 units (1-0-3); sec-

ond term. Participants will read, discuss, and critique papers on diverse
topics within the bioengineering literature. Offered only for Bioengineer-
ing graduate students. Instructor: K. Wang.

BE/Bi/NB 203. Introduction to Programming for the Biological

Sciences Bootcamp. 6 units; summer term. Prerequisites: none. This
course provides an intensive, hands-on, pragmatic introduction to com-
puter programming aimed at biologists and bioengineers. No previous
programming experience is assumed. Python is the language of instruc-
tion. Students will learn basic concepts such as data types, control
structures, string processing, functions, input/output, etc., while writing
code applied to biological problems. At the end of the course, students
will be able to perform simple simulations, write scripts to run software
packages and parse output, and analyze and plot data. This class is of-
fered as a week-long summer “boot camp” the week after Commence-
ment, in which students spend all day working on the course. Students
who do not have a strong need for the condensed boot camp schedule
are encouraged to take BE/Bi 103 a instead. Graded pass/fail. Instruc-
tor: Bois.

BE/Bi 205. Deep Learning for Biological Data. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. Prerequisites: BE/BI 103 a and BE/BI 103 b or equivalent; or
instructor’s permission. CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155 is strongly recom-
mended but not required. This course is a practical introduction to ma-
chine learning methods for biological data, focusing on three common
data types in biology-images, sequences, and structures. This course
will cover how to represent biological data in a manner amenable to
machine learning approaches, survey tasks that can be solved with
modern deep learning algorithms (e.g. image segmentation, object
tracking, sequence classification, protein folding, etc.), explore architec-
tures of deep learning models for each data type, and provide practical
guidance for model development. Students will have the opportunity to
apply these methods to their own datasets. Instructor: Dave Van Valen .
485
Bi/BE 222. The Structure of the Cytosol. 6 units (2-0-4). For course
description, see Biology.

Bi/BE 227. Methods in Modern Microscopy. 12 units (2-6-4). For

course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/BE/NB 230. Optogenetic and CLARITY Methods in Experi-

mental Neuroscience. 9 units (3-2-4). For course description, see
Biology.

BE 240. Special Topics in Bioengineering. Units and term to be ar-

ranged. Topics relevant to the general educational goals of the bioengi-
neering option. Graded pass/fail.

Bioengineering
 Ae/BE 242. Biological Flows: Propulsion. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Aerospace.

MedE/BE/Ae 243. Physiological Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Medical Engineering.

BE 262. Physical Biology Bootcamp. 12 units (2-10-0); summer term.

Prerequisites: Enrollment limited to incoming Biology, Biochemistry
and Molecular Biophysics, Bioengineering, and Neurobiology graduate
students, or instructor’s permission. This course provides an intensive
introduction to thinking like a quantitative biologist. Every student
will build a microscope from scratch, use a confocal microscope to
measure transcription in living fly embryos and perform a quantitative
dissection of gene expression in bacteria. Students will then use Python
to write computer code to analyze the results of all of these experi-
ments. No previous experience in coding is presumed, though for those
with previous coding experience, advanced projects will be available.
In addition to the experimental thrusts, students will use “street fighting
mathematics” to perform order of magnitude estimates on problems
ranging from how many photons it takes to make a cyanobacterium to
the forces that can be applied by cytoskeletal filaments. These modeling
efforts will be complemented by the development of physical models of
phenomena such as gene expression, phase separation in nuclei, and
cytoskeletal polymerization. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Phillips.

Bi/BE/Ch/ChE/Ge 269. Integrative Projects in Microbial Science and

Engineering. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biology.

BIOLOGY
Bi 1. Principles of Biology—The great theories of biology and their
influence in the modern world. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. There are
three overarching theories in biology: the theory of the cell, the theory
of the gene, and the theory of evolution. Each of them has had major
impacts on our lives—for example the concept of the gene has led to
treatments for inherited diseases, personalized and genomic medi-
486 cine, forensic DNA testing, and modern agriculture. Each theory will be
discussed from its 19th century origin to its standing in the 21st century,
and the scientific understanding and societal impact of each will be
sampled. The course will also ask if there is yet a theory of the brain,
and if not, how one might be framed. The course is designed to teach
what technically adept members of society should know about biology.
Instructors: Staff.

Bi 1 x. The Great Ideas of Biology: Exploration through Experimen-

tation. 9 units (0-6-3); third term. Introduction to concepts and labora-
tory methods in biology. Molecular biology techniques and advanced
microscopy will be combined to explore the great ideas of biology. This

Courses
course is intended for nonbiology majors and will satisfy the freshman
biology course requirement. Limited enrollment. Instructor: Bois.

Bi 2. Current Research in Biology. 3 units (1-0-2); first term. Intended

for students considering the biology option; open to freshmen. Current
research in biology will be discussed, on the basis of reading assigned
in advance of the discussions, with members of the divisional faculty.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Elowitz.

Bi 8. Introduction to Molecular Biology: Regulation of Gene Expres-

sion. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course and its sequel, Bi 9, cov-
er biology at the molecular and cellular levels. Bi 8 emphasizes genomic
structure and mechanisms involved in the organization and regulated
expression of genetic information. The focus is on the ways that the
information content of the genome is translated into distinctive, cell type
specific patterns of gene expression and protein function. Assignments
will include critical dissections of papers from classical and current
research literature and problem sets. Instructors: Guttman, Hong.

Bi 9. Cell Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Bi 8. Con-

tinues coverage of biology at the cellular level, begun in Bi 8. Topics:
cytoplasmic structure, membrane structure and function, cell motility,
and cell-cell recognition. Emphasis on both the ultrastructural and bio-
chemical approaches to these topics. Instructors: Chan, Prober.

Bi 10. Introductory Biology Laboratory. 6 units (1-3-2); third term.

Prerequisites: Bi 8; designed to be taken concurrently with Bi 9. An
introduction to molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques that are
commonly used in studies of biological systems at the molecular level.
Instructor: Staff.

Bi 21. Undergraduate Research with Presentation. Minimum 12 units

per term (0-11-1); first, second, third terms. Special problems involving
laboratory research in biology; to be arranged with instructors before
registration. Must give a public presentation reporting results of work.
May be counted as advanced lab credit. May be repeated for credit. In-
structor: Staff.

Bi 22. Undergraduate Research. Units to be arranged; first, second, 487

third terms. Special problems involving laboratory research in biology;
to be arranged with instructors before registration. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Staff.

Bi 23. Biology Tutorials. 3 or 6 units; second term. Small group study

and discussion in depth of special areas or problems in biology or
biological engineering, involving regular tutorial sections with instructors
drawn from the divisional postdoctoral staff and others. Usually given
winter term. To be arranged with instructors before registration. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Huang.

Biology
 Bi/BE 24. Scientific Communication for Biological Scientists and
Engineers. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. This course offers instruction
and practice in writing and speaking relevant to professional biological
scientists and engineers working in research, teaching, and/or medical
careers. Students will write a paper for a scientific or engineering jour-
nal, either based on their previous research or written as a review paper
of current work in their field. A Caltech faculty member, a postdoctoral
scholar, or a technical staff member serves as a technical mentor for
each student, to provide feedback on the content and style of the
paper. Oral presentations will be based on selected scientific topics,
with feedback from instructors and peers. Fulfills the Institute scientific
writing requirement. Instructor: MacLean.

Bi 90 abc. Undergraduate Thesis. 12 or more units per term; first, sec-

ond, third terms. Prerequisites: 18 units of Bi 22 (or equivalent research
experience) in the research area proposed for the thesis, and instructor’s
permission. Intended to extend opportunities for research provided by
Bi 22 into a coherent individual research project, carried out under the
supervision of a member of the biology faculty. Normally involves three
or more consecutive terms of work in the junior and senior years. The
student will formulate a research problem based in part on work already
carried out, evaluate previously published work in the field, and present
new results in a thesis format. First two terms graded pass/fail; final
term graded by letter on the basis of the completed thesis. Instructor:
Bjorkman.

BE/Bi 101. Order of Magnitude Biology. 6 units (3-0-3). For course

description, see Bioengineering.

CNS/Psy/Bi 102 ab. Brains, Minds, and Society. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

BE/Bi 103 a. Introduction to Data Analysis in the Biological Sci-

ences. 9 units (1-3-5). For course description, see Bioengineering.

BE/Bi 103 b. Statistical Inference in the Biological Sciences. 9 units

(1-3-5). For course description, see Bioengineering.

488 Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution. 12 units (3-4-5); second term. Prerequisites:

Completion of Core Curriculum Courses. Maximum enrollment: 15, by
application only. The theory of evolution is arguably biology’s greatest
idea and serves as the overarching framework for thinking about the
diversity and relationships between organisms. This course will present
a broad picture of evolution starting with discussions of the insights of
the great naturalists, the study of the genetic basis of variation, and an
introduction to the key driving forces of evolution. Following these foun-
dations, we will then focus on a number of case studies including the
following: evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, origin of eukaryotes,
multicellularity, influence of symbiosis, the emergence of life from the
water (i.e. fins to limbs), the return of life to the water (i.e. limbs to fins),
diversity following major extinction events, the discovery of Archaea, in-

Courses
sights into evolution that have emerged from sequence analysis, and fi-
nally human evolution and the impact of humans on evolution (including
examples such as antibiotic resistance). A specific focus for considering
these issues will be the island biogeography of the Galapagos. Instruc-
tors: Phillips, Orphan. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

BE/Bi 106. Comparative Biomechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

For course description, see Bioengineering.

ChE/Ch/Bi/SEC 107. Social Media for Scientists. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Chemical Engineering.

Ch/Bi 110. Introduction to Biochemistry. 12 units (4-0-8). For course

description, see Chemistry.

Ch/Bi 111. Biochemistry of Gene Expression. 12 units (4-0-8). For

course description, see Chemistry.

Bi 114. Immunology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Bi 8,

Bi 9, Bi 122 or equivalent, and Ch/Bi 110 recommended. The course will
cover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate recognition
and response in the mammalian immune system. Topics include cellular
and humoral immunity, the structural basis of immune recognition, an-
tigen presentation and processing, gene rearrangement of lymphocyte
receptors, cytokines and the regulation of cellular responses, T and B
cell development, and mechanisms of tolerance. The course will present
an integrated view of how the immune system interacts with viral and
bacterial pathogens and commensal bacteria. Instructors: Bjorkman,
Mazmanian.

Bi/BE/BMB 115. Viruses and Applications to Biological Systems. 9

units (3-2-4); third term. Learn about viruses as fascinating biologi-
cal machines, focusing on naturally-occurring and evolved variants, in
silico viral vector engineering, and computational methods that include
structure visualization and machine learning. This course will introduce
the fundamentals in the chemistry and biology of viruses, emphasizing
their engineerable properties for use in basic research and translational
applications. Topics include: viruses by the numbers, mammalian and
non-mammalian (plant, bacteria) viruses, enveloped vs. non-enveloped 489
viruses, host-virus interactions, viral life cycles (replication vs. dorman-
cy), immune responses to viruses, zoonosis, diverse mechanisms of en-
try and replication, the application of viruses as gene-delivery vehicles
(with a focus on adeno-associated viruses or AAVs, lentiviruses, and
rabies), and how to engineer viral properties for applications in basic
research and gene therapy. The lectures will be complemented by short
lab exercises in AAV preparation, bioinformatics and machine learning,
and structure visualization. Instructors: Bjorkman, Gradinaru, Van Valen.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi 116. Microbial Genetics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: Bi 1, 8, 9 (or equivalent), and ESE/Bi 166. A course on microbial

Biology
 genetics, emphasizing the history of the discipline as well as modern
approaches. Students will be exposed to different ways of manipulating
microbial genomes (primarily bacterial, but we will also cover archaea
and microbial eukaryotes). The power of microbial genetics to shed light
on diverse process will be discussed in a variety of contexts, ranging
from environmental science to the mammalian microbiome. Instructors:
Mazmanian, Newman. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi 117. Developmental Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: Bi 8 and Bi 9. A survey of the development of multicellular organ-
isms. Topics will include the beginning of a new organism (fertilization),
the creation of multicellularity (cellularization, cleavage), reorganization
into germ layers (gastrulation), induction of the nervous system (neurula-
tion), and creation of specific organs (organogenesis). Emphasis will be
placed on the molecular mechanisms underlying morphogenetic move-
ments, differentiation, and interactions during development, covering
both classical and modern approaches to studying these processes.
Instructor: Bronner.

Bi 118. Morphogenesis of Developmental Systems. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Prerequisites: Bi 8 and Bi 9, or instructor’s permission.
Lectures on and discussion of how cells, tissues, and organs take
shape: the influence of force on cell shape change; cell migration in-
cluding chemotaxis and collective cell movement; adhesion/deadhesion
during migration; the relationship between cell migration and metasta-
sis; and a review/overview of general signaling principles and embry-
onic development of invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Students will
choose term project involving writing a grant proposal or quantitative
analysis of available datasets relating to lecture topics. Instructor:
Stathopoulos. Given in alternate years; offered 2020–21.

Bi 122. Genetics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite: Bi 8 or Bi 9, or

instructor’s permission. Lecture and discussion course covering basic
principles of genetics. Not open to freshmen. Instructors: Hay, Stern-
berg, Staff.

Bi/BE 129. The Biology and Treatment of Cancer. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. The first part of the course will concern the basic biology
490 of cancer, covering oncogenes, tumor suppressors, tumor cell biology,
metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, and other topics. The second part will
concern newer information on cancer genetics and other topics, taught
from the primary research literature. The last part of the course will
concern treatments, including chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy,
and immunotherapy. Textbook: The Biology of Cancer, 2nd edition, by
Robert Weinberg. Instructors: Zinn, Campbell. Given in alternate years;
offered 2020–21.

CNS/Psy/Bi 131. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Courses
Bi 145 a. Tissue and Organ Physiology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.
Prerequisites: Bi 8, 9, Ch/Bi 110. Ch/Bi 110 may be taken concurrently.
Reviews of anatomy and histology, as well as in-depth discussion of
cellular physiology. Building from cell function to tissues, the course
explores human physiology in an organ-based fashion. First term
topics include endocrine physiology, the autonomic nervous system,
urinary physiology, and the cardiovascular system. Particular emphasis
is placed on health issues and pharmaceutical therapy from both a
research and a medical perspective. Instructor: Tydell.

Bi 145 b. Tissue and Organ Physiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Bi 145a. Building on the foundations of Bi 145a, Bi
145b will continue the exploration of human physiology incorporating
anatomy and cellular physiology. Topics include muscle physiology, the
skeletal system, digestive and hepatic physiology, nutrition, the respira-
tory system and reproductive physiology. Particular emphasis is placed
on health issues and pharmaceutical therapy from both a research and
a medical perspective. Instructor: Tydell.

Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150. Introduction to Neuroscience. 10 units (4-0-6);

third term. Prerequisites: Bi 8, 9, or instructor’s permission. General
principles of the function and organization of nervous systems, provid-
ing both an overview of the subject and a foundation for advanced
courses. Topics include the physical and chemical bases for action
potentials, synaptic transmission, and sensory transduction; anatomy;
development; sensory and motor pathways; memory and learning at
the molecular, cellular, and systems level; and the neuroscience of brain
diseases. Letter grades only. Instructors: Adolphs, Lester.

Bi/CNS/NB 152. Neural Circuits and Physiology of Appetite and

Body Homeostasis. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites: Graduate
standing or Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150, or equivalent. An advanced course
of lectures, readings, and student presentations focusing on neural
basis of appetites such as hunger and thirst. This course will cover the
mechanisms that control appetites both at peripheral and central level.
These include genetics, neural manipulation, and viral tracing tools with
particular emphasis on the logic of how the body and the brain cooper-
ate to maintain homeostasis. Instructor: Oka. Given in alternate years;
offered 2020–21. 491

Bi/CNS/NB 154. Principles of Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equivalent. This course aims to
distill the fundamental tenets of brain science, unlike the voluminous
textbook with a similar title. What are the essential facts and ways of
understanding in this discipline? How does neuroscience connect to
other parts of life science, physics, and mathematics? Lectures and
guided reading will touch on a broad range of phenomena from evolu-
tion, development, biophysics, computation, behavior, and psychol-
ogy. Students will benefit from prior exposure to at least some of these
domains. Instructor: Meister. Given in alternate years; offered 2020–21.

Biology
 Bi/NB/BE 155. Neuropharmacology. 6 units (3-0-3); second term.
Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150. The neuroscience of drugs for
therapy, for prevention, and for recreation. Students learn the prospects
for new generations of medications in neurology, psychiatry, aging, and
treatment of substance abuse. Topics: Types of drug molecules. Drug
receptors. Electrophysiology. Drugs activate ion channels. Drugs block
ion channels. Drugs activate and block G protein pathways. Drugs block
neurotransmitter transporters. Pharmacokinetics. Recreational drugs.
Nicotine Addiction. Opiate Addiction. Drugs for neurodegenerative
diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease. Drugs for epilepsy
and migraine. Psychiatric diseases: Nosology and drugs. The course is
taught at the research level. Instructor: Lester. Given in alternate years;
offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/NB 157. Comparative Nervous Systems. 9 units (2-3-4);

third term. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission. An introduction to the
comparative study of the gross and microscopic structure of nervous
systems. Emphasis on the vertebrate nervous system; also, the highly
developed central nervous systems found in arthropods and cepha-
lopods. Variation in nervous system structure with function and with
behavioral and ecological specializations and the evolution of the ver-
tebrate brain. Letter grades only. Instructor: Allman. Given in alternate
years; offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS 158. Vertebrate Evolution. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites: Bi 1, Bi 8, or instructor’s permission. An integrative approach to
the study of vertebrate evolution combining comparative anatomical,
behavioral, embryological, genetic, paleontological, and physiologi-
cal findings. Special emphasis will be given to: (1) the modification
of developmental programs in evolution; (2) homeostatic systems for
temperature regulation; (3) changes in the life cycle governing longevity
and death; (4) the evolution of brain and behavior. Letter grades only.
Instructor: Allman. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi 160. Molecular Basis of Animal Evolution. 9 units (3-3-3); third

term. Prerequisites: Bi 8 and/or Bi 9 recommended. We share the planet
with well over 1.5 million other animal species. This course covers how
the staggering diversity of the animal kingdom came about through
492 underlying molecular evolutionary phenomena, including gene and
protein sequence evolution, gene family and genome evolution, the
evolution of developmental processes, neural circuit evolution and
behavior, and molecular mechanisms that physiologically adapt animals
to their environment. Molecular processes involved in speciation will
be explained, together with an analysis of constraints and catalysts on
the production of selectable variation that have shaped the evolution of
animal life. Participants will undertake a laboratory project on evolution-
ary genomics, involving fieldwork, genome sequencing and comparative
genome analysis. The course focuses on the >99.9% of animals that
lack backbones. Instructor: Parker.

Courses
Pl/CNS/NB/Bi/Psy 161. Consciousness. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Philosophy.

Bi/CNS/NB 162. Cellular and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory. 12

units (2-4-6); second term. Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or instruc-
tor’s permission. A laboratory-based introduction to experimental meth-
ods used for electrophysiological studies of the central nervous system.
Through the term, students investigate the physiological response
properties of neurons in vertebrate and invertebrate brains, using extra-
and intracellular recording techniques. Students are instructed in all as-
pects of experimental procedures, including proper surgical techniques,
electrode fabrication, and data analysis. The class also includes a brain
dissection and independent student projects that utilize modern digital
neuroscience resources. Instructor: Bremner. Not offered 2020-21.

NB/Bi/CNS 163. The Biological Basis of Neural Disorders. 6 units

(3-0-3). For course description, see Neurobiology.

Bi/CNS/NB 164. Tools of Neurobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equivalent. Offers a broad survey
of methods and approaches to understanding in modern neurobiology.
The focus is on understanding the tools of the discipline, and their use
will be illustrated with current research results. Topics include: molecular
genetics, disease models, transgenic and knock-in technology, virus
tools, tracing methods, gene profiling, light and electron microscopy,
optogenetics, optical and electrical recording, neural coding, quantita-
tive behavior, modeling and theory. Instructor: Meister.

Bi 165. Microbiology Research: Practice and Proposal. 6 units (2-3-

1); first term. The course will serve to introduce graduate students to 1)
the process of writing fellowships to train students in preparing effective
funding applications; 2) ongoing research projects on campus involving
the isolation, culture, and characterization of microbes and microbial
communities as well as projects in other fields; and 3) presentation of
research and asking questions in research presentations. The first half
of the class will involve training in grant writing by drafting an NSF-
GRFP proposal. The second half of the class will involve giving chalk
talk research presentations. Students can apply from all departments;
priority will be given to those in microbiology. Enrollment is limited to 493
instructor approval. Instructor: Hoy.

ESE/Bi 166. Microbial Physiology. 9 units (3-1-5). For course descrip-

tion, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

ESE/Bi 168. Microbial Metabolic Diversity. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

BMB/Bi/Ch 170. Biochemistry and Biophysics of Macromolecules

and Molecular Assemblies. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

Biology
 BMB/Bi/Ch 173. Biophysical/Structural Methods. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

BMB/Bi/Ch 174. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Biophys-

ics. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biochemistry and
Molecular Biophysics.

CNS/Bi/Psy/NB 176. Cognition. 9 units (4-0-5). For course description,

see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi/BE 177. Principles of Modern Microscopy. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Lectures and discussions on the underlying principles behind
digital, video, differential interference contrast, phase contrast, confocal,
and two-photon microscopy. The course will begin with basic geometric
optics and characteristics of lenses and microscopes. Specific attention
will be given to how different imaging elements such as filters, detec-
tors, and objective lenses contribute to the final image. Course work will
include critical evaluation of published images and design strategies for
simple optical systems and the analysis and presentation of two- and
three-dimensional images. The role of light microscopy in the history of
science will be an underlying theme. No prior knowledge of microscopy
will be assumed. Instructor: Collazo. Given in alternate years; offered
2020–21.

Ge/ESE/Bi 178. Microbial Ecology. 9 units (3-2-4). For course descrip-

tion, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Bi/BE 182. Animal Development and Genomic Regulatory Network

Design. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Bi 8 and at least
one of the following: Ch/Bi 111, Bi 114, or Bi 122 (or equivalents). This
course is focused on the genomic control circuitry of the encoded
programs that direct developmental processes. The initial module of the
course is devoted to general principles of development, with emphasis
on transcriptional regulatory control and general properties of gene
regulatory networks (GRNs). The second module provides mechanistic
analyses of spatial control functions in multiple embryonic systems,
and the third treats the explanatory and predictive power of the GRNs
that control body plan development in mammalian, sea urchin, and Dro-
494 sophila systems. Grades or pass/fail. Instructors: Stathopoulos, Peter.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi/BE/CS 183. Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinfor-

matics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Bi 8, CS 2, Ma 3; or
BE/Bi 103a; or instructor’s permission. Biology is becoming an increas-
ingly data-intensive science. Many of the data challenges in the biologi-
cal sciences are distinct from other scientific disciplines because of
the complexity involved. This course will introduce key computational,
probabilistic, and statistical methods that are common in computational
biology and bioinformatics. We will integrate these theoretical aspects
to discuss solutions to common challenges that reoccur throughout
bioinformatics including algorithms and heuristics for tackling DNA se-

Courses
quence alignments, phylogenetic reconstructions, evolutionary analysis,
and population and human genetics. We will discuss these topics in
conjunction with common applications including the analysis of high
throughput DNA sequencing data sets and analysis of gene expression
from RNA-Seq data sets. Instructors: Pachter, Thomson.

Bi/CNS/NB 184. The Primate Visual System. 9 units (3-1-5); third

term. This class focuses on the primate visual system, investigating it
from an experimental, psychophysical, and computational perspective.
The course will focus on two essential problems: 3-D vision and object
recognition. We will examine how a visual stimulus is represented start-
ing in the retina, and ending in the frontal lobe, with a special emphasis
placed on mechanisms for high-level vision in the parietal and temporal
lobes. An important aspect of the course is the lab component in which
students design and analyze their own fMRI experiment. Instructor:
Tsao. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/NB 185. Large Scale Brain Networks. 6 units (2-0-4); third

term. This class will focus on understanding what is known about the
large-scale organization of the brain, focusing on the mammalian brain.
What large scale brain networks exist and what are their principles of
function? How is information flexibly routed from one area to another?
What is the function of thalamocortical loops? We will examine large
scale networks revealed by anatomical tracing, functional connectivity
studies, and mRNA expression analyses, and explore the brain circuits
mediating complex behaviors such as attention, memory, sleep, multi-
sensory integration, decision making, and object vision. While each of
these topics could cover an entire course in itself, our focus will be on
understanding the master plan­—how the components of each of these
systems are put together and function as a whole. A key question we
will delve into, from both a biological and a theoretical perspective, is:
how is information flexibly routed from one brain area to another? We
will discuss the communication through coherence hypothesis, small
world networks, and sparse coding. Instructor: Tsao. Given in alternate
years, not offered 2020–21.

CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186. Vision: From Computational Theory to

Neuronal Mechanisms. 12 units (4-4-4). For course description, see
Computation and Neural Systems. 495

CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187. Neural Computation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi 188. Human Genetics and Genomics. 6 units (2-0-4); third term.

Prerequisite: Bi 122; or graduate standing and instructor’s permis-
sion. Introduction to the genetics of humans. Subjects covered include
human genome structure, genetic diseases and predispositions, the
human genome project, forensic use of human genetic markers, human
variability, and human evolution. Instructor: Wold. Given in alternate
years; not offered 2020–21.

Biology
 Bi 189. The Cell Cycle. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites: Bi 8
and Bi 9. The course covers the mechanisms by which eukaryotic cells
control their duplication. Emphasis will be placed on the biochemical
processes that ensure that cells undergo the key events of the cell cycle
in a properly regulated manner. Instructor: Dunphy.

Bi 190. Systems Genetics. 6 units (2-0-4); first term. Prerequisites: Bi

122. Lectures covering how genetic and genomic analyses are used to
understand biological systems. Emphasis is on genetic and genome-
scale approaches used in model organisms such as yeast, flies, worms,
and mice to elucidate the function of genes, genetic pathways and
genetic networks. Instructor: Sternberg. Given in alternate years; not
offered 2020–21.

BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab. Biomolecular Computation. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Bioengineering.

Bi 192. Introduction to Systems Biology. 6 units (2-0-4); first term.

Prerequisites: Ma 1abc, and either Bi 8, CS1, or ACM 95 or instructor’s
permission. The course will explore what it means to analyze biology
from a systems-level point of view. Given what biological systems must
do and the constraints they face, what general properties must biologi-
cal systems have? Students will explore design principles in biology,
including plasticity, exploratory behavior, weak-linkage, constrains that
deconstrain, robustness, optimality, and evolvability. The class will read
the equivalent of 2-3 scientific papers every week. The format will be a
seminar with active discussion from all students. Students from multiple
backgrounds are welcome: non-biology or biology students interested
in learning systems-level questions in biology. Limited enrollment.
Instructor: Goentoro. Not offered 2020-21.

Bi/CNS/NB 195. Mathematics in Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: calculus. This course develops the mathematical
methods needed for a quantitative understanding of biological phe-
nomena, including data analysis, formulation of simple models, and the
framing of quantitative questions. Topics include: probability and sto-
chastic processes, linear algebra and transforms, dynamical systems,
scientific programming. Instructor: Thomson.
496
BE/Bi/NB 203. Introduction to Programming for the Biological Sci-
ences Bootcamp. 6 units. For course description, see Bioengineering.

BE/Bi 205. Deep Learning for Biological Data. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Bioengineering.

Bi 206. Biochemical and Genetic Methods in Biological Research.

6 units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites: graduate standing. This course
will comprise discussions of selected methods in molecular biology
and related fields. Instructor: Varshavsky. Given in alternate years; not
offered 2020–21.

Courses
Bi 214. Stem Cells and Hematopoiesis. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, or at least one of Bi 114, Bi 117, Bi/
Be 182, plus molecular biology. An advanced course with classes based
on active discussion, lectures, and seminar presentations. Development
from embryos and development from stem cells are distinct paradigms
for understanding and manipulating the emergence of ordered biologi-
cal complexity from simplicity. This course focuses on the distinguishing
features of stem-cell based systems, ranging from the natural physi-
ological stem cells that are responsible for life-long hematopoiesis in
vertebrates (hematopoietic stem cells) to the artificial stem cells, ES and
iPS cells, that have now been created for experimental manipulation.
Key questions will be how the stem cells encode multipotency, how
they can enter long-term self-renewal by separating themselves from
the developmental clock that controls development of the rest of the or-
ganism, and how the self-renewal programs of different stem cell types
can be dismantled again to allow differentiation. Does “stem-ness” have
common elements in different systems? The course will also cover the
lineage relationships among diverse differentiated cell types emerging
from common stem cells, the role of cytokines and cytokine receptors in
shaping differentiation output, apoptosis and lineage-specific prolifera-
tion, and how differentiation works at the level of gene regulation and
regulatory networks. Instructor: Rothenberg.

Bi/CNS/NB 216. Behavior of Mammals. 6 units (2-0-4); first term. A

course of lectures, readings, and discussions focused on the genetic,
physiological, and ecological bases of behavior in mammals. A basic
knowledge of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology is desirable. Instruc-
tor: Allman. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/NB 217. Central Mechanisms in Perception. 6 units (2-0-4);

first term. Reading and discussions of behavioral and electrophysiologi-
cal studies of the systems for the processing of sensory information in
the brain. Instructor: Allman. Given in alternate years; offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/NB 220. Genetic Dissection of Neural Circuit Function. 6

units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equiva-
lent. Open to advanced (junior or senior) undergraduates only and with
instructor permission. This advanced course will discuss the emerging
science of neural “circuit breaking” through the application of molecular 497
genetic tools. These include optogenetic and pharmacogenetic manipu-
lations of neuronal activity, genetically based tracing of neuronal con-
nectivity, and genetically based indicators of neuronal activity. Both viral
and transgenic approaches will be covered, and examples will be drawn
from both the invertebrate and vertebrate literature. Interested CNS or
other graduate students who have little or no familiarity with molecular
biology will be supplied with the necessary background information.
Lectures and student presentations from the current literature. Instruc-
tor: Anderson.

Bi/BE 222. The Structure of the Cytosol. 6 units (2-0-4); third term.
Prerequisites: Bi 9, Ch/Bi 110-111 or graduate standing in a biologi-

Biology
 cal discipline. The cytosol, and fluid spaces within the nucleus, were
once envisioned as a concentrated soup of proteins, RNA, and small
molecules, all diffusing, mixing freely, and interacting randomly. We now
know that proteins in the cytosol frequently undergo only restricted
diffusion and become concentrated in specialized portions of the
cytosol to carry out particular cellular functions. This course consists of
lectures, reading, student presentations, and discussion about newly
recognized biochemical mechanisms that confer local structure and
reaction specificity within the cytosol, including protein scaffolds and
“liquid-liquid phase separations that form “membraneless compart-
ments.” Instructor: Kennedy.

Bi/BE 227. Methods in Modern Microscopy. 12 units (2-6-4); second

term. Prerequisites: Bi/BE 177 or a course in microscopy. Discussion
and laboratory-based course covering the practical use of the confocal
microscope, with special attention to the dynamic analysis of living cells
and embryos. Course will begin with basic optics, microscope design,
Koehler illumination, and the principles of confocal microscopy as well
as other techniques for optical sectioning such as light sheet fluores-
cence microscopy (also called single plane illumination microscopy,
SPIM). During the class students will construct a light sheet microscope
based on the openSPIM design. Alongside the building of a light sheet
microscope, the course will consist of semi-independent modules orga-
nized around different imaging challenges using confocal microscopes.
Early modules will include a lab using lenses to build a cloaking device.
Most of the early modules will focus on three-dimensional reconstruc-
tion of fixed cells and tissues. Later modules will include time-lapse
confocal analysis of living cells and embryos. Students will also utilize
the microscopes in the Beckman Institute Biological Imaging Facil-
ity to learn more advanced techniques such as spectral unmixing and
fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Enrollment is limited. Instructor:
Collazo. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/BE/NB 230. Optogenetic and CLARITY Methods in Ex-

perimental Neuroscience. 9 units (3-2-4); third term. Prerequisites:
Graduate standing or Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equivalent or instructor’s
permission. The class covers the theoretical and practical aspects of
using (1) optogenetic sensors and actuators to visualize and modulate
498 the activity of neuronal ensembles; and (2) CLARITY approaches for
anatomical mapping and phenotyping using tissue-hydrogel hybrids.
The class offers weekly hands-on LAB exposure for opsin viral produc-
tion and delivery to neurons, recording of light-modulated activity, and
tissue clearing, imaging, and 3D reconstruction of fluorescent samples.
Lecture topics include: opsin design (including natural and artificial
sources), delivery (genetic targeting, viral transduction), light activation
requirements (power requirements, wavelength, fiberoptics), compat-
ible readout modalities (electrophysiology, imaging); design and use of
methods for tissue clearing (tissue stabilization by polymers/hydrogels
and selective extractions, such as of lipids for increased tissue trans-
parency and macromolecule access). Class will discuss applications
of these methods to neuronal circuits (case studies based on recent

Courses
literature). Instructor: Gradinaru. Given in alternate years; not offered
2020-21.

Ge/Bi 244. Paleobiology Seminar. 6 units (3-0-3). For course descrip-

tion, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ge/Bi/ESE 246. Molecular Geobiology Seminar. 6 units (2-0-4). For

course description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

CNS/Bi/NB 247. Cerebral Cortex. 6 units (2-0-4). For course descrip-

tion, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi 250 a. Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: graduate standing. Lectures and literature-based
discussions covering research methods, scientific concepts and logic,
research strategies and general principles of modern biology. Students
will learn to critique papers in a wide range of fields, including molecular
biology, developmental biology, genetics and neuroscience. Graded
pass/fail. Instructors: Aravin, Voorhees.

Bi 250 b. Topics in Systems Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Pre-

requisites: Bi 1, Bi 8, or equivalent; Ma 2, Bi/CNS/NB 195, or equiva-
lent; or instructor’s permission. Quantitative studies of cellular and
developmental systems in biology, including the architecture of specific
circuits controlling microbial behaviors and multicellular development
in model organisms. Specific topics include chemotaxis, multistability
and differentiation, biological oscillations, stochastic effects in circuit
operation, as well as higher-level circuit properties, such as robustness.
The course will also consider the organization of transcriptional and
protein-protein interaction networks at the genomic scale. Topics are
approached from experimental, theoretical, and computational perspec-
tives. Instructors: Elowitz, Bois.

Bi/CNS/NB 250 c. Topics in Systems Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Prerequisite: graduate standing. The class focuses on
quantitative studies of problems in systems neuroscience. Students will
study classical work such as Hodgkin and Huxley’s landmark papers on
the ionic basis of the action potential, and will move from the study of
interacting currents within neurons to the study of systems of inter- 499
acting neurons. Topics will include lateral inhibition, mechanisms of
motion tuning, local learning rules and their consequences for network
structure and dynamics, oscillatory dynamics and synchronization
across brain circuits, and formation and computational properties of
topographic neural maps. The course will combine lectures and discus-
sions, in which students and faculty will examine papers on systems
neuroscience, usually combining experimental and theoretical/modeling
components. Instructor: Siapas.

Bi/BMB 251 abc. Current Research in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

1 unit. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Presentations and discussion of

Biology
 research at Caltech in biology and chemistry. Discussions of respon-
sible conduct of research are included. Instructors: Sternberg, Hay.

Bi 252. Responsible Conduct of Research. 4 units (2-0-2); first term.

This lecture and discussion course covers relevant aspects of the re-
sponsible conduct of biomedical and biological research. Topics include
guidelines and regulations, ethical and moral issues, research miscon-
duct, data management and analysis, research with animal or human
subjects, publication, conflicts of interest, mentoring, and professional
advancement. This course is required of all trainees supported on the
NIH training grants in cellular and molecular biology and neuroscience,
and is recommended for other graduate students in labs in the Division
of Biology and Biological Engineering labs. Undergraduate students
require advance instructor’s permission. Graded pass/fail. Instructors:
Meyerowitz, Sternberg, Staff.

Bi 254. Research Practice in Biology. 6 units (2-0-4); second

term. This course will consider scholarly communication in molecular
and cellular biology, broadly defined. Students will learn about data
standards, the minimal information required to describe an experiment
and computer code. Discussion will include long term storage of data
and informatics workflows. Appropriate citation of other article and
resources will be considered. We will discuss evaluation of scientific
premise, rigorous experimental design and interpretation, appropri-
ate statistical power, authentication of key biological and chemical
resources, data and material sharing, record keeping, and transparency
in reporting data and observations. Students will learn to read papers
critically and practice reviewing short articles from Micropublication:
biology, which are short enough to allow a thorough analysis of meth-
ods necessary to ensure reproducibility. Graded Pass/Fail. Instructors:
Sternberg, Hay, Meister, Staff.

Ch/Bi 253. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry. 6 units (2-0-4). For

course description, see Chemistry.

Psy/Bi/CNS 255. Topics in Emotion and Social Cognition. 9 units (3-

0-6). For course description, see Psychology.

500 CNS/Bi/NB 256. Decision Making. 6 units (2-0-4). For course descrip-
tion, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi/BE/Ch/ChE/Ge 269. Integrative Projects in Microbial Science

and Engineering. 6 units (3-0-3); second term. A project-based course
designed to train students to integrate biological, chemical, physical
and engineering tools into innovative microbiology research. Students
and faculty will brainstorm to identify several “grand challenges” in
microbiology. Small teams, comprised of students from different gradu-
ate programs and disciplinary backgrounds (e.g. a chemical engineer,
a computer scientist and a biologist) and a faculty member, will work to
compose a project proposal addressing one of the grand challenges,
integrating tools and concepts from across disciplines. Student groups

Courses
will present draft proposals and receive questions and critiques from
other members of the class at check-in points during the academic
term. While there will not be an experimental laboratory component,
project teams may tour facilities or take field trips to help define the
aims and approaches of their projects. At the end of the course, teams
will deliver written proposals and presentations that will be critiqued by
students and faculty. Instructor: CEMI Faculty. Not offered 2020-21.

Bi 270 abc. Special Topics in Biology. Units to be arranged each term;

first, second, third. Students may register with permission of the respon-
sible faculty member.

CNS/Bi 286 abc. Special Topics in Computation and Neural Sys-

tems. Units to be arranged. For course description, see Computation
and Neural Systems.

Bi 299. Graduate Research. Units to be arranged; first, second, third

terms. Students may register for research units after consultation with
their adviser.

BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, AND

MANAGEMENT

Ec/PS 80. Frontiers in Social Sciences. 1 unit (1-0-0); first term.

Weekly seminar by a member of the Caltech Social Sciences faculty
to discuss a topic of their current research or teaching at an introduc-
tory level. The course can be used to learn more about different areas
of study and about undergraduate courses within the Social Sciences.
The course will also be useful to those interested in pursuing the BEM,
EC or PS options, or participating in research (SURF, for example) under
supervision of the Social Science faculty. Graded pass/fail. Not offered
2020-21.

BEM 97. Undergraduate Research. Units to be arranged; any term.

Prerequisites: advanced BEM and instructor’s permission. This course
offers advanced undergraduates the opportunity to pursue research on 501
a business problem individually or in a small group. Graded pass/fail.

BEM 101. Selected Topics in Business Economics and Manage-

ment. Units to be determined by arrangement with the instructor;
offered by announcement. Topics determined by instructor. Instructors:
Staff, visiting lecturers.

BEM 102. Introduction to Accounting. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This

course combines accounting and finance in a dynamic, user-oriented
approach. The goal is to enable students to understand what financial
statements are (sources of information about a company), what they
are not (facts devoid of interpretation or management influence), and

Business, Economics, and Management

 how to critically understand and analyze them. The course will utilize
actual SEC filings for several companies, across a variety of industries,
through which the students will be exposed to important accounting
concepts. Instructor: McAniff.

BEM 103. Introduction to Finance. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Pre-

requisites: Ec 11 required; Ma 1 abc recommended (to be familiar with
calculus and linear algebra). Finance, or financial economics, covers
two main areas: asset pricing and corporate finance. For asset pricing,
a field that studies how investors value securities and make investment
decisions, we will discuss topics like prices, risk, and return, portfolio
choice, CAPM, market efficiency and bubbles, interest rates and bonds,
and futures and options. For corporate finance, a field that studies how
firms make financing decisions, we will discuss topics like security
issuance, capital structure, and firm investment decisions (the net pres-
ent value approach, and mergers and acquisitions). In addition, if time
permits, we will cover some topics in behavioral finance and household
finance such as limits to arbitrage and investor behavior. Instructor: Jin.

BEM 104. Investments. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ec

11, BEM 103, some familiarity with statistics. Examines the theory of
financial decision making and statistical techniques useful in analyzing
financial data. Topics include portfolio selection, equilibrium security
pricing, empirical analysis of equity securities, fixed-income markets,
market efficiency, and risk management. Instructor: Roll.

BEM 105. Options. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: One of

the following: Ec 122, Ge/ESE 118, Ma 1/103, MA 112a, MA 112b, or
instructor’s permission; BEM 103 strongly recommended; some familiar-
ity with differential equations is helpful. An introduction to option pricing
theory and risk management in the discrete-time, bi-nomial tree model,
and the continuous time Black-Scholes-Merton framework. Both the
partial differential equations approach and the martingale approach
(risk-neutral pricing by expected values) will be developed. The course
will cover the basics of Stochastic, Ito Calculus. Since 2015, the course
is offered in the flipped format: the students are required to watch
lectures online, while problem solving and case and paper presentations
are done in class. Instructor: Cvitanic.
502
BEM 107. Corporate Finance. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite:
BEM 103. The main objective of the course is to develop insight into the
process by which firms can create value for their shareholders. We will
study major corporate decisions from the perspective of the firm with an
emphasis on the interaction of the firm with financial markets: quantita-
tive project evaluation for investment, choice between borrowing and
issuing stock, dividend policy, organizational form (for example, mergers
and acquisitions). Theory, empirical evidence, and case analysis all
play significant roles in the course. Topics include discounted cash
flow models, risk and return, capital asset pricing model, capital market
efficiency, capital structure and the cost of capital and dividend policy.
Instructor: Ewens.

Courses
BEM 108. Mathematical Models in Fintech. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. Prerequisites: Some knowledge of game theory and optimization
is helpful, BEM 103 Introduction to Finance is recommended, and a
calculus-based course in probability is required. In this course we will
go over recent works on topics broadly contained in the newly emerging
field of Fintech. In particular, the topics include mathematical modeling
of strategic actions of agents interacting via a blockchain technology,
via crowdfunding platforms, and via online investment platforms (“robo-
advisors”). Instructor: Cvitanic.

BEM 110. Venture Capital. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: BEM 102, 103. An introduction to the theory and practice of
venture capital financing of start-ups. This course covers the underly-
ing economic principles and theoretical models relevant to the venture
investment process, as well as the standard practices used by industry
and detailed examples. Topics include: The history of VC; VC stages of
financing; financial returns to private equity; LBOs and MBOs; people
versus ideas; biotech; IPOs; and CEO transitions. Instructor: Ewens.

BEM 111. Quantitative Risk and Portfolio Management. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: GE/ACM 118, BEM 105, or Ma 112.
An introduction to financial risk management. Concepts of Knightian
risk and uncertainty; coherent risk; and commonly used metrics for risk.
Techniques for estimating equity risk; volatility; correlation; interest rate
risk; and credit risk are described. Discussions of fat-tailed (leptokur-
tic) risk, scenario analysis, and regime-switching methods provide an
introduction to methods for dealing with risk in extreme environments.
Instructor: Winston.

BEM 112. International Financial Markets. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisite: BEM 103 or instructor permission. The course offers
an introduction to international financial markets, their comparative
behavior, and their inter-relations. The principal focus will be on assets
traded in liquid markets: currencies, equities, bonds, swaps, and other
derivatives. Attention will be devoted to (1) institutional arrangements,
taxation, and regulation, (2) international arbitrage and parity conditions,
(3) valuation, (4) international diversification and portfolio management,
(5) derivative instruments, (6) hedging, (7) dynamic investment strate-
gies, (8) other topics of particular current relevance and importance. Not 503
offered 2020-21.

BEM 117. Behavioral Finance. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequi-

site: Students are recommended (but not required) to take BEM 103 to
become familiar with some basic concepts in finance. Much of modern
financial economics works with models in which agents are fully ratio-
nal, in that they maximize expected utility and use Bayes’ law to update
their beliefs. Behavioral finance is a large and active field that develops
and studies models in which some agents are less than fully rational.
Such models have two building blocks: limits to arbitrage, which makes
it difficult for rational traders to undo the dislocations caused by less
rational traders; and psychology, which provides guidance for the kinds

Business, Economics, and Management

 of deviations from full rationality we might expect to see. We discuss
these two topics and consider a number of applications: asset pricing;
individual trading behavior; the origin of bubbles; and financial crises.
Instructor: Jin.

BEM/Ec/ESE 119. Environmental Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisite: Ec 11 or equivalent. This course provides a survey
from the perspective of economics of public policy issues regarding the
management of natural resources and the protection of environmental
quality. The course covers both conceptual topics and recent and cur-
rent applications. Included are principles of environmental and resource
economics, management of nonrenewable and renewable resources,
and environmental policy with the focus on air pollution problems, both
local problems (smog) and global problems (climate change). Not of-
fered 2020-21.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Ch/ChE 9. Chemical Synthesis and Characterization for Chemical
Engineering. 9 units (1-6-2). For course description, see Chemistry.

ChE 10. Introduction to Chemical Engineering. 1 unit (1-0-0); second

term. A series of weekly seminars given by chemical engineering faculty
or an outside speaker, on a topic of current research. Topics will be
presented at an informal, introductory level. Graded pass/fail.

ChE 15. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Computation. 9 units

(1-4-4); first term. Prerequisites: Ma 2 (may be taken concurrently). Intro-
duction to the solution of engineering problems through the use of the
computer. Elementary programming in Python is taught, and applied to
solving chemical engineering problems in data analysis, process simula-
tion, and optimization. No previous knowledge of computer program-
ming is assumed. Instructor: Flagan.

ChE 62. Separation Processes. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prereq-

uisites: ChE 15 and Ma 2. Equilibrium staged separations. Membrane
504 separations. Absorption. Distillation. Liquid-liquid extraction. Introduc-
tion to mass transfer. Instructor: Seinfeld.

ChE 63 ab. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-

6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing required. A
comprehensive treatment of classical thermodynamics with engineer-
ing and chemical applications. First and second laws. Applications
to closed and open systems. Equations of state. Thermochemical
calculations. Properties of real fluids. Power generation and refrigeration
cycles. Multicomponent systems, excess properties, fugacities, activ-
ity coefficients, and models of nonideal solutions. Chemical potential.
Phase and chemical reaction equilibria. Instructors: Flagan, Ismagilov.

Courses
ChE 70. Special Topics in Chemical Engineering. Units by arrange-
ment; terms to be arranged. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission. Spe-
cial problems or courses arranged to meet the emerging needs of
undergraduate students. Topics have included AIChE’s annual Chem-
E-Car Competition (2019-2020). May be repeated for credit, as content
may vary. Grading scheme at instructor’s discretion. Instructor: to be
determined.

ChE 80. Undergraduate Research. Units by arrangement, instructor’s

permission required. Research in chemical engineering offered as an
elective in any term. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

ChE 90 abc. Senior Thesis. 9 units (0-4-5); first, second, third terms. A
research project carried out under the mentorship of an approved
faculty member. Before the beginning of the first term of the thesis, stu-
dents must submit a proposal - with project details and significant de-
sign component clearly defined - for review and approval by the thesis
mentor and chemical engineering senior thesis coordinator. In addition,
students must submit the following to the thesis mentor and chemical
engineering senior thesis coordinator: a midterm progress report in each
term; end-of-term progress reports at the end of the first two terms;
and a thesis draft in the third term. A grade will not be assigned prior to
completion of the thesis, which normally takes three terms. A P grade
will be given for the first two terms and then changed to the appropriate
letter grade at the end of the course.

Ch/ChE 91. Scientific Writing. 3 units (2-0-1). For course description,

see Chemistry.

ChE 101. Chemical Reaction Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: ChE 62, ChE 63 ab, ChE 103 a or instructor’s
permission. Elements of chemical kinetics and chemically reacting
systems. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Chemical reactor
analysis. Instructor: Davis.

ChE 103 abc. Transport Phenomena. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

third terms. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or concurrent registration;
ChE 101 required for ChE 103 c or instructor’s permission. A rigor-
ous development of the basic differential equations of conservation of 505
momentum, energy, and mass in fluid systems. Solution of problems in-
volving fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer. Instructors: Kornfield
(a), Shapiro (b), Kornfield/Shapiro (c)

ChE 105. Dynamics and Control of Chemical Systems. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Prerequisites: ACM 95 ab or concurrent registration, or
instructor’s permission. Analysis of linear dynamic systems. Feedback
control. Stability of closed-loop control systems. Root locus, Frequency
response, and Nyquist analysis. Feedforward, cascade, and multivari-
able control systems. Instructor: Seinfeld.

Chemical Engineering
 ChE/Ch/Bi/SEC 107. Social Media for Scientists. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-
ond term. An introduction to the use of social media for scientific
communication. Social media platforms are discussed in the context of
their use to professionally engage scientific communities and general
audiences. Topics will include ethics, privacy, reputation management,
ownership and the law, and will focus on the use and impact of social
media for personal and professional career development. Lectures will
include presentations by invited experts in various specialties, a number
of whom will have worldwide recognition. Instructor: Davis.

ChE 111. Sustainable Chemical Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. Prerequisites: ChE62 and ChE63ab or Instructor’s permis-
sion. Begins with the Earth’s resources including fresh water, nitrogen,
carbon and other biogeochemical cycles that set the global context
for chemical engineering; examines regional and local systems using
chemical engineering thermodynamics, reaction analysis and transport
phenomena to model the effects of human activities on air, water and
soil; concludes with examples of computational models guiding public
policy. Instructor: Kornfield.

ChE/BE/MedE 112. Creativity and Technological Innovation with Mi-

crofluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course combines
three parts. First, it will cover fundamental aspects of kinetics, mass-
transport, and fluid physics that are relevant to microfluidic systems.
Second, it will provide an understanding of how new technologies are
invented and reduced to practice. Finally, students in the course will
work together to design microfluidic systems that address challenges
in Global Health, with an emphasis on students’ inventive contribu-
tions and creativity. Students will be encouraged and helped, but not
required, to develop their inventions further by working with OTT and
entrepreneurial resources on campus. Participants in this course benefit
from enrollment of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. For
chemical engineers, suggested but not required courses are ChE 101
(Chemical Reaction Engineering) and ChE 103 abc (Transport Phe-
nomena). Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss
enrollment. Instructor: Ismagilov.

ChE 114. Solid State NMR Spectroscopy For Materials Chemistry. 9

506 units (3-3-3); second term. Prerequisites: Ch 21abc or instructor’s per-
mission. Principles and applications of solid state NMR spectroscopy
will be addressed with focus on structure and dynamics characteriza-
tion of organic and inorganic solids. NMR characterization methods in
the areas of heterogeneous catalysts, batteries, energy storage materi-
als, etc. will be reviewed. More specific topics include NMR methods in
solid state such as magic angle spinning (MAS), cross-polarization (CP),
NMR of quadrupole nuclei, multiple pulse and multi-dimensional solid
state NMR experiments, dynamics NMR. Hands-on experience will be
provided via separate laboratory sessions using solid NMR spectrom-
eters at Caltech Solid State NMR facility. Instructor: Hwang. Not offered
2020-21.

Courses
ChE 115. Electronic Materials Processing. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.
Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 103 abc, ChE 101, or instructor’s permis-
sion. Introduction into the gas-phase processing techniques used in the
fabrication of electronic materials and devices. Kinetic theory of gases.
Surface chemistry and gas-surface interaction dynamics. Film deposi-
tion techniques: physical and chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer
epitaxy, liquid-phase epitaxy, molecular beam epitaxy. Introduction into
plasmas and their role in patterned etching and layer deposition. Charg-
ing damage during plasma processing. Determination of key parameters
that control the ion energy and flux to the wafer surface. Not offered
2020-21.

ChE 118. Introduction to the Design of Chemical Systems. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 101, ChE 103 abc,
ChE 126, or instructor’s permission. Short-term, open-ended projects
that require students to design a chemical process or product. Each
team generates and filters ideas, identifies use cases and objectives,
evaluates and selects a design strategy, develops a project budget,
schedules milestones and tasks, and writes a proposal with support-
ing documentation. Each project must meet specified requirements for
societal impact, budget, duration, person hours, environmental impact,
safety, and ethics. Instructor: Vicic.

ChE 120. Optimal Design of Chemical Systems. 9 units (1-6-2); third

term. Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 101, ChE 103 abc, ChE 126, or
instructor’s permission. Short-term, open-ended projects that require
students to design and build a chemical process or manufacture a
chemical product. Each team selects a project after reviewing a col-
lection of proposals. Students use chemical engineering principles
to design, build, test, and optimize a system, component, or product
that fulfills specified performance requirements, subject to constraints
imposed by budget, schedule, logistics, environmental impact, safety,
and ethics. Instructor: Vicic.

ChE 126. Chemical Engineering Laboratory. 9 units (1-6-2); first term.

Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 101, ChE 103 abc, ChE 105, or instruc-
tor’s permission. Short-term projects that require students to work in
teams to design systems or system components. Projects typically
include unit operations and instruments for chemical detection. Each 507
team must identify specific project requirements, including perfor-
mance specifications, costs, and failure modes. Students use chemical
engineering principles to design, implement, and optimize a system (or
component) that fulfills these requirements, while addressing issues and
constraints related to environmental impact, safety, and ethics. Students
also learn professional ethics through the analysis of case studies.
Instructor: Vicic.

ChE 128. Chemical Engineering Design Laboratory. 9 units (1-6-

2); second term. Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 101, ChE 103 abc,
or instructor’s permission. Short-term, open-ended research projects
targeting chemical processes and materials. Each student is required

Chemical Engineering
 to design, construct, and troubleshoot her/his own process, then use
chemical engineering principles to experimentally evaluate and optimize
process metrics or material attributes. Where possible, cost analysis is
performed. Instructors: Giapis, Vicic.

ChE 130. Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory. 9 units (1-5-3); third

term. Prerequisites: ChE 63 ab, ChE 101 (may be taken concurrently)
or instructor’s permission. Design, construction, and characterization
of engineered biological systems. Students will propose and execute
research projects in biomolecular engineering and synthetic biology.
Emphasis will be on projects that apply rational or library-based design
strategies to the control of system behavior. Instructors: Vicic.

Ch/ChE 140 ab. Principles and Applications of Semiconductor

Photoelectrochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Chemistry.

ChE 141. Data Science for Chemical Systems. 9 units (1-2-6); sec-
ond term. Prerequisites: ChE 15, ACM/IDS 104. Through short lectures,
in-class activities, and problem sets, students learn and use methods
in data science to complete projects focused on (i) descriptive and
predictive analyses of chemical processes and (ii) Quantitative Structure
Property Relationships (QSPR). Topics covered may include six sigma;
SPC & SQC; time-series analysis; data preprocessing; dimensionality
reduction; supervised, reinforcement, and unsupervised learning; deci-
sion tree & clustering methods; univariate and multivariate regression;
and visualization. Python is the programming language of instruc-
tion. Instructor: Vicic.

ChE 142. Challenges in Data Science for Chemical Systems. 9 units

(1-0-8); third term. Prerequisites: ChE 141. Student groups complete a
one-term, data-science project that addresses an instructor-approved
chemical engineering challenge. The project may be an original research
idea; related to work by a research group at the Institute; an entry in a
relevant national/regional contest; a response to an industry relation-
ship; or other meaningful opportunity. There is no lecture, but students
participate in weekly progress updates. A student may not select a
project too similar to research completed to fulfill requirements for ChE
508 80 or ChE 90abc. Instructor: Vicic.

Ch/ChE 147. Polymer Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Chemistry.

ChE/Ch 148. Polymer Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. An introduc-

tion to the physics that govern the structure and dynamics of polymeric
liquids, and to the physical basis of characterization methods used in
polymer science. The course emphasizes the scaling aspects of the var-
ious physical properties. Topics include conformation of a single poly-
mer, a chain under different solvent conditions; dilute and semi-dilute
solutions; thermodynamics of polymer blends and block copolymers;

Courses
polyelectrolytes; rubber elasticity; polymer gels; linear viscoelasticity of
polymer solutions and melts. Instructor: Wang.

ChE 151 ab. Physical and Chemical Rate Processes. 12 units (3-0-9);
second, third terms. The foundations of heat, mass, and momentum
transfer for single and multiphase fluids will be developed. Governing
differential equations; laminar flow of incompressible fluids at low and
high Reynolds numbers; forced and free convective heat and mass
transfer, diffusion, and dispersion. Emphasis will be placed on physical
understanding, scaling, and formulation and solution of boundary-value
problems. Applied mathematical techniques will be developed and used
throughout the course. Instructor: Brady.

ChE 152. Heterogeneous Kinetics and Reaction Engineering. 9

units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: ChE 101 or instructor’s permis-
sion. Survey of heterogeneous reactions on metal and oxide catalysts.
Langmuir-Hinshelwood versus Eley-Rideal reaction mechanisms. Reac-
tion, diffusion, and heat transfer in heterogeneous catalytic systems.
Characterization of porous catalysts. Instructor: Giapis.

ChE/Ch 155. Chemistry of Catalysis. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Dis-

cussion of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic reactions, with
emphasis on the relationships between the two areas and their role in
energy problems. Topics include catalysis by metals, metal oxides, zeo-
lites, and soluble metal complexes; utilization of hydrocarbon resources;
and catalytic applications in alternative energy approaches. Not offered
2020-21.

ESE/ChE 158. Aerosol Physics and Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term; Open to graduate students and seniors with instructor’s permis-
sion. For description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

ChE/BE 163. Introduction to Biomolecular Engineering. 12 units

(3-0-9); first term. Prerequisites: Bi 8, Ch/Bi 110 or instructor’s permis-
sion and CS 1 or equivalent. The course introduces rational design and
evolutionary methods for engineering functional protein and nucleic acid
systems. Rational design topics include molecular modeling, positive
and negative design paradigms, simulation and optimization of equilib-
rium and kinetic properties, design of catalysts, sensors, motors, and 509
circuits. Evolutionary design topics include evolutionary mechanisms
and tradeoffs, fitness landscapes and directed evolution of proteins.
Some assignments require programming (Python is the language of
instruction). Instructors: Arnold, Pierce.

ChE/Ch 164. Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ch 21 abc or instructor’s permis-
sion. An introduction to the fundamentals and simple applications of
statistical thermodynamics. Foundation of statistical mechanics; parti-
tion functions for various ensembles and their connection to thermody-
namics; fluctuations; noninteracting quantum and classical gases; heat
capacity of solids; adsorption; phase transitions and order parameters;

Chemical Engineering
 linear response theory; structure of classical fluids; computer simulation
methods. Instructors: Wang, Chan.

ChE/Ch 165. Chemical Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisite: ChE 63 ab or instructor’s permission. An advanced course
emphasizing the conceptual structure of modern thermodynamics and
its applications. Review of the laws of thermodynamics; thermodynamic
potentials and Legendre transform; equilibrium and stability conditions;
metastability and phase separation kinetics; thermodynamics of single-
component fluid and binary mixtures; models for solutions; phase and
chemical equilibria; surface and interface thermodynamics; electrolytes
and polymeric liquids. Instructor: Wang.

ChE 174. Special Topics in Transport Phenomena. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 and ChE 151 ab or instructor’s permis-
sion. May be repeated for credit. Advanced problems in heat, mass, and
momentum transfer. Introduction to mechanics of complex fluids; physi-
cochemical hydrodynamics; microstructured fluids; colloidal dispersions
and active matter. Other topics may be discussed depending on class
needs and interests. Instructor: Brady. Not offered 2020-21.

ChE/BE/MedE 188. Molecular Imaging. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ch/Bi 110, ChE 101 and ACM 95 or equivalent. This
course will cover the basic principles of biological and medical imaging
technologies including magnetic resonance, ultrasound, nuclear imag-
ing, fluorescence, bioluminescence and photoacoustics, and the design
of chemical and biological probes to obtain molecular information about
living systems using these modalities. Topics will include nuclear spin
behavior, sound wave propagation, radioactive decay, photon absorp-
tion and scattering, spatial encoding, image reconstruction, statistical
analysis, and molecular contrast mechanisms. The design of molecular
imaging agents for biomarker detection, cell tracking, and dynamic
imaging of cellular signals will be analyzed in terms of detection limits,
kinetics, and biological effects. Participants in the course will develop
proposals for new molecular imaging agents for applications such as
functional brain imaging, cancer diagnosis, and cell therapy. Instructor:
Shapiro.

510 ChE 190. Special Problems in Chemical Engineering. Up to 9 units

by arrangement; any term. Prerequisites: Instructor’s permission and ad-
viser’s approval must be obtained before registering. Special courses of
readings or laboratory instruction. The student should consult a member
of the faculty and prepare a definite program of reading, computation,
theory and/or experiment. The student must submit a summary of
progress at midterm and, at the end of the quarter, a final assignment
designed in consultation with the instructor. This course may be cred-
ited only once. Grading: either grades or pass/fail, as arranged with the
instructor. Instructor: Staff.

Bi/BE/Ch/ChE/Ge 269. Integrative Projects in Microbial Science and

Engineering. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biology.

Courses
ChE 280. Chemical Engineering Research. Offered to Ph.D. candi-
dates in chemical engineering. Main lines of research now in progress
are covered in detail in section two.

CHEMISTRY
Ch 1 ab. General Chemistry. 6 units; 9 units; a (3-0-3) first term; b (4-
0-5) second term. Lectures and recitations dealing with the principles of
chemistry. First term: Chemical bonding—electronic structure of atoms,
periodic properties, ionic substances, covalent bonding, Lewis repre-
sentations of molecules and ions, shapes of molecules, Lewis acids and
bases, Bronsted acids and bases, hybridization and resonance, bonding
in solids. Second term: Chemical dynamics—spectroscopy, thermody-
namics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, electrochemistry, and introduction
to organic chemistry. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Lewis (a), Chan,
Hoelz (b).

Ch 3 a. Fundamental Techniques of Experimental Chemistry. 6 units

(1-3-2); first, second, third terms. Introduces the basic principles and
techniques of synthesis and analysis and develops the laboratory skills
and precision that are fundamental to experimental chemistry. Fresh-
men who have gained advanced placement into Ch 41 or Ch 21, or who
are enrolled in Ch 10, are encouraged to take Ch 3 a in the fall term.
Freshmen entering in academic year 2020 and thereafter must take Ch
3 a in their first six terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail. In-
structor: Mendez.

Ch 3 x. Experimental Methods in Solar Energy Conversion. 6 units

(1-3-2); first, second, third terms. Introduces concepts and laboratory
methods in chemistry and materials science centered on the theme of
solar energy conversion and storage. Students will perform experiments
involving optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry, laser spectroscopy,
photochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry, culminating in the con-
struction and testing of dye-sensitized solar cells. Freshmen entering
in academic year 2020 and thereafter must take Ch 3x in their first six
terms of residence in order to be graded pass/fail. Instructor: Mendez.
511
Ch 4 ab. Synthesis and Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Com-
pounds. 9 units (1-6-2). Prerequisites: Ch 1 (or the equivalent) and Ch
3 a or Ch 3 x. Ch 4 a is a prerequisite for Ch 4 b. Previous or concurrent
enrollment in Ch 41 is strongly recommended. Introduction to methods
of synthesis, separation, purification, and characterization used rou-
tinely in chemical research laboratories. Ch 4 a focuses on the synthesis
and analysis of organic molecules; Ch 4 b focuses on the synthesis and
analysis of inorganic and organometallic molecules. Ch 4 a, second
term; Ch 4 b, third term. Instructor: Mendez.

Ch 5 ab. Advanced Techniques of Synthesis and Analysis. Ch 5 a 12

units (1-9-2), second term; Ch 5 b 12 units (1-9-2), first term. Prerequi-

Chemistry
 sites: Ch 4 ab. Ch 102 strongly recommended for Ch 5 b. Modern syn-
thetic chemistry. Specific experiments may change from year to year.
Experiments illustrating the multistep syntheses of natural products (Ch
5 a), coordination complexes, and organometallic complexes (Ch 5 b)
will be included. Methodology will include advanced techniques of syn-
thesis and instrumental characterization. Terms may be taken indepen-
dently. Instructors: Grubbs (a), Agapie (b). Part b will not be offered fall
term AY 2020-21. May be offered second or third term.

Ch 6 ab. Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory. 9 units

(1-5-3); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ch 1, Ch 4 ab, and Ch 21 or
equivalents (may be taken concurrently). Introduction to modern physi-
cal methods in chemistry and biology. Techniques include laser spec-
troscopy, microwave spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, nuclear
magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, fluorescence, scanning
probe microscopies, and UHV surface methods. The two terms can be
taken in any order. Part b not offered 2020–21. Instructor: Okumura.

Ch 7. Advanced Experimental Methods in Bioorganic Chemistry. 9

units (1-6-2); third term. Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc, and Ch/Bi 110, Ch
4 ab. Enrollment by instructor’s permission. Preference will be given
to students who have taken Ch 5 a or Bi 10. This advanced laboratory
course will provide experience in powerful contemporary methods used
in chemical biology, including polypeptide synthesis and the selective
labeling and imaging of glycoproteins in cells. Experiments will address
amino acid protecting group strategies, biopolymer assembly and isola-
tion, and product characterization. A strong emphasis will be placed on
understanding the chemical basis underlying the successful utilization
of these procedures. In addition, experiments to demonstrate the ap-
plication of commercially available enzymes for useful synthetic organic
transformations will be illustrated. Instructor: Hsieh-Wilson.

Ch 8. Experimental Procedures of Synthetic Chemistry for Pre-

medical Students. 9 units (1-6-2); first term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab and
Ch 3 a or Ch 3 x. Previous or concurrent enrollment in Ch 41 is strongly
recommended. Open to non-pre-medical students, as space allows. In-
troduction to methods of extraction, synthesis, separation and purifica-
tion, and spectroscopic characterization of Aspirin, Tylenol, and medical
512 test strips. Instructor: Mendez. Not offered first term, 2020.

Ch/ChE 9. Chemical Synthesis and Characterization for Chemical

Engineering. 9 units (1-6-2); third term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab and Ch
3 a or Ch 3 x. Previous or concurrent enrollment in Ch 41 is strongly
recommended. Instruction in synthesis, separation, purification, and
physical and spectroscopic characterization procedures of model
organic and organometallic compounds. Specific emphasis will be
focused on following the scientific method in the study of model organic
and inorganic materials. Enrollment priority given to chemical engineer-
ing majors. Instructor: Mendez.

Courses
Ch 10 abc. Frontiers in Chemistry. 1 unit (1-0-0) first, second terms; 6
units (1-4-1) third term. Prerequisites: Open for credit to freshmen and
sophomores. Ch 10 c prerequisites are Ch 10 ab, Ch 3 a or Ch 3 x, and
either Ch 1 ab, Ch 41 ab, or Ch 21 ab, and instructor’s permission. Ch
10 ab is a weekly seminar by a member of the chemistry department on
a topic of current research; the topic will be presented at an informal,
introductory level. Ch 10 c is a research-oriented laboratory course,
which will be supervised by a chemistry faculty member. Weekly class
meetings will provide a forum for participants to discuss their research
projects. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Hoelz.

Ch 14. Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Develops the basic principles of chemical equilibrium in aqueous
solutions, emphasizing acid-base chemistry, complex ion formation,
chelation, solubility, oxidation-reduction reactions, and partitioning
equilibria for separations. Instructor: Rees.

Ch 15. Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis Laboratory. 10 units

(0-6-4); third term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab, Ch 3 a or Ch 3 x, Ch 14, or
instructor’s permission. Laboratory experiments are used to illustrate
modern instrumental techniques that are currently employed in indus-
trial and academic research. Emphasis is on determinations of chemical
composition, measurement of equilibrium constants, evaluation of rates
of chemical reactions, and trace-metal analysis. Instructor: Dalleska.

Ch 21 abc. Physical Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab, Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a, Ma 2; Ma 3 is recom-
mended. Atomic and molecular quantum mechanics, spectroscopy,
chemical dynamics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. In-
structors: Okumura (a), Wei (b), Beauchamp (c).

Ch 25. Introduction to Biophysical Chemistry: Thermodynamics. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab, Ph 2 a or Ph 12 a, Ma 2;
Ch 21 a recommended. Develops the basic principles of solution ther-
modynamics, transport processes, and reaction kinetics, with emphasis
on biochemical and biophysical applications. Instructor: Not offered
2020–21.

Ch 41 abc. Organic Chemistry. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third 513

terms. Prerequisites: Ch 1 ab or instructor’s permission. The synthesis,
structure, and reaction mechanisms of organic compounds. Instructors:
Grubbs (a), Hsieh-Wilson (b), Reisman (c).

Ch 80. Chemical Research. Offered to B.S. candidates in chemistry.

Units in accordance with work accomplished. Prerequisite: consent of
research supervisor. Experimental and theoretical research requiring a
report containing an appropriate description of the research work.

Ch 81. Independent Reading in Chemistry. Units by arrangement. Pre-

requisite: instructor’s permission. Occasional advanced work involving

Chemistry
 reading assignments and a report on special topics. No more than 12
units in Ch 81 may be used as electives in the chemistry option.

Ch 82. Senior Thesis Research. 9 units; first, second, third terms. Pre-
requisites: Instructor’s permission. Three terms of Ch 82 are to be com-
pleted during the junior and/or senior year of study. At the end of the
third term, students enrolled in Ch 82 will present a thesis of approxi-
mately 20 pages (excluding figures and references) to the mentor and
the Chemistry Curriculum and Undergraduate Studies Committee. The
thesis must be approved by both the research mentor and the CUSC.
An oral thesis defense will be arranged by the CUSC in the third term
for all enrollees. The first two terms of Ch 82 will be taken on a pass/fail
basis, and the third term will carry a letter grade. Instructors: Okumura,
staff.

Ch 90. Oral Presentation. 3 units (2-0-1); second term. Training in the

techniques of oral presentation of chemical and biochemical topics.
Practice in the effective organization and delivery of technical reports
before groups. Strong oral presentation is an essential skill for success-
ful job interviews and career advancement. Graded pass/fail. Class size
limited to 12 students. Instructor: Bikle.

Ch/ChE 91. Scientific Writing. 3 units (2-0-1); first, second, third terms.
Training in the writing of scientific research papers for chemists and
chemical engineers. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement.
Instructors: Parker, Weitekamp.

Ch 101. Chemistry Tutorials. 3 units (1-0-2); third term. Small group

study and discussion on special areas of chemistry, chemical en-
gineering, molecular biology, or biophysics. Instructors drawn from
advanced graduate students and postdoctoral staff will lead weekly
tutorial sessions and assign short homework assignments, readings, or
discussions. Tutorials to be arranged with instructors before registration.
Instructors: Staff.

Ch 102. Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry. 9 units (4-0-5); third

term. Prerequisites: Ch 41 ab. Structure and bonding of inorganic
species with special emphasis on spectroscopy, ligand substitution
514 processes, oxidation-reduction reactions, organometallic, biological
inorganic chemistry, and solid-state chemistry. Instructors: Hadt, See.

Ch 104. Intermediate Organic Chemistry. 9 units (4-0-5); second term.

Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc. A survey of selected topics beyond introduc-
tory organic chemistry, including reaction mechanisms and catalysis.
Instructor: Fu.

ChE/Ch/Bi/SEC 107. Social Media for Scientists. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Chemical Engineering.

Ch/Bi 110. Introduction to Biochemistry. 12 units (4-0-8); first

term. Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc or instructor’s permission. Lectures

Courses
and recitation introducing the molecular basis of life processes, with
emphasis on the structure and function of proteins. Topics will include
the derivation of protein structure from the information inherent in a
genome, biological catalysis, and the intermediary metabolism that
provides energy to an organism. Instructor: Clemons.

Ch/Bi 111. Biochemistry of Gene Expression. 12 units (4-0-8); second

term. Prerequisites: Ch/Bi 110; Bi 8 and Bi 122 recommended. Lectures
and recitation on the molecular basis of biological structure and func-
tion. Emphasizes the storage, transmission, and expression of genetic
information in cells. Specific topics include DNA replication, recombina-
tion, repair and mutagenesis, transcription, RNA processing, and protein
synthesis. Instructors: Campbell, Parker.

Ch 112. Inorganic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites:

Ch 102 or instructor’s permission. Introduction to group theory, ligand
field theory, and bonding in coordination complexes and organo-
transition metal compounds. Systematics of bonding, reactivity, and
spectroscopy of commonly encountered classes of transition metal
compounds. Instructors: Agapie, Hadt.

Ch 117. Introduction to Electrochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Discussion of the fundamentals and applications of electrochemistry
with an emphasis on the structure of electrode-electrolyte interfaces,
the mechanism by which charge is transferred across it, experimental
techniques used to study electrode reactions, and application of elec-
trochemical techniques to study materials chemistry. Topics may vary
but usually include diffusion, cyclic voltammetry, coulometry, irreversible
electrode reactions, the electrical double layer, and kinetics of electrode
processes. Instructor: Not offered 2020-21.

Ch 120 ab. Nature of the Chemical Bond. Ch 120 a: 9 units (3-0-6),

second term; Ch 120 b: (1-1-7), third term. Prerequisites: general expo-
sure to quantum mechanics (e.g., Ch 21 a). Modern ideas of chemical
bonding, with an emphasis on qualitative concepts useful for predic-
tions of structures, energetics, excited states, and properties. Part a:
The quantum mechanical basis for understanding bonding, structures,
energetics, and properties of materials (polymers, ceramics, metals
alloys, semiconductors, and surfaces), including transition metal and or- 515
ganometallic systems with a focus on chemical reactivity. The emphasis
is on explaining chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties
of materials in terms of atomistic concepts. Part b: The student does an
individual research project using modern quantum chemistry computer
programs to calculate wavefunctions, structures, and properties of real
molecules. Instructor: Goddard.

Ch 121 ab. Atomic-Level Simulations of Materials and Mol-

ecules. Ch 121 a: 9 units (3-0-6) third term; Ch 121 b (1-1-7) first
term. Prerequisites: Ch 21 a or Ch 125 a. Application of Atomistic-based
methods [Quantum Mechanics (QM) and Molecular Dynamics (MD)] for
predicting the structures and properties of molecules and solids and

Chemistry
 simulating the dynamical properties. This course emphasizes hands-
on use of modern commercial software (such as Jaguar for QM, VASP
for periodic QM, and LAMMPS for MD) for practical applications and
is aimed at experimentalists and theorists interested in understanding
structures, properties, and dynamics in such areas as biological sys-
tems (proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids); polymers (crystals, amor-
phous systems, co-polymers); semiconductors (group IV, III-V, surfaces,
defects); inorganic systems (ceramics, zeolites, superconductors, and
metals); organo-metallics, and catalysis (heterogeneous, homogeneous,
and electrocatalysis). Ch121a covers the basic methods with hands-on
applications to systems of interest using modern software. The home-
work for the first 5 weeks emphasizes computer based solutions. For
the second 5 weeks of the homework each student proposes a short re-
search project and uses atomistic simulations to solve it. Ch121b each
student selects a more extensive research project and uses atomistic
simulations to solve it. Instructor: Goddard.

Ch 122. Structure Determination by X-ray Crystallography. 9 units

(3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ch 21 abc or instructor’s permission.
This course provides an introduction to small molecule X-ray crystallog-
raphy. Topics include symmetry, space groups, diffraction by crystals,
the direct and reciprocal lattice, Patterson and direct methods for phase
determination, and structure refinement. It will cover both theoretical
and applied concepts and include hands-on experience in data collec-
tion, structure solution and structure refinement. Instructor: Takase.

Ch 125 ab. The Elements of Quantum Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first

and second terms. Prerequisites: Ch 21 abc or an equivalent brief intro-
duction to quantum mechanics. A treatment of quantum mechanics with
application to molecular and material systems. The basic elements of
quantum mechanics, the electronic structure of atoms and molecules,
the interactions of radiation fields and matter, and time dependent
techniques relevant to spectroscopy will be covered. The course se-
quence prepares students for Ch 225 and 226. Instructors: Cushing (a),
Weitekamp (b).

Ge/Ch 127. Nuclear Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Geological and Planetary Sciences.
516
Ge/Ch 128. Cosmochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For course
description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ch/BMB 129. Introduction to Biophotonics. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: Ch 21abc required. Ch 125 recommended. This
course will cover basic optics and introduce modern optical spectros-
copy principles and microscopy techniques. Topics include molecular
spectroscopy; linear and nonlinear florescence microscopy; Raman
spectroscopy; coherent microscopy; single-molecule spectroscopy; and
super-resolution imaging. Instructor: Wei.

Courses
Ch 135. Chemical Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:
Ch 21 abc and Ch 41 abc, or equivalent, or instructor’s permission. In-
troduction to the kinetics and dynamics of chemical reactions. Top-
ics include scattering cross sections, rate constants, intermolecular
potentials, classical two-body elastic scattering, reactive scattering,
nonadiabatic processes, statistical theories of unimolecular reactions,
photochemistry, laser and molecular beam methods, theory of electron
transfer, solvent effects, condensed phase dynamics, surface reactions,
isotope effects. Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Okumura.

Ch/ChE 140 ab. Principles and Applications of Semiconductor

Photoelectrochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite:
APh/EE 9 ab or instructor’s permission. The properties and photoelec-
trochemistry of semiconductors and semiconductor/liquid junction solar
cells will be discussed. Topics include optical and electronic properties
of semiconductors; electronic properties of semiconductor junctions
with metals, liquids, and other semiconductors, in the dark and under il-
lumination, with emphasis on semiconductor/liquid junctions in aqueous
and nonaqueous media. Problems currently facing semiconductor/liquid
junctions and practical applications of these systems will be highlighted.
Instructor: Lewis (a), part b not offered 2020–21.

Ch 143. NMR Spectroscopy for Structural Identification. 9 units (3-

0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc. This course will address both
one-dimensional and two-dimensional techniques in NMR spectroscopy
which are essential to elucidating structures of organic and organome-
tallic samples. Dynamic NMR phenomena, multinuclear, paramagnetic
and NOE effects will also be covered. An extensive survey of multipulse
NMR methods will also contribute to a clear understanding of two-di-
mensional experiments. (Examples for Varian NMR instrumentation will
be included.) Instructor: Virgil.

Ch 144 ab. Advanced Organic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc; Ch 21 abc recommended. An advanced
survey of selected topics in modern organic chemistry. Topics vary from
year to year and may include structural and theoretical organic chemis-
try; materials chemistry; macromolecular chemistry; mechanochemistry;
molecular recognition/supramolecular chemistry; reaction mechanisms;
reactive intermediates; pericyclic reactions; and photochemistry. Not 517
offered 2020–21.

Ch 145. Chemical Biology of Proteins. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-

requisites: Ch 41 abc; Ch/Bi 110 recommended. An advanced survey
of current and classic topics in chemical biology. Content draws largely
from current literature and varies from year-to-year. Topics may include
the structure, function, and synthesis of peptides and proteins; enzyme
catalysis and inhibition; cellular metabolism; chemical genetics; pro-
teomics; posttranslational modifications; chemical tools to study cellular
dynamics; and enzyme evolution. Not offered 2020-21.

Chemistry
 Ch 146. Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids. 9 units (3-0-6). Pre-
requisite: Ch 41 ab. The course will examine the bioorganic chemistry of
nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA structures, molecular recogni-
tion, and mechanistic analyses of covalent modification of nucleic acids.
Topics include synthetic methods for the construction of DNA and RNA;
separation techniques; recognition of duplex DNA by peptide analogs,
proteins, and oligonucleotide-directed triple helical formation; RNA
structure and RNA as catalysts (ribozymes). Not offered 2020–21.

Ch/ChE 147. Polymer Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6), first term. Prerequi-

site: Ch 41 abc. An introduction to the chemistry of polymers, including
synthetic methods, mechanisms and kinetics of macromolecule forma-
tion, and characterization techniques. Not offered 2020-21.

ChE/Ch 148. Polymer Physics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Chemical Engineering.

Ch 149. Tutorial in Organic Chemistry. 6 units (2-0-4); first term.

Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc and instructor’s permission. Discussion of key
principles in organic chemistry, with an emphasis on reaction mecha-
nisms and problem-solving. This course is intended primarily for first-
year graduate students with a strong foundation in organic chemistry.
Meets during the first three weeks of the term. Graded pass/fail. Instruc-
tors: Fu, Stoltz.

Ch 153 abc. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6) ; second

(Ch 153 a), third (Ch 153 c to be offered 2021-22, alternating with Ch
153 b in subsequent years) terms. Prerequisites: Ch 112 and Ch 21
abc or concurrent registration. Ch 153 a: Topics in modern inorganic
chemistry. Electronic structure, spectroscopy, and photochemistry
with emphasis on examples from the research literature. Ch 153 b:
Applications of physical methods to the characterization of inorganic
and bioinorganic species, with an emphasis on the practical applica-
tion of Moessbauer, EPR, and pulse EPR spectroscopies. Ch 153 c:
Theoretical and spectroscopic approaches to understanding the elec-
tronic structure of transition metal ions. Topics in the 153bc alternate
sequence may include saturation magnetization and zero-field splitting
in magnetic circular dichroism and molecular magnetism, hyperfine
518 interactions in electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, Moess-
bauer and magnetic Moessbauer spectroscopy, vibronic interactions in
electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy, and bonding
analyses using x-ray absorption and/or emission spectroscopies. Not
offered 2020-21.

Ch 154 ab. Organometallic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third

terms. Prerequisite: Ch 112 or equivalent. A general discussion of the
reaction mechanisms and the synthetic and catalytic uses of transition
metal organometallic compounds. Second term: a survey of the elemen-
tary reactions and methods for investigating reaction mechanisms. Third
term: contemporary topics in inorganic and organometallic synthesis,

Courses
structure and bonding, and applications in catalysis. Instructor: Peters,
Agapie (a), b not offered 2020–21.

ChE/Ch 155. Chemistry of Catalysis. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Chemical Engineering.

ChE/Ch 164. Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-

0-6). For course description, see Chemical Engineering.

ChE/Ch 165. Chemical Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Chemical Engineering.

BMB/Bi/Ch 170. Biochemistry and Biophysics of Macromolecules

and Molecular Assemblies. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II. 3 units (3-0-0). For course

description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

BMB/Bi/Ch 173. Biophysical/Structural Methods. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. For course description, see Biochemistry and Molecular
Biophysics.

BMB/Bi/Ch 174. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Biophys-

ics. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biochemistry and
Molecular Biophysics.

ESE/Ch 176. Environmental Physical Organic Chemistry Part I. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Environmental Science and
Engineering.

ESE/Ch 177. Environmental Physical Organic Chemistry Part II. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Environmental Science and
Engineering.

BMB/Ch 178. Macromolecular Function: kinetics, energetics, and 519

mechanisms. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course description, see
Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

Ch 180. Chemical Research. Units by arrangement. Offered to M.S.

candidates in chemistry. Graded pass/fail.

BMB/Ch 202 abc. Biochemistry Seminar Course. 1 unit; first, second,

third terms. For course description, see Biochemistry and Molecular
Biophysics.

Ch 212. Bioinorganic Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequi-

sites: Ch 112 and Ch/Bi 110 or equivalent. Current topics in bioinorganic

Chemistry
 chemistry will be discussed, including metal storage and regulation,
metalloenzyme structure and reactions, biological electron transfer, me-
talloprotein design, and metal-nucleic acid interactions and reactions.
Not offered 2020–21.

Ch 213 abc. Advanced Ligand Field Theory. 12 units (1-0-11); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisite: Ch 21 abc or concurrent registration.
A tutorial course of problem solving in the more advanced aspects of li-
gand field theory. Recommended only for students interested in detailed
theoretical work in the inorganic field. Instructor: Gray.

Ch 225. Advanced Quantum Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: Ch125ab or equivalent, or permission of instruc-
tors. The electronic structure of atoms and molecules, the interactions
of radiation fields and matter, scattering theory, and reaction rate theory.
Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Chan/Miller.

Ch 226. Optical and Nonlinear Spectroscopy. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ch125ab, or equivalent instruction in quantum
mechanics. Quantum mechanical foundations of optical spectroscopy
as applied to chemical and material systems. Topics include optical
properties of materials, nonlinear and quantum optics, and multidimen-
sional spectroscopy. Instructors: Blake, Cushing.

BMB/Ch 230. Macromolecular Structure Determination with

Modern X-ray Crystallography Methods. 12 units (2-4-6). For course
description, see Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

Ch 242 ab. Chemical Synthesis. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms.

Prerequisite: Ch 41 abc. An integrated approach to synthetic problem
solving featuring an extensive review of modern synthetic reactions
with concurrent development of strategies for synthesis design. Part a
will focus on the application of modern methods of stereocontrol in the
construction of stereochemically complex acyclic systems. Part b will
focus on strategies and reactions for the synthesis of cyclic systems.
Instructors: Stoltz (a), b not offered 2020-21.

Ch 247. Organic Reaction Mechanisms. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

520 Prerequisites: Ch 41 abc, Ch 242 a recommended. This course will dis-
cuss and uncover useful strategies and tactics for approaching complex
reaction mechanisms prevalent in organic reactions. Topics include:
cycloaddition chemistry, rearrangements, radical reactions, metal-cata-
lyzed processes, photochemical reactions among others. Recommend-
ed only for students interested in advanced study in organic chemistry
or related fields. Not offered 2020–21.

Ch 250. Advanced Topics in Chemistry. 3 units; third term. Content

will vary from year to year; topics are chosen according to the inter-
ests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may present portions of this
course. In Spring 2020 the class will be a seminar course in pharma-
ceutical chemistry with lectures by industrial researchers from both

Courses
discovery (medicinal chemistry) and development (process chemistry)
departments. Not offered 2020-21.

Ch 251. Advanced Topics in Chemical Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Ch 145 or 146 or consent of the
instructor. Advanced Topics in Chemical Biology. Hours and units to be
arranged. Content will vary from year to year; topics are chosen accord-
ing to the interests of students and staff. Not offered 2020-21.

Ch 252. Advanced Topics in Chemical Physics. Hours and units to be

arranged. Content will vary from year to year; topics are chosen accord-
ing to the interests of students and staff. Not offered 2020–21.

Ch/Bi 253. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry. 6 units (2-0-4); third

term. Hours and units to be arranged. Content will vary from year to
year; topics are chosen according to the interests of students and staff.
Not offered 2020-21.

Bi/BE/Ch/ChE/Ge 269. Integrative Projects in Microbial Science and

Engineering. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biology.

Ch 279. Rotations in Chemistry. Variable units as arranged with the

advising faculty member; first, second, third terms. By arrangement with
members of the faculty, properly qualified graduate students will have
the opportunity to engage in a short-term research project culminating
in a presentation to their peers enrolled in the course and participating
laboratories. (Pass-Fail only).

Ch 280. Chemical Research. Hours and units by arrangement. By

arrangement with members of the faculty, properly qualified graduate
students are directed in research in chemistry.

CIVIL ENGINEERING
CE 90 abc. Structural Analysics and Design. 9 units (3-0-6); first,
second, third terms. Prerequisite: ME 35 abc. Structural loads; influence
lines for statically determinate beams and trusses; deflection of beams; 521
moment area and conjugate beam theorems; approximate methods
of analysis of indeterminate structures; slope deflection and moment
distribution techniques. Generalized stiffness and flexibility analyses of
indeterminate structures. Design of selected structures in timber, steel,
and reinforced concrete providing an introduction to working stress,
load and resistance factor, and ultimate strength approaches. In each of
the second and third terms a design project will be undertaken involv-
ing consideration of initial conception, cost-benefit, and optimization
aspects of a constructed facility. Not offered 2020–21.

CE 100. Special Topics in Civil Engineering. Units to be based upon

work done, any term. Special problems or courses arranged to meet

Civil Engineering
 the needs of first-year graduate students or qualified undergraduate
students. Graded pass/fail.

Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc. Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Mechanics of Structures and Solids. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

CE/Ae/AM 108 ab. Computational Mechanics. 9 units (3-5-1); first,

second terms. Prerequisites: Ae/AM/ME/CE 102 abc or Ae/GE/ME 160
ab, or instructor’s permission. Numerical methods and techniques for
solving initial boundary value problems in continuum mechanics (from
heat conduction to statics and dynamics of solids and structures). Finite
difference methods, direct methods, variational methods, finite elements
in small strains and at finite deformation for applications in structural
mechanics and solid mechanics. Solution of the partial differential
equations of heat transfer, solid and structural mechanics, and fluid me-
chanics. Transient and nonlinear problems. Computational aspects and
development and use of finite element code. Not offered 2020–21.

CE/ME 112 ab. Hydraulic Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third

terms. Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc; ACM 95/100 or equivalent
(may be taken concurrently). A survey of topics in hydraulic engineering:
open channel and pipe flow, subcritical/critical flow and the hydraulic
jump, hydraulic structures (weirs, inlet and outlet works, dams), hydrau-
lic machinery, hydrology, river and flood modeling, solute transport,
sediment mechanics, groundwater flow. Not offered 2020-2021.

AM/CE/ME 150 abc. Graduate Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; each

term. For course description, see Applied Mechanics.

AM/CE 151. Dynamics and Vibration. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-
scription, see Applied Mechanics.

CE 160 ab. Structural and Earthquake Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6);

second, third terms. Matrix structural analysis of the static and dynamic
response of structural systems, Newmark time integration, Newton-
522 Raphson iteration methodology for the response of nonlinear systems,
stability of iteration schemes, static and dynamic numerical analysis of
planar beam structures (topics include the development of stiffness,
mass, and damping matrices, material and geometric nonlinearity ef-
fects, formulation of a nonlinear 2-D beam element, uniform and nonuni-
form earthquake loading, soil-structure interaction, 3-D beam element
formulation, shear deformations, and panel zone deformations in steel
frames, and large deformation analysis), seismic design and analysis of
steel moment frame and braced frame systems, steel member behavior
(topics include bending, buckling, torsion, warping, and lateral torsional
buckling, and the effects of residual stresses), reinforced concrete
member behavior (topics include bending, shear, torsion, and PMM

Courses
interaction), and seismic design requirements for reinforced concrete
structures. Not offered 2020–21.

ME/CE 163. Mechanics and Rheology of Fluid-Infiltrated Porous

Media. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Mechanical Engi-
neering.

Ae/CE 165 ab. Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures. 9

units (2-2-5). For course description, see Aerospace.

CE/ME/Ge 173. Mechanics of Soils. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Pre-

requisites: Continuum Mechanics—Ae/Ge/ME 160a. Basic principles of
stiffness, deformation, effective stress and strength of soils, including
sands, clays and silts. Elements of soil behavior such as stress-strain-
strength behavior of clays, effects of sample disturbance, anisotropy,
and strain rate; strength and compression of granular soils; consolida-
tion theory and settlement analysis; and critical state soil mechanics.
Instructor: Asimaki.

ME/CE/Ge 174. Mechanics of Rocks. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For

course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

CE 180. Experimental Methods in Earthquake Engineering. 9 units

(1-5-3); first term. Prerequisite: AM/CE 151 abc or equivalent. Labora-
tory work involving calibration and performance of basic transducers
suitable for the measurement of strong earthquake ground motion, and
of structural response to such motion. Study of principal methods of dy-
namic tests of structures, including generation of forces and measure-
ment of structural response. Not offered 2020–21.

CE 181 ab. Engineering Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third

terms. Characteristics of potentially destructive earthquakes from the
engineering point of view. Theory of seismometers, seismic waves in a
continuum, plane waves in layered media, surface waves, basin waves,
site effects, dynamic deformation of buildings, seismic sources, earth-
quake size scaling, earthquake hazard calculations, rupture dynamics.
Not offered 2020–21.

CE 200. Advanced Work in Civil Engineering. 6 or more units as 523

arranged; any term. A faculty mentor will oversee a student proposed,
independent research or study project to meet the needs of graduate
students. Graded pass/fail. The consent of a faculty mentor and a writ-
ten report is required for each term.

CE 201. Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. The faculty will prepare courses on advanced topics to meet the
needs of graduate students. Instructor: Andrade.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 214 ab. Computational Solid Mechanics. 9 units

(3-5-1). For course description, see Aerospace.

Civil Engineering
 Ae/CE 221. Space Structures. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see Aerospace.

CE/Ge/ME 222. Earthquake Source Processes, Debris Flows, and

Soil Liquefaction: Physics-based Modeling of Failure in Granular
Media. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. A seminar-style course focusing on
granular dynamics and instabilities as they relate to geophysical hazards
such as fault mechanics, debris flows, and liquefaction. The course will
consist of student-led presentations of active research at Caltech and
discussions of recent literature. Not offered 2020–21.

AM/CE/ME 252. Linear and Nonlinear Waves in Structured Media. 9

units (2-1-6). For course description, see Applied Mechanics.

Ae/AM/CE/ME/Ge 265 ab. Static and Dynamic Failure of Brittle

Solids and Interfaces, from the Micro to the Mega. 9 units; (3-0-6).
For course description, see Aerospace.

CE 300. Research in Civil Engineering. Hours and units by arrange-

ment. Research in the field of civil engineering. By arrangements with
members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed
in research.

COMPUTATION AND NEURAL SYSTEMS

CNS 100. Introduction to Computation and Neural Systems. 1 unit;
first term. This course is designed to introduce undergraduate and
first-year CNS graduate students to the wide variety of research being
undertaken by CNS faculty. Topics from all the CNS research labs are
discussed and span the range from biology to engineering. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Siapas.

CNS/Psy/Bi 102 ab. Brains, Minds, and Society. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-
ond, third terms. Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 and CNS/Bi/Ph/
CS/NB 187, or instructor’s permission. Introduction to the computations
made by the brain during economic and social decision making and
524 their neural substrates. Part a: Reinforcement learning. Unconscious
and conscious processing. Emotion. Behavioral economics. Goal-
directed and habit learning. Facial processing in social neuroscience.
Part b: History and mechanisms of reinforcement. Associative learn-
ing. Mentalizing and strategic thinking. Neural basis of prosociality.
Exploration-exploitation tradeoff. Functions of basal ganglia. Instructors:
O’Doherty/Adolphs, O’Doherty.

Psy/CNS 105 ab. Frontiers in Neuroeconomics. 5 units (1.5-0-3.5).

For course description, see Psychology.

Psy/CNS 130. Introduction to Human Memory. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Psychology.

Courses
CNS/Psy/Bi 131. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation. 9 units
(3-0-6); second term. This course will serve as an introduction to basic
concepts, findings, and theory from the field of behavioral psychology,
covering areas such as principles of classical conditioning, blocking
and conditioned inhibition, models of classical conditioning, instrumen-
tal conditioning, reinforcement schedules, punishment and avoidance
learning. The course will track the development of ideas from the begin-
nings of behavioral psychology in the early 20th century to contempo-
rary learning theory. Instructor: O’Doherty. Not offered 2020–21.

Psy/CNS 132. Computational Reinforcement-learning in Biological

and Non-biological Systems. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see Psychology.

EE/CNS/CS 148. Selected Topics in Computational Vision. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150. Introduction to Neuroscience. 10 units (4-0-6).

For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 152. Neural Circuits and Physiology of Appetite and

Body Homeostasis. 6 units (2-0-4); spring. For course description, see
Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 154. Principles of Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Biology.

CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Machine Learning & Data Mining. 12

units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

CS/CNS/EE 156 ab. Learning Systems. 9 units (3-1-5). For course

description, see Computer Science.

Bi/CNS/NB 157. Comparative Nervous Systems. 9 units (2-3-4). For

course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS 158. Vertebrate Evolution. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Biology. 525

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159. Advanced Topics in Machine Learning. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Computer Science.

Pl/CNS/NB/Bi/Psy 161. Consciousness. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Philosophy.

Bi/CNS/NB 162. Cellular and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory. 12

units (2-4-6). For course description, see Biology.

NB/Bi/CNS 163. The Biological Basis of Neural Disorders. 6 units (3-

0-3); second term. For course description, see Neurobiology.

Computation and Neural Systems

 Bi/CNS/NB 164. Tools of Neurobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.
For course description, see Biology.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 165. Foundations of Machine Learning and Statisti-

cal Inference. 12 units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computer
Science.

CS/CNS 171. Introduction to Computer Graphics Laboratory. 12

units (3-6-3). For course description, see Computer Science.

CS/CNS 174. Computer Graphics Projects. 12 units (3-6-3). For

course description, see Computer Science.

CNS/Bi/Psy/NB 176. Cognition. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. The

cornerstone of current progress in understanding the mind, the brain,
and the relationship between the two is the study of human and animal
cognition. This course will provide an in-depth survey and analysis of
behavioral observations, theoretical accounts, computational models,
patient data, electrophysiological studies, and brain-imaging results on
mental capacities such as attention, memory, emotion, object represen-
tation, language, and cognitive development. Instructor: Shimojo. Given
in alternate years; Offered 2020–21.

CNS 180. Research in Computation and Neural Systems. Units by

arrangement with faculty. Offered to precandidacy students.

Bi/CNS/NB 184. The Primate Visual System. 9 units (3-1-5). For

course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 185. Large Scale Brain Networks. 6 units (2-0-4); third

term. For course description, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186. Vision: From Computational Theory to Neu-

ronal Mechanisms. 12 units (4-4-4); second term. Lecture, laboratory,
and project course aimed at understanding visual information process-
ing, in both machines and the mammalian visual system. The course will
emphasize an interdisciplinary approach aimed at understanding vision
at several levels: computational theory, algorithms, psychophysics, and
526 hardware (i.e., neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the mammalian
visual system). The course will focus on early vision processes, in par-
ticular motion analysis, binocular stereo, brightness, color and texture
analysis, visual attention and boundary detection. Students will be
required to hand in approximately three homework assignments as well
as complete one project integrating aspects of mathematical analysis,
modeling, physiology, psychophysics, and engineering. Instructors:
Meister, Perona, Shimojo, Tsao. Given in alternate years; Not Offered
2020–21.

CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187. Neural Computation. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: familiarity with digital circuits, probability theory,
linear algebra, and differential equations. Programming will be required.

Courses
This course investigates computation by neurons. Of primary concern
are models of neural computation and their neurological substrate,
as well as the physics of collective computation. Thus, neurobiology
is used as a motivating factor to introduce the relevant algorithms.
Topics include rate-code neural networks, their differential equations,
and equivalent circuits; stochastic models and their energy functions;
associative memory; supervised and unsupervised learning; develop-
ment; spike-based computing; single-cell computation; error and noise
tolerance. Instructor: Perona. Not Offered 2020–21.

BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab. Biomolecular Computation. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Bioengineering.

Bi/CNS/NB 195. Mathematics in Biology. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 216. Behavior of Mammals. 6 units (2-0-4). For course

description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 217. Central Mechanisms in Perception. 6 units (2-0-4).

For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 220. Genetic Dissection of Neural Circuit Function. 6

units (2-0-4). For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/BE/NB 230. Optogenetic and CLARITY Methods in Experi-

mental Neuroscience. 9 units (3-2-4); third term. For course descrip-
tion, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/NB 247. Cerebral Cortex. 6 units (2-0-4); second term.

Prerequisite: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equivalent. A general survey of the
structure and function of the cerebral cortex. Topics include cortical
anatomy, functional localization, and newer computational approaches
to understanding cortical processing operations. Motor cortex, sensory
cortex (visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortex), association cortex,
and limbic cortex. Emphasis is on using animal models to understand
human cortical function and includes correlations between animal stud-
ies and human neuropsychological and functional imaging literature.
Instructor: Andersen. Offered 2020–21. 527

Bi/CNS 250 c. Topics in Systems Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Biology.

CNS 251. Human Brain Mapping: Theory and Practice. 9 units (2-1-
6); second term. A course in functional brain imaging. An overview of
contemporary brain imaging techniques, usefulness of brain imaging
compared to other techniques available to the modern neuroscientist.
Review of what is known about the physical and biological bases of the
signals being measured. Design and implementation of a brain imaging
experiment and analysis of data (with a particular emphasis on fMRI).
Instructor: O’Doherty. Offered 2020–21.

Computation and Neural Systems

 Psy/Bi/CNS 255. Topics in Emotion and Social Cognition. 9 units (3-
0-6). For course description, see Psychology.

CNS/Bi/NB 256. Decision Making. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. This

special topics course will examine the neural mechanisms of reward,
decision making, and reward-based learning. The course covers the
anatomy and physiology of reward and action systems. Special empha-
sis will be placed on the representation of reward expectation; the in-
terplay between reward, motivation, and attention; and the selection of
actions. Links between concepts in economics and the neural mecha-
nisms of decision making will be explored. Data from animal and human
studies collected using behavioral, neurophysiological, and functional
magnetic resonance techniques will be reviewed. Instructor: Andersen.
Not offered 2020-21.

CNS 280. Research in Computation and Neural Systems. Hours and

units by arrangement. For graduate students admitted to candidacy in
computation and neural systems.

SS/Psy/CNS 285. Topics in Social, Cognitive, and Decision Scienc-

es. 3 units (3-0-0). For course description, see Social Science.

CNS/Bi 286 abc. Special Topics in Computation and Neural Sys-

tems. Units to be arranged. First, second, third terms. Students may
register with permission of the responsible faculty member.

COMPUTER SCIENCE
CS 1. Introduction to Computer Programming. 9 units (3-4-2); first
term. A course on computer programming emphasizing the program
design process and pragmatic programming skills. It will use the
Python programming language and will not assume previous program-
ming experience. Material covered will include data types, variables,
assignment, control structures, functions, scoping, compound data,
string processing, modules, basic input/output (terminal and file), as
well as more advanced topics such as recursion, exception handling
528 and object-oriented programming. Program development and mainte-
nance skills including debugging, testing, and documentation will also
be taught. Assignments will include problems drawn from fields such as
graphics, numerics, networking, and games. At the end of the course,
students will be ready to learn other programming languages in courses
such as CS 11, and will also be ready to take more in-depth courses
such as CS 2 and CS 4. Instructor: Hovik, Vanier.

CS 2. Introduction to Programming Methods. 9 units (3-5-1); second

term. Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent. CS 2 is a demanding course in
programming languages and computer science. Topics covered include
data structures, including lists, trees, and graphs; implementation and
performance analysis of fundamental algorithms; algorithm design

Courses
principles, in particular recursion and dynamic programming; Heavy
emphasis is placed on the use of compiled languages and development
tools, including source control and debugging. The course includes
weekly laboratory exercises and projects covering the lecture material
and program design. The course is intended to establish a foundation
for further work in many topics in the computer science option. Instruc-
tor: Blank.

CS 3. Introduction to Software Design. 9 units (1-6-2); third term. Pre-

requisites: CS 2 or equivalent. CS 3 is a practical introduction to design-
ing large programs in a low-level language. Heavy emphasis is placed
on documentation, testing, and software architecture. Students will
work in teams in two 5-week long projects. In the first half of the course,
teams will focus on testing and extensibility. In the second half of the
course, teams will use POSIX APIs, as well as their own code from
the first five weeks, to develop a large software deliverable. Software
engineering topics covered include code reviews, testing and testability,
code readability, API design, refactoring, and documentation. Instructor:
Blank.

CS 4. Fundamentals of Computer Programming. 9 units (3-4-2);

second term. Prerequisite: CS 1 or instructor’s permission. This course
gives students the conceptual background necessary to construct and
analyze programs, which includes specifying computations, under-
standing evaluation models, and using major programming language
constructs (functions and procedures, conditionals, recursion and
looping, scoping and environments, compound data, side effects,
higher-order functions and functional programming, and object-oriented
programming). It emphasizes key issues that arise in programming and
in computation in general, including time and space complexity, choice
of data representation, and abstraction management. This course is
intended for students with some programming background who want
a deeper understanding of the conceptual issues involved in computer
programming. Instructor: Vanier.

Ma/CS 6/106 abc. Introduction to Discrete Mathematics. 9 units (3-

0-6). For course description, see Mathematics.

CS 9. Introduction to Computer Science Research. 1 unit (1-0-0); 529

first term. This course will introduce students to research areas in CS
through weekly overview talks by Caltech faculty and aimed at first-year
undergraduates. More senior students may wish to take the course to
gain an understanding of the scope of research in computer science.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Low.

EE/CS 10 ab. Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems.

6 units (2-3-1). For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

CS 11. Computer Language Lab. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: CS 1 or instructor’s permission. A self-paced lab
that provides students with extra practice and supervision in transfer-

Computer Science
 ring their programming skills to a particular programming language. The
course can be used for any language of the student’s choosing, subject
to approval by the instructor. A series of exercises guide the student
through the pragmatic use of the chosen language, building his or her
familiarity, experience, and style. More advanced students may propose
their own programming project as the target demonstration of their new
language skills. This course is available for undergraduate students only.
Graduate students should register for CS 111. CS 11 may be repeated
for credit of up to a total of nine units. Instructors: Blank, Hovik, Vanier.

CS 19 ab. Introduction to Computer Science in Industry. 2 units

(1-0-1); first term. This course will introduce students to CS in industry
through weekly overview talks by alums and engineers in industry. It
is aimed at second-year undergraduates. Others may wish to take the
course to gain an understanding of the scope of computer science in
industry. Additionally students will complete short weekly assignments
aimed at preparing them for interactions with industry. This course is
closed to first and second term freshman for credit. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Ralph.

CS 21. Decidability and Tractability. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisite: CS 2 (may be taken concurrently). This course introduces
the formal foundations of computer science, the fundamental limits of
computation, and the limits of efficient computation. Topics will include
automata and Turing machines, decidability and undecidability, reduc-
tions between computational problems, and the theory of NP-complete-
ness. Instructor: Umans.

CS 22. Data Structures & Parallelism. 9 units (3-6-0); second

term. Prerequisites: CS 2 or instructor’s permission. CS 22 is a demand-
ing course that covers implementation, correctness, and analysis of
data structures and some parallel algorithms. This course is intended
for students who have already taken a data structures course at the
level of CS 2. Topics include implementation and analysis of skip lists,
trees, hashing, and heaps as well as various algorithms (including string
matching, parallel sorting, parallel prefix). The course includes weekly
written and programming assignments covering the lecture material.
Instructor: Blank.
530
CS 24. Introduction to Computing Systems. 9 units (3-3-3); first term.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with C equivalent to having taken the CS 11
C track or CS 3. Basic introduction to computer systems, including
hardware-software interface, computer architecture, and operating
systems. Course emphasizes computer system abstractions and the
hardware and software techniques necessary to support them, includ-
ing virtualization (e.g., memory, processing, communication), dynamic
resource management, and common-case optimization, isolation, and
naming. Instructor: Blank.

CS 38. Algorithms. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: CS 2; Ma/

CS 6 a or Ma 121 a; and CS 21. This course introduces techniques for

Courses
the design and analysis of efficient algorithms. Major design techniques
(the greedy approach, divide and conquer, dynamic programming, linear
programming) will be introduced through a variety of algebraic, graph,
and optimization problems. Methods for identifying intractability (via
NP-completeness) will be discussed. Instructor: Schröder.

CS 42. Computer Science Education in K-14 Settings. 6 units (2-

2-2); second, third terms. This course will focus on computer science
education in K-14 settings. Students will gain an understanding of the
current state of computer science education within the United States,
develop curricula targeted at students from diverse backgrounds, and
gain hands on teaching experience. Through readings from educational
psychology and neuropsychology, students will become familiar with
various pedagogical methods and theories of learning, while apply-
ing these in practice as part of a teaching group partnered with a local
school or community college. Each week students are expected to
spend about 2 hours teaching, 2 hours developing curricula, and 2
hours on readings and individual exercises. Pass/Fail only. May not be
repeated. Instructor: Ralph.

CS/EE/ME 75 abc. Multidisciplinary Systems Engineering. 3 units

(2-0-1), 6 units (2-0-4), or 9 units (2-0-7) first term; 6 units (2-3-1), 9
units (2-6-1), or 12 units (2-9-1) second and third terms; units according
to project selected. This course presents the fundamentals of modern
multidisciplinary systems engineering in the context of a substantial de-
sign project. Students from a variety of disciplines will conceive, design,
implement, and operate a system involving electrical, information, and
mechanical engineering components. Specific tools will be provided for
setting project goals and objectives, managing interfaces between com-
ponent subsystems, working in design teams, and tracking progress
against tasks. Students will be expected to apply knowledge from other
courses at Caltech in designing and implementing specific subsystems.
During the first two terms of the course, students will attend project
meetings and learn some basic tools for project design, while taking
courses in CS, EE, and ME that are related to the course project. During
the third term, the entire team will build, document, and demonstrate
the course design project, which will differ from year to year. Freshmen
must receive permission from the lead instructor to enroll. Not offered
2020-21. 531

CS 80 abc. Undergraduate Thesis. 9 units; first, second, third terms.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission, which should be obtained suf-
ficiently early to allow time for planning the research. Individual research
project, carried out under the supervision of a member of the computer
science faculty (or other faculty as approved by the computer science
undergraduate option representative). Projects must include significant
design effort. Written report required. Open only to upperclass students.
Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Faculty.

CS 81 abc. Undergraduate Projects in Computer Science. Units are

assigned in accordance with work accomplished. Prerequisites: Consent

Computer Science
 of supervisor is required before registering. Supervised research or
development in computer science by undergraduates. The topic must
be approved by the project supervisor, and a formal final report must be
presented on completion of research. This course can (with approval) be
used to satisfy the project requirement for the CS major. Graded pass/
fail. Instructor: Faculty.

CS 90. Undergraduate Reading in Computer Science. Units are as-

signed in accordance with work accomplished. Prerequisites: Consent
of supervisor is required before registering. Supervised reading in
computer science by undergraduates. The topic must be approved by
the reading supervisor, and a formal final report must be presented on
completion of the term. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Faculty.

CS 101. Special Topics in Computer Science. Units in accordance

with work accomplished; offered by announcement. Prerequisites: CS
21 and CS 38, or instructor’s permission. The topics covered vary from
year to year, depending on the students and staff. Primarily for under-
graduates.

CS 102 abc. Seminar in Computer Science. 3, 6, or 9 units as ar-

ranged with the instructor. Instructor’s permission required.

CS 103 abc. Reading in Computer Science. 3, 6, or 9 units as ar-

ranged with the instructor. Instructor’s permission required.

HPS/Pl/CS 110. Causation and Explanation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

CS 111. Graduate Programming Practicum. 3 units (0-3-0); first,

second terms. Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent. A self-paced lab that
provides students with extra practice and supervision in transferring
their programming skills to a particular programming language. The
course can be used for any language of the student’s choosing, subject
to approval by the instructor. A series of exercises guide the student
through the pragmatic use of the chosen language, building his or her
familiarity, experience, and style. More advanced students may propose
their own programming project as the target demonstration of their new
532 language skills. This course is available for graduate students only. CS
111 may be repeated for credit of up to a total of nine units. Undergrad-
uates should register for CS 11. Instructors: Blank, Vanier.

Ec/ACM/CS 112. Bayesian Statistics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Economics.

CS 115. Functional Programming. 9 units (3-4-2); third term. Prereq-

uisites: CS 1 and CS 4. This course is a both a theoretical and practical
introduction to functional programming, a paradigm which allows pro-
grammers to work at an extremely high level of abstraction while simul-
taneously avoiding large classes of bugs that plague more conventional
imperative and object-oriented languages. The course will introduce

Courses
and use the lazy functional language Haskell exclusively. Topics include:
recursion, first-class functions, higher-order functions, algebraic data
types, polymorphic types, function composition, point-free style, prov-
ing functions correct, lazy evaluation, pattern matching, lexical scoping,
type classes, and modules. Some advanced topics such as monad
transformers, parser combinators, dynamic typing, and existential types
are also covered. Instructor: Vanier.

CS 116. Reasoning about Program Correctness. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisite: CS 1 or equivalent. This course presents the use
of logic and formal reasoning to prove the correctness of sequential
and concurrent programs. Topics in logic include propositional logic,
basics of first-order logic, and the use of logic notations for specifying
programs. The course presents a programming notation and its formal
semantics, Hoare logic and its use in proving program correctness,
predicate transformers and weakest preconditions, and fixed-point
theory and its application to proofs of programs. Not offered 2020-21.

Ma/CS 117 abc. Computability Theory. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Mathematics.

CS 118. Logic Model Checking for Formal Software Verification. 9

units (3-3-3); second term. An introduction to the theory and practice
of logic model checking as an aid in the formal proofs of correctness
of concurrent programs and system designs. The specific focus is on
automata-theoretic verification. The course includes a study of the
theory underlying formal verification, the correctness of programs, and
the use of software tools in designs. Not offered 2020-21.

EE/CS 119 abc. Advanced Digital Systems Design. 9 units (3-3-3).

For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

CS/Ph 120. Quantum Cryptography. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prereq-

uisites: Ma 1b, Ph 2b or Ph 12b, CS 21, CS 38 or equivalent recom-
mended (or instructor’s permission). This course is an introduction to
quantum cryptography: how to use quantum effects, such as quantum
entanglement and uncertainty, to implement cryptographic tasks with
levels of security that are impossible to achieve classically. The course
covers the fundamental ideas of quantum information that form the 533
basis for quantum cryptography, such as entanglement and quantify-
ing quantum knowledge. We will introduce the security definition for
quantum key distribution and see protocols and proofs of security for
this task. We will also discuss the basics of device-independent quan-
tum cryptography as well as other cryptographic tasks and protocols,
such as bit commitment or position-based cryptography. Not offered
2020-21.

CS/IDS 121. Relational Databases. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent. Introduction to the basic theory and
usage of relational database systems. It covers the relational data
model, relational algebra, and the Structured Query Language (SQL).

Computer Science
 The course introduces the basics of database schema design and cov-
ers the entity-relationship model, functional dependency analysis, and
normal forms. Additional topics include other query languages based on
the relational calculi, data-warehousing and dimensional analysis, writ-
ing and using stored procedures, working with hierarchies and graphs
within relational databases, and an overview of transaction processing
and query evaluation. Extensive hands-on work with SQL databases.
Instructor: Hovik.

CS 122. Database System Implementation. 9 units (3-3-3); second

term. Prerequisites: CS 2, CS 38, CS/IDS 121 and familiarity with Java,
or instructor’s permission. This course explores the theory, algorithms,
and approaches behind modern relational database systems. Topics
include file storage formats, query planning and optimization, query
evaluation, indexes, transaction processing, concurrency control, and
recovery. Assignments consist of a series of programming projects
extending a working relational database, giving hands-on experience
with the topics covered in class. The course also has a strong focus on
proper software engineering practices, including version control, testing,
and documentation. Not offered 2020-21.

CS 123. Projects in Database Systems. 9 units (0-0-9); third term. Pre-

requisites: CS/IDS 121 and CS 122. Students are expected to execute a
substantial project in databases, write up a report describing their work,
and make a presentation. Not offered 2020-21.

CS 124. Operating Systems. 12 units (3-6-3); third term. Prerequisites:

CS 24. This course explores the major themes and components of
modern operating systems, such as kernel architectures, the process
abstraction and process scheduling, system calls, concurrency within
the OS, virtual memory management, and file systems. Students must
work in groups to complete a series of challenging programming proj-
ects, implementing major components of an instructional operating sys-
tem. Most programming is in C, although some IA32 assembly language
programming is also necessary. Familiarity with the material in CS 24 is
strongly advised before attempting this course. Instructor: Pinkston.

EE/CS/MedE 125. Digital Electronics and Design with FPGAs and

534 VHDL. 9 units (3-6-0). For course description, see Electrical Engineer-
ing.

EE/Ma/CS 126 ab. Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 3. For course description, see Electrical Engi-
neering.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127. Error-Correcting Codes. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

ME/CS/EE 129. Experimental Robotics. 9 units (3-6-0). For course

description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Courses
CS 130. Software Engineering. 9 units (3-3-3); second and fourth
terms. Prerequisites: CS 2 or equivalent. This course presents a survey
of software engineering principles relevant to all aspects of the software
development lifecycle. Students will examine industry best practices in
the areas of software specification, development, project management,
testing, and release management, including a review of the relevant re-
search literature. Assignments give students the opportunity to explore
these topics in depth. Programming assignments use Python and Git,
and students should be familiar with Python at a CS1 level, and Git at a
CS2/CS3 level, before taking the course. Instructor: Pinkston.

CS 131. Programming Languages. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites: CS 4. CS 131 is a course on programming languages and their
implementation. It teaches students how to program in a number of
simplified languages representing the major programming paradigms
in use today (imperative, object-oriented, and functional). It will also
teach students how to build and modify the implementations of these
languages. Emphasis will not be on syntax or parsing but on the es-
sential differences in these languages and their implementations. Both
dynamically-typed and statically-typed languages will be implemented.
Relevant theory will be covered as needed. Implementations will mostly
be interpreters, but some features of compilers will be covered if time
permits. Enrollment limited to 30 students. Instructor: Vanier.

ME/CS/EE 133 abc. Robotics. 9 units (3-3-3). For course description,

see Mechanical Engineering.

ME/CS/EE 134. Robotic Systems. 9 units (3-6-0). For course descrip-

tion, see Mechanical Engineering.

EE/CS/EST 135. Power System Analysis. 9 units (3-3-3); second term.

For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 136. Topics in Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

CS 137. Algorithms in the Real World. 12 units (2-9-1); third term. Pre-
requisites: CS 2, CS 24, Ma 6 or permission from instructor. This course
introduces algorithms in the context of their usage in the real world. 535
The course covers compression, advanced data structures, numerical
algorithms, cryptography, computer algebra, and parallelism. The goal
of the course is for students to see how to use theoretical algorithms in
real-world contexts, focusing both on correctness and the nitty-gritty
details and optimizations. Implementations focus on two orthogonal
avenues: speed (for which C is used) and algorithmic thinking (for which
Python is used). Instructor: Blank.

CS 138. Computer Algorithms. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course

is identical to CS 38. Only graduate students for whom this is the first
algorithms course are allowed to register for CS 138. See the CS 38
entry for prerequisites and course description. Instructor: Schröder.

Computer Science
 CMS/CS/IDS 139. Analysis and Design of Algorithms. 12 units
(3-0-9). For course description, see Computation and Mathematical
Sciences.

CS 141. Hack Society: Projects from the Public Sector. 9 units (0-0-
9); thirdterm. Prerequisites: CS/IDS 142, 143, CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144, or
permission from instructor. There is a large gap between the public and
private sectors’ effective use of technology. This gap presents an op-
portunity for the development of innovative solutions to problems faced
by society. Students will develop technology-based projects that ad-
dress this gap. Course material will offer an introduction to the design,
development, and analysis of digital technology with examples derived
from services typically found in the public sector. Instructor: Ralph.

CS/IDS 142. Distributed Computing. 9 units (3-2-4); first term. Prereq-

uisites: CS 24, CS 38. Programming distributed systems. Mechanics for
cooperation among concurrent agents. Programming sensor networks
and cloud computing applications. Applications of machine learning
and statistics by using parallel computers to aggregate and analyze
data streams from sensors. Not offered 2020-21.

CS/EE/IDS 143. Communication Networks. 9 units (3-3-3); first term.

Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 3, CS 24 and CS 38, or instructor permission.
This course focuses on the link layer (two) through the transport layer
(four) of Internet protocols. It has two distinct components, analyti-
cal and systems. In the analytical part, after a quick summary of basic
mechanisms on the Internet, we will focus on congestion control and
explain: (1) How to model congestion control algorithms? (2) Is the mod-
el well defined? (3) How to characterize the equilibrium points of the
model? (4) How to prove the stability of the equilibrium points? We will
study basic results in ordinary differential equations, convex optimiza-
tion, Lyapunov stability theorems, passivity theorems, gradient descent,
contraction mapping, and Nyquist stability theory. We will apply these
results to prove equilibrium and stability properties of the congestion
control models and explore their practical implications. In the systems
part, the students will build a software simulator of Internet routing and
congestion control algorithms. The goal is not only to expose students
to basic analytical tools that are applicable beyond congestion control,
536 but also to demonstrate in depth the entire process of understanding a
physical system, building mathematical models of the system, analyz-
ing the models, exploring the practical implications of the analysis, and
using the insights to improve the design. Instructors: Low, Ralph.

CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144. Networks: Structure & Economics. 12 units

(3-4-5). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical Sci-
ences.

CS/EE 145. Projects in Networking. 9 units (0-0-9); third term. Pre-

requisites: Either CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144 or CS/IDS 142 in the preceding
term, or instructor permission. Students are expected to execute a sub-

Courses
stantial project in networking, write up a report describing their work,
and make a presentation. Instructor: Wierman.

CS/EE 146. Control and Optimization of Networks. 9 units (3-3-

3); first term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 3 or instructor’s permission. This
is a research-oriented course meant for undergraduates and beginning
graduate students who want to learn about current research topics in
networks such as the Internet, power networks, social networks, etc.
The topics covered in the course will vary, but will be pulled from current
research in the design, analysis, control, and optimization of networks.
Usually offered in odd years. Not offered 2020-21.

EE/CS 147. Digital Ventures Design. 9 units (3-3-3); first term. Prereq-
uisites: none. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/CNS/CS 148. Selected Topics in Computational Vision. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

CS/Ec 149. Algorithmic Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This

course will equip students to engage with active research at the inter-
section of social and information sciences, including: algorithmic game
theory and mechanism design; auctions; matching markets; and learn-
ing in games. Instructor: Echenique.

CS/IDS 150 ab. Probability and Algorithms. 9 units (3-0-6); first and
third terms. Prerequisites: part a: CS 38 and Ma 5 abc; part b: part a or
another introductory course in discrete probability. Part a: The proba-
bilistic method and randomized algorithms. Deviation bounds, k-wise
independence, graph problems, identity testing, derandomization and
parallelization, metric space embeddings, local lemma. Part b: Further
topics such as weighted sampling, epsilon-biased sample spaces, ad-
vanced deviation inequalities, rapidly mixing Markov chains, analysis of
boolean functions, expander graphs, and other gems in the design and
analysis of probabilistic algorithms. Parts a & b are offered in alternate
years. Instructor: Schulman.

CS 151. Complexity Theory. 12 units (3-0-9); third term. Prerequisites:

CS 21 and CS 38, or instructor’s permission. This course describes a
diverse array of complexity classes that are used to classify problems 537
according to the computational resources (such as time, space, ran-
domness, or parallelism) required for their solution. The course exam-
ines problems whose fundamental nature is exposed by this framework,
the known relationships between complexity classes, and the numerous
open problems in the area. Instructor: Umans.

CS 152. Introduction to Cryptography. 12 units (3-0-9); first term.

Prerequisites: Ma 1b, CS 21, CS 38 or equivalent recommended. This
course is an introduction to the foundations of cryptography. The first
part of the course introduces fundamental constructions in private-key
cryptography, including one-way functions, pseudo-random generators
and authentication, and in public-key cryptography, including trapdoor

Computer Science
 one-way functions, collision-resistant hash functions and digital sig-
natures. The second part of the course covers selected topics such as
interactive protocols and zero knowledge, the learning with errors prob-
lem and homomorphic encryption, and quantum cryptography: quan-
tum money, quantum key distribution. The course is mostly theoretical
and requires mathematical maturity. There will be a small programming
component. Not offered 2020-21.

CS/IDS 153. Current Topics in Theoretical Computer Science. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: CS 21 and CS 38, or instructor’s
permission. May be repeated for credit, with permission of the instruc-
tor. Students in this course will study an area of current interest in theo-
retical computer science. The lectures will cover relevant background
material at an advanced level and present results from selected recent
papers within that year’s chosen theme. Students will be expected to
read and present a research paper. Not offered 2020-21.

CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Machine Learning & Data Mining. 12

units (3-3-6). For course description see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

CS/CNS/EE 156 ab. Learning Systems. 9 units (3-1-5); first, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 2 and CS 2, or equivalent. Introduction to
the theory, algorithms, and applications of automated learning. How
much information is needed to learn a task, how much computation is
involved, and how it can be accomplished. Special emphasis will be
given to unifying the different approaches to the subject coming from
statistics, function approximation, optimization, pattern recognition, and
neural networks. Instructor: Abu-Mostafa.

IDS/ACM/CS 157. Statistical Inference. 9 units (3-2-4). For course

description, see Information and Data Sciences.

IDS/ACM/CS 158. Fundamentals of Statistical Learning. 9 units (3-3-

3). For course description, see Information and Data Sciences.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159. Advanced Topics in Machine Learning. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: CS 155; strong background in
538 statistics, probability theory, algorithms, and linear algebra; background
in optimization is a plus as well. This course focuses on current topics in
machine learning research. This is a paper reading course, and students
are expected to understand material directly from research articles.
Students are also expected to present in class, and to do a final project.
Not offered 2020-21.

EE/CS/IDS 160. Fundamentals of Information Transmission and

Storage. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Electrical Engineer-
ing.

EE/CS 161. Big Data Networks. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For course
description, see Electrical Engineering.

Courses
CS/IDS 162. Data, Algorithms and Society. 9 units (3-0-6); second
term. Prerequisites: CS 38 and CS 155 or 156a. This course exam-
ines algorithms and data practices in fields such as machine learning,
privacy, and communication networks through a social lens. We will
draw upon theory and practices from art, media, computer science and
technology studies to critically analyze algorithms and their implementa-
tions within society. The course includes projects, lectures, readings,
and discussions. Students will learn mathematical formalisms, critical
thinking and creative problem solving to connect algorithms to their
practical implementations within social, cultural, economic, legal and
political contexts. Enrollment by application. Taught concurrently with
VC 72 and can only be taken once, as VC 72 or CS/IDS 162. Instruc-
tors: Mushkin/Ralph.

CS 163. Making Data Visual. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. For course
description, see VC 53.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 165. Foundations of Machine Learning and Statisti-

cal Inference. 12 units (3-3-6); second term. Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/
IDS 113, ACM/EE/IDS 116, CS 156a, ACM/CS/IDS 157 or instruc-
tor’s permission. The course assumes students are comfortable with
analysis, probability, statistics, and basic programming. This course
will cover core concepts in machine learning and statistical inference.
The ML concepts covered are spectral methods (matrices and tensors),
non-convex optimization, probabilistic models, neural networks, repre-
sentation theory, and generalization. In statistical inference, the topics
covered are detection and estimation, sufficient statistics, Cramer-Rao
bounds, Rao-Blackwell theory, variational inference, and multiple test-
ing. In addition to covering the core concepts, the course encourages
students to ask critical questions such as: How relevant is theory in
the age of deep learning? What are the outstanding open problems?
Assignments will include exploring failure modes of popular algorithms,
in addition to traditional problem-solving type questions. Instructor:
Anandkumar.

CMS/CS/EE 166. Computational Cameras. 12 units (3-3-6); third

term. For course description, see Computation and Mathematical Sci-
ences.
539
EE/CS/IDS 167. Introduction to Data Compression and Storage. 9
units (3-0-6). For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

CS/CNS 171. Computer Graphics Laboratory. 12 units (3-6-3); first

term. Prerequisites: Extensive programming experience and proficiency
in linear algebra, starting with CS2 and Ma1b. This is a challenging
course that introduces the basic ideas behind computer graphics and
some of its fundamental algorithms. Topics include graphics input
and output, the graphics pipeline, sampling and image manipulation,
three-dimensional transformations and interactive modeling, basics of
physically based modeling and animation, simple shading models and
their hardware implementation, and some of the fundamental algorithms

Computer Science
 of scientific visualization. Students will be required to perform significant
implementations. Instructor: Barr.

CS/CNS 174. Computer Graphics Projects. 12 units (3-6-3); third

term. Prerequisites: Extensive programming experience, CS/CNS 171
or instructor’s permission. This laboratory class offers students an
opportunity for independent work including recent computer graphics
research. In coordination with the instructor, students select a com-
puter graphics modeling, rendering, interaction, or related algorithm
and implement it. Students are required to present their work in class
and discuss the results of their implementation and possible improve-
ments to the basic methods. May be repeated for credit with instructor’s
permission. Instructor: Barr.

EE/CS/MedE 175. Digital Circuits Analysis and Design with Com-

plete VHDL and RTL Approach. 9 units (3-6-0). For course description,
see Electrical Engineering.

CS 176. Computer Graphics Research. 9 units (3-3-3); second

term. Prerequisites: CS/CNS 171, or 173, or 174. The course will go
over recent research results in computer graphics, covering subjects
from mesh processing (acquisition, compression, smoothing, param-
eterization, adaptive meshing), simulation for purposes of animation,
rendering (both photo- and nonphotorealistic), geometric modeling
primitives (image based, point based), and motion capture and editing.
Other subjects may be treated as they appear in the recent literature.
The goal of the course is to bring students up to the frontiers of com-
puter graphics research and prepare them for their own research. Not
offered 2020-21.

CS/ACM 177 a. Discrete Differential Geometry: Theory and Applica-

tions. 9 units (3-3-3); second term. Working knowledge of multivariate
calculus and linear algebra as well as fluency in some implementation
language is expected. Subject matter covered: differential geometry
of curves and surfaces, classical exterior calculus, discrete exterior
calculus, sampling and reconstruction of differential forms, low dimen-
sional algebraic and computational topology, Morse theory, Noether’s
theorem, Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition, structure preserving time
540 integration, connections and their curvatures on complex line bundles.
Applications include elastica and rods, surface parameterization, con-
formal surface deformations, computation of geodesics, tangent vector
field design, connections, discrete thin shells, fluids, electromagnetism,
and elasticity. Instructor: Desbrun.

CS/IDS 178. Numerical Algorithms and their Implementation. 9 units

(3-3-3); third term. Prerequisites: CS 2. This course gives students the
understanding necessary to choose and implement basic numerical
algorithms as needed in everyday programming practice. Concepts in-
clude: sources of numerical error, stability, convergence, ill-conditioning,
and efficiency. Algorithms covered include solution of linear systems
(direct and iterative methods), orthogonalization, SVD, interpolation

Courses
and approximation, numerical integration, solution of ODEs and PDEs,
transform methods (Fourier, Wavelet), and low rank approximation such
as multipole expansions. Instructor: Desbrun.

CS 179. GPU Programming. 9 units (3-3-3); third term. Prerequisites:

Good working knowledge of C/C++. Some experience with computer
graphics algorithms preferred. The use of Graphics Processing Units for
computer graphics rendering is well known, but their power for general
parallel computation is only recently being explored. Parallel algorithms
running on GPUs can often achieve up to 100x speedup over similar
CPU algorithms. This course covers programming techniques for the
Graphics processing unit, focusing on visualization and simulation
of various systems. Labs will cover specific applications in graphics,
mechanics, and signal processing. The course will use nVidia’s parallel
computing architecture, CUDA. Labwork requires extensive program-
ming. Instructor: Barr.

CS 180. Master’s Thesis Research. Units (total of 45) are determined

in accordance with work accomplished.

Bi/BE/CS 183. Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinfor-

matics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186. Vision: From Computational Theory to

Neuronal Mechanisms. 12 units (4-4-4). For course description, see
Computation and Neural Systems.

CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187. Neural Computation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab. Biomolecular Computation. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Bioengineering.

BE/CS 196 ab. Design and Construction of Programmable Molecu-

lar Systems. 12 units ; a (3-6-3) second term; b (2-8-2). For course
description, see Bioengineering.

Ph/CS 219 abc. Quantum Computation. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

third terms. For course description, see Physics. 541

CS 274 abc. Topics in Computer Graphics. 9 units (3-3-3); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Each term will
focus on some topic in computer graphics, such as geometric model-
ing, rendering, animation, human-computer interaction, or mathematical
foundations. The topics will vary from year to year. May be repeated for
credit with instructor’s permission. Not offered 2020-21.

CS 280. Research in Computer Science. Units in accordance with

work accomplished. Approval of student’s research adviser and option
adviser must be obtained before registering.

Computer Science
 CS 282 abc. Reading in Computer Science. 6 units or more by ar-
rangement; first, second, third terms. Instructor’s permission required.

CS 286 abc. Seminar in Computer Science. 3, 6, or 9 units, at the

instructor’s discretion. Instructor’s permission required.

CS 287. Center for the Mathematics of Information Seminar. 3, 6, or

9 units, at the instructor’s discretion; first, second, third terms. Instruc-
tor’s permission required. Instructor: Staff.

COMPUTING AND MATHEMATICAL

SCIENCES
CMS/ACM/IDS 107. Linear Analysis with Applications. 12 units
(3-0-9); first term. Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104 or equivalent, Ma 1 b or
equivalent. Covers the basic algebraic, geometric, and topological prop-
erties of normed linear spaces, inner-product spaces, and linear maps.
Emphasis is placed both on rigorous mathematical development and on
applications to control theory, data analysis and partial differential equa-
tions. Instructor: Stuart.

CMS/ACM/IDS 113. Mathematical Optimization. 12 units (3-0-9); first

term. Prerequisites: ACM 11 and ACM 104, or instructor’s permis-
sion. This class studies mathematical optimization from the viewpoint of
convexity. Topics covered include duality and representation of convex
sets; linear and semidefinite programming; connections to discrete,
network, and robust optimization; relaxation methods for intractable
problems; as well as applications to problems arising in graphs and
networks, information theory, control, signal processing, and other engi-
neering disciplines. Instructor: Chandrasekaran.

CMS/ACM 117. Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes. 12

units (3-0-9); first term. Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, ACM/EE/IDS 116
or instructor’s permission. This course offers a rigorous introduction to
probability and stochastic processes. Emphasis is placed on the inter-
action between inequalities and limit theorems, as well as contemporary
542 applications in computing and mathematical sciences. Topics include
probability measures, random variables and expectation, independence,
concentration inequalities, distances between probability measures,
modes of convergence, laws of large numbers and central limit theorem,
Gaussian and Poisson approximation, conditional expectation and
conditional distributions, filtrations, and discrete-time martingales. In-
structor: Tropp.

CMS/CS/IDS 139. Analysis and Design of Algorithms. 12 units (3-

0-9); second term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 3, Ma/CS 6a, CS 21, CS
38/138, and ACM/EE/IDS 116 or CMS/ACM/IDS 113 or equivalent. This
course develops core principles for the analysis and design of algo-
rithms. Basic material includes mathematical techniques for analyzing

Courses
performance in terms of resources, such as time, space, and random-
ness. The course introduces the major paradigms for algorithm design,
including greedy methods, divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming,
linear and semidefinite programming, randomized algorithms, and on-
line learning. Instructor: Mahadev.

CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144. Networks: Structure & Economics. 12 units

(3-4-5); second term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 3, Ma/CS 6 a, and CS
38, or instructor permission. Social networks, the web, and the internet
are essential parts of our lives, and we depend on them every day. This
course studies how they work and the “big” ideas behind our networked
lives. Questions explored include: What do networks actually look like
(and why do they all look the same)?; How do search engines work?;
Why do memes spread the way they do?; How does web advertis-
ing work? For all these questions and more, the course will provide a
mixture of both mathematical analysis and hands-on labs. The course
expects students to be comfortable with graph theory, probability, and
basic programming. Instructor: Wierman.

CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Machine Learning & Data Mining. 12

units (3-3-6); second term. Prerequisites: CS/CNS/EE 156 a. Having a
sufficient background in algorithms, linear algebra, calculus, probability,
and statistics, is highly recommended. This course will cover popular
methods in machine learning and data mining, with an emphasis on
developing a working understanding of how to apply these methods
in practice. The course will focus on basic foundational concepts
underpinning and motivating modern machine learning and data min-
ing approaches. We will also discuss recent research developments.
Instructor: Pachter.

CMS/CS/EE 166. Computational Cameras. 12 units (3-3-6); third

term. Prerequisites: ACM 104 or ACM 107 or equivalent. Computational
cameras overcome the limitations of traditional cameras, by moving
part of the image formation process from hardware to software. In
this course, we will study this emerging multi-disciplinary field at the
intersection of signal processing, applied optics, computer graph-
ics, and vision. At the start of the course, we will study modern image
processing and image editing pipelines, including those encountered
on DSLR cameras and mobile phones. Then we will study the physi- 543
cal and computational aspects of tasks such as coded photography,
light-field imaging, astronomical imaging, medical imaging, and time-
of-flight cameras. The course has a strong hands-on component, in the
form of homework assignments and a final project. In the homework
assignments, students will have the opportunity to implement many of
the techniques covered in the class. Example homework assignments
include building an end-to-end HDR imaging pipeline, implementing
Poisson image editing, refocusing a light-field image, and making your
own lensless “scotch-tape” camera. Instructor: Bouman.

CMS 270. Advanced Topics in Computing and Mathematical Sci-

ences. Units by arrangement; second term. Advanced topics that will

Computing and Mathematical Sciences

 vary according to student and instructor interest. May be repeated for
credit. Instructor: Staff.

CMS 290 abc. Computing and Mathematical Sciences Colloquium.

1 unit; first, second, third terms. Registration is limited to graduate
students in the CMS department only. This course is a research seminar
course covering topics at the intersection of mathematics, computa-
tion, and their applications. Students are asked to attend one seminar
per week (from any seminar series on campus) on topics related to
computing and mathematical sciences. This course is a requirement for
first-year PhD students in the CMS department. Instructor: Hou.

CMS 300. Research in Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

Hours and units by arrangement. Research in the field of computing
and mathematical science. By arrangement with members of the staff,
properly qualified graduate students are directed in research. Instruc-
tors: Staff.

CONTROL AND DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS

CDS 90 abc. Senior Thesis in Control and Dynamical Systems. 9
units (0-0-9); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: CDS 110 or CDS
112 (may be taken concurrently). Research in control and dynamical
systems, supervised by a Caltech faculty member. The topic selection is
determined by the adviser and the student and is subject to approval by
the CDS faculty. First and second terms: midterm progress report and
oral presentation during finals week. Third term: completion of thesis
and final presentation. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Staff.

CDS 110. Introduction to Feedback Control Systems. 9 units (3-3-3);

third term. Prerequisites: Ma 1abc and Ma 2/102 or equivalents. An
introduction to analysis and design of feedback control systems, includ-
ing classical control theory in the time and frequency domain. Input/
output modeling of dynamical systems using differential equations and
transfer functions. Stability and performance of interconnected systems,
including use of block diagrams, Bode plots, the Nyquist criterion, and
544 Lyapunov functions. Design of feedback controllers in state space and
frequency domain based on stability, performance and robustness
specifications. Not offered 2020-21.

CDS 112. Optimal Control and Estimation. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: CDS 110 (or equivalent) and CDS 131. Optimiza-
tion-based design of control systems, including optimal control and
receding horizon control. Introductory random processes and optimal
estimation. Kalman filtering and nonlinear filtering methods for autono-
mous systems. Not offered 2020-21.

CDS 131. Linear Systems Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequi-
sites: Ma 1b, Ma 2, ACM/IDS 104 or equivalent (may be taken concur-

Courses
rently). Basic system concepts; state-space and I/O representation.
Properties of linear systems, including stability, performance, robust-
ness. Reachability, observability, minimality, state and output-feedback.
Instructor: Murray.

CDS 141. Network Control Systems. 9 units (3-2-4); third term. Variety
of case studies and projects from control, communication and comput-
ing in complex tech, bio, neuro, eco, and socioeconomic networks,
particularly smartgrid, internet, sensorimotor control, cell biology, medi-
cal physiology, and human and animal social organization. Emphasis on
leveraging universal laws and architectures but adding domain specific
details. Can be taken after CDS 231 (to see applications of the theory)
or before (to motivate the theory). Instructor: Doyle.

CDS 190. Independent Work in Control and Dynamical Systems.

Units to be arranged; first, second, third terms; maximum two terms.
Prerequisite: CDS 110. Research project in control and dynamical sys-
tems, supervised by a CDS faculty member.

CDS 231. Robust Control Theory. 9 units (3-2-4); second term.

Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107, CMS/ACM/IDS 113, and CDS 131
(or equivalents). Linear input/output models (multi-state difference and
differential equations). Stability, input/output norms. Uncertainty, includ-
ing noise, disturbances, parametric uncertainty, unmodeled dynam-
ics, and structured uncertainty (LTI/LTV). Tradeoffs, robustness versus
efficiency, conservation laws and hard limits in time and frequency
domain. Synthesis of robust control systems. Co-design of sparse and
limited (delayed, quantized, saturating, noisy) sensing, communica-
tions, computing, and actuation. Layering, localization, and distributed
control. Interplay between automation, optimization, control, modeling
and system identification, and machine learning. Computational scal-
ability exploiting sparsity and structure, nonlinear dynamics and sum
of squares, global stability, regions of attraction. Motivation throughout
from case studies from tech, neuro, bio, and socioeconomic networks,
explored in more detail in CDS 141. Instructor: Doyle

CDS 232. Nonlinear Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: CMS/ACM/ IDS107 and CDS 231. This course studies nonlinear
dynamical systems beginning from first principles. Topics include: 545
existence and uniqueness properties of solutions to nonlinear ODEs,
stability of nonlinear systems from the perspective of Lyapunov, and
behavior unique to nonlinear systems; for example: stability of periodic
orbits, Poincaré maps and stability/invariance of sets. The dynamics of
robotic systems will be used as a motivating example. Instructor: Ames.

CDS 233. Nonlinear Control. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:

CDS 231 and CDS 232. This course studies nonlinear control systems
from Lyapunov perspective. Beginning with feedback linearization and
the stabilization of feedback linearizable system, these concepts are
related to control Lyapunov functions, and corresponding stabilization
results in the context of optimization based controllers. Advanced top-

Control and Dynamical Systems

 ics that build upon these core results will be discussed including: stabil-
ity of periodic orbits, controller synthesis through virtual constraints,
safety-critical controllers, and the role of physical constraints and actua-
tor limits. The control of robotic systems will be used as a motivating
example. Instructor: Ames.

CDS 242. Hybrid Systems: Dynamics and Control. 9 units (3-2-4);

third term. Prerequisites: CDS 231 and CDS 232. This class studies
hybrid dynamical systems: systems that display both discrete and con-
tinuous dynamics. This includes topics on dynamic properties unique
to hybrid system: stability types, hybrid periodic orbits, Zeno equilibria
and behavior. Additionally, the nonlinear control of these systems will be
considered in the context of feedback linearization and control Lyapu-
nov functions. Applications to mechanical systems undergoing impacts
will be considered, with a special emphasis on bipedal robotic walking.
Not offered 2020–21.

CDS 243. Adaptive Control. 4 units (2-0-2); third term. Prerequisites:

CDS 231 AND CDS 232. Specification and design of control systems
that operate in the presence of uncertainties and unforeseen events.
Robust and optimal linear control methods, including LQR, LQG and
LTR control. Design and analysis of model reference adaptive control
(MRAC) for nonlinear uncertain dynamical systems with extensions to
output feedback. Offered in alternate years. Not offered 2020-21.

CDS 244. System Identification. 4 units (2-0-2); third term. Prerequi-

sites: CDS 231 and CDS 232. Mathematical treatment of system iden-
tification methods for dynamical systems, with applications. Nonlinear
dynamics and models for parameter identification. Gradient and least-
squares estimators and variants. System identification with adaptive
predictors and state observers. Parameter estimation in the presence of
non-parametric uncertainties. Introduction to adaptive control. Offered
in alternate years. Instructor: Staff.

Ae/CDS/ME 251 ab. Closed Loop Flow Control. 9 units; (3-0-6 a, 1-3-
5 b). For course description, see Aerospace.

CDS 270. Advanced Topics in Systems and Control. Hours and units
546 by arrangement. Topics dependent on class interests and instructor.
May be repeated for credit.

CDS 300 abc. Research in Control and Dynamical Systems. Hours

and units by arrangement. Research in the field of control and dynami-
cal systems. By arrangement with members of the staff, properly quali-
fied graduate students are directed in research. Instructor: Faculty.

Courses
ECONOMICS
Ec 11. Introduction to Economics. 9 units (3-2-4); first, second terms.
An introduction to economic methodology, models, and institutions.
Includes both basic microeconomics and an introduction to modern ap-
proaches to macroeconomic issues. Students are required to participate
in economics experiments. Instructors: Plott, Rangel.

BEM/Ec/PS 80. Frontiers in Social Sciences. 1 unit (1-0-0). For

course description, see Business, Economics and Management.

Ec 97. Undergraduate Research. Units to be arranged; any term.

Prerequisites: Advanced economics and instructor’s permission. This
course offers advanced undergraduates the opportunity to pursue re-
search in Economics individually or in a small group. Graded pass/fail.

Ec 98 abc. Senior Research and Thesis. Prerequisite: instructor’s per-

mission. Senior economics majors wishing to undertake research may
elect a variable number of units, not to exceed 12 in any one term, for
such work under the direction of a member of the economics faculty.

Ec 101. Selected Topics in Economics. Units to be determined by

arrangement with the instructor; offered by announcement. Topics to be
determined by instructor. Instructors: Staff, visiting lecturers.

Ec 105. Firms, Competition, and Industrial Organization. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Prerequisite: Ec 11 or equivalent. A study of how technol-
ogy affects issues of market structure and how market structure affects
observable economic outcomes, such as prices, profits, advertising,
and research and development expenditures. Emphasis will be on how
the analytic tools developed in the course can be used to examine
particular industries—especially those related to internet commerce—in
detail. Each student is expected to write one substantial paper. Instruc-
tor: Shum.

Ec 109. Frontiers in Behavioral Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisite: Ec 11. This course will study topics in behavioral
economics demonstrating departures from the classic economics as- 547
sumptions of rationality and pure self-interest. We will study evidence
of these departures, models that have been designed to capture these
preferences, and applications of these models to important economic
questions. Topics will include biases and heuristics, risk preferences,
self-control, strategic uncertainty, and social preferences, among oth-
ers. The course will be based in readings from both classic and modern
research. Methodologically, the course will combine both theoretical
and empirical evidence of the mentioned above topics. Instructor:
Nielsen.

Ec/ACM/CS 112. Bayesian Statistics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ma 3, ACM/EE/IDS 116 or equivalent. This course pro-

Economics
 vides an introduction to Bayesian Statistics and its applications to data
analysis in various fields. Topics include: discrete models, regression
models, hierarchical models, model comparison, and MCMC methods.
The course combines an introduction to basic theory with a hands-on
emphasis on learning how to use these methods in practice so that
students can apply them in their own work. Previous familiarity with
frequentist statistics is useful but not required. Instructor: Rangel.

Ec 117. Matching Markets. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. We will tackle

the fundamental question of how to allocate resources and organize
exchange in the absence of prices. Examples includes finding a partner,
allocating students to schools, and matching donors to patients in the
context of organ transplantations. While the main focus will be on for-
mal models, we will also reason about the practical implications of the
theory. Instructor: Pomatto.

BEM/Ec/ESE 119. Environmental Economics. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Business, Economics, and Management.

Ec 121 ab. Theory of Value. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Prereq-
uisites: Ec 11 and Ma 1b (may be taken concurrently). A study of con-
sumer preference, the structure and conduct of markets, factor pricing,
measures of economic efficiency, and the interdependence of markets
in reaching a general equilibrium. Instructors: Border, Saito.

Ec 122. Econometrics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite: Ma 3.

The application of statistical techniques to the analysis of economic
data. Instructor: Sherman.

Ec 123. Analysis of Consumer Choices. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisite: Ec 122 or permission of the instructor. This course uses
econometric tools to analyze choices made by people among a finite
set of alternatives. Discrete choice models have been used to under-
stand consumer behavior in many domains - shopping between brands
(Toyota vs. BMW), where to go to college (Caltech or MIT), choosing
between modes of transportation (car, metro, Uber, or bicycle), etc.
Models studied include logit, nested logit, probit, and mixed logit, etc.
Simulation techniques that allow estimation of otherwise intractable
548 models will also be discussed. Instructor: Xin.

Ec/PS 124. Identification Problems in the Social Sciences. 9 units

(3- 0-6); second term. Prerequisite: Ec 122. Statistical inference in the
social sciences is a difficult enterprise whereby we combine data and
assumptions to draw conclusions about the world we live in. We then
make decisions, for better or for worse, based on these conclusions.
A simultaneously intoxicating and sobering thought! Strong assump-
tions about the data generating process can lead to strong but often
less than credible (perhaps incredible?) conclusions about our world.
Weaker assumptions can lead to weaker but more credible conclusions.
This course explores the range of inferences that are possible when we
entertain a range of assumptions about how data is generated. We ex-

Courses
plore these ideas in the context of a number of applications of interest
to social scientists. Not offered 2020-21.

IDS/Ec/PS 126. Applied Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-
requisites: Math 3/103 or ACM/EE/IDS 116, Ec 122 or IDS/ACM/CS 157
or Ma 112a. For course description, see Information and Data Sciences.

Ec 129. Economic History of the United States. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. Prerequisite: Ec 11. An examination of certain analytical and
quantitative tools and their application to American economic develop-
ment. Each student is expected to write two substantial papers—drafts
will be read by instructor and revised by students. Not offered 2020-21.

Ec 130. Economic History of Europe from the Middle Ages to the

Twentieth Century. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite: Ec 11.
Employs the theoretical and quantitative techniques of economics to
help explore and explain the development of the European cultural
area between 1000 and 1980. Topics include the rise of commerce, the
demographic transition, the Industrial Revolution, and changes in in-
equality, international trade, social spending, property rights, and capital
markets. Each student is expected to write nine weekly essays and a
term paper. Not offered 2020-21.

Ec 135. Economics of Uncertainty and Information. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Prerequisite: Ec 11. An analysis of the effects of uncertainty
and information on economic decisions. Included among the topics are
individual and group decision making under uncertainty, expected utility
maximization, insurance, financial markets and speculation, product
quality and advertisement, and the value of information. Instructor:
Agranov.

Ec 136. Behavioral Decision Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: Ma 3. Ec 121 is recommended as background, but is not
a prerequisite. This course is an intermediate-level class on individual-
level theory. The method used posits precise assumptions about
general behavior (axioms) then finds equivalent ways to model them in
mathematically convenient terms. We will cover both the traditional “ra-
tional’’ approach, and more recent “behavioral’’ models that incorporate
psychological principles, in domains of intertemporal choice, random 549
(stochastic) choice, menu choice, and revealed preferences. Students
are expected to understand rigorous mathematical proofs. The class
also includes serious discussion of the value of experimental evidence
motivating new theories. Instructor: Sprenger.

Ec 140. Economic Progress. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: Ec 11; Ec 122 recommended. This course examines the con-
temporary literature on economic growth and development from both
a theoretical and historical/empirical perspective. Topics include a
historical overview of economic progress and the lack thereof; simple
capital accumulation models; equilibrium/ planning models of accumu-
lation; endogenous growth models; empirical tests of convergence; the

Economics
 measurement and role of technological advancement; and the role of
trade, institutions, property rights, human capital, and culture. Instruc-
tor: Hoffman.

CS/Ec 149. Algorithmic Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For

course description, see Computer Science.

Ec/PS 160 abc. Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences. 9

units (3-3-3); first, second, third terms. Section a required for sections b
and c. An examination of recent work in laboratory testing in the social
sciences with particular reference to work done in social psychology,
economics, and political science. Students are required to design and
conduct experiments. Instructor: Plott.

PS/Ec 172. Game Theory. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Political Science.

Ec 181 ab. Convex Analysis and Economic Theory. 9 units (3-0-6);

first, second terms. Prerequisites: Ma 1. Ec 121a is recommended.
Introduction to the use of convex analysis in economic theory. In-
cludes separating hyperplane theorems, continuity and differentiabil-
ity properties of convex and concave functions, support functions,
subdifferentials, Fenchel conjugates, saddlepoint theorem, theorems of
the alternative, polyhedra, linear programming, and duality in graphs.
Introduction to discrete convex analysis and matroids. Emphasis is
on the finite-dimensional case, but infinite-dimensional spaces will be
discussed. Applications to core convergence, cost and production
functions, mathematical finance, decision theory, incentive design, and
game theory. Instructor: Border.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
EE 1. The Science of Data, Signals, and Information. 9 units (3-0-6);
third term. Electrical Engineering has given rise to many key develop-
ments at the interface between the physical world and the information
world. Fundamental ideas in data acquisition, sampling, signal repre-
550 sentation, and quantification of information have their origin in electrical
engineering.This course introduces these ideas and discusses signal
representations, the interplay between time and frequency domains,
difference equations and filtering, noise and denoising, data transmis-
sion over channels with limited capacity, signal quantization, feedback
and neural networks, and how humans interpret data and information.
Applications in various areas of science and engineering are covered.
Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Instruc-
tor: Vaidyanathan.

EE 2. Electrical Engineering Entrepreneurial and Research Seminar.

1 unit; second term. Required for EE undergraduates. Weekly seminar
given by successful entrepreneurs and EE faculty, broadly describ-

Courses
ing their path to success and introducing different areas of research
in electrical engineering: circuits and VLSI, communications, control,
devices, images and vision, information theory, learning and pattern
recognition, MEMS and micromachining, networks, electromagnetics
and opto-electronics, RF and microwave circuits and antennas, robotics
and signal processing, specifically, research going on at Caltech and in
the industry. Instructor: Emami.

FS/EE 5. Introduction to Waves. (1-5-0); first term. For course descrip-

tion, see Freshman Seminars.

EE/ME 7. Introduction to Mechatronics. 6 units (2-3-1); first term.

Mechatronics is the multi-disciplinary design of electro-mechanical
systems. This course is intended to give the student a basic introduc-
tion to such systems. The course will focus on the implementations of
sensor and actuator systems, the mechanical devices involved and the
electrical circuits needed to interface with them. The class will consist of
lectures and short labs where the student will be able to investigate the
concepts discussed in lecture. Topics covered include motors, piezo-
electric devices, light sensors, ultrasonic transducers, and navigational
sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: George. Not Offered 2020-21.

APh/EE 9 ab. Solid-State Electronics for Integrated Circuits. 6 units

(2-2-2). For course description, see Applied Physics.

EE/CS 10 ab. Introduction to Digital Logic and Embedded Systems.

6 units (2-3-1); second, third terms. This course is intended to give the
student a basic understanding of the major hardware and software prin-
ciples involved in the specification and design of embedded systems.
The course will cover basic digital logic, programmable logic devices,
CPU and embedded system architecture, and embedded systems pro-
gramming principles (interfacing to hardware, events, user interfaces,
and multi-tasking). Instructor: George.

EE 13. Electronic System Prototyping. 3 units (0-3-0); first term. This

course is intended to introduce the student to the technologies and
techniques used to fabricate electronic systems. The course will cover
the skills needed to use standard CAD tools for circuit prototyping. This 551
includes schematic capture and printed circuit board design. Additional-
ly, soldering techniques will be covered for circuit fabrication as well as
some basic debugging skills. Each student will construct a system from
schematic to PCB to soldering the final prototype. Not Offered 2020-21.
Instructor: George.

APh/EE 23. Demonstration Lectures in Classical and Quantum Pho-

tonics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Applied Physics.

APh/EE 24. Introductory Optics and Photonics Laboratory. 9 units

(1-3-5). For course description, see Applied Physics.

Electrical Engineering
 EE 40. Physics of Electrical Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. This course provides an introduction to the fundamental physics
of modern device technologies in electrical engineering used for sens-
ing, communications, computing, imaging, and displays. The course
overviews topics including semiconductor physics, quantum mechan-
ics, electromagnetics, and optics with emphasis on physical operation
principles of devices. Example technologies include integrated circuits,
optical and wireless communications, micromechanical systems, lasers,
high-resolution displays, LED lighting, and imaging. Instructor: Marandi.

EE 44. Deterministic Analysis of Systems and Circuits. 12 units

(4-0-8); first term. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, can be taken concurrently
with Ma 2 and Ph 2 a. Modeling of physical systems by conversion to
mathematical abstractions with an emphasis on electrical systems.
Introduction to deterministic methods of system analysis, including
matrix representations, time-domain analysis using impulse and step
responses, signal superposition and convolution, Heaviside operator
solutions to systems of linear differential equations, transfer functions,
Laplace and Fourier transforms. The course emphasizes examples
from the electrical circuits (e.g., energy and data converters, wired and
wireless communication channels, instrumentation, and sensing) , while
providing some exposure to other selected applications of the determin-
istic analysis tool (e.g., public opinion, acoustic cancellation, financial
markets, traffic, drug delivery, mechanical systems, news cycles, and
heat exchange). Instructor: Hajimiri.

EE 45. Electronics Systems and Laboratory. 12 units (3-3-6); sec-

ond term. Prerequisites: EE 44. Fundamentals of electronic circuits
and systems. Lectures on diodes, transistors, small-signal analysis,
frequency- domain analysis, application of Laplace transform, gain
stages, differential signaling, operational amplifiers, introduction to radio
and analog communication systems. Laboratory sessions on transient
response, steady-state sinusoidal response and phasors, diodes, tran-
sistors, amplifiers. Instructor: Emami.

EE 55. Mathematics of Electrical Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: Ma 1abc. Linear algebra and probability are funda-
mental to many areas of study in electrical engineering. This class pro-
552 vides the mathematical foundations of these topics with a view to their
utility to electrical engineers. Topics include vector spaces, matrices
and linear transformations, the singular value decomposition, elementa-
ry probability and random variables, common distributions that arise in
electrical engineering, and data-fitting. Connections to signal process-
ing, systems, communications, optimization, and machine learning are
highlighted. Instructor: Chandrasekaran.

CS/EE/ME 75 abc. Multidisciplinary Systems Engineering. 3 units

(2-0-1), 6 units (2-0-4), or 9 units (2-0-7) first term; 6 units (2-3-1), 9 units
(2-6-1), or 12 units (2-9-1) second and third terms; For course descrip-
tion, see Computer Science.

Courses
EE 80 abc. Senior Thesis. 9 units; first, second, third terms. Prereq-
uisite: instructor’s permission, which should be obtained during the
junior year to allow sufficient time for planning the research. Individual
research project, carried out under the supervision of a member of the
electrical engineering or computer science faculty. Project must include
significant design effort. Written report required. Open only to senior
electrical engineering, computer science, or electrical and computer
engineering majors. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Staff.

EE 90. Analog Electronics Project Laboratory. 9 units (1-8-0); third

term. Prerequisites: EE 40 and EE 45. A structured laboratory course
that gives the student the opportunity to design and build a simple ana-
log electronics project. The goal is to gain familiarity with circuit design
and construction, component selection, CAD support, and debugging
techniques. Instructor: Ohanian.

EE 91 ab. Experimental Projects in Electronic Circuits. 9 units (1-8-

0); first, second terms. Prerequisites: EE 45. Recommended: EE/CS 10
ab, and EE/MedE 114 ab (may be taken concurrently). Open to seniors;
others only with instructor’s permission. An opportunity to do advanced
original projects in analog or digital electronics and electronic circuits.
Selection of significant projects, the engineering approach, modern
electronic techniques, demonstration and review of a finished product.
DSP/microprocessor development support and analog/digital CAD
facilities available. Instructor: Ohanian.

EE 99. Advanced Work in Electrical Engineering. Units to be ar-

ranged. Special problems relating to electrical engineering will be
arranged. For undergraduates; students should consult with their advis-
ers. Graded pass/fail.

EE 105 abc. Electrical Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; first, second, third

terms. All candidates for the M.S. degree in electrical engineering are
required to attend any graduate seminar in any division each week of
each term. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Emami.

ACM/EE 106 ab. Introductory Methods of Computational Math-

ematics. 12 units (3-0-9); For course description, see Applied and
Computational Mathematics. 553

APh/EE 109. Introduction to the Micro/Nanofabrication Lab. 9 units

(0-6-3). For course description, see Applied Physics.

EE 110 abc. Embedded Systems Design Laboratory. 9 units (3-4-2);

first, second, third terms. The student will design, build, and program
a specified microprocessor-based embedded system. This structured
laboratory is organized to familiarize the student with large-scale digital
and embedded system design, electronic circuit construction tech-
niques, modern development facilities, and embedded systems pro-
gramming. The lectures cover topics in embedded system design such
as display technologies, interfacing to analog signals, communication

Electrical Engineering
 protocols, PCB design, and programming in high-level and assembly
languages. Given in alternate years; 110 c Offered 2020–21; 110 ab Not
offered 2020-21. Instructor: George.

EE 111. Signal-Processing Systems and Transforms. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Prerequisites: Ma 1. An introduction to continuous and
discrete time signals and systems with emphasis on digital signal
processing systems. Study of the Fourier transform, Fourier series,
z-transforms, and the fast Fourier transform as applied in electri-
cal engineering. Sampling theorems for continuous to discrete-time
conversion. Difference equations for digital signal processing systems,
digital system realizations with block diagrams, analysis of transient and
steady state responses, and connections to other areas in science and
engineering. Instructor: Vaidyanathan.

EE 112. Introduction to Signal Processing from Data. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Prerequisites: EE 111 or equivalent. Math 3 recommend-
ed. Fundamentals of digital signal processing, extracting information
from data by linear filtering, recursive and non-recursive filters, struc-
tural and flow graph representations for filters, data-adaptive filtering,
multrirate sampling, efficient data representations with filter banks,
Nyquist and sub-Nyquist sampling, sensor array signal processing,
estimating direction of arrival (DOA) information from noisy data, and
spectrum estimation. Not Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Vaidyanathan.

EE 113. Feedback and Control Circuits. 9 units (3-3-3); third term.

Prerequisites: EE 45 or equivalent. This class studies the design and
implementation of feedback and control circuits. The course begins
with an introduction to basic feedback circuits, using both op amps and
transistors. These circuits are used to study feedback principles, includ-
ing circuit topologies, stability, and compensation. Following this, basic
control techniques and circuits are studied, including PID (Proportional-
Integrated-Derivative) control, digital control, and fuzzy control. There is
a significant laboratory component to this course, in which the student
will be expected to design, build, analyze, test, and measure the circuits
and systems discussed in the lectures. Instructor: George.

EE/MedE 114 ab. Analog Circuit Design. 12 units (4-0-8); second,

554 third terms. Prerequisites: EE 44 or equivalent. Analysis and design
of analog circuits at the transistor level. Emphasis on design-oriented
analysis, quantitative performance measures, and practical circuit
limitations. Circuit performance evaluated by hand calculations and
computer simulations. Recommended for juniors, seniors, and graduate
students. Topics include: review of physics of bipolar and MOS transis-
tors, low-frequency behavior of single-stage and multistage amplifiers,
current sources, active loads, differential amplifiers, operational ampli-
fiers, high-frequency circuit analysis using time- and transfer constants,
high-frequency response of amplifiers, feedback in electronic circuits,
stability of feedback amplifiers, and noise in electronic circuits, and
supply and temperature independent biasing. A number of the following
topics will be covered each year: trans-linear circuits, switched capaci-

Courses
tor circuits, data conversion circuits (A/D and D/A), continuous-time
Gm.C filters, phase locked loops, oscillators, and modulators. Offered
2020–21. Instructor: Hajimiri.

EE/MedE 115. Micro-/Nano-scales Electro-Optics. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Prerequisites: Introductory electromagnetic class and consent
of the instructor. The course will cover various electro-optical phenome-
na and devices in the micro-/nano-scales. We will discuss basic proper-
ties of light, imaging, aberrations, eyes, detectors, lasers, micro-optical
components and systems, scalar diffraction theory, interference/inter-
ferometers, holography, dielectric/plasmonic waveguides, and various
Raman techniques. Topics may vary. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM/EE/IDS 116. Introduction to Probability Models. 9 units (3-1-5).

For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathematics.

ME/EE/EST 117. Energy Technology and Policy. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 abc. Physics of Measurement. 9 units (3-0-6);

first, second, third terms. For course description, see Physics.

EE/CS 119 abc. Advanced Digital Systems Design. 9 units (3-3-3);

first, second term; 9 units (1-8-0) third term. Prerequisites: EE/CS 10 a
or CS 24. Advanced digital design as it applies to the design of systems
using PLDs and ASICs (in particular, gate arrays and standard cells).
The course covers both design and implementation details of various
systems and logic device technologies. The emphasis is on the practi-
cal aspects of ASIC design, such as timing, testing, and fault grading.
Topics include synchronous design, state machine design, ALU and
CPU design, application-specific parallel computer design, design for
testability, PALs, FPGAs, VHDL, standard cells, timing analysis, fault
vectors, and fault grading. Students are expected to design and imple-
ment both systems discussed in the class as well as self-proposed
systems using a variety of technologies and tools. Given in alternate
years; Offered 2020-21. Instructor: George.

EE/APh 120. Physical Optics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prereq-

uisites: Intermediate-level familiarity with Fourier transforms and linear 555
systems analysis. Basic familiarity with Maxwell’s electromagnetic
theory (EE40 and EE44, or equivalent). Course focuses on applying
linear systems analysis on propagation of light waves. Contents begin
with a review of Electromagnetic theory of diffraction and transitions to
Fourier Optics for a scalar-wave treatment of propagation, diffraction,
and image formation with coherent and incoherent light. In addition
to problems in imaging, the course makes connections to a selected
number of topics in optics where the mathematics of wave phenomena
plays a central role. Examples include propagation of light in multilayer
films and meta surfaces, Gaussian beams, Fabry-Pérot cavities, and an-
gular momentum of light. Areas of application include modern imaging,
display, and beam shaping technologies. Instructor: Mirhosseini.

Electrical Engineering
 EE 121. Computational Signal Processing. (3-0-9); first. Prerequisites:
EE 111, ACM/EE/IDS 116, ACM/IDS 104. The role of computation in
the acquisition, representation, and processing of signals. The course
develops methodology based on linear algebra and optimization,
with an emphasis on the interplay between structure, algorithms, and
accuracy in the design and analysis of the methods. Specific topics
covered include deterministic and stochastic signal models, statisti-
cal signal processing, inverse problems, and regularization. Problems
arising in contemporary applications in the sciences and engineering
are discussed, although the focus is on the common abstractions and
methodological frameworks that are employed in the solution of these
problems. Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Chandrasekaran.

EE/APh 123. Advanced Lasers and Photonics Laboratory. 9 units

(1-3-5); first term. Prerequisites: none. This course focuses on hands-
on experience with advanced techniques related to lasers, optics,
and photonics. Students have the opportunity to build and run several
experiments and analyze data. Covered topics include laser-based
microscopy, spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, ultrafast
optics, adaptive optics, and integrated photonics. Limited enrollment.
Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Marandi.

EE/MedE 124. Mixed-mode Integrated Circuits. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: EE 45 a or equivalent. Introduction to selected
topics in mixed-signal circuits and systems in highly scaled CMOS
technologies. Design challenges and limitations in current and future
technologies will be discussed through topics such as clocking (PLLs
and DLLs), clock distribution networks, sampling circuits, high-speed
transceivers, timing recovery techniques, equalization, monitor circuits,
power delivery, and converters (A/D and D/A). A design project is an
integral part of the course. Instructor: Emami

EE/CS/MedE 125. Digital Electronics and Design with FPGAs and

VHDL. 9 units (3-6-0); third term. Prerequisite: basic knowledge of
digital electronics. Study of programmable logic devices (CPLDs and
FPGAs). Detailed study of the VHDL language, with basic and ad-
vanced applications. Review and discussion of digital design principles
for combinational-logic, combinational-arithmetic, sequential, and
556 state-machine circuits. Detailed tutorials for synthesis and simulation
tools using FPGAs and VHDL. Wide selection of complete, real-world
fundamental advanced projects, including theory, design, simulation,
and physical implementation. All designs are implemented using state-
of-the-art development boards. Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Pedroni.

EE/Ma/CS 126 ab. Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 3. Shannon’s mathematical theory of commu-
nication, 1948-present. Entropy, relative entropy, and mutual information
for discrete and continuous random variables. Shannon’s source and
channel coding theorems. Mathematical models for information sources
and communication channels, including memoryless, Markov, ergodic,
and Gaussian. Calculation of capacity and rate-distortion functions.

Courses
Universal source codes. Side information in source coding and com-
munications. Network information theory, including multiuser data com-
pression, multiple access channels, broadcast channels, and multiter-
minal networks. Discussion of philosophical and practical implications
of the theory. This course, when combined with EE 112, EE/Ma/CS/IDS
127, EE/CS 161, and EE/CS/IDS 167, should prepare the student for
research in information theory, coding theory, wireless communications,
and/or data compression. Instructor: Effros.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127. Error-Correcting Codes. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: Ma 2. This course develops from first principles the
theory and practical implementation of the most important techniques
for combating errors in digital transmission or storage systems. Topics
include algebraic block codes, e.g., Hamming, BCH, Reed-Solomon
(including a self-contained introduction to the theory of finite fields); and
the modern theory of sparse graph codes with iterative decoding, e.g.
LDPC codes, turbo codes. The students will become acquainted with
encoding and decoding algorithms, design principles and performance
evaluation of codes. Not Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Kostina.

EE 128 ab. Selected Topics in Digital Signal Processing. 9 units

(3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: EE 111 and EE/CS/IDS 160
or equivalent required, and EE 112 or equivalent recommended. The
course focuses on several important topics that are basic to modern
signal processing. Topics include multirate signal processing material
such as decimation, interpolation, filter banks, polyphase filtering, ad-
vanced filtering structures and nonuniform sampling, optimal statistical
signal processing material such as linear prediction and antenna array
processing, and signal processing for communication including optimal
transceivers. Not offered 2020-21.

ME/CS/EE 129. Experimental Robotics. 9 units (3-6-0). For course

description, see Mechanical Engineering.

APh/EE 130. Electromagnetic Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For

course description, see Applied Physics.

EE/APh 131. Light Interaction with Atomic Systems—Lasers. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: APh/EE 130. Light-matter interac- 557
tion, spontaneous and induced transitions in atoms and semiconduc-
tors. Absorption, amplification, and dispersion of light in atomic media.
Principles of laser oscillation, generic types of lasers including semi-
conductor lasers, mode-locked lasers. Frequency combs in lasers. The
spectral properties and coherence of laser light. Not offered 2020-21.
Instructor: Yariv.

APh/EE 132. Special Topics in Photonics and Optoelectronics. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. For course description, see Applied Physics.

ME/CS/EE 133 abc. Robotics. 9 units (3-3-3). For course description,

see Mechanical Engineering.

Electrical Engineering
 ME/CS/EE 134. Robotic Systems. 9 units (3-6-0). For course descrip-
tion, see Mechanical Engineering.

EE/CS/EST 135. Power System Analysis. 9 units (3-3-3); first term.

Prerequisites: EE 44, Ma 2, or equivalent. Basic power system analy-
sis: phasor representation, 3-phase transmission system, transmission
line models, transformer models, per-unit analysis, network matrix,
power flow equations, power flow algorithms, optimal powerflow (OPF)
problems, swing dynamics and stability. Current research topics such
as (may vary each year): convex relaxation of OPF, frequency regulation,
energy functions and contraction regions, volt/var control, storage opti-
mization, electric vehicles charging, demand response. Instructor: Low.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 136. Topics in Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Prerequisites: Ma 3 or ACM/EE/IDS 116 or CMS 117 or
Ma/ACM/IDS 140a. This class introduces information measures such as
entropy, information divergence, mutual information, information density
from a probabilistic point of view, and discusses the relations of those
quantities to problems in data compression and transmission, statistical
inference, language modeling, game theory and control. Topics include
information projection, data processing inequalities, sufficient statistics,
hypothesis testing, single-shot approach in information theory, large
deviations. Instructor: Kostina.

CS/EE/IDS 143. Communication Networks. 9 units (3-3-3). For course

description, see Computer Science.

CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144. Networks: Structure & Economics. 12 units

(3-4-5). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical Sci-
ences.

CS/EE 145. Projects in Networking. 9 units (0-0-9). For course de-

scription, see Computer Science.

CS/EE 146. Control and Optimization of Networks. 9 units (3-3-3).

For course description, see Computer Science.

EE/CS 147. Digital Ventures Design. 9 units (3-3-3); first term. Pre-
558 requisites: none. This course aims to offer the scientific foundations
of analysis, design, development, and launching of innovative digital
products and study elements of their success and failure. The course
provides students with an opportunity to experience combined team-
based design, engineering, and entrepreneurship. The lectures present
a disciplined step-by-step approach to develop new ventures based on
technological innovation in this space, and with invited speakers, cover
topics such as market analysis, user/product interaction and design,
core competency and competitive position, customer acquisition, busi-
ness model design, unit economics and viability, and product planning.
Throughout the term students will work within an interdisciplinary team
of their peers to conceive an innovative digital product concept and
produce a business plan and a working prototype. The course project

Courses
culminates in a public presentation and a final report. Every year the
course and projects focus on a particular emerging technology theme.
Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Staff.

EE/CNS/CS 148. Selected Topics in Computational Vision. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: undergraduate calculus, linear algebra,
geometry, statistics, computer programming. The class will focus on an
advanced topic in computational vision: recognition, vision-based navi-
gation, 3-D reconstruction. The class will include a tutorial introduction
to the topic, an exploration of relevant recent literature, and a project
involving the design, implementation, and testing of a vision system.
Instructor: Perona.

EE/APh 149. Frontiers of Nonlinear Photonics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. This course overviews recent advances in photonics with empha-
sis on devices and systems that utilize nonlinearities. A wide range of
nonlinearities in the classical and quantum regimes is covered, including
but not limited to second- and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities,
Kerr, Raman, optomechanical, thermal, and multi-photon nonlinearities.
A wide range of photonic platforms is also considered ranging from bulk
to ultrafast and integrated photonics. The course includes an overview
of the concepts as well as review and discussion of recent literature and
advances in the field. Not Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Marandi.

EE 150. Topics in Electrical Engineering. Units to be arranged; terms

to be arranged. Content will vary from year to year, at a level suitable for
advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. Topics will be
chosen according to the interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty
may present all or portions of this course from time to time. Instructor:
Staff.

EE 151. Electromagnetic Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Pre-

requisite: EE 45. Foundations of circuit theory—electric fields, magnetic
fields, transmission lines, and Maxwell’s equations, with engineering
applications. Instructor: Yang.

EE 152. High Frequency Systems Laboratory. 12 units (2-3-7); second

term. Prerequisites: EE 45 or equivalent. EE 153 recommended. The
student will develop a strong, working knowledge of high-frequency 559
systems covering RF and microwave frequencies. The essential building
blocks of these systems will be studied along with the fundamental
system concepts employed in their use. The first part of the course will
focus on the design and measurement of core system building blocks;
such as filters, amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators. Lectures will intro-
duce key concepts followed by weekly laboratory sessions where the
student will design and characterize these various system components.
During the second part of the course, the student will develop their own
high-frequency system, focused on a topic within remote sensing, com-
munications, radar, or one within their own field of research. Instructor:
Russell.

Electrical Engineering
 EE 153. Microwave Circuits and Antennas. 12 units (3-2-7); third term.
Prerequisite: EE 45. High-speed circuits for wireless communications,
radar, and broadcasting. Design, fabrication, and measurements of
microstrip filters, directional couplers, low-noise amplifiers, oscillators,
detectors, and mixers. Design, fabrication, and measurements of wire
antennas and arrays. Instructor: Antsos.

EE 154 ab. Practical Electronics for Space Applications. 9 units (2-

3-4); second and third terms. Part a: Subsystem Design: Students will
be exposed to design for subsystem electronics in the space environ-
ment, including an understanding of the space environment, common
approaches for low cost spacecraft, atmospheric / analogue testing,
and discussions of risk. Emphasis on a practical exposure to early
subsystem design for a TRL 3-4 effort. Part b: Subsystems to System
Interfacing: Builds upon the first term by extending subsystems to be
compatible with “spacecraft”, including a near-space “flight” of proto-
type subsystems on a high-altitude balloon flight. Focus on qualification
for the flight environment appropriate to a TRL 4-5 effort. Offered 2020-
21. Instructor: Klesh.

CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Machine Learning & Data Mining. 12

units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

CS/CNS/EE 156 ab. Learning Systems. 9 units (3-1-5). For course

description, see Computer Science.

EE/Ae 157 ab. Introduction to the Physics of Remote Sensing. 9

units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Prerequisite: Ph 2 or equivalent. An
overview of the physics behind space remote sensing instruments.
Topics include the interaction of electromagnetic waves with natural
surfaces, including scattering of microwaves, microwave and thermal
emission from atmospheres and surfaces, and spectral reflection from
natural surfaces and atmospheres in the near-infrared and visible re-
gions of the spectrum. The class also discusses the design of modern
space sensors and associated technology, including sensor design,
new observation techniques, ongoing developments, and data inter-
pretation. Examples of applications and instrumentation in geology,
560 planetology, oceanography, astronomy, and atmospheric research.
Instructor: van Zyl.

Ge/EE/ESE 157 c. Remote Sensing for Environmental and Geologi-

cal Applications. 9 units (3-3-3). For course description, see Geological
and Planetary Sciences.

EE/APh 158. Quantum Electrical Circuits. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: advanced-level familiarity with Maxwell’s electro-
magnetic theory and quantum mechanics (EE 151 and Ph 125 abc, or
equivalent). Course focuses on superconducting electrical systems for
quantum computing. Contents begin with reviewing required concepts
in microwave engineering, quantum optics, and superconductivity, and

Courses
proceeds with deriving quantum mechanical description of supercon-
ducting linear circuits, Josephson qubits, and parametric amplifiers.
The second part of the course provides an overview of integrated
nano-mechanical, piezo-electric and electro-optical systems and their
applications in transducing quantum electrical signals in conjunction
with superconducting qubits. Instructor: Mirhosseini.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159. Advanced Topics in Machine Learning. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Computer Science.

EE/CS/IDS 160. Fundamentals of Information Transmission and

Storage. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Basics of information theory: en-
tropy, mutual information, source and channel coding theorems. Basics
of coding theory: error-correcting codes for information transmission
and storage, block codes, algebraic codes, sparse graph codes. Basics
of digital communications: sampling, quantization, digital modulation,
matched filters, equalization. Instructor: Kostina.

EE/CS 161. Big Data Networks. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequi-
sites: Linear Algebra ACM/IDS 104 and Introduction to Probability Mod-
els ACM/EE/IDS 116 or their equivalents. Next generation networks will
have tens of billions of nodes forming cyber-physical systems and the
Internet of Things. A number of fundamental scientific and technological
challenges must be overcome to deliver on this vision. This course will
focus on (1) How to boost efficiency and reliability in large networks; the
role of network coding, distributed storage, and distributed caching; (2)
How to manage wireless access on a massive scale; modern random
access and topology formation techniques; and (3) New vistas in big
data networks, including distributed computing over networks and
crowdsourcing. A selected subset of these problems, their mathemati-
cal underpinnings, state-of-the-art solutions, and challenges ahead will
be covered. Given in alternate years. Not offered 2020-21. Instructor:
Hassibi.

EE 163. Communication Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prereq-

uisites: EE 111; ACM/EE/IDS 116 or equivalent. Mathematical models
of communication processes; signals and noise as random processes;
sampling; modulation; spectral occupancy; intersymbol interference;
synchronization; optimum demodulation and detection; signal-to-noise 561
ratio and error probability in digital baseband and carrier communica-
tion systems; linear and adaptive equalization; maximum likelihood
sequence estimation; multipath channels; parameter estimation; hy-
pothesis testing; optical communication systems. Capacity measures;
multiple antenna and multiple carrier communication systems; wireless
networks; different generations of wireless systems. Not Offered 2020-
21. Instructor: Staff.

EE 164. Stochastic and Adaptive Signal Processing. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. Prerequisite: ACM/EE/IDS 116 or equivalent. Fundamentals
of linear estimation theory are studied, with applications to stochas-
tic and adaptive signal processing. Topics include deterministic and

Electrical Engineering
 stochastic least-squares estimation, the innovations process, Wiener
filtering and spectral factorization, state-space structure and Kalman
filters, array and fast array algorithms, displacement structure and fast
algorithms, robust estimation theory and LMS and RLS adaptive fields.
Given in alternate years; Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Hassibi.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 165. Foundations of Machine Learning and Statisti-

cal Inference. 12 units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computer
Science.

CMS/CS/EE 166. Computational Cameras. 12 units (3-3-6); third

term. For course description, see Computation and Mathematical Sci-
ences.

EE/CS/IDS 167. Introduction to Data Compression and Storage.

9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ma 3 or ACM/EE/IDS 116.
The course will introduce the students to the basic principles and
techniques of codes for data compression and storage. The students
will master the basic algorithms used for lossless and lossy compres-
sion of digital and analog data and the major ideas behind coding for
flash memories. Topics include the Huffman code, the arithmetic code,
Lempel-Ziv dictionary techniques, scalar and vector quantizers, trans-
form coding; codes for constrained storage systems. Given in alternate
years; Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Kostina.

MedE/EE/BE 168 abc. Biomedical Optics: Principles and Imaging. 9

units (4-0-5). For course description, see Medical Engineering.

ACM/EE/IDS 170. Mathematics of Signal Processing. 12 units (3-0-

9). For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathemat-
ics.

EE/CS/MedE 175. Digital Circuits Analysis and Design with Com-

plete VHDL and RTL Approach. 9 units (3-6-0); third term. Prerequi-
sites: medium to advanced knowledge of digital electronics. A careful
balance between synthesis and analysis in the development of digital
circuits plus a truly complete coverage of the VHDL language. The RTL
(register transfer level) approach. Study of FPGA devices and com-
562 parison to ASIC alternatives. Tutorials of software and hardware tools
employed in the course. VHDL infrastructure, including lexical elements,
data types, operators, attributes, and complex data structures. Detailed
review of combinational circuits followed by full VHDL coverage for
combinational circuits plus recommended design practices. Detailed re-
view of sequential circuits followed by full VHDL coverage for sequential
circuits plus recommended design practices. Detailed review of state
machines followed by full VHDL coverage and recommended design
practices. Construction of VHDL libraries. Hierarchical design and prac-
tice on the hard task of project splitting. Automated simulation using
VHDL testbenches. Designs are implemented in state-of-the-art FPGA
boards. Not Offered 2020-21. Instructor: Pedroni.

Courses
EE/APh 180. Nanotechnology. 6 units (3-0-3); first term. This course
will explore the techniques and applications of nanofabrication and
miniaturization of devices to the smallest scale. It will be focused on the
understanding of the technology of miniaturization, its history and pres-
ent trends towards building devices and structures on the nanometer
scale. Examples of applications of nanotechnology in the electronics,
communications, data storage and sensing world will be described, and
the underlying physics as well as limitations of the present technology
will be discussed. Instructor: Scherer.

APh/EE 183. Physics of Semiconductors and Semiconductor De-

vices. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Applied Physics.

EE/BE/MedE 185. MEMS Technology and Devices. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Prerequisite: APh/EE 9 ab, or instructor’s permission.
Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have been broadly used for
biochemical, medical, RF, and lab-on-a-chip applications. This course
will cover both MEMS technologies (e.g., micro- and nanofabrication)
and devices. For example, MEMS technologies include anisotropic wet
etching, RIE, deep RIE, micro/nano molding and advanced packaging.
This course will also cover various MEMS devices used in microsensors
and actuators. Examples will include pressure sensors, accelerometers,
gyros, FR filters, digital mirrors, microfluidics, micro total-analysis sys-
tem, biomedical implants, etc. Not offered 2020-21.

CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186. Vision: From Computational Theory to

Neuronal Mechanisms. 12 units (4-4-4). For course description, see
Computation and Neural Systems.

EE/MedE 187. VLSI and ULSI Technology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.
Prerequisites: APh/EE 9 ab, EE/APh 180 or instructor’s permission. This
course is designed to cover the state-of-the-art micro/nanotechnologies
for the fabrication of ULSI including BJT, CMOS, and BiCMOS. Technol-
ogies include lithography, diffusion, ion implantation, oxidation, plasma
deposition and etching, etc. Topics also include the use of chemistry,
thermal dynamics, mechanics, and physics. Not offered 2020-21.

BE/EE/MedE 189 ab. Design and Construction of Biodevices. 189 a,

12 units (3-6-3) offered both first and third terms. 189b, 9 units (0-9-0) 563
offered only third term. For course description, see Bioengineering.

MedE/EE 268. Medical Imaging. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. For course
description, see Medical Engineering.

EE 291. Advanced Work in Electrical Engineering. Units to be ar-

ranged. Special problems relating to electrical engineering. Primarily for
graduate students; students should consult with their advisers.

Electrical Engineering
 ENERGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ME/EE/EST 117. Energy Technology and Policy. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

EE/CS/EST 135. Power System Analysis. 9 units (3-3-3). For course

description, see Electrical Engineering.

ENGINEERING (GENERAL)
E 2. Frontiers in Engineering and Applied Science. 1 unit; first term.
Open for credit to freshmen and sophomores. Weekly seminar by a
member of the EAS faculty to discuss his or her area of engineering and
group’s research at an introductory level. The course can be used to
learn more about different areas of study within engineering and applied
science. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Umans.

E/VC 88. Critical Making. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course exam-
ines the concepts and practices of maker culture through hands-on en-
gagement, guest workshops, lectures, reading and discussions on the
relations between technology, culture and society. Classes may include
digital fabrication, physical computing, and other DIY technologies as
well as traditional making. Major writings and practitioners’ work may
be covered from the study of maker culture, DIY culture, media, critical
theory, histories of science, design and art. Instructor: Mushkin.

E/H/VC 89. New Media Arts in the 20th and 21st Centuries. 9 units
(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: none. This course will examine art-
ists’ work with new technology, fabrication methods and media from the
late 19th Century to the present. Major artists, exhibitions, and writings
of the period will be surveyed. While considering this historical and criti-
cal context, students will create their own original new media artworks
using technologies and/or fabrication methods they choose. Possible
approaches to projects may involve robotics, electronics, computer
programming, computer graphics, mechanics and other technologies.
Students will be responsible for designing and fabricating their own
564
projects. Topics may include systems in art, the influence of industrial-
ism, digital art, robotics, telematics, media in performance, interactive
installation art, and technology in public space. Artists studied may
include Eadweard Muybridge, Marcel Duchamp, Vladmir Tatlin, John
Cage, Jean Tinguely, Stelarc, Survival Research Laboratories, Lynne
Hershman Leeson, Edwardo Kac, Natalie Jeremenjenko, Heath Bunting,
Janet Cardiff and others. Instructor: Mushkin. Not offered 2020-21.

E 100. Special Topics in Engineering Applied Science. Units to be

arranged; terms to be arranged; offered by announcement. Prerequi-
sites: none. Content may vary from year to year, at a level suitable for
advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Topics will be chosen to
meet the emerging needs of students. Instructors: TBD.

Courses
E/SEC 102. Scientific and Technology Entrepreneurship. 9 units
(3-0-6); third term. This course introduces students to the conceptual
frameworks, the analytical approaches, the personal understanding and
skills, and the actions required to launch a successful technology-based
company. Specifically, it addresses the challenges of evaluating new
technologies and original business ideas for commercialization, deter-
mining how best to implement those ideas in a startup venture, attract-
ing the resources needed for a new venture (e.g., key people, corporate
partners, and funding), organizing and operating a new enterprise,
structuring and negotiating important business relationships, and lead-
ing early stage companies toward “launch velocity”. Instructor: TBD.

E/SEC 103. Management of Technology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. A

course intended for students interested in learning how rapidly evolving
technologies are harnessed to produce useful products or fertile new
area for research. Students will work through Harvard Business School
case studies, supplemented by lectures to elucidate the key issues.
There will be a term project where students predict the future evolution
of an exciting technology. The course is team-based and designed for
students considering choosing an exciting research area, working in
companies (any size, including start-ups) or eventually going to busi-
ness school. Topics include technology as a growth agent, financial
fundamentals, integration into other business processes, product
development pipeline and portfolio management, learning curves, risk
assessment, technology trend methodologies (scenarios, projections),
motivation, rewards and recognition. Industries considered will include
electronics (hardware and software), aerospace, medical, biotech, etc.
Students will perform both primary and secondary research and through
analysis present defensible projections. E/SEC 102 and E/ME/MedE
105 are useful but not required precursors. Instructor: TBD.

E/ME/MedE 105 ab. Design for Freedom from Disability. 9 units (3-0-
6); terms to be arranged; offered by announcement. This Product Design
class focuses on people with Disabilities and is done in collaboration
with Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Students visit
the Center to define products based upon actual stated and observed
needs. Designs and testing are done in collaboration with Rancho as-
sociates. Speakers include people with assistive needs, therapists and
researchers. Classes teach normative design methodologies as adapted 565
for this special area. Instructor: TBD. Not offered 2020-21.

E 110. Principles of University Teaching and Learning in STEM. 3

units (2-0-1); first term, second term. This graduate course examines
the research on university-level STEM (science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics) teaching and learning, which has been used to
inform a well-established body of evidence-based teaching practices.
Weekly interactive meetings will provide focused overviews and guided
application of key pedagogical research, such as prior knowledge and
misconceptions, novice-expert differences, and cognitive develop-
ment as applied to university teaching. We will explore the roles of
active learning, student engagement, and inclusive teaching practices

Engineering
 in designing classes where all students have an equal opportunity to
be successful and feel a sense of belonging, both in the course and as
scientists. Readings will inform in-class work and students will apply
principles to a project of their choice. Instructors: Horii, Weaver.

ENGLISH
Hum/En 20. The Epic Tradition. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see Humanities.

Hum/En 21. Monsters and Marvels. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-
scription, see Humanities.

Hum/En 22. Inequality. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see

Humanities.

Hum/En 23. Literature and Medicine. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-
scription, see Humanities.

Hum/En 24. The Scientific Imagination in English Literature. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/En 25. The Human Animal. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-
tion, see Humanities.

Hum/En 26. What Is Imagination? 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Humanities.

Hum/En 27. Literature and the Problem of Belief. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/En 29. Dream Narratives. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Humanities.

Hum/En 33. Modern Metamorphoses. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Humanities.
566
Hum/En 34. Literature and Deception. 9 units (3-0-6. For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/En 35. Major British Authors. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-
tion, see Humanities.

Hum/En 36. American Literature and Culture. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Humanities.

Hum/En 37. Modern European Literature. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Humanities.

Courses
Hum/En 40. Power, Politics, and Travel Literature: From Travelogue
to TripAdvisor. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For course description, see
Humanities.

En 83. History of the English Language. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

This course introduces students to the historical development of the
English language, from its Proto-Indo-European roots through its earli-
est recorded forms (Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern
English) up to its current status as a world language. English is a
language that is constantly evolving, and students will gain the linguistic
skills necessary for analyzing the features of its evolution. We will study
the variation and development in the language over time and across re-
gions, including variations in morphology, phonology, syntax, grammar,
and vocabulary. We will also examine sociological, political, and literary
phenomena that accompany and shape changes in the language. Not
offered 2020-21.

En/Wr 84. Communicating Science to Non-Experts. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. This course offers instruction in writing and speaking
about science and technology for non-expert audiences. Instruction
focuses on how to convey complex technical information in clear, en-
gaging prose and speech in a variety of contexts. Readings in different
genres (e.g. the newspaper discovery story, the op-ed, the personal
narrative, the explainer talk) raise issues for discussion and serve as
models for assignments in these genres. The workshop-style nature
of this course relies on drafting and revision in response to peer and
instructor feedback. Satisfies the Institute scientific writing require-
ment and the option oral communications requirement for humanities
majors. Instructor: Hall.

En 85. Poetry Writing. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. When William Blake
wrote “to see a World in a Grain of Sand,” he tapped into poetry’s pow-
er to model the universe. For instance, once we set up a simile between
“world” and “grain of sand”, we can test this hypothesis of sameness.
How is sand like the world? Where will the model fail? And what might
that tell us? Imagery, sensory language, arguments, ideas, and verse
form itself can lead poetry toward power and discovery. This pursuit can
reach from the page into one’s own life. We will work hard together on
poems, our own and one another’s. Students may apply one term of 85, 567
86, or 89 to the additional HSS requirements, and all other courses in
this series will receive institute credit. Instructor: Factor.

En 86. Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Writing. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. The class is conducted as a writing workshop in the short-story
and personal essay/memoir form. Modern literary stories and essays
are discussed, as well as the art and craft of writing well, aspects of
“the writing life,” and the nature of the publishing world today. Students
are urged to write fiction or nonfiction that reflects on the nature of life.
Humor is welcome, although not genre fiction such as formula romance,
horror, thrillers, fantasy, or sci-fi. Students may apply one term of En 85,

English
 86, or 89 to the additional HSS requirements, and all other courses in
this series will receive Institute credit. Instructor: Lepucki.

En 89. Writing the News - Journalistic Writing. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. This class explores journalistic writing—writing that pays close
attention to fact, accuracy, clarity and precision. It examines various
aspects of the craft, such as reporting and interviewing, theme and
scene, character and storytelling. It looks closely at how traditional print
journalism offers up the news through newspapers- their structure,
rules, process and presentation. It looks at new media, its process and
principles. It also explores long-form journalistic writing. Students will
produce numerous stories and other writing during the class, includ-
ing profiles, issues, and reviews. Several of these will be offered for
publication in The California Tech. There may be visits by professional
journalists and off-campus excursions, including an outing to the Los
Angeles Times. Students may apply one term of En 85, 86, or 89 to the
additional HSS requirements, and all other courses in this series will
receive Institute credit. Instructor: Kipling.

En 98. Reading in English. 9 units (1-0-8). Prerequisite: instructor’s

permission. An individual program of directed reading in English or
American literature, in areas not covered by regular courses. En 98 is
intended primarily for English majors and minors. Interested students
should confer with an English faculty member and agree upon a topic
before registering for the course. Instructor: Staff.

En 99 ab. Senior Tutorial for English Majors. 9 units (1-0-8). Students

will study research methods and write a research paper. Required of
students in the English option. Instructor: Staff.

En 103. Introduction to Medieval British Literature. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. This course offers a tour of major (as well as some minor)
genres and works written in Britain prior to 1500. Far from a literary
“dark age,” the Middle Ages fostered dramatic experiments in narrative
form, bequeathing to modern literature some of its best-loved genres
and texts. We will practice reading in Middle English-the language of
Chaucer and his contemporaries-while we concentrate on the following
questions: how did these texts circulate among readers? How do they
568 establish their authority? What kinds of historical and cultural currents
to they engage? Texts may include the lives of saints, the confessions of
sinners, dranma, lyrics, romances, selections from Chaucer’s Canter-
bury Tales, and Malory’s Morte Darthur. Readings will be in Middle and
modern English. Not offered 2020-21.

En 104. Imagining the Medieval in the Nineteenth Century. 9 units (3-

0-6); third term. Following the Enlightenment and amidst the Industrial
Revolution, the late-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw a surging
interest in the literature, lives, art, and architecture of the Middle Ages.
In this course, we will explore how authors represented, invoked, and
often idealized the medieval past-with its knights, peasants, saints, and
monsters-as a way to think through the challenges-social, literary, politi-

Courses
cal, aesthetic-of their own time. We will read several novels, poems,
and treatises, including Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Walking;” Mark
Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court; Alfred Lord Ten-
nyson’s Idylls of the King; and others. Requirements for the course will
include weekly response papers and two essays. Not offered 2020-21.

En 105. Old English Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. “Moððe

word fræt.” Want to learn how to read the riddle that begins with these
words? This course will introduce students to Old English: the earli-
est form of the English language, spoken in England from roughly the
years 450 to 1100. In studying the language, we will turn to its diverse
and exciting body of literature, including one poem commemorating the
brutal defeat by a Viking army and another based on the biblical story of
Judith, who tricks the evil king Holofernes into sleeping with her-but not
before slicing off his drunken head. We will also read a variety of shorter
texts: laws, medical recipes, humorously obscene riddles. Successful
completion of the course will give students a richer sense not only of
the earliest period of English literature, but also of the English language
as it is written and spoken today. No prior experience with Old or Middle
English is necessary for this course. Not offered 2020-21.

En 106. Poetry and the Project of Justice. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. This course explores how contemporary poets grapple with the
most urgent questions of our moment: identity, equality, environmental
crisis, and justice. In this class, students will gain confidence in reading,
discussing, and writing about contemporary poems and will encounter
recent and more distant traditions of protest poetry. We will ask how
poetic language articulates questions of embodiment, community, law,
and memory. The syllabus will focus in particular on writers of color,
including queer and indigenous poets, and will include opportunities to
attend local poetry readings. Instructor: Jahner.

En 107. Medieval Romance. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. The medi-

eval term romanz designated both a language, French, and a genre,
romance, dedicated to the adventures of knights and ladies and the
villains, monsters, magic, and miles that stood in their way. This course
explores key examples from the twelfth through the fifteenth centuries,
while also examining evolutions in the form. We will consider how ro-
mances figured love and desire as well as negotiated questions of law, 569
territory, and cultural difference. Authors and texts may include Chretien
de Troyes, Marie de France, Gawain and the Green Knight, Arthurian
legends, outlaw tales, and hagiography. Instructor: Jahner. Not offered
2020-21.

En/VC 108. Volcanoes. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Long before torrents
of lava cascaded down Los Angeles streets in the 1997 film Volcano,
volcanic disaster narratives erupted across 19th-century British pages,
stages, and screens. This class will examine the enduring fascina-
tion with volcanoes in literary and visual culture and the socio-political
tensions that disaster narratives expose. Students will analyze Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein and Tambora’s infamous 1815 eruption, James

English
 Pain’s 1880s pyrotechnic adaptation of Vesuvius’s 79AD eruption, and
paintings of global sunsets after Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption. Additional
literary and visual texts may include works by: Felicia Hemans, Isabella
Bird, M.P. Shiel, Charles Dickens, Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, and J. M.
W. Turner. Instructor: Sullivan.

En 109. Madness and Reason. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Madness

threatens to dissolve boundaries of the most various kinds: between the
human and the inhumane, reality and fantasy, sickness and health. One
of the tasks of a literary text is to subdue and contain madness through
the construction of rational frameworks. How does a literary text ac-
complish this? Which strategies, such as the use of irony and humor,
are the most effective? What role do insane characters play in literary
texts? And when - if ever - should we consider an excess of reason as a
kind of madness in its own right? Selected readings from Shakespeare,
Voltaire, Goethe, Hoffmann, Büchner, Gogol, and Schnitzler, among oth-
ers. Instructor: Holland. Not offered 2020-21.

En 110. Sinners, Saints, and Sexuality in Premodern Literature. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. What made the difference between saint and
sinner in medieval and Renaissance literature? This class takes up this
question by focusing on the unruly problems of embodiment. We will
read across a wide range of literatures, including early medical texts,
saints’ lives, poetry and romance, as we examine how earlier periods
understood gender and sexual difference. Questions we may consider
include the following: how did writers construct the “naturalness” or
“unnaturalness” of particular bodies and bodily acts? How did individu-
als assert control over their own bodies and those of others? In what
ways did writing authorize, scrutinize, or police the boundaries of the
licit and illicit? Finally, how have modern critics framed these questions?
Possible readings include Aristotle, Freud, Chaucer, Margery Kempe,
Christine de Pizan, Sidney, Shakespeare. Instructor: Not offered 2020-
21.

En 111. Violence and Reconciliation on the Shakespearean Stage. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Sir Francis Bacon famously described re-
venge as a “wild justice,” and there are vivid examples of such justice in
the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries: revenge for political
570 betrayal and tyranny, for sexual infidelities and desires, for religious mis-
behavior and dogmatism. But what of the experience of reconciliation
on the Shakespearean stage? What pathways to concord and peace
did these plays offer? This course explores the relationship of violence
to the fleeting experience of reconciliation in early modern drama. The
plays of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, Middleton, and Dryden al-
low us to consider how drama as text and performance engaged and
continues to engage playgoers as they watch the religious, social, and
political upheaval of their worlds mounted to the stage. Instructor: Koch.

En 113. Shakespeare’s Career: Comedies and Histories. 9 units (3-0-

6); second term. The first of a two-course sequence on Shakespeare’s
career as a dramatist and poet. We will read plays from the first half of

Courses
Shakespeare’s career, his comedies and histories. Particular attention
will be paid to Shakespeare’s use of his sources and to the textual his-
tory of the plays. En 113 and En 114 may be taken independently and,
usually, are taught in alternate years. Instructor: Pigman. Not offered
2020-21.

En 114. Shakespeare’s Career: Tragedies and Tragicomedies. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. The second of a two-course sequence on Shake-
speare’s career as a dramatist and poet. We will read works from the
second half of Shakespeare’s career, his tragedies, tragicomedies, and
Sonnets. Particular attention will be paid to Shakespeare’s use of his
sources and to the textual history of the plays. En 113 and En 114 may
be taken independently and, usually, are taught in alternate years. In-
structor: Pigman. Not offered 2020-21.

En/VC 117. Picturing the Universe. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Whether you are a physicist, photographer, or bibliophile, grab
a warm jacket. The night sky beckons. In addition to observing and
photographing our own starry skies, we will study 19th-century literary,
artistic, and scientific responses to new understandings of the universe
as dynamic, decentered, and limitless. In Victorian England, picturing
the universe in literature and recording celestial light in photographs
defied the physiological limitations of human observation and fueled
larger debates about objective evidence and subjective documenta-
tion. Authors studied may include: Anna Laetitia Aikin, Keats, Byron,
Tennyson, Hardy, Agnes Clerke, E. E. Barnard, Tracy Smith, and Dava
Sobel. Instructor: Sullivan.

En 118. Classical Mythology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Why did the
Greeks and Romans remain fascinated with the same stories of gods
and demigods for more than a thousand years? On the other hand, how
did they adapt those stories to fit new times and places? Starting with
the earliest Greek poems and advancing through classical Athens, Hel-
lenistic Alexandria, and Augustan Rome, we consider the history of writ-
ing poetry as a history of reading the past; the course also serves as an
excellent introduction to ancient literary history at large. Readings may
include Homer’s ‘Odyssey,’ Hesiod, Aeschylus, Euripides, Apollonius
Rhodius, Ovid, and Seneca. Instructor: Haugen. Not offered 2020-21.
571
En 119. Displacement. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. The literary fascina-
tion with people who change places, temporarily or permanently, over
a short distance or across the globe, in works dating from our lifetimes
and from the recent and the remote past. How readily can such stories
be compared, how easy is it to apply traditional categories of literary
evaluation, and, in the contemporary world, how have poetry and prose
fictions about migration survived alongside other media? 21st-century
works will receive considerable attention; other readings may include
Virgil, Swift, Flaubert, Mann, Achebe, Nabokov, Didion, Morrison. Not
offered 2020-21.

English
 En 120. What Women Want: Desire and the Modern American Nov-
el. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. The question of what a woman wants
animates a central strain of the modern American novel, as do evolving
ideas about what women can and cannot have. This course consid-
ers female desire-for personal agency and freedom, self- and sexual
fulfillment, economic and social opportunity-across a half dozen novels
written from about 1880 - 1940, in light of some of the cultural forces
that shape and constrain characters’ (and real women’s) horizons.
Authors covered may include Henry James, Edith Wharton, Theodore
Dreiser, Anzia Yezierska, Nella Larsen, and Zora Neale Hurston. Instruc-
tor: Jurca. Not offered 2020-21.

En 121. Literature and Its Readers. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. The
course will investigate readers who have made adventurous uses of
their favorite works of literature, from Greek antiquity through the 20th
century. Sometimes those readers count, at least temporarily, as literary
critics, as when the philosopher Aristotle made Sophocles’ Oedipus the
King the central model in his wildly successful essay on the literary form
of tragedy. Other readers have been even more experimental, as when
Sigmund Freud, studying the same play, made the “Oedipus complex”
a meeting point for his theory of psychology, his vision of human societ-
ies, and his fascination with literary narrative. It will discuss some basic
questions about the phenomenon of literary reading. Does a book have
a single meaning? Can it be used rightly or wrongly? Instructor: Haugen.
Not offered 2020-21.

En 122. Early History of the Novel. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The re-
alistic novel is a surprising, even experimental moment in the history of
fiction. How and why did daily life become a legitimate topic for narra-
tive in the 18th century? The realistic turn clearly attracted new classes
of readers, but did it also make the novel a better vehicle for comment-
ing on society at large? Why were the formal conventions of realistic
writing so tightly circumscribed? Authors may include Cervantes, Defoe,
Richardson, Fielding, Sterne, Walpole, Boswell, and Austen. Not offered
2020-21.

En 123. The 19th-Century English Novel. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

A survey of the 19th-century novel from Austen through Conrad, with
572 special emphasis upon the Victorians. Major authors may include Aus-
ten, Shelley, Dickens, Eliot, Thackeray, Gaskell, Brontë, Collins, Trollope,
Stoker, Hardy. Instructor: Gilmore.

En 124. 20th-Century British Fiction. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. A sur-

vey of the 20th-century British and Irish novel, from the modernist novel
to the postcolonial novel. Major authors may include Conrad, Joyce,
Woolf, Forster, Lawrence, Orwell, Amis, Lessing, Rushdie. Not offered
2020-21.

En 125. British Romantic Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. A

selective survey of English writing in the late 18th and early 19th centu-
ries. Major authors may include Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron,

Courses
Keats, Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Austen. Particular attention will
be paid to intellectual and historical contexts and to new understand-
ings of the role of literature in society. Instructor: Gilmartin. Not offered
2020-21.

En 126. Gothic Fiction. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. The literature of

horror, fantasy, and the supernatural, from the late 18th century to the
present day. Particular attention will be paid to gothic’s shifting cultural
imperative, from its origins as a qualified reaction to Enlightenment
rationalism, to the contemporary ghost story as an instrument of social
and psychological exploration. Issues will include atmosphere and the
gothic sense of space; gothic as a popular pathology; and the gender-
ing of gothic narrative. Fiction by Walpole, Shelley, Brontë, Stoker, Poe,
Wilde, Angela Carter, and Toni Morrison. Film versions of the gothic may
be included. Instructor: Gilmartin. Not offered 2020-21.

En 127. Jane Austen. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course will fo-
cus on the major novels of Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey, Sense and
Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion.
Film and television adaptations will also be considered, and students
may have the opportunity to read Austen’s unfinished works, as well
as related eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British fiction and non-
fiction. Instructor: Gilmartin. Not offered 2020-21.

En 128. Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. The development of Irish fiction, poetry, and drama from
the early 20th-century Irish literary renaissance, through the impact of
modernism, to the Field Day movement and other contemporary devel-
opments. Topics may include the impact of political violence and na-
tional division upon the literary imagination; the use of folk and fairy-tale
traditions; patterns of emigration and literary exile; the challenge of the
English language and the relation of Irish writing to British literary tradi-
tion; and recent treatments of Irish literature in regional, postcolonial,
and global terms. Works by Joyce, Yeats, Synge, Friel, O’Brien, Heaney,
Boland, and others. Instructor: Gilmartin. Not offered 2020-21.

En 131. Poe’s Afterlife. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course focuses
on Edgar Allan Poe and the considerable influence his works have had
on other writers. Authors as diverse as Charles Baudelaire, Jules Verne, 573
Jorge Luis Borges, Vladimir Nabokov, John Barth, and Philip Roth have
used Poe’s stories as departure points for their own work. We shall
begin by reading some of Poe’s s classic short stories, including “The
Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym,” “The Purloined Letter,” and others. We
shall then explore how and why Poe’s stories have been so important
for authors, despite the fact that his reputation as a great American
writer, unlike Hawthorne’s and Melville’s, for example, is a relatively
recent phenomenon. Instructor: Weinstein. Not offered 2020-21.

En 134. The Career of Herman Melville. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The
course will analyze Melville’s career starting with Typee and ending with
Billy Budd. Special attention will be given to Moby-Dick and Pierre. The

English
 centrality of Melville’s position in American literature will be considered
from a variety of perspectives, including aesthetics, representations of
race, class, and gender, the role of the audience, and connections with
other authors. Instructor: Weinstein. Not offered 2020-21.

En 135. Dickens’s London. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Charles Dickens

and London have perhaps the most famous relationship of any writer
and city in English. In this course, we will investigate both the London
Dickens knew, and the portrait of the city that he painted, by read-
ing some of Dickens’s great mid-career novels alongside a selection
of primary and secondary historical sources. We will think about the
gap-or overlap- between history and fiction, the idea of the novelist as
alternative historian, and the idea of the novel as historical document.
Historical topics covered may include: the development of the Victorian
police force; plague and public health; Victorian poverty; colonialism
and imperialism; Dickens and his illustrators; Victorian exhibition culture;
and marriage and the cult of domesticity, among others. In addition to
written work, students should expect to be responsible for making a
short research presentation at some point in the term. Instructor: Gilm-
ore. Not offered 2020-21.

En 136. The Fiction of Charles Dickens. 9 units (3-0-6). An overview of

the Great Inimitable’s fiction, concentrating on four texts representative
of different phases of his novel-writing career and their relationship to
the changing world of Victorian Britain: Oliver Twist, Dombey and Son,
Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend. Not offered 2020-21.

En 137. African American Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This

course analyzes some of the great works of American literature written
by African Americans. This body of writing gives rise to two crucial
questions: How does African American literature constitute a literary
tradition of its own? How is that tradition inextricable from American
literary history? From slave narratives to Toni Morrison’s Beloved, from
the Harlem Renaissance to Alice Walker, from Ralph Ellison to Walter
Mosley, African American literature has examined topics as diverse and
important as race relations, class identification, and family life. We shall
analyze these texts not only in relation to these cultural issues, but also
in terms of their aesthetic and formal contributions. Not offered 2020-
574 21.

En 138. Twain and His Contemporaries. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

This course will study the divergent theories of realism that arose in the
period after the Civil War and before World War I. Authors covered may
include Howells, James, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Twain, Sarah Orne
Jewett, Jacob Riis, Stephen Crane, and W. E. B. DuBois. Not offered
2020-21.

En 145. Literary Constructions of Motherhood. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. This course will examine motherhood as experience and insti-
tution-conceived of in vastly different ways-by a diversity of authors,
genres, and literary modes to include the historical novel, the poem, the

Courses
personal essay, the graphic novel, and the epistolary form. Our intersec-
tional approach to a plurality of mothers and motherhoods will highlight
the writings, experiences, and embodiments of people of color and
immigrants as well as queer and disabled folks. Engaging with popular/
visual media, we will study the figure of the mother (biological or other-
wise) as bearer of potent cultural myths and enduring stereotypes that
continue to haunt contemporary constructions of maternal care. We will
also explore community formations that center mothers as agents of
political change. Possible authors include Adrienne Rich, Audre Lourde,
Toni Morrison, Buchi Emechita, Tanya Tagaq, Jamaica Kincaid, Maggie
Nelson, Rivka Galchen, and Alison Bechdel. Instructor: Hori.

En 150. Chaos and Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. We tend to

think of literary texts as models of a stable poetic order, but modern and
postmodern writers conduct increasingly bold experiments to test the
contrary. This class explores how writers from the nineteenth century
onward draw upon ancient and contemporary concepts of chaos to
test out increasingly sophisticated models of disorder though writing.
Readings to include Lucretius, Serres, Calvino, Barth, Stoppard, and
Kehlmann. Instructor: Holland. Not offered 2020-21.

En 151. Keeping Time. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The way in which
humans perceive and record time has a discernable history, and literary
texts offer us one of the best ways to study it, particularly in times of
war and natural catastrophe. With a focus on 16th- through 18th-cen-
tury European literature, we will examine various techniques of literary
time-keeping as they relate to topics such as, fame and mortality, as
well as the experience of time’s slowness and acceleration. Readings
will include selections from Baroque emblem books as well as texts by
Montaigne, Milton, Pepys, Defoe, and Rousseau. Instructor: Holland.

En/VC 160 ab. Classical Hollywood Cinema. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. This course introduces students to Hollywood films and filmmak-
ing during the classical period, from the coming of sound through the
‘50s. Students will develop the techniques and vocabulary appropri-
ate to the distinct formal properties of film. Topics include the rise and
collapse of the studio system, technical transformations (sound, color,
deep focus), genre (the musical, the melodrama), cultural contexts (the
Depression, World War II, the Cold War), audience responses, and the 575
economic history of the film corporations. Terms may be taken indepen-
dently. Part a covers the period 1927-1940. Part b covers 1941-1960.
Part a not offered 2020–21. Instructor: Jurca.

En/VC 161. The New Hollywood. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This
course examines the post-classical era of Hollywood filmmaking with a
focus on the late 1960s through the 1970s, a period of significant formal
and thematic experimentation especially in the representation of vio-
lence and sexuality. We will study American culture and politics as well
as film in this era, as we consider the relation between broader social
transformations and the development of new narrative conventions and
cinematic techniques. We will pay particular attention to the changing

English
 film industry and its influence on this body of work. Films covered may
include Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch, The Last Picture Show, Jaws,
and Taxi Driver. Instructor: Jurca. Not offered in 2020-21.

En/VC 170. Plantation Imaginaries. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This

course will focus on the institution of the plantation across U.S. and Carib-
bean contexts and trace the circulation of its seductive imageries and
imaginaries in the perpetuation of historical erasure and racial inequality.
Reading plantations as sites of both unspeakable violence and vital story-
telling, we will also explore those alternative imaginaries or recuperations
of plantation landscapes through various aesthetic, material, and political
interventions. Supported by close analysis of image and text, students
will engage in the interdisciplinary study of the plantation as a powerful
structural engine of visual culture, design, narrative, and modern life. Pos-
sible topics include the works of Kara Walker, Jean Rhys, Harriet Jacobs,
Simone Schwarz-Bart, Marlon James, and Gone with the Wind (1939). In-
structor: Hori.

En 178. Medieval Subjectivities. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. In the sev-

enteenth century, Descartes penned his famous expression “I think there-
fore I am!” and thus the modern subject was born-or so the simplified story
goes. But long before the age of Descartes, the Middle Ages produced an
astonishing range of theories and ideas about human selfhood, subjectivity,
and interiority. For instance, writing from prison more than one thousand
years earlier, Boethius came to realize that what distinguishes a human
being from all other creatures is his capacity to “know himself.” The mean-
ing of this opaque statement and others like it will command our attention
throughout this course, as we explore the diverse, distinctive, and often
highly sophisticated notions of subjectivity that developed in the literatures
of the Middle Ages. We will take up questions of human agency, free will,
identity, self-consciousness, confession, and secrecy as we encounter
them in some of the most exciting texts written during the period, including
among others) Augustine’s Confessions, Prudentius’s Psychomachia, the
Old English poem The Wanderer, the mystical writings of Margery Kempe
and Julian of Norwich, and Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde. Not offered
2020-21.

En 179. Constituting Citizenship before the Fourteenth Amendment.

576 9 units (3-0-6); second term. What can a slave’s narrative teach us about
citizenship? How did the new nation identify citizens when its Constitution
seemed so silent on the matter? And how did one tailor’s pamphlet result
in one of most massive restrictions of free speech in U.S. history? Our
goal over the semester will be to sketch a story of African American literary
production from the latter half of the eighteenth century to the Civil War and
to tease out, through this literature, developing understandings of citizen-
ship in the United States. We will read letters, poems, sermons, songs,
constitutions and bylaws, short stories, and texts that simply defy easy
categorization. We will also spend several sessions becoming familiar with
key newspapers and magazines-Freedom’s Journal, Frederick Douglass’s
Paper, The Anglo-African Magazine, Christian Recorder, and The Crisis-to
deepen our understanding of the kinds of things people were reading and
writing on a regular basis and the kinds of arguments they were mak-

Courses
ing. Writers up for discussion may include: Frederick Douglass, James
Madison, Harriet Jacobs, Henry David Thoreau, Sojourner Truth, and David
Walker. Not offered 2020-21.

En 180. Special Topics in English. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by announce-

ment. This is an advanced humanities course on a specialized topic in
English. It is usually taught by new or visiting faculty. The course may be
re-taken for credit except as noted in the course announcement. Limited
to 15 students. See registrar’s announcement for details. Instructors: Staff,
visitors

En 181. Hardy: The Wessex Novels. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course
will examine the body of work that the late Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy
published under the general title The Wessex Novels, that is, the sequence
of works from Far from the Madding Crowd to Jude the Obscure. The six
main novels will be read critically to give a sense of the totality of this great-
est British regional novelist’s achievement. Not offered 2020-21.

En 182. Literature and the First Amendment. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.
“Freedom of speech,” writes Benjamin Cardozo in Palko v. Connecticut
(1937), “is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other
form of freedom.” We will go inside the matrix, focusing on how it has
affected the books we read. This is not a course in constitutional law or
political philosophy, but an opportunity to examine how American literary
culture has intersected with law and politics. We will investigate the ways
in which the meanings of “freedom,” what it entails, and who is entitled to
it have changed over time. Possible topics include the obscenity trials sur-
rounding Allen Ginsberg’s Howl and James Joyce’s Ulysses, crackdowns
on anti-war propagandists, and the legal battle between Hustler publisher
Larry Flynt and televangelist and Moral Majority cofounder Jerry Falwell.
Not offered 2020-21.

En 183. Victorian Crime Fiction. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. In 19th-century

Britain, for the first time in human history, more of a nation’s citizens came
to live in urban areas than in rural ones. This result of the Industrial Revolu-
tion produced many effects, but in the fiction of the period, one of the most
striking was an obsession with the problem of crime. Victorian authors
filled their novels with murder, prisons, poisonings, prostitution, criminals,
and the new figure of the detective; in this class we will look at the social 577
history, publishing developments, and formal dilemmas that underlay such
a response. Authors studied may include Dickens, Collins, Braddon, Conan
Doyle, Chesterton, and Conrad, among others. Instructor: Gilmore. Not
offered 2020-21.

En 185. Dickens and the Dickensian. 9 units (3-0-6). The adjective

“Dickensian” makes an almost daily appearance in today’s newspapers,
magazines, and other media sources. It is used to describe everything
from outrageous political scandals, to Bollywood musicals, to multi-
plot novels. But what does the word really mean? And what part of
Charles Dickens’s output does it refer to? This class will consider some
of Dickens’s most famous works alongside a series of contemporary
novels, all critically described in “Dickensian” terms. The main concern

English
 will be equally with style and form, and 19th-century and present-day
circumstances of production (e.g., serialization, mass production, Web
publication, etc.). Authors considered (aside from Dickens) may include
Richard Price, Zadie Smith, Monica Ali, and Jonathan Franzen. Not of-
fered 2020-21.

En 186. The Novel of Education. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This class
takes up a set of mostly very funny, mostly 20th century British novels
to frame a simple-seeming, yet deceptively complicated set of ques-
tions: What does it mean to be educated? Who has access to educa-
tion? What does an ideal education consist in? And ultimately: What is a
university for? As we think through these questions we will read op/eds
and investigative journalism in addition to fiction, and we will consider
a variety of university-centered topics (determined by student interest)
including issues of gender, class, privilege, race, and genius. Authors
read may include Sayers, Larkin, Amis, C.P. Snow, Lodge, and Zadie
Smith. Instructor: Gilmore. Not offered 2020-21.

En 190. Chaucer. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course devotes itself
to the writings of the diplomat, courtier, bureaucrat, and poet, Geoffrey
Chaucer. Best known for the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer also authored
dream visions, lyrics, and philosophical meditations. This course
will introduce you to some better-known and lesser-known works in
the Chaucerian corpus, while also exploring questions central to the
production and circulation of literature in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. What did it mean to “invent” a literary work in late medieval
England? How did Chaucer imagine himself as a writer and reader?
What are the hallmarks of Chaucerian style, and how did Chaucer
become the canonical author he is today? We will read Chaucer’s works
in their original language, Middle English, working slowly enough to give
participants time to familiarize themselves with syntax and spelling. No
previous experience with the language is necessary. Instructor: Jahner.

En 191. Masterworks of Contemporary Latin American Fiction.

9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course studies Latin America’s most
influential authors in the 20th and 21st centuries, with a focus on short
stories and novellas produced by the region’s avant-garde and “boom”
generations. Authors may include Allende, Bombal, Borges, García
578 Márquez, Quiroga, Poniatowska, and Vargas Llosa. All readings and
discussions are in English. Not offered 2020-21.

En/H 193. Cervantes, Truth or Dare: Don Quixote in an Age of Em-

pire. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Studies Cervantes’s literary masterpiece,
Don Quixote, with a view to the great upheavals that shaped the early
modern world: Renaissance Europe’s discovery of America; feudalism’s
demise and the rise of mass poverty; Reformation and Counter-Refor-
mation; extermination of heretics and war against infidels; and the de-
cline of the Hapsburg dynasty. The hapless protagonist of Don Quixote
calls into question the boundaries between sanity and madness, truth
and falsehood, history and fiction, objectivity and individual experience.
What might be modern, perhaps even revolutionary, in Cervantes’s dra-

Courses
matization of the moral and material dilemmas of his time? Conducted
in English. Instructor: Wey-Gomez.

En/H 197. American Literature and the Technologies of Reading. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. This course explores the material forms of
American literature from the colonial era through the nineteenth century.
We will study how and by whom books and other kinds of texts were
produced, and how these forms shaped and were shaped by readers’
engagement with them. Possible topics include the history of such
printing technologies as presses, types, paper, ink, binding, and illustra-
tion; the business of bookmaking and the development of the publishing
industry; the rise of literary authorship; the career of Benjamin Franklin;
print, politics, and the American Revolution; and manuscript culture. Not
offered 2020-21.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Please see page 320 for requirements regarding English competency.
All of the following courses are open to international graduate students
only.

ESL 101 ab. Oral Communication and Presentation. 3 units (3-0-

0); first, second terms. This course focuses on preparing non-native
speakers of English with the communication skills necessary to orga-
nize, present or exchange information in a clear, concise manner to a
variety of audiences. ESL 101a will provide instruction on the develop-
ment of pronunciation, intonation patterns and stress, grammar and
verb tense, listening comprehension, and fluency in speaking. Aspects
of American culture as well as come current events will be discussed.
ESL 101b is a continuation of ESL 101a, and covers a variety of oral
presentation skills. Students will be asked to paraphrase, summarize,
and synthesize information from a journal article or in-class discussions
and communicate ideas to the class. The class will discuss information
from readings and other media sources in small groups to collect and
organize ideas for discussion. ESL 101ab is open to all first-year gradu-
ate students and may be required for some students designated by the
ESL interview process during Orientation. A passing grade will satisfy 579
the Institute English proficiency requirement for candidacy. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

ESL/Wr 107. Graduate Writing Seminar. 6 units (3-0-3); third

term. This course provides guided instruction in academic writing in
STEM fields. More specifically, it teaches graduate students about com-
posing texts in scientific English for expert audiences. It helps familiarize
writers with academic STEM discourse, and it teaches writers about the
style and genres of U.S. academic STEM writing, helping them learn to
locate, read, and write about the work of others in their field. From here,
students learn to review the literature in their fields and situate their own
research goals within that context. Students are encouraged to take

English as a Second Language

 ESL/Wr 107 in the first or second year of graduate school. This course
is designed for non-native speakers of English, but it covers topics that
are relevant to native English speakers. Instructor: Staff.

ESL/Wr 108. Intermediate Graduate Writing Seminar. 6 units (3-0-

3); summer term. This course focuses on strategies for composing an
academic journal article in a STEM field. The rhetorical purpose and
form of each section of the journal article will be considered in depth.
The course is intended for graduate students who are prepared to be a
lead author on a manuscript. While the course will cover strategies for
collaborative writing, students will be asked to draft sections of an origi-
nal journal article based upon their own research. The course will also
provide instruction on selecting a target journal, preparing a manuscript
for submission, and responding to feedback from peer reviewers. Clarity
in scientific writing and creating effective figures will also be discussed.
This course is designed for non-native speakers of English, but it covers
topics that are relevant to native English speakers. Course enrollment is
limited to 15 students. Instructor: Staff.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING
ESE 1. Earth’s Climate. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. An introduction to
the coupling between atmospheric composition and climate on Earth.
How Earth’s climate has changed in the past and its evolving response
to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today.
Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development
of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks.
Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core
curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course
requirement should enroll in ESE 101. Instructor: Wennberg.

FS/ESE/Ge 18. Freshman Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in

Plain Sight. 6 units (2-0-4); first term. For course description, see Fresh-
man Seminars.

580 ESE 90. Undergraduate Laboratory Research in Environmental Sci-

ence and Engineering. Units by arrangement; any term. Approval of
research supervisor required prior to registration. Independent research
on current environmental problems; laboratory or field work is required.
A written report is required for each term of registration. Graded pass/
fail. Instructor: Staff.

ESE 100. Special Problems in Environmental Science and Engineer-

ing. Up to 12 units by arrangement; any term. Prerequisites: instruc-
tor’s permission. Special courses of readings or laboratory instruction.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

Courses
ESE 101. Earth’s Atmosphere. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Introduc-
tion to the fundamental processes governing atmospheric circulations
and climate. Starting from an overview of the observed state of the
atmosphere and its variation over the past, the course discusses Earth’s
radiative energy balance including the greenhouse effect, Earth’s orbit
around the Sun and climatic effects of its variations, and the role of
atmospheric circulations in maintaining the energy, angular momentum,
and water balances, which determine the distributions of temperatures,
winds, and precipitation. The focus throughout is on order-of-magnitude
physics that is applicable to climates generally, including those of
Earth’s past and future and of other planets. Instructor: Schneider.

ESE 102. Earth’s Oceans. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course will
provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical and biological proper-
ties of Earth’s ocean. Topics to be covered include: oceanographic ob-
servational and numerical methods as well as the phenomenology and
distribution of temperature, salinity, and tracers. Fundamentals of ocean
dynamics, such as Ekman layers, wind-driven gyres, and overturning
circulations. Ocean biology and chemistry: simple plankton population
models, Redfield ratios, air-sea gas exchange, productivity and respira-
tion, carbon cycle basics. Changes in ocean circulation over Earth’s
history and its impact on past climate changes. Instructor: Thompson.

ESE 103. Earth’s Biogeochemical Cycles. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Global cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Photosynthesis, res-
piration and net primary production. Soil formation, erosion, and carbon
storage. Ecosystem processes, metrics, and function. Nutrient supply
and limitation. Microbial processes underlying weathering, decomposi-
tion, and carbon remineralization. Stable isotope tracers in the carbon
and hydrologic cycles. The human footprint on the Earth. Instructor:
Frankenberg.

ESE 104. Current Problems in Environmental Science and Engineer-

ing. 1 unit; first term. Discussion of current research by ESE graduate
students, faculty, and staff. Instructor: Frankenberg.

Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution. 12 units (3-4-5); second term. For course

description, see Biology.
581
ESE 106. Research in Environmental Science and Engineering.
Units by arrangement; any term. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission.
Exploratory research for first-year graduate students and qualified
undergraduates. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Staff.

ESE 110 abc. Seminar in Environmental Science and Engineering.

1 unit; first, second, third terms. Seminar on current developments and
research in environmental science and engineering. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Callies.

Ge/ESE 118. Methods in Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-
requisites: Ma 1 or equivalent. For course description, see Geology.

Environmental Science and Engineering

 BEM/Ec/ESE 119. Environmental Economics. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Business, Economics, and Management.

ESE 130. Introduction to Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: ESE 101/102 or instructor’s
permission. This course is an introduction to the fluid dynamics of the
atmosphere and ocean, with an emphasis on dynamical concepts that
explain the large-scale circulation of both fluids. Starting from the equa-
tions of motion, we will develop an understanding of geostrophic and
hydrostatic balance, inertia-gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, po-
tential vorticity, quasi-geostrophic dynamics, Rossby waves, baroclinic
instability, and Ekman layers. Instructor: Callies.

ESE 131. Ocean Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:

ESE 130 or instructor’s permission. This course gives an in-depth dis-
cussion of the fluid dynamics of the world ocean. Building on the con-
cepts developed in ESE 130, this course explores the vertical structure
of the wind-driven gyre circulation, thermocline theory, the dynamics of
the Southern Ocean, eddies and eddy parameterizations, geostrophic
turbulence, submesoscale dynamics, the circulation of the deep ocean,
tides, internal waves, and turbulent mixing. Instructor: Callies.

ESE 132. Tropical Atmosphere Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: ESE 130 or instructor’s permission. Phenomenological
description of tropical atmospheric circulations at different scales, and
theories or models that capture the underlying fundamental dynam-
ics, starting from the large-scale energy balance and moving down to
cumulus convection and hurricanes. Topics to be addressed include:
large-scale circulations such as the Hadley, Walker, and monsoonal
circulations, the intertropical convergence zone, equatorial waves, con-
vectively coupled waves, and hurricanes. Instructor: Schneider. Offered
2020-21.

ESE 133. Global Atmospheric Circulations. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: ESE 130 or instructor’s permission. Introduction
to the global-scale fluid dynamics of atmospheres, beginning with a
phenomenological overview of observed circulations on Earth and other
planets and leading to currently unsolved problems. Topics include
582 constraints on atmospheric circulations and zonal winds from angu-
lar momentum balance; Rossby wave generation, propagation, and
dissipation and their roles in the maintenance of global circulations;
Hadley circulations and tropical-extratropical interactions; energy cycle
and thermodynamic efficiency of atmospheric circulations. The course
focuses on Earth’s atmosphere but explores a continuum of possible
planetary circulations and relationships among them as parameters
such as the planetary rotation rate chance. Instructor: Staff. Not offered
2020-21.

ESE 134. Cloud and Boundary Layer Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. Prerequisites: ESE 130 or instructor’s permission. Introduction
to the dynamics controlling boundary layers and clouds and how they

Courses
may change with climate, from a phenomenological overview of cloud
and boundary layer morphologies to closure theories for turbulence
and convection. Topics include similarity theories for boundary layers;
mixed-layer models; moist thermodynamics and stability; stratocumulus
and trade-cumulus boundary layers; shallow cumulus convection and
deep convection. Instructor: Schneider. Not offered 2020-21.

ESE 135. Topics in Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics. 6 units (2-0-4);

third term. Prerequisites: ESE 101/102 or equivalent. A lecture and dis-
cussion course on current research in atmosphere and ocean dynamics.
Topics covered vary from year to year and may include global circula-
tions of planetary atmospheres, geostrophic turbulence, atmospheric
convection and cloud dynamics, wave dynamics and large-scale circu-
lations in the tropics, marine physical-biogeochemical interactions, and
dynamics of El Niño and the Southern Oscillation. Instructor: Callies.
Not offered 2020-21.

ESE 136. Climate Models. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites:

ESE 101 or instructor’s permission. Introduction to climate models, from
numerical methods for the underlying equations of motion to parameter-
ization schemes for processes such as clouds, sea ice, and land hydrol-
ogy. The course will move from an overview of modeling concepts to
the practice of climate modeling, with hands-on exercises in running a
climate model and analyzing and understanding its output. It will enable
students to design their own model experiments and to evaluate model-
ing results critically. Instructor: Schneider. Not offered 2020-21.

ESE 137. Polar Oceanography. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequi-

sites: ESE 131 or instructor’s permission. This course focuses on high
latitude processes related to the the Earth’s oceans and their interaction
with the cryosphere, including glaciers, ice shelves and sea ice. The
course starts with introductory lectures related to regional circulation
features, water mass modification and ice dynamics. A single topic
will be selected to explore in detail through the scientific literature and
through individual projects. Instructor: Thompson. Given in alternate
years; not offered 2020-21.

ESE 138. Ocean Turbulence and Wave Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. Prerequisite: ESE 131 or instructor’s permission. Introduc- 583
tion to the dynamics of ocean mixing and transport with a focus on how
these processes feedback on large-scale ocean circulation and climate.
Topics include: vorticity and potential vorticity dynamics, planetary and
topographic Rossby waves, inertia-gravity waves, mesoscale eddies,
turbulent transport of tracers, eddy diffusivity in turbulent flows, fronto-
genesis and submesoscale dynamics, diapycnal mixing. This course
will also include a discussion of observational techniques for measuring
mesoscale and small-scale processes in the ocean. Instructor: Staff.
Not offered 2020-21.

Ge/ESE 139. Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description in Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Environmental Science and Engineering

 Ge/ESE 140 c. Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

ESE/Ge 142. Aquatic Chemistry of Natural Waters. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. Prerequisites: Ch 1 or instructor’s permission. Inorganic
chemistry of natural waters with an emphasis on equilibrium solutions to
problems in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Topics will include, acid-base
chemistry, precipitation, complexation, redox reactions, and surface
chemistry. Examples will largely be drawn from geochemistry and
geobiology. Selected topics in kinetics will be covered based on interest
and time. Instructor: Adkins.

Ge/ESE 143. Organic Geochemistry. 9 units (3-2-4). For course de-

scription, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

ESE 144. Climate from Space. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Introduc-
tion to satellite remote sensing. Earth’s energy balance. Atmospherics
physics and composition. Ocean dynamics and ice physics from space.
The water, energy and carbon cycles. The Earth’s biosphere from space.
The climate system. Instructors: Teixeira, Thompson. Given in alternate
years; offered 2020-21.

Ge/ESE 149. Marine Geochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ge/ESE 150. Planetary Atmospheres. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ge/ESE 154. Readings in Paleoclimate. 3 units (1-0-2). For course

description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Ge/ESE 155. Paleoceanography. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

ESE 156. Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Biosphere. 9

units (3-0-6); first term. An introduction into methods to quantify trace
gases as well as vegetation properties remotely (from space, air-borne
or ground-based). This course will provide the basic concepts of
584 remote sensing, using hands-on examples to be solved in class and as
problem-sets. Topics covered include: Absorption spectroscopy, mea-
surement and modeling techniques, optimal estimation theory and error
characterization, applications in global studies of biogeochemical cycles
and air pollution/quality. This course is complementary to EE/Ae 157ab
and Ge/EE/ESE 157c with stronger emphasis on applications for the
atmosphere and biosphere. Students will work with real and synthetic
remote sensing data (basic knowledge of Python advantageous, will
make use of Jupyter notebooks extensively). Instructor: Frankenberg.

Ge/EE/ESE 157 c. Remote Sensing for Environmental and Geologi-

cal Applications. 9 units (3-3-3). For course description, see Geological
and Planetary Sciences.

Courses
ESE/ChE 158. Aerosol Physics and Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second
term; Open to graduate students and seniors with instructor’s permis-
sion. Fundamentals of aerosol physics and chemistry; aerodynamics
and diffusion of aerosol particles; condensation and evaporation; ther-
modynamics of particulate systems; nucleation; coagulation; particle
size distributions; optics of small particles. Instructors: Seinfeld, Flagan.
Offered 2020-21.

ESE/Bi 166. Microbial Physiology. 9 units (3-1-5); first term. Recom-

mended prerequisite: one year of general biology. A course on growth
and functions in the prokaryotic cell. Topics covered: growth, transport
of small molecules, protein excretion, membrane bioenergetics, energy
metabolism, motility, chemotaxis, global regulators, and metabolic
integration. Instructor: Leadbetter.

ESE/Bi 168. Microbial Metabolic Diversity. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: ESE 142, ESE/Bi 166. A course on the metabolic
diversity of microorganisms. Basic thermodynamic principles govern-
ing energy conservation will be discussed, with emphasis placed on
photosynthesis and respiration. Students will be exposed to genetic,
genomic, and biochemical techniques that can be used to elucidate the
mechanisms of cellular electron transfer underlying these metabolisms.
Instructor: Newman. Given in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisite: Ch 1 or equivalent. A detailed course about chemi-
cal transformation in Earth’s atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy,
and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and
troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species;
stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the tropo-
sphere. Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg.

ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II. 3 units (3-0-0); first term.

Prerequisite: ESE/Ge/Ch 171 or equivalent. A lecture and discussion
course about active research in atmospheric chemistry. Potential topics
include halogen chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; aerosol
formation in remote environments; coupling of dynamics and photo-
chemistry; development and use of modern remote-sensing and in situ
instrumentation. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg. 585
Offered 2020-21.

ESE/Ch 176. Environmental Physical Organic Chemistry Part I. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ch 41a,b or instructor’s
permission. This course will cover selected aspects of the chemistry of
aquatic systems. Lectures cover basic principles of physical-organic
chemistry relevant to the aquatic environment under realistic condi-
tions. Specific topics covered in Part I include the basic principles of
equilibrium chemical and physical processes important natural waters.
Topics include: chemical potential, fugacity, phase transfer, acid-base
chemistry, metal-ligand substitution chemistry, surface chemistry,
octanol-water partitioning, air-water partitioning, partitioning to solid

Environmental Science and Engineering

 organic matter and biomedia, sorption processes, air-water exchange
dynamics, and the kinetics and mechanisms of coupled organic and
inorganic redox reactions. Thermodynamics, transport, phase transfer
and kinetics are emphasized. Instructor: Hoffmann.

ESE/Ch 177. Environmental Physical Organic Chemistry Part II. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: ESE/Ch 176 or instructor’s
permission. This course will cover selected aspects of the organic
chemistry of aquatic systems and coupled air-water systems. Topics
include photochemical transformations, biochemical transformations
in sub-surface water, surface water, and sediments, heterogeneous
surface reactions and catalysis, hydrolysis reactions, nucleophilic dis-
placement and substitution reactions, elimination reactions, carboxylic
acid ester hydrolysis, thiophosphoric acid ester hydrolysis, carbamate
ester hydrolysis, and amide ester hydrolysis. The primary goal is to
better understand factors controlling the fate and behavior of organic
compounds and persistent organic pollutants in the global environment.
Case studies will be presented. Instructor: Hoffmann.

Ge/ESE/Bi 178. Microbial Ecology. 9 units (3-2-4). For course descrip-

tion, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

ESE 200. Advanced Topics in Environmental Science and Engineer-

ing. Units by arrangement; any term. Course on contemporary topics in
environmental science and engineering. Topics covered vary from year
to year, depending on the interests of the students and staff.

Ge/Bi/ESE 246. Molecular Geobiology Seminar. 6 units (2-0-4). For

course description, see Geological and Planetary Sciences.

ESE 300. Thesis Research.

For other closely related courses, see listings under Chemistry,

Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Biology, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Economics, and Social
Science.

586 FILM
(For course descriptions, please see Visual Culture page 702)

FRESHMAN SEMINARS
FS 2. Freshman Seminar: The Origins of Ideas. 6 units (2-0-4); first
term. Why do we have 60 minutes in an hour? How did we invent
writing? How do we transmit ideas to future generations? The goal of
the class is to learn how to enjoy ignorance, be curious and try and
discover the origins and the evolutionary processes that led to the ideas
and artifacts that are a part of our life. The class is collaborative and
interactive: You will teach as much as you will learn-you will learn as

Courses
much as you will teach. Freshmen only; limited enrollment. Instructor:
Bruck.

FS/Ay 3. Freshman Seminar: Automating Discovering the Universe.

6 units (2-0-4); second term. Powerful new instruments enable astrono-
mers to collect huge volumes of data on billions of objects. As a result,
astronomy is changing dramatically: by the end of this decade, most
astronomers will probably be analysing data collected in large surveys,
and only a few will still be visiting observatories to collect their own
data. The tool chest of future astronomers will involve facility with “big
data”, developing clever queries, algorithms (some based on machine
learning) and statistics, and combining multiple databases. This course
will introduce students to some of these tools. After “recovering” known
objects, students will be unleashed to make their own astronomical
discoveries in new data sets. Limited enrollment. Not offered 2020–21.

FS/Ph 4. Freshman Seminar: Astrophysics and Cosmology with

Open Data. 6 units (3-0-3); first term. Astrophysics and cosmology are
in the midst of a golden age of science-rich observations from incredibly
powerful telescopes of various kinds. The data from these instruments
are often freely available on the web. Anyone can do things like study
x-rays from pulsars in our galaxy or gamma rays from distant galaxies
using data from Swift and Fermi; discover planets eclipsing nearby stars
using data from Kepler; measure the expansion of the universe using
supernovae data; study the cosmic microwave background with data
from Planck; find gravitational waves from binary black hole mergers
using data from LIGO; and study the clustering of galaxies using Hubble
data. We will explore some of these data sets and the science than can
be extracted from them. A primary goal of this class is to develop skills
in scientific computing and visualization—bring your laptop! Not offered
2020–21.

FS/EE 5. Introduction to Waves. (1-5-0); first term. This course is

an intuitive introduction to waves. Have you ever wanted to break a
wineglass with sound? Or make your own hologram? Or stand under a
powerline with a fluorescent light tube? Ever wondered what a soliton
wave or a vortex is? Come do this and more, as we dissect various
types of wave phenomena mathematically and then see them in action
with your own experiments. Instructor: Yang. 587

FS/Ph 9. Freshman Seminar: The Science of Music. 6 units (2-0-4);

first term. This course will focus on the physics of sound, how musical
instruments make it, and how we hear it, including readings, discus-
sions, demonstrations, and student observations using sound analysis
software. In parallel we will consider what differentiates music from
other sounds, and its role psychically and culturally. Students will do
a final project of their choice and design, with possibilities including a
book review, analysis of recordings of actual musical instruments, or in-
strument construction and analysis. Freshmen only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Politzer.

Freshman Seminars
 FS/Ph 11 abc. Freshman Seminar: Beyond Physics. 6 units (2-0-4);
second, third terms of freshman year and first term of sophomore year.
Freshmen are offered the opportunity to enroll in this class by submit-
ting potential solutions to problems posed in the fall term. A small
number of solutions will be selected as winners, granting those students
permission to register. This course demonstrates how research ideas
arise, are evaluated, and tested and how the ideas that survive are de-
veloped. Weekly group discussions and one-on-one meetings with fac-
ulty allow students to delve into cutting edge scientific research. Ideas
from physics are used to think about a huge swath of problems ranging
from how to detect life on extrasolar planets to exploring the scientific
underpinnings of science fiction in Hollywood films to considering the
efficiency of molecular machines. Support for summer research at
Caltech between freshman and sophomore years will be automatic for
students making satisfactory progress. Graded pass/fail. Freshmen
only; limited enrollment. Instructor: Phillips.

FS/Ma 12. Freshman Seminar: The Mathematics of Enzyme Kinet-

ics. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. Prerequisites: Ma 1a, b. Enzymes are at
the heart of biochemistry. We will begin with a down to earth discussion
of how, as catalysts, they are used to convert substrate to product.
Then we will model their activity by using explicit equations. Under ideal
conditions, their dynamics are described by a system of first order dif-
ferential equations. The difficulty will be seen to stem from them being
non-linear. However, under a steady state hypothesis, they reduce to a
simpler equation, whose solution can describe the late time behavior.
The students will apply it to some specially chosen, real examples. Not
offered 2020–21.

FS/Ge 16. Freshman Seminar: Earthquakes. 6 units (2-0-4); first term.

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions constitute some of the world’s ma-
jor natural hazards. What is the science behind prediction and/or rapid
response to these events? We will review the current understanding of
the science, the efforts that have been made in earthquake and volcano
forecasting, and real-time response to these events. We will learn
about advances in earthquake preparation in Southern California, and
volcanic eruption forecasting and hazard mitigation elsewhere. There is
a required field trip to visit faults and volcanoes somewhere in southern
588 California. Freshmen only; limited enrollment. Instructor: Stock.

FS 17. Freshman Seminar: The Business Side of Sports. 6 units (2-0-

4); second term. Ken Lewis’s Moneyball (2003) attributes the remarkable
success of the low-budget Oakland A’s in competing against teams with
much larger payrolls to their ability to exploit market failure. The purpose
of this course is to evaluate the central claims of the Moneyball thesis.
Students will read Moneyball, many of the classic essays published by
Bill James in the Baseball Abstract, and some of the classic works in
decision theory. The course will necessarily focus on the way baseball
executives evaluate both highly quantitative and highly subjective infor-
mation. Freshmen only; limited enrollment. Not offered 2020–21.

Courses
FS/ESE/Ge 18. Freshman Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World
in Plain Sight. 6 units (2-0-4); first term. To paraphrase a Caltech
engineering colleague: “In terms of Earth and the Environment, although
fascinating, until recently our species had been nothing more than the
hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what’s
under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the
engine”. We will examine striking examples of microbes and microbial
activities in the environment. There is one required field trip to visit sites
of microbial interest somewhere in southern California. Freshmen only;
limited enrollment. Instructor: Leadbetter.

GEOLOGICAL AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Geology, Geobiology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Planetary Science

Ge 1. Earth and Environment. 9 units (3-3-3); third term. An introduc-

tion to the ideas and approaches of earth and planetary sciences,
including both the special challenges and viewpoints of these kinds
of science as well as the ways in which basic physics, chemistry, and
biology relate to them. In addition to a wide-ranging lecture-oriented
component, there will be a required field trip component. The lectures
and topics cover such issues as solid Earth structure and evolution,
plate tectonics, oceans and atmospheres, climate change, and the
relationship between geological and biological evolution. Not offered on
a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Asimow. Satisfies the menu requirement of
the Caltech core curriculum.

Ge 10. Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Sciences. 2 units

(2-0-0); second term. The course may be taken multiple times. Weekly
seminar by a member of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sci-
ences or a visitor to discuss a topic of his or her current research at
an introductory level. The course is designed to introduce students to
research and research opportunities in the division and to help students
find faculty sponsors for individual research projects. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Thompson.

Ge 11 a. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Earth as a

Planet. 9 units (3-3-3); first term. Systematic introduction to the physi- 589
cal and chemical processes that have shaped Earth as a planet over
geological time, and the observable products of these processes—rock
materials, minerals, land forms. Geophysics of Earth. Plate tectonics;
earthquakes; igneous activity. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks.
Rock deformation and mountain building. Weathering, erosion, and
sedimentary rocks. The causes and recent history of climate change.
The course includes an overnight field trip and a weekly laboratory
section focused on the identification of rocks and minerals and the in-
terpretation of topographic and geological maps. Although Ge 11 abcd
is designed as a sequence, any one term may be taken as a standalone
course. Instructor: Wernicke.

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 Ge 11 b. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Earth and
the Biosphere. 9 units (3-3-3); second term. Prerequisite: Ch 1 a. Sys-
tematic introduction to the origin and evolution of life and its impact on
the oceans, atmosphere, and climate of Earth. Topics covered include
ancient Earth surface environments and the rise of atmospheric oxygen.
Microbial and molecular evolution, photosynthesis, genes as fossils.
Banded iron stones, microbial mats, stromatolites, and global glaciation.
Biological fractionation of stable isotopes. Numerical calibration of the
geological timescale, the Cambrian explosion, mass extinctions, and
human evolution. The course usually includes one major field trip and
laboratory studies of rocks, fossils, and geological processes. Although
Ge 11 abcd is designed as a sequence, any one term may be taken as
a standalone course. Biologists are particularly welcome. Instructors:
Fischer, Kirschvink.

Ge/Ay 11 c. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Planetary

Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ma 1 ab, Ph 1 ab.
A broad introduction to the present state and early history of the solar
system, including terrestrial planets, giant planets, moons, asteroids,
comets, and rings. Earth-based observations, observations by planetary
spacecraft, study of meteorites, and observations of extrasolar planets
are used to constrain models of the dynamical and chemical processes
of planetary systems. Although Ge 11 abcd is designed as a sequence,
any one term may be taken as a standalone course. Physicists and
astronomers are particularly welcome. Instructor: Ingersoll.

Ge 11 d. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Geophys-

ics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ch 1, Ma 2 a, Ph 2 a. An
introduction to the geophysics of the solid earth; formation of planets;
structure and composition of Earth; interactions between crust, mantle,
and core; surface and internal dynamics; mantle convection; imaging of
the interior; seismic tomography. Although Ge 11 abcd is designed as a
sequence, any one term can be taken as a standalone course. Instruc-
tors: Clayton, Gurnis.

FS/Ge 16. Freshman Seminar: Earthquakes. 6 units (2-0-4); first term.

For course description, see Freshman Seminars.

590 FS/ESE/Ge 18. Freshman Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in

Plain Sight. 6 units (2-0-4); first term. For course description, see Fresh-
man Seminars.

Ge 40. Special Problems for Undergraduates. Units to be arranged;

any term. This course provides a mechanism for undergraduates to
undertake honors-type work in the geologic sciences. By arrangement
with individual members of the staff. Graded pass/fail.

Ge 41 abc. Undergraduate Research and Bachelor’s Thesis. Units

to be arranged; first, second, third terms. Guidance in seeking research
opportunities and in formulating a research plan leading to preparation

Courses
of a bachelor’s thesis is available from the GPS option representatives.
Graded pass/fail.

Ge 101. Introduction to Geology and Geochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Prerequisites: graduate standing or instructor’s permission. A
broad, high-level survey of geology and geochemistry with emphasis
on quantitative understanding. Historical deduction in the geological
and planetary sciences. Plate tectonics as a unifying theory of geology.
Igneous and metamorphic processes, structural geology and geomor-
phology; weathering and sedimentary processes. Nucleosynthesis and
chemical history of the solar system; distribution of the elements in the
earth; isotopic systems as tracers and clocks; evolution of the bio-
sphere; global geochemical and biogeochemical cycles; geochemical
constraints on deep Earth structure. One mandatory overnight field trip,
selected laboratory exercises, and problem sets. Instructor: Wernicke.

Ge 102. Introduction to Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ph 2, or Ge 108, or equivalents. An introduction to
the physics of the earth. The present internal structure and dynamics of
the earth are considered in light of constraints from the gravitational and
magnetic fields, seismology, and mineral physics. The fundamentals
of wave propagation in earth materials are developed and applied to
inferring Earth structure. The earthquake source is described in terms
of seismic and geodetic signals. The following are also considered: the
contributions that heat-flow, gravity, paleomagnetic, and earthquake
mechanism data have made to our understanding of plate tectonics, the
driving mechanism of plate tectonics, and the energy sources of mantle
convection and the geodynamo. Instructors: Clayton, Gurnis

Ge 103. Introduction to the Solar System. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Formation and evolution of the
solar system. Interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres. Orbital dynamics,
chaos, and tidal friction. Cratering. Comets and asteroids. Extrasolar
planetary systems. Instructor: Ingersoll.

Ge 104. Introduction to Geobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Lectures about the interaction
and coevolution of life and Earth surface environments. We will cover
essential concepts and major outstanding questions in the field of geo- 591
biology, and introduce common approaches to solving these problems.
Topics will include biological fractionation of stable isotopes; history and
operation of the carbon and sulfur cycles; evolution of oxygenic pho-
tosynthesis; biomineralization; mass extinctions; analyzing biodiversity
data; constructing simple mathematical models constrained by isotope
mass balance; working with public databases of genetic information;
phlyogenetic techniques; microbial and molecular evolution. Instructors:
Fischer, Kirschvink.

Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution. 12 units (3-4-5); second term. For course

description, see Biology.

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 Ge 106. Introduction to Structural Geology. 9 units (3-0-6); second
term. Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab. Description and origin of main classes of
deformational structures. Introduction to continuum mechanics and its
application to rock deformation. Interpretation of the record of deforma-
tion of the earth’s crust and upper mantle on microscopic, mesoscopic,
and megascopic scales. Introduction to the tectonics of mountain belts.
Instructor: Avouac.

Ay/Ge 107. Introduction to Astronomical Observation. 9 units (1-1-

7); first term. For course description, see Astrophysics.

Ge 108. Applications of Physics to the Earth Sciences. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Prerequisites: Ph 2 and Ma 2 or equivalent. An intermedi-
ate course in the application of the basic principles of classical physics
to the earth sciences. Topics will be selected from: mechanics of rotat-
ing bodies, the two-body problem, tidal theory, oscillations and normal
modes, diffusion and heat transfer, wave propagation, electro- and
magneto-statics, Maxwell’s equations, and elements of statistical and
fluid mechanics. Instructor: Brown.

Ge 109. Oral Presentation. Units to be arranged. Practice in the effec-

tive organization and the delivery of oral presentation of scientific results
before groups. Units and scheduling are done by the individual options.
Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

Ge 111 ab. Applied Geophysics Seminar and Field Course. 6 units

(3-3-0); second, third terms. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. 9 units
(0-3-6); spring break, third term. Prerequisite: Ge 111 a. An introduc-
tion to the theory and application of basic geophysical field techniques
consisting of a comprehensive survey of a particular field area using
a variety of methods (e.g., gravity, magnetic, electrical, GPS, seismic
studies, and satellite remote sensing). The course will consist of a
seminar that will discuss the scientific background for the chosen field
area, along with the theoretical basis and implementation of the various
measurement techniques. The 4-5-day field component will be held in
spring break, and the data analysis component is covered in Ge 111 b.
May be repeated for credit with an instructor’s permission. Instructors:
Clayton, Simons.
592
Ge 112. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. 12 units (3-5-4); third term.
Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab. Systematic analysis of transport and deposition
in sedimentary environments and the resulting composition, texture,
and structure of both clastic and chemical sedimentary rocks. The
nature and genesis of sequence architecture of sedimentary basins and
cyclic aspects of sedimentary accumulation will be introduced. Covers
the formal and practical principles of definition of stratigraphic units,
correlation, and the construction of a geologic timescale. Field trip and
laboratory exercises. Instructor: Grotzinger. Given in alternate years; not
offered 2020-21.

Courses
Ge 114 a. Mineralogy. 9 units (3-4-2); first term. Atomic structure, com-
position, physical properties, occurrence, and identifying characteristics
of the major mineral groups. The laboratory work involves the character-
ization and identification of important minerals by their physical proper-
ties. Instructor: Rossman.

Ge 114 b. Mineralogy Laboratory. 3 units (0-2-1); first term. Prereq-

uisite: concurrent enrollment in Ge 114 a or instructor’s permission.
Additional laboratory studies of optical crystallography, the use of the
petrographic microscope, and optical methods of mineral identification.
Instructor: Rossman.

Ge 115 a. Petrology and Petrography: Igneous Petrology. 9 units

(3-3-3); second term. Prerequisites: Ge 114 ab. Study of the origin, oc-
currence, tectonic significance and evolution of igneous rocks with em-
phasis on use of phase equilibria and geochemistry. Instructor: Stolper.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 115 b. Petrology and Petrography: Metamorphic Petrology. 9

units (3-3-3); second term. Prerequisites: Ge 114 ab. The mineralogic
and chemical composition, occurrence, and classification of metamor-
phic rocks; interpretation of mineral assemblages in the light of chemi-
cal equilibrium and experimental studies. Discussion centers on the use
of metamorphic assemblages to understand tectonic, petrologic, and
geochemical problems associated with convergent plate boundaries
and intrusion of magmas into the continental crust. May be taken before
Ge 115 a. Instructor: Eiler. Given in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 116. Analytical Techniques Laboratory. 9 units (1-4-4); second

term. Prerequisites: Ge 114 a or instructor’s permission. Methods of
quantitative laboratory analysis of rocks, minerals, and fluids in geologi-
cal and planetary sciences. Consists of five intensive two-week mod-
ules covering scanning electron microscopy (imaging, energy-dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction); the electron
microprobe (wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy); X-ray powder
diffraction; optical, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy; and plasma
source mass spectrometry for elemental and radiogenic isotope analy-
sis. Satisfies the Institute core requirement for an additional introductory
laboratory course. Instructors: Asimow, Jackson, Rossman. 593

Ge/Ay 117. Bayesian Statistics and Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Prerequisites: CS1 or equivalent. In modern fields of plan-
etary science and astronomy, vast quantities of data are often available
to researchers. The challenge is converting this information into mean-
ingful knowledge about the universe. The primary focus of this course is
the development of a broad and general tool set that can be applied to
the student’s own research. We will use case studies from the astro-
physical and planetary science literature as our guide as we learn about
common pitfalls, explore strategies for data analysis, understand how
to select the best model for the task at hand, and learn the importance

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 of properly quantifying and reporting the level of confidence in one’s
conclusions. Instructor: Knutson.

Ge/ESE 118. Methods in Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-
requisites: Ma 1 or equivalent. Introduction to methods in data analysis.
Course will be an overview of different ways that one can quantitatively
analyze data, and will not focus on any one methodology. Topics will
include linear regression, least squares inversion, Fourier analysis,
principal component analysis, and Bayesian methods. Emphasis will be
on both a theoretical understanding of these methods and on practical
applications. Exercises will include using numerical software to analyze
real data. Instructor: Staff. Not offered 2020-21.

Ge 119. Geology of the American Southwest. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. This course is a lecture-based course on the geologic history of the
American Southwest (broadly defined as the southern parts of California,
Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, as well as, Arizona, New Mexico). Lectures
will cover the geologic history in chronologic order and will highlight the
important scientific studies that deciphered the geologic record of the
region. Instructor: Bucholz. Not offered 2020-21.

Ge 120 a. Field Geology: Introduction to Field Geology. 9 units

(1-6-2); third term. Prerequisites: Ge 11 ab, Ge 106 (may be taken
concurrently with Ge 106). A comprehensive introduction to methods of
geological field mapping in preparation for summer field camp. Labora-
tory exercises introduce geometrical and graphical techniques in the
analysis of geologic maps. Field trips introduce methods of geological
mapping. Instructor: Bucholz.

Ge 120 b. Field Geology: Summer Field Camp. 15 units (0-15-0); sum-

mer. Prerequisites: Ge 120 a or instructor’s permission. Intensive three-
week field course in a well-exposed area of the western United States
covering techniques of geologic field observation, mapping, analysis,
and report preparation. Field work begins in mid-June after Commence-
ment Day. Instructor: Bucholz.

Ge 121 abc. Advanced Field Geology. 12 units (0-9-3); first, second,

third terms. Prerequisites: Ge 120 or equivalent, or instructor’s permis-
594 sion. Field mapping and supporting laboratory studies in topical prob-
lems related to the geology of the southwestern United States. Course
provides a breadth of experience in igneous, metamorphic, or sedimen-
tary rocks or geomorphology. Multiple terms of 121 may be taken more
than once for credit if taught by different instructors. Instructors: Avouac
(a), Kirschvink (b), Stock (c).

Ge 122 abc. Field Geology Seminar. 6 units (1-3-2); first, second, third
terms. Prerequisites: Ge 11ab or Ge 101, or instructor’s permission.
Each term, a different field topic in Southern California will be examined
in both seminar and field format. Relevant readings will be discussed
in a weekly class meeting. During the 3-day weekend field trip we will
examine field localities relevant to the topic, to permit detailed discus-

Courses
sion of the observations. Topic: tbd. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Stock.
Offered 2020-21 (second term only).

Ge 123. Continental Crust Seminar. 3 units (1-0-2); second term. A

seminar course focusing on a topic related to the continental crust,
which will be decided depending on the interest of participating
students. Potential topics include arc magmatism, the evolution of the
composition of continental crust through time, formation of granites, or
specific localities/regions that help shape our understanding of conti-
nental crust generation. The course will comprise weekly student-lead
discussion of scientific journal articles. Instructor: Bucholz.

Ge 124 a. Paleomagnetism and Magnetostratigraphy. 6 units (0-0-6);

third term. Application of paleomagnetism to the solution of problems in
stratigraphic correlation and to the construction of a high-precision geo-
logical timescale. A field trip to the southwest United States or Mexico
to study the physical stratigraphy and magnetic zonation, followed by
lab analysis. Instructor: Kirschvink. Given in alternate years; offered
2020-21.

Ge 124 b. Paleomagnetism and Magnetostratigraphy. 9 units (3-3-3);

third term. Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab. The principles of rock magnetism and
physical stratigraphy; emphasis on the detailed application of paleo-
magnetic techniques to the determination of the history of the geo-
magnetic field. Instructor: Kirschvink. Given in alternate years; offered
2020-21.

Ge 125. Geomorphology. 12 units (3-5-4); first term. Prerequisite: Ge

11 a or instructor’s permission. A quantitative examination of landforms,
runoff generation, river hydraulics, sediment transport, erosion and de-
position, hillslope creep, landslides and debris flows, glacial processes,
and submarine and Martian landscapes. Field and laboratory exercises
are designed to facilitate quantitative measurements and analyses of
geomorphic processes. Instructor: Lamb. Given in alternate years; of-
fered 2020-21.

Ge 126. Topics in Earth Surface Processes. 6 units (2-0-4); sec-

ond term. A seminar-style course focusing on a specific theme within
geomorphology and sedimentology depending on student interest. Po- 595
tential themes could include river response to climate change, bedrock
erosion in tectonically active mountain belts, or delta evolution on Earth
and Mars. The course will consist of student-led discussions centered
on readings from peer-reviewed literature. Instructor: Lamb.

Ge/Ch 127. Nuclear Chemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite:

instructor’s permission. A survey course in the properties of nuclei, and
in atomic phenomena associated with nuclear-particle detection. Topics
include rates of production and decay of radioactive nuclei; interaction
of radiation with matter; nuclear masses, shapes, spins, and moments;
modes of radioactive decay; nuclear fission and energy generation.
Instructor: Burnett. Given in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 Ge/Ch 128. Cosmochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites:
instructor’s permission. Examination of the chemistry of the interstellar
medium, of protostellar nebulae, and of primitive solar-system objects
with a view toward establishing the relationship of the chemical evolu-
tion of atoms in the interstellar radiation field to complex molecules and
aggregates in the early solar system that may contribute to habitability.
Emphasis will be placed on identifying the physical conditions in vari-
ous objects, timescales for physical and chemical change, chemical
processes leading to change, observational constraints, and various
models that attempt to describe the chemical state and history of
cosmological objects in general and the early solar system in particular.
Instructor: Blake. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 131. Planetary Structure and Evolution. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. A critical assessment of the physi-
cal and chemical processes that influence the initial condition, evolu-
tion, and current state of planets, including our planet and planetary sat-
ellites. Topics to be covered include a short survey of condensed-matter
physics as it applies to planetary interiors, remote sensing of planetary
interiors, planetary modeling, core formation, physics of ongoing dif-
ferentiation, the role of mantle convection in thermal evolution, and
generation of planetary magnetic fields. Instructor: Stevenson.

Ge/Ay 132. Atomic and Molecular Processes in Astronomy and

Planetary Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite: instructor’s
permission. Fundamental aspects of atomic and molecular spectra that
enable one to infer physical conditions in astronomical, planetary, and
terrestrial environments. Topics will include the structure and spectra of
atoms, molecules, and solids; transition probabilities; photoionization
and recombination; collisional processes; gas-phase chemical reac-
tions; and isotopic fractionation. Each topic will be illustrated with ap-
plications in astronomy and planetary sciences, ranging from planetary
atmospheres and dense interstellar clouds to the early universe. Instruc-
tor: Blake. Given in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge/Ay 133. The Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Review current theoretical ideas and obser-
vations pertaining to the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
596 Topics to be covered include low-mass star formation, the protoplan-
etary disk, accretion and condensation in the solar nebula, the forma-
tion of gas giants, meteorites, the outer solar system, giant impacts,
extrasolar planetary systems. Instructor: Batygin.

Ge 136 abc. Regional Field Geology of the Southwestern United

States. 3 units (1-0-2); first, second, or third terms, by announcement.
Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab or Ge 101, or instructor’s permission. Includes
approximately three days of weekend field trips into areas displaying
highly varied geology. Each student is assigned the major responsibility
of being the resident expert on a pertinent subject for each trip. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Kirschvink.

Courses
Ge/Ay 137. Planetary Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-
sites: Ph 106 abc, ACM 95/100 ab. A quantitative review of dynamical
processes that characterize long-term evolution of planetary systems.
An understanding of orbit-orbit resonances, spin-orbit resonances,
secular exchange of angular momentum and the onset of chaos will
be developed within the framework of Hamiltonian perturbation theory.
Additionally, dissipative effects associated with tidal and planet-disk
interactions will be considered. Instructor: Batygin.

Ge/ESE 139. Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation. 9 units (3-

0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ph 2, or instructor’s permis-
sion. The basic physics of absorption and scattering of light by mol-
ecules, aerosols, and clouds. Theory of radiative transfer. Band models,
correlated-k distributions and other approximate methods. Solar
insolation, thermal emission, heating rates and radiances. Applications
to Earth, Planets and Exoplanets. Instructor: Yung. Given in alternate
years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 140 a. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

An introduction to the principles and applications of stable isotope sys-
tems to earth science, emphasizing the physical, chemical and biologi-
cal processes responsible for isotopic fractionation, and their underlying
chemical-physics principles. Topics include the kinetic theory of gases
and related isotopic fractionations, relevant subjects in quantum me-
chanics and statistical thermodynamics, equations of motion of charged
particles in electrical and magnetic fields (the basis of mass spectrom-
etry), the photochemistry of isotopic species, and applications to the
earth, environmental and planetary sciences. Instructor: Eiler. Taught in
odd years; alternates with Ge 140b. Offered 2020-21.

Ge 140 b. Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. An introduction to the principles and applications of radiogenic
isotope systems in earth science, with emphasis on the applications of
these systems, from dating to forensic. Topics to be covered include nu-
cleosynthesis, radioactive decay phenomena, geochronology, geochro-
nometry, isotopes as tracers of solar system and planetary evolution,
extinct radioactivities, cosmogenic isotopes and forensic geochemistry.
Instructor: Tissot. Taught in even years; alternates with Ge 140a. Not
offered 2020-21. 597

Ge/ESE 140 c. Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ge 140a or equivalent. An introduction to the use of
stable isotopes in biogeochemistry, intended to give interested students
the necessary background to understand applications in a variety of
fields, from modern carbon cycling to microbial ecology to records of
Ancient Earth. Topics include the principles of isotope distribution in
reaction networks; isotope effects in enzyme-mediated reactions, and in
metabolism and biosynthesis; characteristic fractionations accompany-
ing carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling; and applications of stable iso-
topes in the biogeosciences. Instructor: Sessions. Not offered 2020-21.

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 Ge 141. Isotope Cosmochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequi-
sites: Instructor’s permission. An introduction to the study of the origin,
abundances and distribution of the elements and their isotopes in the
Universe, with emphasis on the isotopic constraints into the condi-
tions, events and processes that shaped our Solar System. Topics to
be covered include: cosmology and the age of the Universe, the age of
the Milky Way and the duration of nucleosynthesis, the fundamentals of
isotopic fractionations, the key roles of isotopic anomalies in under-
standing Solar System dynamics, early Solar System chronology from
short- and long-lived nuclei, chondritic meteorite components as clues
to solar nebula and asteroid evolution, as well as planetary formation
and chronology (e.g., Moon, Mars, Earth). Instructor: Tissot.

ESE/Ge 142. Aquatic Chemistry of Natural Waters. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. For course description, see Environmental Science and
Engineering.

Ge/ESE 143. Organic Geochemistry. 9 units (3-2-4); third term.

Prerequisite: Ch 41 a or equivalent. Main topics include the analysis,
properties, sources, and cycling of natural organic materials in the
environment, from their production in living organisms to burial and de-
composition in sediments and preservation in the rock record. Specific
topics include analytical methods for organic geochemistry, lipid struc-
ture and biochemistry, composition of organic matter, factors controlling
organic preservation, organic climate and CO2 proxies, diagenesis and
catagenesis, and biomarkers for ancient life. A laboratory component
(three evening labs) teaches the extraction and analysis of modern
and ancient organic biomarkers by GC/MS. Class includes a manda-
tory one-day (weekend) field trip to observe the Monterey Formation.
Instructor: Sessions. Offered 2020-21.

Ge 145. Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometry. 9 units (1-4-4); first term.

This class provides a hands-on introduction to the construction and
operating principles of instrumentation used for isotope-ratio mass
spectrometry. The class is structured as a 1-hour lecture plus 4-hour
lab each week examining the major subsystems of an IRMS, includ-
ing vacuum systems, ionization source, mass analyzer, and detector.
Laboratories involve hands-on deconstruction and re-assembly of a
598 retired IRMS instrument to examine its components. Course is limited
to 6 students at the discretion of the instructor, with preference given to
graduate students using this instrumentation in their research. Instruc-
tor: Sessions. Taught in odd-numbered years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge/ESE 149. Marine Geochemistry. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: ESE 102. Introduction to chemical oceanography and
sediment geochemistry. We will address the question “Why is the ocean
salty?” by examining the processes that determine the major, minor, and
trace element distributions of seawater and ocean sediments. Topics
include river and estuarine chemistry, air/sea exchange, nutrient uptake
by the biota, radioactive tracers, redox processes in the water column

Courses
and sediments, carbonate chemistry, and ventilation. Instructor: Adkins.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge/ESE 150. Planetary Atmospheres. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisites: Ch 1, Ma 2, Ph 2, or equivalents. Origin of planetary
atmospheres, escape, and chemical evolution. Tenuous atmospheres:
the moon, Mercury, and outer solar system satellites. Comets. Vapor-
pressure atmospheres: Triton, Io, and Mars. Spectrum of dynamical
regimes on Mars, Earth, Venus, Titan, and the gas giant planets. Instruc-
tor: Knutson.

Ge 151. Planetary Surfaces. 9 units (3-3-3); first term. We will review

the mechanisms responsible for the formation and modification of the
surfaces of solar system bodies, studying both composition and physi-
cal processes. Topics include exogenous processes (impact cratering,
space weathering) and endogenous processes (tectonic, volcanic,
weathering, fluvial, aeolian, and periglacial) that shape the surfaces of
planets. Lectures, occasional labs, and one required field trip. Instruc-
tor: Ehlmann.

Ge/ESE 154. Readings in Paleoclimate. 3 units (1-0-2); second term.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Lectures and readings in areas
of current interest in paleoceanography and paleoclimate. Instructor:
Adkins.

Ge/ESE 155. Paleoceanography. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Pre-

requisites: ESE 102. Evaluation of the data and models that make up
our current understanding of past climates. Emphasis will be placed on
a historical introduction to the study of the past ten thousand to a few
hundred thousand years, with some consideration of longer timescales.
Evidence from marine and terrestrial sediments, ice cores, corals, and
speleothems will be used to address the mechanisms behind natural
climate variability. Models of this variability will be evaluated in light of
the data. Topics will include sea level and ice volume, surface tempera-
ture evolution, atmospheric composition, deep ocean circulation, tropi-
cal climate, ENSO variability, and terrestrial/ocean linkages. Instructor:
Adkins. Given in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 156. Topics in Planetary Surfaces. 6 units (3-0-3). Offered by 599

announcement only. Reading about and discussion of current under-
standing of the surface of a selected terrestrial planet, major satellite,
or asteroid. Important “classic” papers will be reviewed, relative to the
data that are being returned from recent and current missions. May be
repeated for credit.

Ge/EE/ESE 157 c. Remote Sensing for Environmental and Geologi-

cal Applications. 9 units (3-3-3); third term. Analysis of electromagnetic
radiation at visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths for interpretation of
the physical and chemical characteristics of the surfaces of Earth and
other planets. Topics: interaction of light with materials, spectroscopy
of minerals and vegetation, atmospheric removal, image analysis, clas-

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 sification, and multi-temporal studies. This course does not require but
is complementary to EE 157ab with emphasis on applications for geo-
logical and environmental problems, using data acquired from airborne
and orbiting remote sensing platforms. Students will work with digital
remote sensing datasets in the laboratory and there will be one field trip.
Instructor: Ehlmann.

Ge/Ay 159. Astrobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. We approach

the age-old questions “Why are we here?” and “Are we alone?” by cov-
ering topics in cosmology, the origins of life, planetary habitability, the
detection of biosignatures, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence,
and humanity’s future in space. Specific topics include: the emergence
of life at hydrothermal vents; the habitable zone and the Gaia hypothe-
sis; the search for ancient habitable environments on Mars; icy satellites
like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan as astrobiological prospects; and the
hunt for atmospheric biosignatures on exoplanets. Instructor: Yung. Giv-
en in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab. Continuum Mechanics of Fluids and Solids. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ge 161. Plate Tectonics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite: Ge 11

ab or equivalent. Geophysical and geological observations related to
plate tectonic theory. Instantaneous and finite motion of rigid plates on a
sphere; marine magnetic and paleomagnetic measurements; seismicity
and tectonics of plate boundaries; reference frames and absolute plate
motions. Interpretations of geologic data in the context of plate tecton-
ics; plate tectonic evolution of the ocean basins. Instructor: Stock.

Ge 162. Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: ACM

95/100 ab or equivalent. Review of concepts in classical seismology.
Topics to be covered: basic theories of wave propagation in the earth,
instrumentation, Earth’s structure and tomography, theory of the seismic
source, physics of earthquakes, and seismic risk. Emphasis will be
placed on how quantitative mathematical and physical methods are
used to understand complex natural processes, such as earthquakes.
Instructor: Zhan.

600 Ge 163. Geodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite: Ae/

Ge/ME 160 ab. Quantitative introduction to the dynamics of the earth,
including core, mantle, lithosphere, and crust. Mechanical models are
developed for each of these regions and compared to a variety of data
sets. Potential theory applied to the gravitational and geomagnetic
fields. Special attention is given to the dynamics of plate tectonics and
the earthquake cycle. Instructor: Gurnis.

Ge 164. Mineral Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites:

Ge 11 ad or equivalent, or instructor’s permission. Introduction to the
mineral physics of Earth’s interior. Topics covered: mineralogy and
phase transitions at high pressures and temperatures; elasticity and
equations of state; vibrational, electronic, and transport properties;

Courses
application of mineral physics data to Earth and planetary interiors.
Instructor: Jackson.

Ge 165. Geophysical Data Analysis and Seismic Imaging. 9 units

(3-0-6); first term. Prerequisites: basic linear algebra and Fourier
transforms. Introduction to modern digital analysis: discrete Fourier
transforms, filters, correlation, convolution, deconvolution and auto-
regressive models. Imaging with seismic reflection and refraction data,
tomography, receiver functions and surface waves. Instructor: Clayton.
Not offered 2020-21.

Ge 166. Hydrology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Math 1

or equivalent. Introduction to hydrology. Focus will be on how water
moves on earth, including in groundwater, rivers, oceans, glaciers, and
the atmosphere. Class will be based in fluid mechanics, which will be
covered. Specific topics will include the Navier-Stokes equation, Darcy’s
law, aquifer flow, contaminant transport, turbulent flow, gravity waves,
tsunami propagation, geostrophic currents, Ekman transport, glacier
flow laws, and the Hadley circulation. Instructor: Staff. Not offered
2020-21.

Ge 167. Tectonic Geodesy. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: a working knowledge of unix/linux or equivalent, linear algebra,
and coursework in geophysics. An introduction to the use of modern
geodetic observations (e.g., GPS and InSAR) to constrain crustal
deformation models. Secular velocity fields, coseismic and time-
dependent processes; volcano deformation and seasonal loading phe-
nomena. Basic inverse approaches for parameter estimation and basic
temporal filtering algorithms. Instructor: Simons. Given in alternate
years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 169 abcd. Readings in Geophysics. 6 units (3-0-3); first, second,

third, fourth terms. Reading courses are offered to teach students
to read critically the work of others and to broaden their knowledge
about specific topics. Each student will be required to write a short
summary of each paper that summarizes the main goals of the paper,
to give an assessment of how well the author achieved those goals,
and to point out related issues not discussed in the paper. Each stu-
dent will be expected to lead the discussion on one or more papers. 601
The leader will summarize the discussion on the paper(s) in writing.
A list of topics offered each year will be posted on the Web. Indi-
vidual terms may be taken for credit multiple times without regard to
sequence. Instructor: Staff.

ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II. 3 units (3-0-0). For

course description, see Environmental Science and Engineering.

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 CE/ME/Ge 173. Mechanics of Soils. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For
course description, see Civil Engineering.

ME/CE/Ge 174. Mechanics of Rocks. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For

course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Ge 177. Active Tectonics. 12 units (3-3-6); third term. Prerequisites:

Ge 112 and Ge 106 or equivalent. Introduction to techniques for
identifying and quantifying active tectonic processes. Geomorphology,
stratigraphy, structural geology, and geodesy applied to the study of
active faults and folds in a variety of tectonic settings. Relation of seis-
micity and geodetic measurements to geologic structure and active
tectonics processes. Review of case studies of selected earthquakes.
Instructor: Avouac. Offered in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge/ESE/Bi 178. Microbial Ecology. 9 units (3-2-4); second term. Pre-

requisites: Either ESE/Bi 166 or ESE/Bi 168. Structural, phylogenetic,
and metabolic diversity of microorganisms in nature. The course
explores microbial interactions, relationships between diversity and
physiology in modern and ancient environments, and influence of
microbial community structure on biogeochemical cycles. Introduction
to ecological principles and molecular approaches used in microbial
ecology and geobiological investigations. Instructor: Orphan. Offered
in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 190. The Nature and Evolution of the Earth. Units to be ar-

ranged. Offered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions
of problems of current interest in the earth sciences. Students may
enroll for any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence.
Instructor: Staff.

Ge 191. Special Topics in Geochemistry. Units to be arranged. Of-

fered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of problems
of current interest in geochemistry. Students may enroll for any or all
terms of this course without regard to sequence. Instructors: Staff.

Ge 192. Special Topics in the Geological Sciences. Units to be ar-

ranged. Offered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of
602 problems of current interest in the geological sciences. Students may
enroll for any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence.
Instructor: Staff.

Ge 193. Special Topics in Geophysics. Units to be arranged. Offered

by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of problems of
current interest in geophysics. Students may enroll for any or all terms
of this course without regard to sequence. Instructor: Staff.

Ge 194. Special Topics in Planetary Sciences: Europa Seminar.

Units to be arranged. First term. Advanced-level discussions of prob-
lems of current interest in planetary sciences. Students may enroll for

Courses
any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence. Instructor:
Brown.

Ge 195. Special Topics in Field Geology. Units to be arranged. Offered

by announcement. Field experiences in different geological settings.
Supporting lectures will usually occur before and during the field experi-
ence. This course will be scheduled only when special opportunities
arise. Class may be taken more than once. Instructor: Staff.

Ge 196. Special Topics in Atmospheres and Oceans. Units to be

arranged. Offered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions
of problems of current interest in atmospheric and ocean sciences.
Instructor: Staff.

Ge 197. Special Topics in Geobiology. Units to be arranged. Offered

by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of problems of cur-
rent interest in geobiological sciences. Students may enroll for any or all
terms of this course without regard to sequence. Instructor: Staff.

Ay/Ge 198. Special Topics in the Planetary Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. For course description, see Astrophysics.

Ge 211. Applied Geophysics II. Units to be arranged; first term.

Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Intensive geophysical field experi-
ence in either marine or continental settings. Marine option will include
participation in a student training cruise, with several weeks aboard a
geophysical research vessel, conducting geophysical measurements
(multibeam bathymetry, gravity, magnetics, and/or seismics), and
processing and interpreting the data. Supporting lectures and problem
sets on the theoretical basis of the relevant geophysical techniques and
the tectonic background of the survey area will occur before and during
the training cruise. The course might be offered in a similar format in
other isolated situations. The course will be scheduled only when op-
portunities arise and this usually means that only six months’ notice can
be given. Auditing not permitted. Class may be taken more than once.
Instructor: Stock. Not offered 2020-21.

Ge 212. Thermodynamics of Geological Systems. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Prerequisites: Either Ch 21 abc, Ge 115 a, or equivalents. 603
Chemical thermodynamics as applied to geological and geochemical
problems. Classical thermodynamics, including stability criteria, homo-
geneous and heterogeneous equilibria, equilibria subject to generalized
constraints, equations of state, ideal and non-ideal solutions, redox
systems, and electrolyte conventions. Brief discussion of statistical
foundations and an introduction to the thermodynamics of irreversible
processes. Instructor: Asimow. Given in alternate years; not offered
2020-21.

Ge 214. Spectroscopy of Minerals. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisites: Ge 114 a, Ch 21 ab, or instructor’s permission. An overview of
the interaction of minerals with electromagnetic radiation from gamma

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 rays to microwaves. Particular emphasis is placed on visible, infrared,
Raman, and Mössbauer spectroscopies as applied to mineralogical
problems such as phase identification, chemical analysis, site popula-
tions, and origin of color and pleochroism. Instructor: Rossman. Given
in alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 215. Topics in Advanced Petrology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisite: Ge 115 ab or instructor’s permission. Lectures, readings,
seminars, and/or laboratory studies in igneous or metamorphic petrolo-
gy, paragenesis, and petrogenesis. The course may cover experimental,
computational, or analytical methods. Format and content are flexible
according to the needs of the students. Instructor: Asimow. Given in
alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 218. Stable Isotopes Seminar. 6 units (3-0-3); second term. Pre-

requisites: Ge 140 or permission of instructor. The course deals with
advanced topics in stable isotope geochemistry and builds on Ge 140.
The course will explore in depth the theory and applications of a subject
in stable isotope geochemistry, selected by consensus of the enrolled
students at or before the beginning of term. Example subjects could
include: stable isotope thermometry; paleoclimate studies; paleoal-
timetry; the early solar system; terrestrial weathering; photochemistry;
or biosynthetic fractionations. The class will read and discuss classic
papers in that subject area, supplemented with instructor lectures and
broader background reading. All participants will lead discussions of
papers and present one lecture on a relevant subject. Instructor: Eiler.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 219. Non-traditional Isotopes Seminar. 6 units (2-0-4); third term.

Prerequisites: Ge 140a or b, or permission of instructor. The course
deals with advanced topics in stable and radiogenic isotope geo-/
cosmochemistry and builds on Ge 140a and b, with emphasis on non-
traditional isotope systems (Mg, Fe, Ti, Mo, U, etc.). Starting with close
examination of seminal papers, each topic will build up to a discussion
of the remaining outstanding questions. Topics to be covered will be
guided by class interests. Example subjects could include: the early
solar system, extinct radioactivities, nucleosynthetic anomalies, the
early Earth, paleoredox reconstructions, medical use of stable isotopes.
604 All participants will lead discussions of papers and present a lecture on
a relevant subject. Grades will include participation, a review/proposal
paper, and oral examination(s). Instructor: Tissot.

CE/Ge/ME 222. Earthquake Source Processes, Debris Flows, and

Soil Liquefaction: Physics-based Modeling of Failure in Granular
Media. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. For course description, see Civil
Engineering.

Ae/AM/ME/Ge 225. Special Topics in Solid Mechanics. Units to be

arranged. For course description, see Aerospace.

Courses
Ge/Bi 244. Paleobiology Seminar. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. Critical
reviews and discussion of classic investigations and current research in
paleoecology, evolution, and biogeochemistry. Instructor: Kirschvink.

Ge/Bi/ESE 246. Molecular Geobiology Seminar. 6 units (2-0-4); first

term. Critical reviews and discussion of classic papers and current re-
search in microbiology and geomicrobiology. As the topics will vary from
year to year, it may be taken multiple times. Instructor: Orphan.

Ge 261. Advanced Seismology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Continua-

tion of Ge 162 with special emphasis on particular complex problems;
includes generalizations of analytical methods to handle nonplanar
structures and methods of interfacing numerical-analytical codes in two
and three dimensions; construction of Earth models using tomographic
methods and synthetics. Requires a class project. Instructor: Zhan.

Ge 263. Computational Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-

requisites: introductory class in geophysics, class in partial differential
equations, some programming experience. Finite-difference, pseudo-
spectral, finite-element, and spectral-element methods will be pre-
sented and applied to a number of geophysical problems including heat
flow, deformation, and wave propagation. Students will program simple
versions of methods. Instructors: Clayton, Gurnis. Given in alternate
years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 264. Machine Learning in Geophysics. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ge 118 or equivalent. An overview of machine learn-
ing algorithms and their usage in current geophysical research. Both su-
pervised and unsupervised learning will be covered. Algorithms include
deep neural networks, ensemble learning, clustering, and dimensionality
reduction. The course will address data requirements, current limita-
tions, and the role of machine learning in the future of geophysics. In-
structor: Ross.

Ae/AM/CE/ME/Ge 265 ab. Static and Dynamic Failure of Brittle

Solids and Interfaces, from the Micro to the Mega. 9 units; (3-0-6).
For course description, see Aerospace.

ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab. Dynamic Fracture and Frictional Faulting. 9 units 605
(3-0-6). For course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Bi/BE/Ch/ChE/Ge 269. Integrative Projects in Microbial Science and

Engineering. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Biology.

Ge 270. Continental Tectonics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequi-

sites: ACM 95/100 or ACM 113; Ge 11 ab, Ge 106, Ge 162, or Ge 161.
The nature of nonplate, finite deformation processes in the evolution
of the continental lithosphere, using the Alpine orogen as an example.
Rheological stratification; isostatic and flexural response to near-vertical
loads; rifting and associated basin development; collision and strike-

Geological and Planetary Sciences

 slip tectonics; deep crustal processes. Instructor: Wernicke. Given in
alternate years; offered 2020-21.

Ge 277. Active Tectonics Seminar. 6 units (2-0-4); second term.

Discussion of key issues in active tectonics based on a review of the
literature. The topic of the seminar is adjusted every year based on
students’ interest and recent literature. Instructor: Avouac. Given in
alternate years; not offered 2020-21.

Ge 297. Advanced Study. Units to be arranged.

Ge 299. Thesis Research. Original investigation, designed to give train-

ing in methods of research, to serve as theses for higher degrees, and to
yield contributions to scientific knowledge.

HISTORY
Hum/H 2. Twentieth Century African American History. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 3. The United States in the Twentieth Century. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 5. The History of the Chinese Empire. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 8 a. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: Before Greece:

The Origins of Civilization in Mesopotamia. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 8 b. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: The Develop-

ment of Science from Babylon through the Renaissance. 9 units
(3-0-6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 8 c. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: The Nature of

Religious Beliefs in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel. 9 units
606 (3-0-6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 9 a. European Civilization: The Classical and Medieval

Worlds. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 9 b. European Civilization: Early Modern Europe. 9 units (3-0-

6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 9 c. European Civilization: Modern Europe. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Humanities.

Courses
Hum/H 10. Medieval Europe: The Problem of Violence. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/H 11. Love and Death: Using Demography to Study the His-
tory of Europe from 1700. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Humanities.

Hum/H 12. Social Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course descrip-
tion, see Humanities.

Hum/H/HPS 16. Visualizing the Heavens: Images and Instruments

of Early Modern Astronomy. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/H/HPS 17. Making Life Legible: Materials and Methods in

the History of Modern Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/H/HPS 18. Introduction to the History of Science. 9 units (3-0-

6). For course description, see Humanities.

H 60. Reading in History. Units to be determined for the individual by

the division; any term. Reading in history and related subjects, done
either in connection with the regular courses or independently, but
under the direction of members of the department. A brief written report
will usually be required. Graded pass/fail. Not available for credit toward
humanities-social science requirement.

E/H/VC 89. New Media Arts in the 20th and 21st Centuries. 9 units
(3-0-6). For course description, see Engineering.

H 98. Reading in History. 9 units (1-0-8). Prerequisite: instructor’s

permission. An individual program of directed reading in history, in areas
not covered by regular courses. Instructor: Staff.

H 99 abc. Research Tutorial. 9 units (1-0-8). Prerequisite: instructor’s

permission. Students will work with the instructor in the preparation
of a research paper, which will form the basis of an oral examination.
Instructor: Staff. 607

H 108 a. The Early Middle Ages. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This
course is designed to introduce students to the formative period of
Western medieval history, roughly from the fourth through the tenth
centuries. It will emphasize the development of a new civilization from
the fusion of Roman, Germanic, and Christian traditions, with a focus
on the Frankish world. The course focuses on the reading, analysis, and
discussion of primary sources. Instructor: Brown.

H 108 b. The High Middle Ages. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course
is designed to introduce students to European history between 1000
and 1400. It will provide a topical as well as chronological examination

History
 of the economic, social, political, and religious evolution of western
Europe during this period, with a focus on France, Italy, England, and
Germany. The course emphasizes the reading, analysis, and discussion
of primary sources. Instructor: Brown.

H 109. Medieval Knighthood. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course

tells the story of the knight from his beginnings in the early Middle Ages,
through his zenith in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, to his decline
and transformation in the late medieval and early modern periods. The
course treats the knight not simply as a military phenomenon but also
as a social, political, religious, and cultural figure who personified many
of the elements that set the Middle Ages apart. Not offered 2020-21.

H 111. The Medieval Church. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course
takes students through the history of the medieval Christian Church
in Europe, from its roots in Roman Palestine, through the zenith of its
power in the high Middle Ages, to its decline on the eve of the Reforma-
tion. The course focuses on the church less as a religion (although it
will by necessity deal with some basic theology) than as an institution
that came to have an enormous political, social, cultural, and economic
impact on medieval life, and for a brief time made Rome once more the
mistress of Europe. Instructor: Brown. Not offered 2020-21.

H 112. The Vikings. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course will take
on the Scandinavian seafaring warriors of the 8th–11th centuries as a
historical problem. What were the Vikings, where did they come from,
and how they did they differ from the Scandinavian and north German
pirates and raiders who preceded them? Were they really the horned-
helmeted, bloodthirsty barbarians depicted by modern popular media
and by many medieval chronicles? What effect did they have in their
roughly two centuries of raiding and colonization on the civilizations of
medieval and ultimately modern Europe? Instructor: Brown. Not offered
2020-21.

H 123. Ordinary People: Uncovering Everyday Life in the European

Past. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. In the historical record, much atten-
tion is given to wealthy elites (rulers and lawmakers, aristocrats, wealthy
merchants), since they were the ones who left written records of their
608 political and economic activities and their personal affairs. But what
about the vast majority of people who lived in the past, most of whom
were barely literate and had little opportunity to ‘make history’? What
can we know about them? This class focuses on the lives of ordinary
people, and the sources historians use to learn about them. Special at-
tention will be given to women, the poor, and other marginalized groups
in societies ranging from England in the west to Russia in the east. In-
structor: Dennison. Not offered 2020-21.

H 125. Soviet Russia. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Why was the Rus-
sian Revolution of 1917 successful? And how did the Soviet system
survive nearly 75 years? These questions will be addressed in the wider
context of Russian history, with a focus on political, economic, and

Courses
social institutions in the pre- and post-revolutionary period. Subjects
covered include the ideological underpinnings of Bolshevism, Lenin and
the Bolshevik coup, the rise of Stalin, collectivization, socialist realism,
the command economy, World War II, the Krushchev ‘thaw’, dissident
culture and the arts, popular culture, and Gorbachev’s perestroika. A
variety of sources will be used, including secondary historical literature,
fiction, film, and art. Instructor: Dennison. Not offered 2020-21.

H 131. History of Extinction. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Humans are in

the midst of the sixth mass extinction—the first to be caused by human
activity. Extinction has been viewed in changing ways over the past 200
years, and this course takes an interdisciplinary approach to learn-
ing about the extinction process from a historical as well as a modern
perspective. Our focus will be on the extinction of biological entities, but
we will also touch on other systems that have disappeared: languages,
technologies, habitats, and ways of living. Central to our endeavors will
be asking what it means to live in this time of loss: Should we mourn?
And if so, how do we mourn for what many or most of us do not see,
but only read about? Finally, we will scrutinize what the practical effects
of extinction have been, are, and will be. We will also make at least one
visit to a natural history museum to view some extinct species behind
the scenes. Instructor: Lewis.

H 132. Humanistic Ecology. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Humans’

conceptions of nature have changed dramatically over time. Ecological
systems influence human culture, politics, law, and many other spheres,
and in turn, humans influence those systems. This class introduces
students to the field of humanistic ecology—a discipline that looks to a
number of cultural, political, historical and economic elements to better
understand the role of ecology in a larger sphere outside of its scientific
structure and uses. Humanistic ecology is designed to provide context
for the study of ecology, and in a fundamental way, focuses on the ap-
propriate role of humanity in its relationship to nature: what is ethical,
or not, what is useful, or not, and a variety of other matters that should
be considered when taking a fully three-dimensional view of ecological
science. Instructor: Lewis.

H 133. Forests and Humans. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Forests - which
cover 31 percent of the world’s land surface - have played essential 609
roles in enhancing the planet’s biodiversity. Forests have also served
humans in numerous and often controversial ways, and have also
been subjected to dramatic change through human activity. How well
have we served forests, as well as being served by them? The class
will cover the growth and use of forests from a humanistic and historic
perspective, as well as discussions about the role of fire in forests, with
a particular emphasis on the unprecedented forest fires in California in
the past several years and the global ecological implications. Instructor:
Lewis. Not offered 2020-21.

H 134. Birds, Evolution, Speciation and Society. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. The cultural, scientific, social and political roles of birds make them

History
 an excellent lens through which to view humans’ interactions with the
natural world. This course will cover our changing understandings of birds,
starting with hawking and falconry in earlier centuries, through the discov-
ery of new species, up through Darwinian understandings of speciation and
evolution, and continuing up to present scientific understandings of birds’
capabilities and their ties to humankind, as well as to other anchors in the
natural world. We will take a strong biographical as well as avian approach
to understanding key personalities who furthered our understandings of
avian science. Instructor: Lewis. Not offered 2020-21.

H 135. War, Conquest, and Empires. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This
course will use historical examples of war and conquest and ask why
some periods of history were times of warfare and why certain countries
developed a comparative advantage in violence. The examples will
come from the history of Europe and Asia, from ancient times up until
World War I, and the emphasis throughout will be on the interplay
between politics, military technology, and social conditions. Instructor:
Hoffman. Not offered 2020-21.

H 136. Caltech in the Archives. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This class will
introduce students to the methods of archival work in the humanities and
social sciences. Over the course of the quarter students will receive an
introduction to factors surrounding the collection, organization, and use of
various types of archives as a background to several small-scale projects
working in an archival collection of their own choosing. The seminar will
center around weekly projects and synthetic analytical essays about the
archival process and archival discoveries. Students hoping to combine their
course work with an archive-based research paper may sign up for a sepa-
rate independent study and conduct research concurrently, with instructor
approval. Instructor: Dykstra. Not offered 2020-21.

H 137. Criminals, Outlaws, and Justice in a Thousand Years of Chi-

nese History. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course explores the shifting
boundary between discourses of crime and disobedience over the last
millennium or so of Chinese history. It offers fictional, philosophical, po-
litical, propagandistic, official, and personal writings on crime and those
who commit it as a basis for a wide-ranging series of discussions about
when breaking the law is good, when breaking the law is bad, and who
610 gets to decide where the line between a criminal and an outlaw should
be drawn. Instructor: Dykstra.

H 138. The Way. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course introduces
students to some of the seminal writings on the meaning of life, the
essentials of rulership, and the place of the individual in the universe
from the history of Chinese thought and philosophy. Students are given
selected readings from several schools of thought in Chinese history,
with an emphasis on the formative Warring States era (the period of
the Hundred Schools of classical Chinese philosophy). Instead of being
asked to write expository or argumentative essays, participants in this
seminar will be introduced to analyzing and presenting texts using the
method of annotation. Exposure to the principles of annotation will pro-

Courses
vide students with a new approach to analyzing and talking about texts
both within a humanistic context and beyond. Not offered 2019–20. In-
structor: Dykstra. Not offered 2020-21.

H 139. Translation Theory and Practice (Chinese Historical Sources

Seminar). 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see L 139. Instructor:
Dykstra.

H/L 142. Perspectives on History through Russian Literature. 9

units (3-0-6); first term. The Russian intelligentsia registered the arrival
of modern urban society with a highly articulate sensitivity, perhaps
because these changes—industrialization, the breakdown of traditional
hierarchies and social bonds, the questioning of traditional beliefs—
came to Russia so suddenly. This gives their writings a paradigmatic
quality; the modern dilemmas that still haunt us are made so eloquently
explicit in them that they have served as models for succeeding genera-
tions of writers and social critics. This course explores these writings (in
English translation) against the background of Russian society, focusing
especially on particular works of Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Goncharov,
Tolstoy, and Turgenev. Instructor: Dennison.

H 149. Age of Fracture: America Since 1974. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. In this course, we will examine America after Richard Nixon’s
resignation in 1974, a period that historians have referred to as an age
of fracture and social disaggregation. Using fracture as a conceptual
framework to investigate American politics and culture in the last quar-
ter of the twentieth century, we’ll consider how the recent past has in-
formed present-day American society. Themes of study will include the
culture wars, political polarization, globalization, and the growing wealth
gap. In addition, we’ll investigate the theoretical and methodological
challenges of doing recent history. Instructor: Wiggins.

H 152. Where Do We Go from Here? Black America in the Post-Civil

Rights Era. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course will examine African
American politics, culture, and society in the decades following the pas-
sage of landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960s. Topics of discus-
sion will include deindustrialization and the rise of hip hop culture, black
feminist and queer thought, debates over welfare and affirmative action,
and mass incarceration. Analyzing a variety of political and cultural 611
artifacts as well as cutting-edge secondary literature, we will investigate
various moments in recent African American history to gain insight into
changing notions of rights, citizenship, equality, and freedom in Ameri-
can society. Instructor: Wiggins.

H/HPS 155 ab. Mortality Crises and Social Change: Epidemic

Disease from 1300 to the Present. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third
terms. What do we know about epidemics in the past? What did
contemporaries understand about these events? How did societies
respond to periodic bouts of epidemic disease? This course examines
mortality crises and epidemics from the Black Death in the 14th century
to the current coronavirus pandemic, with attention given to the impact

History
 of epidemics on societies, the ways in which such outbreaks have been
understood over time, and the kinds of responses they have elicited. We
will draw on studies for a range of societies in order to identify patterns
across space and time, and to highlight both continuity and change
in the ways societies have dealt with contagious diseases. Part (a) will
address these questions with a focus on society and economy. Part (b)
will address these questions with a focus on the history of science and
medicine. Instructors: Dennison, Kormos-Buchwald.

HPS/H 160. Einstein and His Generation: The History of Modern

Physical Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see History
and Philosophy of Science.

H 161. Selected Topics in History. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Instructor:

Styles.

HPS/H 162. Social Studies of Science. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

VC/H/HPS 163. Science on Screen. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Visual Culture.

VC/H/HPS 164. Fashion and Waste. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-
tion, see Visual Culture.

HPS/H 166. Historical Perspectives on the Relations between Sci-

ence and Religion. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see History
and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 167. Experimenting with History/Historic Experiment. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 168. History of Electromagnetism and Heat Science. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 169. Selected Topics in the History of Science and Technol-

ogy. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy
of Science.
612
HPS/H 170. History of Light from Antiquity to the 20th Century. 9
units (3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Sci-
ence.

HPS/H 171. History of Mechanics from Galileo through Euler. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 172. History of Mathematics: A Global View with Close-ups.

9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of
Science.

Courses
HPS/H 173. Carving Nature at its Joints: History of Natural Kinds
and Biological Individuality. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course de-
scription, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 174. Economies of Nature: Global History of Biotechnology. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. For course description, see History and Philoso-
phy of Science.

HPS/H 175. Matter, Motion, and Force: Physical Astronomy from

Ptolemy to Newton. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see History
and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 176. The Occult Origins of Modern Science: Alchemy, Astrol-

ogy, and Magic. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course description, see
History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/H 180. Forbidden Knowledge. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see History and Philosophy of Science.

H/HPS/VC 185. Angels and Monsters: Cosmology, Anthropology,

and the Ends of the World. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course
explores late medieval European understandings of the origins, structure,
and workings of the cosmos in the realms of theology, physics, astrono-
my, astrology, magic, and medicine. Attention is given to the position of
humans as cultural creatures at the intersection of nature and spirit; as
well as to the place of Christian Europeans in relation to non-Christians
and other categories of outsiders within and beyond Europe. We will
examine the knowledge system that anticipated racializing theories in
the West. Instructor: Wey-Gomez. Not offered 2020-21.

H/HPS/VC 186. From Plato to Pluto: Maps, Exploration and Culture

from Antiquity to the Present. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course
covers a broad range of topics in the history of maps and explora-
tion from Antiquity to the present. These topics range from the earliest
visualizations of earth and space in the Classical world to contemporary
techniques in interplanetary navigation. By way of maps, students will
explore various ways in which different cultures have conceptualized and
navigated earth and space. While maps emulate the world as perceived
by the human eye, they, in fact, comprise a set of observations and 613
perceptions of the relationship between bodies in space and time. Thus,
students will study maps, and the exploration they enable, as windows
to the cultures that have produced them, not only as scientific and
technical artifacts to measure and navigate our world. Instructors: Ceva,
Wey-Gomez.

H/L 191. Perspectives on History through German Literature. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. Industrialization, economic growth, and democracy
came to Germany much later than to England and France, and the forms
they took in Germany were filtered through the specific institutional
character of Central Europe. German-speaking writers and intellectuals
saw these trends from the perspective of indigenous intellectual tradi-

History
 tions, and the resulting collisions of values and priorities largely shaped
European and American social, political, and literary debates for much of
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This course explores these writ-
ings (in English translation) against the historical background of Central
European society, focusing on particular works of Goethe, Hoffmann,
Heine, Nietzsche, Kafka, Rilke, and Mann. Instructor: Dennison. Not
offered 2020-21.

H 192. The Crusades. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course will
introduce students to the series of religiously motivated European inva-
sions of the Middle and Near East that began at the end of the eleventh
century and that led to the creation of Latin Christian principalities in
Palestine. Though the crusading movement came to embroil much of
Europe itself, the course will focus strictly on the military expeditions to
what the Crusaders called the Holy Land, and the history of the Crusad-
er states up to the point of their destruction at the end of the thirteenth
century. The course will be guided by the following questions: how did
medieval Christianity justify wars of aggression against foreign peoples
and religions? What motivated western Europeans to leave their homes
and march into a hostile environment, where they often faced impover-
ishment if not death and where maintaining a Christian presence was a
constant struggle? How did they manage to erect stable political enti-
ties in alien territory that lasted as long as they did, and how did they
have to adapt their own culture to do so? Finally, how did the native
peoples of the regions the Crusaders invaded and conquered—Muslim
but also Christian and Jewish — perceive the Crusaders? How did the
Crusaders’ presence affect life in a region whose populations had their
own ancient histories and patterns of life? Instructor: Brown. Not offered
2020-21.

En/H 193. Cervantes, Truth or Dare: Don Quixote in an Age of Em-

pire. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see English.

En/H 197. American Literature and the Technologies of Reading. 9

units (3-0-6); For course description, see English.

H 201. Reading and Research for Graduate Students. Units to be

determined for the individual by the division.
614

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Hum/H/HPS 16. Visualizing the Heavens: Images and Instruments
of Early Modern Astronomy. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/H/HPS 17. Making Life Legible: Materials and Methods in

the History of Modern Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For course
description, see Humanities.

Courses
Hum/H/HPS 18. Introduction to the History of Science. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Humanities.

HPS 98. Reading in History and Philosophy of Science. 9 units

(1-0-8). Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. An individual program of
directed reading in history and philosophy of science, in areas not cov-
ered by regular courses. Instructor: Staff.

HPS 102 ab. Senior Research Seminar. 12 units (2-0-10). Offered in

any two consecutive terms, by arrangement with HPS faculty. Under the
guidance of an HPS faculty member, students will research and write
a focused research paper of 15,000 words (approximately 50 pages).
Work in the first term will comprise intensive reading in the relevant
literature and/or archival or other primary source research. In the sec-
ond term, students will draft and revise their paper. Open to seniors in
the HPS option and to others by special permission of an HPS faculty
member. Instructor: Staff.

HPS 103. Public Lecture Series. 1 unit; first, second, third terms. Stu-
dent attend four lectures, featuring speakers from outside Caltech, on
topics in the history and philosophy of science. Students may choose
from a variety of regularly scheduled HPS lectures, including HPS
seminars, Harris lectures, and Munro seminars (history or philosophy of
science only). Graded on attendance. Not available for credit toward the
humanities–social science requirement. Graded pass/fail. Instructors:
Visiting lecturers.

HPS/Pl/CS 110. Causation and Explanation. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. An examination of theories of causation and explanation in
philosophy and neighboring disciplines. Topics discussed may include
probabilistic and counterfactual treatments of causation, the role of
statistical evidence and experimentation in causal inference, and the
deductive-nomological model of explanation. The treatment of these
topics by important figures from the history of philosophy such as
Aristotle, Descartes, and Hume may also be considered. Instructor:
Eberhardt.

HPS/Pl 120. Introduction to Philosophy of Science. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. An introduction to fundamental philosophical problems 615
concerning the nature of science. Topics may include the character of
scientific explanation, criteria for the conformation and falsification of
scientific theories, the relationship between theory and observation,
philosophical accounts of the concept of “law of nature,” causation,
chance, realism about unobservable entities, the objectivity of science,
and issues having to do with the ways in which scientific knowledge
changes over time. Instructor: Sebens.

HPS/Pl 122. Probability, Evidence, and Belief. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Philosophical and conceptual issues arising from the study of
probability theory and how it relates to rationality and belief. Topics dis-
cussed may include the foundations and interpretations of probability,

History and Philosophy of Science

 arguments for and against the view that we ought to have personal de-
grees of belief, rational change in beliefs over time, and the relationship
between probability and traditional epistemological topics like evidence,
justification, and knowledge. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/Pl 123. Introduction to the Philosophy of Physics. 9 units (3-

0-6); first term. Prerequisites: Ph 1abc or instructor’s permission. This
course will examine the philosophical foundations of the physical theo-
ries covered in the freshman physics sequence: classical mechanics,
electromagnetism, and special relativity. Topics may include: the goals
of physics; what laws of nature are; the unification of physical theories;
symmetries; determinism; locality; the reality of fields; the arrow of time.
Instructor: Hubert.

HPS/Pl 124. Philosophy of Space and Time. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. This course will focus on questions about the nature of space and
time, particularly as they arise in connection with physical theory. Topics
may include the nature and existence of space, time, and motion; the
relationship between geometry and physical space (or space-time);
entropy and the direction of time; the nature of simultaneity; and the
possibility of time travel. Instructor: Hubert. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/Pl 125. Philosophical Issues in Quantum Physics. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. Prerequisites: Ph 2b, Ph 12b, or Ch 21a. This course will
focus on philosophical and foundational questions raised by quan-
tum physics. Questions may include: Is quantum mechanics a local
theory? Is the theory deterministic or indeterministic? What is the role
of measurement and observation? Does the wave function always obey
the Schrödinger equation? Does the wave function give a complete
description of the state of a system? Are there parallel universes? How
are we to understand quantum probabilities? Instructor: Hubert.

HPS/Pl 128. Philosophy of Mathematics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

An examination of conceptual issues that arise in mathematics. The
sorts of issues addressed may include the following: Are mathemati-
cal objects such as numbers in some sense real? How do we obtain
knowledge of the mathematical world? Are proofs the only legitimate
source of mathematical knowledge? What is the relationship between
616 mathematics and the world? How is it possible to apply abstract theory
to the world? Views of major historical figures such as Plato, Hume,
Kant, and Mill, as well as of contemporary writers are examined. The
course will also examine philosophical issues that arise in particular
areas of mathematics such as probability theory and geometry. Instruc-
tor: Hitchcock.

HPS/Pl 136. Happiness and the Good Life. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.
This course will critically examine the emerging science of happiness
and positive psychology, its philosophical assumptions, methodology,
and its role in framing social policy and practice. Topics to be addressed
include: the relation between happiness as subjective well-being or
life satisfaction and philosophical visions of the good life; the relation

Courses
between happiness and virtue; the causes of happiness and the role
of life experience; happiness and economic notions of human welfare,
attempts to measure happiness, and the prospect for an economics of
happiness; happiness as a brain state and whether brain science can
illuminate the nature of happiness; mental illness and psychiatry in light
of positive psychology. Instructor: Quartz.

HPS/Pl 138. Human Nature and Society. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This
course will investigate how assumptions about human nature shape
political philosophy, social institutions, and social policy. The course will
begin with a historical perspective, examining the work of such political
philosophers as Plato, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx, along with such
psychologists as Freud and Skinner. Against this historical perspective,
it will then turn to examine contemporary views on human nature from
cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology and explore their
potential implications for political philosophy and social policy. Among
topics to be discussed will be the nature of human sociality and coop-
eration; economic systems and assumptions regarding production and
consumption; and propaganda, marketing, and manipulation. Instructor:
Quartz.

HPS/Pl 139. Human Nature, Welfare, & Sustainability. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Policy makers since at least the time of Jeremy Bentham
have argued that welfare maximization ought to be the goal of social
policy. When this includes perfectionist notions of realizing one’s
capacities, economic prosperity, prosocial norms, and democratization
have all coincided as key drivers of human development. Although the
UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisions worldwide
inclusive and sustainable economic growth, there is substantial debate
regarding the extent to which sustainability and economic growth are
compatible. This course will critically examine the links between human
welfare, economic growth, and material culture to better understand
why economic growth and welfare have been taken to be intertwined
- and the extent to which they could be decoupled. Our starting point
will be the Brundtland report, its conception of welfare based on human
needs, and subsequent articulations of needs-based theories of human
welfare, including evolutionary and biological accounts that include
social comparison processes such as esteem, status, and recognition.
This will provide us with a theoretical framework for investigating the 617
role of material culture in satisfying these needs and whether they may
be satisfied by less resource-intense routes. Instructor: Quartz. Not of-
fered 2020-21.

H/HPS 155 ab. Mortality Crises and Social Change: Epidemic Dis-
ease from 1300 to the Present. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms. For
course description, see History.

HPS/H 160. Einstein and His Generation: The History of Modern

Physical Sciences. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. An exploration of the
most significant scientific developments in the physical sciences,
structured around the life and work of Albert Einstein (1879-1955), with

History and Philosophy of Science

 particular emphasis on the new theories of radiation, the structure of
matter, relativity, and quantum mechanics. While using original Einstein
manuscripts, notebooks, scientific papers, and personal correspon-
dence, we shall also study how experimental and theoretical work in
the sciences was carried out; scientific education and career patterns;
personal, political, cultural, and sociological dimensions of science.
Instructor: Kormos-Buchwald. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/H 162. Social Studies of Science. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. A

comparative, multidisciplinary course that examines the practice of
science in a variety of locales, using methods from the history, sociol-
ogy, and anthropology of scientific knowledge. Topics covered include
the high-energy particle laboratory as compared with a biological one;
Western as compared to non-Western scientific reasoning; the use of
visualization techniques in science from their inception to virtual reality;
gender in science; and other topics. Instructor: Feingold.

VC/H/HPS 163. Science on Screen. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Visual Culture.

VC/H/HPS 164. Fashion and Waste. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-
scription, see Visual Culture.

HPS/Pl 165. Selected Topics in Philosophy of Science. 9 units (3-0-

6); offered by announcement. Instructors: Staff, visiting lecturers.

HPS/H 166. Historical Perspectives on the Relations between Sci-

ence and Religion. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. The course devel-
ops a framework for understanding the changing relations between
science and religion in Western culture since antiquity. Focus will be
on the ways in which the conceptual, personal, and social boundar-
ies between the two domains have been reshaped over the centuries.
Questions to be addressed include the extent to which a particular reli-
gious doctrine was more or less amenable to scientific work in a given
period, how scientific activity carved an autonomous domain, and the
roles played by scientific activity in the overall process of seculariza-
tion. Instructor: Feingold.

618 HPS/H 167. Experimenting with History/Historic Experiment. 9

units (3-0-6). third term. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, and Ph 2 abc (may be
taken concurrently). This course uses a combination of lectures with
hands-on laboratory work to bring out the methods, techniques, and
knowledge that were involved in building and conducting historical
experiments. We will connect our laboratory work with the debates and
claims made by the original discoverers, asking such questions as how
experimental facts have been connected to theories, how anomalies
arise and are handled, and what sorts of conditions make historically
for good data. Typical experiments might include investigations of
refraction, laws of electric force, interference of polarized light, electro-
magnetic induction, or resonating circuits and electric waves. We will
reconstruct instrumentation and experimental apparatus based on a

Courses
close reading of original sources. Instructor: Buchwald, J. Not offered
2020-21.

HPS/H 168. History of Electromagnetism and Heat Science. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, and Ph 2 abc (may be taken
concurrently). This course covers the development of electromagne-
tism and thermal science from its beginnings in the early 18th century
through the early 20th century. Topics covered include electrostatics,
magnetostatics, electrodynamics, Maxwell’s field theory, the first and
second laws of thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics as well as
related experimental discoveries. Instructor: Buchwald.

HPS/H 169. Selected Topics in the History of Science and Technol-

ogy. 9 units (3-0-6). Instructors: Staff, visiting lecturers.

HPS/H 170. History of Light from Antiquity to the 20th Century. 9

units (3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, and Ph 2
abc (may be taken concurrently). A study of the experimental, math-
ematical, and theoretical developments concerning light, from the time
of Ptolemy in the 2nd century A.D. to the production of electromag-
netic optics in the 20th century. Instructor: Buchwald, J. Not offered
2020-21.

HPS/H 171. History of Mechanics from Galileo through Euler. 9

units (3-0-6). Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, and Ph 2 abc (may be taken con-
currently). This course covers developments in mechanics, as well as
related aspects of mathematics and models of nature, from just before
the time of Galileo through the middle of the 18th century, which saw
the creation of fluid and rotational dynamics in the hands of Euler and
others. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/H 172. History of Mathematics: A Global View with Close-ups.

9 units (3-0-6); offered by announcement. The course will provide stu-
dents with a brief yet adequate survey of the history of mathematics,
characterizing the main developments and placing these in their chron-
ological, cultural, and scientific contexts. A more detailed study of a
few themes, such as Archimedes’ approach to infinite processes, the
changing meanings of “analysis” in mathematics, Descartes’ analytic
geometry, and the axiomatization of geometry c. 1900; students’ input 619
in the choice of these themes will be welcomed. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/H 173. Carving Nature at its Joints: History of Natural Kinds

and Biological Individuality. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. In Plato’s Pha-
edrus, Socrates famously described the virtues of two complementary
ways of looking at the world. The first entailed “seeing together things
that are scattered about everywhere and collecting them into one kind,”
while the second was the skill “to cut up each kind according to its
species along its natural joints, and to try not to splinter any part, as a
bad butcher might do.” In a similar sentiment, Darwin wrote in 1857, “It
is good to have hair-splitters and lumpers.” How have naturalists and
biologists perceived similarities and differences in the living world? How
have they divided nature into kinds and individuals? How have they

History and Philosophy of Science

 distinguished between parts and wholes? This course explores these
and related questions through the history of biology, from Renaissance-
era natural histories through present-day studies of molecular evolution.
Other topics covered will include histories of comparative anatomy,
immunology, mutations, commensalism, cloning, and biodiversity con-
servation. Instructor: Kollmer.

HPS/H 174. Economies of Nature: Global History of Biotechnol-

ogy. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Humans excel at using other organisms,
including other humans, as means to ends. From the beginnings of
agriculture, our species has cultivated crops, livestock, and microbial
fermenters as living technologies of production. In modern industrial
economies, human uses of life have undergone radical changes, as
have the values humans assigned different forms of life. Agriculture un-
derwent rationalization and intensification, increasing yields many times
over. Scaled-up fermentation techniques served to preserve food, man-
ufacture drugs, and process wastes. In vitro fertilization and somatic cell
nuclear transfer permitted dramatic interventions in sexual reproduc-
tion. This course will explore these and other histories of biotechnology
across different temporal, geographic, and cultural contexts, paying
special attention to the ambivalent relationships that arose between
user and used in such instrumentalizations of life. Instructor: Kollmer.

HPS/H 175. Matter, Motion, and Force: Physical Astronomy from

Ptolemy to Newton. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. The course will ex-
amine how elements of knowledge that evolved against significantly dif-
ferent cultural and religious backgrounds motivated the great scientific
revolution of the 17th century. Not offered 2020-21.

HPS/H 176. The Occult Origins of Modern Science: Alchemy,

Astrology, and Magic. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Modern science is
often described as a rational, empirical, and objective search for truth
about nature. But how, when, and why did science come to acquire
these qualities? Many scholars look to the exciting developments and
discoveries of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe-the
so-called “Scientific Revolution”-as the defining period for the emer-
gence of modern science. If “modern” science is defined in these terms,
then “premodern” science must have looked more like pseudo-science,
620 superstition, or myth. However, that is far from the truth. In this course,
we’ll work to uncover the role that the occult sciences, including alche-
my, astrology, and magic, played in the formation of modern science.
Our studies of the occult sciences will force us to think more deeply
about what distinguishes modern science from the occult sciences, and
to question why their role in the development of modern science has
also been obscured. Instructor: Gaida.

HPS/H 180. Forbidden Knowledge. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Why

does the notion of freedom of knowledge and teaching in science
and engineering matter? What kinds of restrictions have been placed
on scientists and engineers, their publications and institutions? Who
restrained scientific and engineering knowledge of what sorts; for what

Courses
reasons; and how successfully? These questions will be addressed by
exploring the strategies developed by the U.S. research community
to protect the international circulation of knowledge after World War
II, when scientific freedom and the export of technical data had to be
balanced with the needs of national security. Case studies will include
the atomic bomb, the semiconductor industry in the 1970s and space
technologies, notably rockets/missiles, in the 1990s. The threat to U.S.
economics and military security posed by the Soviet Union in the Cold
War, and by China today, has transformed the practice of research in
university and in industry alike building new walls around the production
and circulation of knowledge to affirm national sovereignty that is, all the
while, being undermined by the global circulation of trained scientists
and engineers. Instructor: Faculty. Not offered 2020-21.

H/HPS/VC 185. Angels and Monsters: Cosmology, Anthropology,

and the Ends of the World. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
History.

H/HPS/VC 186. From Plato to Pluto: Maps, Exploration and Culture

from Antiquity to the Present. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see History.

HUMANITIES
Hum/H 2. Twentieth Century African American History. 9 units (3-
0-6); second, third terms. In this introductory course, we will discuss
twentieth-century African American history by examining debates that
have defined black politics, culture, and society. With a focus on analyz-
ing primary sources and critiquing secondary literature, we will trace the
contours of historical and historiographical debates in African American
history and gain an understanding of the diversity of thought and expe-
rience among black Americans. Instructor: Wiggins.

Hum/H 3. The United States in the Twentieth Century. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Designed to introduce students to the academic study of
history, this course examines key issues and events that shaped the
political, social, and cultural history of the United States in the Twentieth 621
Century. Through a wide variety of historical sources—including primary
documents, fiction, and music—students will explore issues such as
popular culture, immigration and labor, the civil rights movement, politi-
cal realignment, and American intervention abroad. Instructor: Wiggins.
Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/H 5. The History of the Chinese Empire. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. This class will explore several facets of how the concept of empire
and its historical formation in China was defined, portrayed, and devel-
oped over time. It offers students a chance to reflect on the interaction
of event, record, and remembrance as these components combine in
the creation and contestation of history. This course will particularly em-

Humanities
 phasize how the making, writing, and remembering of history responds
to the advent of different regimes of legitimacy in order to give students
a new perspective on the relationship between action, authorship, and
interpretation in history. Instructor: Dykstra. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/H 8 a. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: Before Greece:

The Origins of Civilization in Mesopotamia. 9 units (3-0-6); second,
third terms. This course will introduce students to the early development
of civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt from 4000 B.C.E. through 1000
B.C.E. Origins of agriculture and writing, the evolution of the city, and
the structures of the Mesopotamian economy and social order will be
discussed. Comparison with contemporary developments in Egypt dur-
ing the Old and Middle Kingdoms may include a reading of Gilgamesh
from 3000 B.C.E. and of the Egyptian Tale of Sinuhe. The course con-
cludes with a discussion of life during the late Bronze Age. Focus will be
on life as it was lived and experienced by many groups in pre-classical
antiquity rather than on kings and dynasties. Instructor: Buchwald.

Hum/H 8 b. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: The Develop-

ment of Science from Babylon through the Renaissance. 9 units
(3-0-6); second, third terms. Connections in antiquity between astrology
and astronomy, early theories of light, Islamic science, new concepts
of knowledge during the European Middle Ages and Renaissance, the
early laboratory, the development of linear perspective, the origins of
the Copernican and Keplerian systems of astronomy, and the science of
Galileo. Instructors: Buchwald. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/H 8 c. Civilization, Science, and Archaeology: The Nature of

Religious Belief in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel. 9 units
(3-0-6); offered by announcement. The civilizations of Egypt and Meso-
potamia gave rise to complex forms of religious practices connected to
the social order, moral behavior, and the afterlife. The course examines
the origins of concepts of moral death and of sin as a violation of cos-
mic order in antiquity, the nature of polytheism, and the manner in which
monotheism arose out of it. In addition to historical analyses the course
includes readings by anthropologists who have studied cult structures
as well as contemporary theories by evolutionary psychologists. Not
offered 2020-21.
622
Hum/H 9 a. European Civilization: The Classical and Medieval
Worlds. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by announcement. Will survey the evolu-
tion of Mediterranean and European civilization from antiquity through
the end of the Middle Ages. It will emphasize the reading and discus-
sion of primary sources, especially but not exclusively literary works,
against the backdrop of the broad historical narrative of the periods.
The readings will present students with the essential characteristics
of various ancient and medieval societies and give students access to
those societies’ cultural assumptions and perceptions of change. Not
offered 2020-21.

Courses
Hum/H 9 b. European Civilization: Early Modern Europe. 9 units
(3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Will survey the evolution of European
civilization from the 14th century to the early 19th century. The topics
covered will depend on the individual instructor, but they will include
some of the major changes that transformed Western civilization in the
early modern period, such as the Renaissance, the Reformation, the
rise of sovereign states and the concomitant military revolution, the Sci-
entific Revolution and the Enlightenment, and the French and industrial
revolutions. Readings will include major works from the period, as well
as studies by modern historians. Instructors: Hoffman, Wey-Gomez.

Hum/H 9 c. European Civilization: Modern Europe. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. Will introduce students to major aspects of the politics and
culture of modernity that have profoundly transformed Western society
and consciousness from the French Revolution to the contemporary
era. A variety of historical, literary, and artistic works will be used to illu-
minate major social, intellectual, and cultural movements. The focus will
be on significant and wide-ranging historical change (e.g., the industrial
revolution, imperialism, socialism, fascism); on cultural innovation (e.g.,
modernism, impressionism, cubism); and on the work of significant
thinkers. Instructor: Kormos-Buchwald.

Hum/H 10. Medieval Europe: The Problem of Violence. 9 units (3-0-

6); first, second terms. This course will explore how people understood
violence in Europe between ca. 500 and ca. 1400 AD. It will focus on
the various norms that governed the use of violence in a period when
the right of free people to carry and use weapons was considered
self-evident. Working through primary sources, students will explore the
relationship between violence and vengeance, the law, central authority
and public order, religion, emotions, public ritual, and economics. As
they go along students will consider whether violence can coexist with
or even promote stable, ordered societies, or whether it by definition
creates disorder. Instructor: Brown.

Hum/H 11. Love and Death: Using Demography to Study the History
of Europe from 1700. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Demographic
events—births, marriages, deaths—have always been highly responsive
to changes in the local environment. Decisions about when to marry,
how many children to have, or what kind of household to live in have al- 623
ways been closely correlated to decisions people take in other areas of
their lives and, as a result, can tell us a great deal about the economic,
social, and cultural worlds people inhabit. This course examines differ-
ences in demographic trends in Europe across space and time, from
1700 to the present, as well as existing explanations for these differenc-
es, including political economic factors, social and cultural norms, biol-
ogy and disease environments. Some topics include: the demographic
effects of war, industrialization, and urbanization; changes related to
the emergence of reliable contraceptive technologies; changes related
to the expansion of economic opportunities for women; the effects of
government policies on demographic decisions. Instructor: Dennison.

Humanities
 Hum/H 12. Social Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course intro-
duces students to both canonical and non-canonical theories of society.
From the formative debates over the role of the state in human affairs
in early modern Europe to radical interpretations of social good in the
twentieth century, students will be exposed to competing theories of so-
ciety and their implications in the political, the economic, the emotional,
and the scientific realms. By the end of the quarter, students will be able
to link contemporary notions of individuality, agency, rationality, morality,
and ethics to divergent discourses in the history of social theory. In-
structor: Dykstra.

Hum 15. Special Topics in Humanities. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by an-

nouncement. This course will count as a freshman humanities course
in either English, history, philosophy, or visual culture, as announced. It
is usually taught by new or visiting faculty. The course may be re-taken
once if the second class is offered in a different discipline (from among
English, history, philosophy, and visual culture). Limited to 15 students.
See registrar’s announcement for details. Instructor: Staff.

Hum/H/HPS 16. Visualizing the Heavens: Images and Instruments

of Early Modern Astronomy. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. In Europe during
the period from 1450-1650, there were several radical “revisions” of the
universe. Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a sun-centered, rather than
earth-centered, cosmos. Galileo Galilei turned his telescope towards
the heavens and observed the Moon, Sun, and moons of Jupiter, and
the voyages of discovery led to an expansion of the known world. At
the same time, the innovation of the printing press played a crucial role
in disseminating information and in allowing for astronomical printed
images, including celestial atlases and maps, to reach a broad audi-
ence. Paintings of the heavens during this period are also a rich source
of shifting astronomical ideas. In this course, we’ll trace the role that
images and instruments of astronomy played in both producing and
reflecting these dramatic “revisions” of the universe. We’ll study astro-
nomical models, eclipse diagrams, almanacs, and printed instruments,
alongside astrolabes, telescopes, and celestial globes, to uncover how
images and instruments literally produced a new “vision” of a sun-cen-
tered universe for the early modern world. Instructor: Gaida.

624 Hum/H/HPS 17. Making Life Legible: Materials and Methods in the
History of Modern Biology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course is an
introductory exploration of the stuff of modern biology - the practices
and objects that biologists have used to produce knowledge of living
nature in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The course will look at
how familiar concepts (e.g. the cell, evolution, the gene) were shaped
by scientific workers’ adoption of different methods and materials. This
approach will allow us to situate biological inquiries within wider political
and cultural contexts, while also drawing our attention to the way instru-
ments mediated perceptions in the recording of observations and the
execution of experiments. We will trace continuities and changes in the
kinds of questions that naturalists and biologists posed, survey spaces
in which they pursued their work, and become acquainted with a variety

Courses
of humans, nonhuman organisms, chemicals, and machines assembled
in these spaces. These exercises will familiarize us with diverse forms of
labor in and beyond laboratories that have contributed to how humans
understood the living world. Instructor: Kollmer.

Hum/H/HPS 18. Introduction to the History of Science. 9 units (3-0-

6); second, third terms. Major topics include the following: What are the
origins of modern Western science, when did it emerge as distinct from
philosophy and other cultural and intellectual productions, and what are
its distinguishing features? When and how did observation, experiment,
quantification, and precision enter the practice of science? What were
some of the major turning points in the history of science? What is the
changing role of science and technology? Using primary and secondary
sources, students will take up significant topics in the history of science,
from ancient Greek science to the 20th-century revolution in physics,
biology, and technology. Hum/H/HPS 10 may be taken for credit toward
the additional 36-unit HSS requirement by HPS majors and minors who
have already fulfilled their freshman humanities requirement and counts
as a history course in satisfying the freshman humanities breadth re-
quirement. Instructor: Feingold.

Hum/En 20. The Epic Tradition. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. For
over 2,000 years epic poetry was the foremost genre of literature. The
most prestigious kind of poetry was also unusually competitive and self-
referential. Virgil imitates and revises Homer, Ovid mocks and criticizes
Virgil’s political agenda, and Milton transforms the entire epic tradition.
We will focus on the differing conceptions of heroism in Homer’s Iliad
and/or Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and Milton’s
Paradise Lost. Instructor: Pigman.

Hum/En 21. Monsters and Marvels. 9 units (3-0-6); first, third

terms. Marvels flourish at the boundaries of literary invention, religious
belief, and scientific inquiry, challenging assumptions about natural
processes and expected outcomes. From Grendel, the monstrous foe of
Beowulf, to Satan, Milton’s charismatic antihero, this seminar examines
the uses of the marvelous in a variety of texts and genres, including
Shakespearian drama, medieval romance, and early travel-writing.
Readings may include Beowulf, Marie de France, Chaucer, John Man-
deville, Shakespeare, Milton. Instructor: Jahner. 625

Hum/En 22. Inequality. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Throughout the

history of Europe, America, and beyond, poets and philosophers have
asked hard questions about unequal relationships, whether between
kings and subjects, gods and humans, men and women, rich and poor,
or machines and people. Our authors take no single point of view; our
goal is to analyze sophisticated and often surprising arguments and
to enter new cultural worlds. Readings may include Ovid, Milton, Sei
Shonagon, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Alexievich. Instructor: Haugen.
Not offered 2020-21.

Humanities
 Hum/En 23. Literature and Medicine. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The
relationship between patients and doctors, the ill and the well, involves
a constant exchange of stories. In this course we will look more closely
at the relationship between medicine and narrative through a selection
of fiction, essays and poems that investigate the interplay between
doubt and diagnosis, the idea of the case study, the problem of medical
responsibility, and the language of pain and illness. Authors covered
may include Sontag, Mantel, Conan Doyle, Freud, Woolf, Dickinson,
Ishiguro and Shelley. Instructor: Gilmore.

Hum/En 24. The Scientific Imagination in English Literature. 9

units (3-0-6); third term. This course considers three periods of major
scientific development—the Renaissance, the nineteenth century, and
the modern period— to explore the influence new ideas, discoveries,
and theories had on the imagination of English writers. We will look at
the early modern interplay between magic and science, Romantic and
Victorian debates about evolution, and the twentieth-century advent of
modern physics as we confront consistent tropes like the mad scientist,
the scientist-hero, and the problem of uncertainty. Authors covered may
include Shakespeare, Marlowe, Bacon, Shelley, Darwin, Conan Doyle,
Stevenson, Auden, McEwan, and Stoppard. Instructor: Gilmore. Not
offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 25. The Human Animal. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Euro-
pean literature has long been a testing ground for radical new ideas
which have come to shape our basic understanding of what it means to
be a thinking, speaking and perhaps even autonomous human being.
The question of what - if anything - makes us different from animals
was debated from numerous points of view: including talking dogs, phi-
losophizing women, bestial men, humanlike beasts, and other creatures
that defied the conventions of the time. This course explores some of
the key literary texts that shaped this debate and pays careful attention
to their cultural environments. Selected readings from Cervantes, La
Fontaine, Swift, Rousseau, Buffon, Aikin, and Wollstonecraft, among
others. Instructor: Holland. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 26. What Is Imagination? 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Albert Ein-
stein once said that imagination is everything, and even more important
626 than knowledge. This course invites you to think about - and use - your
imagination as we explore how the act of imagining has been viewed
over time in the service of memory and creativity, in both the arts and
the sciences. Readings will focus on the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries and will include Hume, Moritz, Kant, Novalis, Hoffmann,
Coleridge, and Wordsworth. Instructor: Holland.

Hum/En 27. Literature and the Problem of Belief. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. “On a huge hill, / Cragged and steep, Truth stands, and he that will
/ Reach her, about must and about must go.” In this verse, John Donne
captures the difficult and circling pursuit of truth, the mixed experience
of belief: it is at once a knowing and an unknowing. By tracing this
pursuit through the writings of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment,

Courses
we can explore how writers discovered belief and grappled with doubt,
what inspiration they claimed and how they reckoned with failures of
vision as they moved through a world increasingly filled with claims and
contradictions of the spirit. In our own pursuit of the experience of be-
lief, we shall read the prose and poetry of Margery Kempe, Montaigne,
Herbert, Hutchinson, Milton, Defoe, Blake, Barbauld, and Coleridge. In-
structor: Koch.

Hum/En 29. Dream Narratives. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Dream

narratives reveal as much about cultural beliefs and superstitions as
they do about techniques of narration and interpretation. This course
investigates key developments in the literature on dreams and dream
interpretations with examples drawn from the Renaissance through the
beginning of the nineteenth century. Selected readings from Boccaccio,
Descartes, Calderón, Shakespeare, and Diderot, among others. Instruc-
tor: Holland. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 33. Modern Metamorphoses. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Narratives of metamorphosis have traditionally used their dramatic sub-
ject matter—a radical change of form—as a vehicle for social criticism.
This course explores the ways in which twentieth-century writers experi-
ment with the concept of metamorphosis to take on the most pressing
political and social issues of their day, including slavery, women’s rights,
and critiques of capitalist excess. Readings to include Kafka, Garnett,
Orwell, Tawada, and Erpenbeck. Instructor: Holland. Not offered 2020-
21.

Hum/En 34. Literature and Deception. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. In

this course, we will be considering lying and other types of deception
from the point of view of literature and philosophy, with two main goals
in mind: 1) to compare cultural practices of deception at various times
in European history and 2) to think in general terms about the ability of a
literary text to convey truth and falsehood. Can a fictional text be “true”
in any meaningful sense, such as a political one? Or, as many people
have thought over time, is it more accurate to think about literature as a
beautiful lie? Readings will include the legend of Till Eulenspiegel as well
as texts by Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Diderot, and those relating to the
Ossian controversy. Instructor: Holland.
627
Hum/En 35. Major British Authors. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by an-
nouncement. This course will introduce students to one or more of the
genres of English literature, including poetry, drama, and prose fiction,
by studying major authors from different periods. Sometimes the course
will cover a wide range of authors, while at others it will concentrate on
a few. Authors might include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Austen,
George Eliot, or Joyce. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 36. American Literature and Culture. 9 units (3-0-6); offered

by announcement. Studies of American aesthetics, genres, and ideas
from the birth of the nation to the present. Students will be introduced
to the techniques of formal analysis. We will consider what constitutes

Humanities
 evidence in relation to texts and how to develop a persuasive interpre-
tation. Topics may include Nature’s Nation, slavery and its aftermath,
individualism and the marketplace, the “New Woman,” and the relation
between word and image. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 37. Modern European Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by

announcement. An introduction to literary analysis through a sustained
exploration of the rise and aftermath of modernism. What was the
modernist revolt of the early 20th century, how did it challenge literary
tradition and existing social forms, and to what extent have we inherited
a world remade by modernism? While the course will focus on British
and Continental literature, writers from other parts of the world whose
work closely engages the European tradition may also be considered.
Authors may include Flaubert, James, Conrad, Joyce, Woolf, Kafka,
Borges, Yeats, and Eliot. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/Pl 39. Ancient Greek Philosophy. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Ancient Greek philosophy is not only the root of philosophy but
of science in general. One of the most influential texts of this time is
Plato’s Republic, in which Plato gives his views on almost all aspects
of philosophical inquiry from metaphysics to political philosophy. The
Republic is still one of the best introductions to ancient philosophy, and
it is surprisingly accessible, also because it is written as a dialogue. We
will be reading this text in detail and apply Plato’s thought to current
problems in philosophy. Instructor: Hubert.

Hum/Pl 40. Right and Wrong. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. This
course addresses questions such as: Where do our moral ideas come
from? What justifies them? How should they guide our conduct, as
individuals and as a society? What kind of person should one aspire to
be? Topics the course may deal with include meta-ethical issues (e.g.,
What makes an action right or wrong? When is one morally responsible
for one’s actions? How should society be organized?) and normative
questions (e.g., Is eating meat morally acceptable? What should we
tolerate and why? What are society’s obligations toward the poor?). In
addition, the psychological and neural substrates of moral judgment
and decision making may be explored. The course draws on a variety of
sources, including selections from the great works of moral and political
628 philosophy (e.g., Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, Hobbes’s Leviathan,
Kant’s Groundings for a Metaphysics of Morals, and Rawls’s A Theory
of Justice), contemporary discussions of particular moral issues, and
the science of moral thought. Instructor: Faculty. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/En 40. Power, Politics, and Travel Literature: From Travelogue

to TripAdvisor. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course will investigate
the peculiar yet ubiquitous figure of “the tourist” in a world of uneven
mobilities fueled and exacerbated by economic disparity, climate
change, technology, border conflict, and racism. Guided by postco-
lonial and critical race theory as well as environmental and feminist
frameworks, we will explore and critique the “tourist gaze” as repre-
sented in literature and visual culture. Mapping the influential tropes of

Courses
early colonial travelogues across time and space, we will examine how
geopolitical power and structural inequality continue to shape tourism in
the global digital era. Possible authors include Njabulo Ndebele, Saidiya
Hartman, Jamaica Kincaid, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Dany Laferrière, Far-
zana Doctor, and James Baldwin. Instructor: Hori.

Hum/Pl 41. Knowledge and Reality. 9 units (3-0-6); first, third terms.
The theme of this course is the scope and limitations of rational belief
and knowledge. Students will examine the nature of reality, the nature
of the self, the nature of knowledge, and how we learn about the natural
world. Students will be introduced to these issues through selec-
tions from some of the world’s greatest philosophical works, including
Descartes’s Meditations, Pascal’s Pensées, Hume’s Enquiry Concern-
ing Human Understanding, Berkeley’s Principles of Human Knowledge,
and Kant’s Prolegomena to any Future Metaphysics. A variety of more
contemporary readings will also be assigned. Instructors: Eberhardt,
Hitchcock.

Hum/Pl 43. Meaning in Life. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Experienc-

ing one’s life as meaningful is important for most people. Yet, what is it
for a life to be meaningful? This course explores philosophical inquiries
into meaning in life, examining such questions as, How does meaning in
life relate to moral, epistemic, aesthetic, and hedonic final values in life?
What does meaning in life imply regarding the metaphysics of value?
What is the relation between meaning and welfare, achievement, and
goal-directedness? What sort of activities, from work to leisure, can
be sources of meaning in life? Drawing principally on recent work in
analytic philosophy, the course will also examine whether scientific ap-
proaches, principally neuroscience and psychology, can illuminate the
nature of meaning in life and will examine recent nihilistic challenges to
meaning in life. Instructor: Quartz.

Hum/Pl 44. Philosophy Through Science Fiction. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. This course will provide a broad introduction to philosophy using
examples from science fiction to make abstract philosophical problems
vivid. Topics may include: time travel and the reality of the past and
future; teleportation and what makes someone the same person over
time; fictional tales of extended deception and Cartesian skepticism;
futuristic utopias and the question of what make a life good; the moral 629
status of aliens and animals; intelligent robots and the relation between
mind and body; parallel universes and the philosophical foundations of
quantum physics. Instructor: Sebens.

Hum/Pl 45. Ethics & AI. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. How do we reconcile
the possibilities of modern machine learning with ethical and moral
demands of fairness, accountability and transparency? This course will
take a case study based approach to the challenges at the interface
of algorithms and human values. By exploring existing debates on
algorithmic bias, explainable AI and data ownership, students will be
exposed to the relevance of ethical systems of thought to modern social
questions. Instructor: Pham.

Humanities
 Hum/Pl 46. Thinking about Climate Change. 9 units (3-0-6); second
term. This course will critically examine the non-technological dimen-
sions of climate change and how broadening our discussions to incor-
porate these dimensions may help us effectively communicate about
climate change. First, we will examine climate change as an ethical
problem concerned with global distributive justice, intergenerational jus-
tice, and the anthropocentric values of sustainability vs. challenges from
deep ecology. We will then examine how people think about climate
change and how the ways we frame climate change affects people’s
reactions to it, including both motivating and demotivating them to act.
We will then examine how these dimensions may be incorporated into a
broader understanding of climate change and how this may be used to
develop strategies for effectively communicating about climate change.
Instructor: Quartz. Not offered 2020-21.

Hum/VC 48. Ways of Seeing. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. “The

knowledge of photography is just as important as that of the alphabet,”
wrote artist László Moholy-Nagy in 1928. “The illiterate of the future,”
he warned, “will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well
as the pen.” Almost a century later, this pronouncement rings as true as
ever in a world so profoundly shaped not just by photography but also
films, advertisements, and video games, cartoons and comics, molecu-
lar graphics and visual models. In this course we will explore how visual
culture shapes our lives and daily experiences, and we will learn to find
wonder in its rich details. In doing so, we will develop the visual literacy
that Moholy-Nagy envisioned: essential skills in reading, analyzing, dis-
cussing, and writing about visual materials and their circulation through
the physical and virtual networks that structure our world. Instructor:
Jacobson.

Hum/VC 49. Consuming Victorian Media. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Proliferating communication and entertainment media technolo-
gies in 19th-century England vexed the imagined boundaries between
humans and machines while catalyzing social anxieties about aesthet-
ics, attention, and distraction. We will explore both “old” (novels, paint-
ings, sculptures) and “new” forms of 19th-century media (telegraphs,
magic lanterns, and photography) as we analyze overly stimulating
Gothic print media in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, Wordsworth’s
630 contempt for popular entertainments in The Prelude, and the inversion
of imperial consumption in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a novel mediated
through characters’ telegrams, diary entries, and phonographic record-
ings. Authors studied also may include: Dickens, Christina Rossetti,
Doyle, Kipling, and Vernon Lee. Instructor: Sullivan.

Hum/VC 50. Introduction to Film. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. This course examines film as a technology, entertainment me-
dium, and commercial art with an emphasis on American and European
contexts. Students will acquire the basic vocabulary and techniques of
film analysis, with an emphasis on style and structure, and develop an
understanding of the historical development of film as both an art form
and an industry from 1895 through the twentieth century. Topics cov-

Courses
ered include actualities and the birth of narrative film, silent film comedy,
German expressionism, the Hollywood star system, Italian neo-realism,
and the French New Wave. Instructor: Jurca.

Hum 75. Selected Topics in Humanities. variable units; offered by

announcement. A course on a specialized topic in some area of the hu-
manities, usually taught by new or visiting faculty. Recent offerings have
included courses on film-making, poetry writing, speculative fiction, and
the difference between humans and other animals. The course may be
re-taken for credit except as noted in the course announcement. Class
size is normally limited to 8-15 students. See registrar’s announcement
for details. Instructors: Staff, visitors.

Hum 80. Frontiers in the Humanities. 1 unit (1-0-0); third term. Weekly
seminar by a member of the Caltech humanities faculty or a visitor to
discuss a topic of his or her current research at an introductory level.
The course can be used to learn more about different areas of study
within the humanities. For those interested in (or who become inter-
ested) in pursuing a second option in the humanities, the course will
introduce students to the kinds of research carried out by members of
the humanities faculty and help them find faculty advisers. Instructors:
Staff.

Hum 105 ab. Topics in French Culture and Literature. 9 units (3-0-6).
For course description, see L 105 ab.

Hum 114 abc. Spanish and Latin American Literature. 9 units (3-0-6).
For course description, see L 114 abc.

Hum 119. Selected Topics in Humanities. variable; offered by an-

nouncement. This is an advanced humanities course on a specialized
topic in some area of the humanities. It is usually taught by new or
visiting faculty. The course may be re-taken for credit except as noted
in the course announcement. Limited to 15 students. See registrar’s an-
nouncement for details. Instructors: Staff, visitors.

L/Hum 150 a. Japanese Literature in Translation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Languages.
631
L/Hum 150 b. Japanese Literature in Translation. 9 units (3-0-6). For
course description, see Languages.

L/Hum 152 ab. French Literature in Translation: Classical and Mod-

ern. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Languages.

L/Hum 162. Spanish and Latin American Literature in Translation. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Languages.

Hum 174. Advanced Chinese II: Topics in Chinese Literature. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see L 174.

Humanities
 INFORMATION AND DATA SCIENCES
IDS 9. Introduction to Information and Data Systems Research.
1 unit (1-0-0); second term. This course will introduce students to
research areas in IDS through weekly overview talks by Caltech faculty
and aimed at first-year undergraduates. Others may wish to take the
course to gain an understanding of the scope of research in computer
science. Graded pass/fail. Not offered 2020-21.

ACM/IDS 101 ab. Methods of Applied Mathematics. 12 units (4-4-4).

For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathematics.

ACM/IDS 104. Applied Linear Algebra. 9 units (3-1-5). For course

description, see Applied and Computational Mathematics.

CMS/ACM/IDS 107. Linear Analysis with Applications. 12 units

(3-0-9). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

CMS/ACM/IDS 113. Mathematical Optimization. 12 units (3-0-9). For

course description, see Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

ACM/EE/IDS 116. Introduction to Probability Models. 9 units (3-1-5).

For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathematics.

CS/IDS 121. Relational Databases. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Computer Science.

IDS/Ec/PS 126. Applied Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-
requisites: Math 3/103 or ACM/EE/IDS 116, Ec 122 or IDS/ACM/CS
157 or Ma 112a. Fundamentally, this course is about making arguments
with numbers and data. Data analysis for its own sake is often quite
boring, but becomes crucial when it supports claims about the world.
A convincing data analysis starts with the collection and cleaning of
data, a thoughtful and reproducible statistical analysis of it, and the
graphical presentation of the results. This course will provide students
with the necessary practical skills, chiefly revolving around statistical
632 computing, to conduct their own data analysis. This course is not an
introduction to statistics or computer science. I assume that students
are familiar with at least basic probability and statistical concepts up to
and including regression. Instructor: Katz.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127. Error-Correcting Codes. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 136. Topics in Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

Courses
CMS/CS/IDS 139. Analysis and Design of Algorithms. 12 units
(3-0-9). For course description, see Computation and Mathematical
Sciences.

Ma/ACM/IDS 140 ab. Probability. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms.

For course description, see Mathematics.

CS/IDS 142. Distributed Computing. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Computer Science.

CS/EE/IDS 143. Communication Networks. 9 units (3-3-3). For

course description, see Computer Science.

CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144. Networks: Structure & Economics. 12 units

(3-4-5). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical Sci-
ences.

CS/IDS 150 ab. Probability and Algorithms. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Computer Science.

CS/IDS 153. Current Topics in Theoretical Computer Science. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Computer Science.

ACM/IDS 154. Inverse Problems and Data Assimilation. 9 units (3-0-

6). For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathemat-
ics.

CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Machine Learning & Data Mining. 12

units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computing and Mathematical
Sciences.

IDS/ACM/CS 157. Statistical Inference. 9 units (3-2-4); third

term. Prerequisites: ACM/EE/IDS 116, Ma 3. Statistical Inference is
a branch of mathematical engineering that studies ways of extract-
ing reliable information from limited data for learning, prediction, and
decision making in the presence of uncertainty. This is an introductory
course on statistical inference. The main goals are: develop statistical
thinking and intuitive feel for the subject; introduce the most funda-
mental ideas, concepts, and methods of statistical inference; and 633
explain how and why they work, and when they don’t. Topics covered
include summarizing data, fundamentals of survey sampling, statistical
functionals, jackknife, bootstrap, methods of moments and maximum
likelihood, hypothesis testing, p-values, the Wald, Student’s t-, permu-
tation, and likelihood ratio tests, multiple testing, scatterplots, simple
linear regression, ordinary least squares, interval estimation, prediction,
graphical residual analysis. Instructor: Zuev.

IDS/ACM/CS 158. Fundamentals of Statistical Learning. 9 units (3-

3-3); third term. Prerequisites: Ma 3 or ACM/EE/IDS 116, IDS/ACM/CS
157. The main goal of the course is to provide an introduction to the
central concepts and core methods of statistical learning, an interdisci-

Information and Data Sciences

 plinary field at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, informa-
tion and data sciences. The course focuses on the mathematics and
statistics of methods developed for learning from data. Students will
learn what methods for statistical learning exist, how and why they work
(not just what tasks they solve and in what built-in functions they are im-
plemented), and when they are expected to perform poorly. The course
is oriented for upper level undergraduate students in IDS, ACM, and
CS and graduate students from other disciplines who have sufficient
background in probability and statistics. The course can be viewed as a
statistical analog of CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Topics covered include
supervised and unsupervised learning, regression and classification
problems, linear regression, subset selection, shrinkage methods,
logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, resampling techniques,
tree-based methods, support-vector machines, and clustering methods.
Not offered 2020-21.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159. Advanced Topics in Machine Learning. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Computer Science.

EE/CS/IDS 160. Fundamentals of Information Transmission and

Storage. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Electrical Engineer-
ing.

CS/IDS 162. Data, Algorithms and Society. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Computer Science.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 165. Foundations of Machine Learning and Statisti-

cal Inference. 12 units (3-3-6). For course description, see Computer
Science.

EE/CS/IDS 167. Introduction to Data Compression and Storage. 9

units (3-0-6). For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

ACM/EE/IDS 170. Mathematics of Signal Processing. 12 units (3-0-

9). For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathemat-
ics.

CS/IDS 178. Numerical Algorithms and their Implementation. 9 units

634 (3-3-3). For course description, see Computer Science.

IDS 197. Undergraduate Reading in the Information and Data Sci-

ences. Units are assigned in accordance with work accomplished; first,
second, third terms. Prerequisites: Consent of supervisor is required
before registering. Supervised reading in the information and data sci-
ences by undergraduates. The topic must be approved by the reading
supervisor and a formal final report must be presented on completion of
the term. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

IDS 198. Undergraduate Projects in Information and Data Sciences.

Units are assigned in accordance with work accomplished; first, second,
third terms. Prerequisites: Consent of supervisor is required before reg-

Courses
istering. Supervised research in the information and data sciences. The
topic must be approved by the project supervisor and a formal report
must be presented upon completion of the research. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Staff.

IDS 199. Undergraduate thesis in the Information and Data Scienc-

es. 9 units (1-0-8); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: instructor’s
permission, which should be obtained sufficiently early to allow time for
planning the research. Individual research project, carried out under the
supervision of a faculty member and approved by the option repre-
sentative. Projects must include significant design effort and a written
Report is required. Open only to upperclass students. Not offered on a
pass/fail basis. Instructor: Staff.

ACM/IDS 204. Topics in Linear Algebra and Convexity. 12 units (3-0-

9). For course description, see Applied and Computational Mathemat-
ics.

ACM/IDS 213. Topics in Optimization. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Applied and Computational Mathematics.

ACM/IDS 216. Markov Chains, Discrete Stochastic Processes and

Applications. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Applied and
Computational Mathematics.

INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IST 4. Information and Logic. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The course
explains the key concepts at the foundations of computing with physi-
cal substrates, including representations of numbers, Boolean algebra
as an axiomatic system, Boolean functions and their representations,
composition of functions and relations, implementing functions with
circuits, circuit complexity, representation of computational processes
with state diagrams, state diagrams as a composition of Boolean func-
tions and memory, and the implementation of computational processes
with finite state machines. The basic concepts covered in the course are
connected to advanced topics like programming, computability, logic, 635
complexity theory, information theory, and biochemical systems. Not of-
fered on a pass/fail basis. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech
core curriculum. Not offered 2019–20. Instructor: Bruck.

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES PROGRAM

Students who have chosen to enter the Interdisciplinary Studies
Program (ISP) instead of a formulated undergraduate option may
enroll in special ISP courses. These courses are designed to
accommodate individual programs of study or special research that
fall outside ordinary course offerings. The student and the instruc-
tor first prepare a written course contract specifying the work to be

Interdisciplinary Studies Program

 accomplished and the time schedule for reports on progress and
for work completed.
The units of credit and form of grading are decided by mutual
agreement between the instructor, the student, and his or her advi-
sory committee. See pages 301–302 for complete details.

LANGUAGES
L 60 ab. German Literature in Translation. 9 units (3-0-6). First term:
“Tales of Hollywood”, German exile literature 1933–45; second term:
German literature of the 19th century—Biedermeier, young Germany,
realism, and naturalism. Not offered 2020-21.

L 102 abc. Elementary French. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. The course uses a multimedia program, and emphasizes the
acquisition of fundamental skills: oral ability, comprehension, writing,
and reading. Students are evaluated on the basis of quizzes and com-
positions (1/3), midterm and final (1/3), and class participation (1/3). The
course is mainly designed for students with no previous knowledge of
French. Students who have had French in secondary school or college
must consult with the instructor before registering. Instructor: Orcel.

L 103 abc. Intermediate French. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: L 102 abc or equivalent. The first two terms feature
an extensive grammar review and group activities that promote self- ex-
pression. Op-Ed articles and a series of literary texts provide a basis for
classroom discussion and vocabulary expansion. Several short written
compositions are required. The third term is designed to further develop
an active command of the language. A variety of 19th- and 20th-century
short stories are discussed in class to improve comprehension and oral
proficiency. Students are expected to do an oral presentation, to write
four short compositions, and a final paper. Instructors: Merrill, Orcel.

L 104. French Cinema. 9 units (3-0-6); first term; Offered concurrently

with VC 104. Prerequisites: L 103 abc or equivalent. A critical survey of
major directors, genres, and movements in French cinema. Particular
636 attention is devoted to the development of film theory and criticism in
France and their relation to film production. The course may also focus
on problems of transposition from literature to cinema. The course
includes screenings of films by Melies, Dulac, Clair, Renoir, Carne, Pag-
nol, Cocteau, Bresson, Tati, Truffaut, Godard, Resnais, Lelouch, Malle,
Pialat, Rohmer, and Varda. Students are expected to write three 5-page
critical papers. Conducted in French. Students who write papers in
English may enroll in this class as VC 104, which satisfies the advanced
humanities requirement. Instructor: Orcel. Not offered 2020-21.

L 105 ab. Topics in French Culture and Literature. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Offered concurrently with Hum 105 ab. L 105 a and L
105 b taught in alternate years. Prerequisites: L 103 abc or equivalent.

Courses
Part a: 20th-century French literature. Part b: Contemporary France.
Conducted in French. Students who write papers in English may enroll
in this class as Hum 105 ab, which satisfies the advanced humanities
requirement. Part a not offered 2020-2021. Instructor: Orcel.

L 106 abc. Elementary Japanese. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Section a is required for sections b and c. Empha-
sis on oral-aural skills, and understanding of basic grammar. Immedi-
ate introduction of the native script—hiragana, katakana—and gradual
introduction to 300 to 500 characters. Instructor: Fujio.

L 107 abc. Intermediate Japanese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: L 106 abc or equivalent. Continued instruction and
practice in conversation, building up vocabulary, and understanding
complex sentence patterns. The emphasis, however, will be on devel-
oping reading skills. Recognition of approximately 1,000 characters.
Instructor: Hirai.

L 108 abc. Advanced Japanese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms.

Prerequisites: L 107 abc or equivalent. Developing overall language
skills. Literary and newspaper readings. Technical and scientific transla-
tion. Improvement of listening and speaking ability so as to communi-
cate with Japanese people in real situations. Recognition of the 1,850
general-use characters. Instructor: Hirai.

L/VC 109. Introduction to French Cinema from Its Beginning to the

Present. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This course will introduce students
to the artistic style and the social, historical, and political content of
French films, starting with Melies and the Lumiere brothers and working
through surrealism and impressionism, 1930s poetic realism, the Oc-
cupation, the New Wave, the Cinema du look, and the contemporary
cinema. The class will teach students to look at film as a medium with
its own techniques and formal principles. Conducted in English. Instruc-
tor: Orcel.

L 110 abc. Elementary Spanish. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Grammar fundamentals and their use in understanding, speak-
ing, reading, and writing Spanish. Exclusively for students with no previ-
ous knowledge of Spanish. Instructors: Arjona, Garcia. 637

L 112 abc. Intermediate Spanish. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisite: L 110 abc or equivalent. Grammar review, vocabu-
lary building, practice in conversation, and introduction to relevant his-
tory, literature, and culture. Literary reading and writing are emphasized
in the second and third terms. Students who have studied Spanish
elsewhere must consult with the instructor before registering. Instructor:
Arjona.

L 114 abc. Spanish and Latin American Literature. 9 units (3-0-6);

first, second, third terms. Offered concurrently with Hum 114 abc.
Prerequisites: L 112 abc or equivalent. First and second terms: study of

Languages
 literary texts from the Spanish American and Spanish traditions, their
cultural and historical relevance, covering all periods, with emphasis
on contemporary authors. Third term: contemporary topics in literature
and/or film of the Hispanic world. Conducted in Spanish. Students who
write papers in English may enroll in this class as Hum 114 abc, which
satisfies the advanced humanities requirement. Instructor: Garcia.

L 130 abc. Elementary German. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Grammar fundamentals and their use in aural comprehension,
speaking, reading, and writing. Students who have had German in
secondary school or college must consult with the instructor before
registering. Instructor: Aebi.

L 132 abc. Intermediate German. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisite: L 130 abc or equivalent. Reading of short stories
and plays, grammar review, aural and oral drills and exercises, expan-
sion of vocabulary, and practice in reading, writing, and conversational
skills. Second and third terms will emphasize written expression,
technical/ scientific translation, and literary readings. Students who
have studied German elsewhere must consult with the instructor before
registering. Instructor: Aebi.

L 139. Translation Theory and Practice (Chinese Historical Sources

Seminar). 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This seminar will introduce students
to the problems and practices of historical translation for academic pur-
poses, with a focus on primary materials from Chinese history. Students
will take responsibility for an individual translation project, participate in
seminar discussions and collaborative projects to improve the transla-
tions being made, and discuss the philosophical and methodological
questions at the heart of the practice of translation. Advanced proficien-
cy in written Chinese is required. Students who write analyses (4,000
words) of the sources being translated may enroll in this class as H 139,
which satisfies the advanced humanities credit. Instructor: Dykstra. Not
offered 2020-21.

L 140 abc. German Literature. 9 units (3-0-6). Prerequisite: L 132 c

or equivalent (two years of college German), or instructor’s permission.
Reading and discussion of works by selected 12th–21st-century au-
638 thors, current events on Internet/TV, exposure to scientific and technical
writing, business communication. Viewing and discussion of German-
language films. Conducted in German. Not offered 2020-21.

H/L 142. Perspectives on History through Russian Literature. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see History.

L/Hum 150 a. Japanese Literature in Translation. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Read and examine the selected classical Japanese literature and
its traditions from 7th to 11th century from the perspectives of women,
anti-heroes, and religions. A comparative analysis is applied to many
genres such as oral traditions, performing arts, films, picture scrolls,
comics, and anime to understand how Japanese think, and how Shinto

Courses
and Buddhism have formed their ways of life, ethics, and concepts of
life and death. Read selected portions of “The Kojiki”, “Manyoshu”,
“The Tale of Ise”, “The tale of the Bamboo-Cutter” (The Tale of the Moon
Princess), and “The Tale of Genji.” Instructor: Hirai. Not offered 2020-21.

L/Hum 150 b. Japanese Literature in Translation. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Read and examine the selected Medieval to pre-modern Japa-
nese literature and its traditions from 11th to 18th century from the per-
spectives of women, anti-heroes, and religions. A comparative analysis
is applied to many genres such as oral traditions, performing arts, films,
picture scrolls, comics, and anime to understand how Japanese think,
and how Shinto, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, as well as the social
systems, have formed their ways of life, ethics, and concepts of life and
death. Read “The Princess Who Loved Insects” from “The Tsutsumi-
Chunagon Monogatari”, selected chapters of “The Tale of The Heike”,
“The Konjyaku Monogatari”, and “Otogizoshi”. Also read “The Double
Suicide at Sonezaki” and “The Double Suicide at Amijima.” Instructor:
Hirai.

L/Hum 152 ab. French Literature in Translation: Classical and

Modern. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course introduces students
to masterpieces of French literature, from classical theater through the
19th century realist novel and Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. Top-
ics include the aesthetics of neoclassical theater, the rise of the novel,
historical and social contexts (the Old Regime, Bourbon Restoration,
1848 Revolution), and writers’ creative development. Terms may be
taken independently. Part a covers the period 1643 - 1789. Part b cov-
ers 1814-1918. Conducted in English, but students may read the French
originals. Part a not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Merrill.

L/VC 153. Refugees and Migrants’ Visual and Textual Representa-

tions. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course focuses on the refugees
and migrants’ images in documentaries, narrative films, graphic novels,
fictional texts, poetic works, and autobiographical narratives. It inves-
tigates how these representations participate in the development and
strengthening of political discourse. Works by authors such as Hannah
Arendt, Antje Ellermann, Achille Mbembe, Martin A. Schain, and Sasha
Polakow-Suransky will provide some context to our analysis. Topics
discussed in class include the historical and economic relationships of 639
Europe with the refugees and migrants’ countries of origin, the rise of
anti-immigrant politics and its significance for the future of the European
Union, but also its impact on social peace, in France in particular. This
course is taught in English. Instructor: Orcel. Not offered 2020-21.

L/Hum 162. Spanish and Latin American Literature in Translation. 9

units (3-0-6); offered by announcement. This class is an introduction to
the literary masterworks of the Hispanic tradition from the 16th to the 20th
centuries. Readings and discussions are in English, but students may read
Spanish originals. Not offered 2020-21.

Languages
 L 167. Latin Literature. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites:
Three years of high-school Latin. Major works of Latin literature, usually
one per term. No work will be studied more than once in four years and
students may repeat the course for credit. Instructor: Pigman.

L 170 abc. Introduction to Chinese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. An introductory course in standard Chinese (Mandarin) designed
for students with no previous knowledge of the language. The course
introduces the fundamentals of Chinese, including pronunciation, grammar,
and Chinese characters, emphasizing the four basic language skills: listen-
ing, speaking, reading, and writing. By the end of the three-term sequence,
students will have acquired knowledge of basic rules of grammar and the
ability to converse, read, and write on simple topics of daily life, and will
have command of more than 800 Chinese compounds and 700 characters.
Instructor: Wang.

L 171 abc. Elementary Chinese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.
Prerequisite: placement exam results or instructor’s permission. A fast-
paced course for students who have had prior exposure to the language.
Students are introduced to the basic principles of written and oral com-
munication. Emphasis will be placed on consolidating basic grammar, and
developing the ability to use the language creatively in talking about oneself
and in dealing with daily situations within a Chinese cultural context.
Instructor: Ming.

L 172 abc. Intermediate Chinese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.
Prerequisite: L 170 abc or L 171 abc or equivalent. A course designed to
meet the personal interests and future professional goals of students who
have had one year of elementary modern Chinese. Students will learn new
vocabulary, sentence patterns, idiomatic expressions, and proverbs, as well
as insights into Chinese society, culture, and customs. Instructor: Wang.

L 173 ab. Advanced Chinese. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Prerequi-
site: L 172 abc or equivalent. A course designed to further develop overall
language proficiency through extensive reading of selected texts represent-
ing a wide variety of styles and genres, including newspapers and maga-
zines, visual materials, and a selection of works of major modern writers.
Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Instructor: Ming.
640
L 174. Advanced Chinese II: Topics in Chinese Literature. 9 units (3-0-6);
third term. Offered concurrently with Hum 174. Prerequisites: instructor’s
permission. Reading and discussion of representative Chinese works from
the 16th century to the present, including contemporary works from China,
Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Conducted in Chinese. Students are expected to
examine literary works in light of their sociopolitical and historical contexts.
Students who write papers in English may enroll in this class as Hum 174,
which satisfies the advanced humanities requirement. Instructor: Ming.

L 175. French Conversation. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. Prerequisites: L

102 abc and L 103 abc or equivalent. Intense training in oral expression,
pronunciation, vocabulary, listening comprehension and fluency. The class

Courses
is designed for students planning to attend Ecole Polytechnique. Discus-
sion materials and guest lectures will focus on technical language to
prepare students for their classes in math and science. Taught in French.
Enrollment limited to 12. L 175 can be repeated for credit since the content
is never the same (different speakers, different articles discussed in class).
Instructor: Orcel.

H/L 191. Perspectives on History through German Literature. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see History.

LAW
Pl/Law 99. Causation and Responsibility. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Philosophy.

MATERIALS SCIENCE
MS 78 abc. Senior thesis. 9 units; first, second, third terms. Prerequi-
site: instructor’s permission. Supervised research experience, open only
to senior materials science majors. Starting with an open-ended topic,
students will plan and execute a project in materials science and engi-
neering that includes written and oral reports based upon actual results,
synthesizing topics from their course work. Only the first term may be
taken pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

MS 90. Materials Science Laboratory. 9 units (1-6-2); third term.

An introductory laboratory in relationships between the structure and
properties of materials. Experiments involve materials processing and
characterization by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy,
and optical microscopy. Students will learn techniques for measuring
mechanical and electrical properties of materials, as well as how to
optimize these properties through microstructural and chemical control.
Independent projects may be performed depending on the student’s
interests and abilities. Instructor: Hofmann.

MS 100. Advanced Work in Materials Science. The staff in materials 641

science will arrange special courses or problems to meet the needs of
students working toward the M.S. degree or of qualified undergraduate
students. Graded pass/fail for research and reading. Instructor: Staff.

APh/MS 105 abc. States of Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third
terms. For course description, see Applied Physics.

MS 110 abc. Materials Research Lectures. 1 unit (1-0-0); first, sec-

ond, third terms. A seminar course designed to introduce advanced
undergraduates and graduate students to modern research in materials
science. Instructors: Fultz, Faber, Bernardi.

Materials Science
 MS 115. Fundamentals of Materials Science. 9 units (3-0-6); first
term. Prerequisites: Ph 2. An introduction to the structure and properties
of materials and the processing routes utilized to optimize properties.
All major classes of materials are covered, including metals, ceram-
ics, electronic materials, composites, and polymers. The relationships
between chemical bonding, crystal structure, defects, thermodynamics,
phase equilibria, microstructure, and properties are described. Instruc-
tor: Faber.

MS/ME/MedE 116. Mechanical Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. Introduction to the mechanical behavior of solids, empha-
sizing the relationships between microstructure, architecture, defects,
and mechanical properties. Elastic, inelastic, and plastic properties of
crystalline and amorphous materials. Relations between stress and
strains for different types of materials. Introduction to dislocation theory,
motion and forces on dislocations, strengthening mechanisms in crys-
talline solids. Nanomaterials: properties, fabrication, and mechanics.
Architected solids: fabrication, deformation, failure, and energy absorp-
tion. Biomaterials: mechanical properties of composites, multi-scale
microstructure, biological vs. synthetic, shear lag model. Fracture in
brittle solids and linear elastic fracture mechanics. Instructor: Greer.

MS 121. Laboratory Research Methods in Materials Science. 9

units (1-4-4); second term. Prerequisites: MS 115 or graduate standing.
Introduction to experimental methods and approaches for the analysis
of structure, dynamics, and properties of materials. Staff members with
expertise in various areas including mechanical testing, calorimetry,
X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, solid
state NMR and electrochemistry will introduce and supervise experi-
ments in their specialty. As the situation permits, students are given a
choice in selecting experiments. Instructor: Ahn.

MS/APh 122. Diffraction, Imaging, and Structure. 9 units (0-4-5); third

term. Prerequisites: MS 132, may be taken concurrently. Experimental
methods in transmission electron microscopy of inorganic materials
including diffraction, spectroscopy, conventional imaging, high resolu-
tion imaging and sample preparation. Weekly laboratory exercises to
complement material in MS 132. Instructor: Ahn. Not Offered 2020-21.
642
MS 125. Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy. 9 units (1-
6-2); third term. Prerequisite: MS 122. Diffraction contrast analysis of
crystalline defects. Phase contrast imaging. Physical optics approach
to dynamical electron diffraction and imaging. Microbeam methods for
diffraction and imaging. Chemical analysis by energy dispersive X-ray
spectrometry and electron energy loss spectrometry. Instructor: Staff.
Not offered 2020-21.

MS 131. Structure and Bonding in Materials. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: graduate standing or introductory quantum mechan-
ics. Electronic structure and orbitals in atoms. Structure and symmetry
of crystals. Reciprocal space and Brillouin zone. Born-Oppenheimer

Courses
approximation. Bloch states and band theory. Tight binding and plane-
waves. Lattice vibrations and lattice waves. Total energy, entropy, and
Gibbs free energy in solids. Stability criteria. Bonding and electronic
structure in metals, semiconductors, ionic crystals, and transition metal
oxides. Point and line defects. Introduction to surfaces and amorphous
materials. Instructor: Bernardi.

MS 132. Diffraction and Structure. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-

requisites: graduate standing or instructor’s permission. Principles of
electron, X-ray, and neutron diffraction with applications to materials
characterization. Imaging with electrons, and diffraction contrast of
crystal defects. Kinematical theory of diffraction: effects of strain, size,
disorder, and temperature. Correlation functions in solids, with introduc-
tion to space-time correlation functions. Instructor: Fultz.

MS 133. Kinetic Processes in Materials. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: APh 105 b or ChE/Ch 164, or instructor’s permission. Kinetic
master equation, uncorrelated and correlated random walk, diffusion.
Mechanisms of diffusion and atom transport in solids, liquids, and gases.
Coarsening of microstructures. Nonequilibrium processing of materials.
Instructors: Faber.

MS 141. Introduction to Computational Methods for Science and

Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: graduate stand-
ing or instructor’s permission. An introduction to basic methods and
code development tools for scientific computing in the Python language,
including coding and visualization. Topics include: introduction to Python
and its packages Matplotlib, Numpy and SciPy. Numerical precision and
sources of error. Root-finding and optimization. Numerical differentiation
and integration. Discrete Fourier transforms. Numerical methods for ordi-
nary differential equations. Finite-difference methods for partial differential
equations. Introduction to numerical methods for solving linear systems
and eigenvalue problems. If time permits: selected topics on data analy-
sis with NumPy, Pandas and Matplotlib. Students will develop numerical
calculations in the homework and in a final project. Instructor: Bernardi.

MS 142. Application of Diffraction Techniques in Materials Sci-

ence. 9 units (2-3-4); second term. Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission.
Applications of X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to the structural 643
characterization of materials. Emphasis is on the analysis of polycrys-
talline materials but some discussion of single crystal methods is also
presented. Techniques include quantitative phase analysis, crystalline size
measurement, lattice parameter refinement, internal stress measurement,
quantification of preferred orientation (texture) in materials, Rietveld re-
finement, and determination of structural features from small angle scat-
tering. Homework assignments will focus on analysis of diffraction data.
Samples of interest to students for their thesis research may be examined
where appropriate. Not offered 2020-21.

MS 150 abc. Topics in Materials Science. Units to be arranged; first,

second, third terms. Content will vary from year to year, but will be at a

Materials Science
 level suitable for advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Top-
ics are chosen according to the interests of students and faculty. Visiting
faculty may present portions of the course. Instructor: Staff.

MS/ME 161. Imperfections in Crystals. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisite: graduate standing or MS 115. The relation of lattice defects
to the physical and mechanical properties of crystalline solids. Introduc-
tion to point imperfections and their relationships to transport properties
in metallic, covalent, and ionic crystals. Kroeger-Vink notation. Introduc-
tion to dislocations: geometric, crystallographic, elastic, and energetic
properties of dislocations. Dislocation reactions and interactions including
formation of locks, stacking faults, and surface effects. Relations between
collective dislocation behavior and mechanical properties of crystals.
Introduction to computer simulations of dislocations. Grain boundaries.
The structure and properties of interfaces in solids. Emphasis on materi-
als science aspects of role of defects in electrical, morphological, optical,
and mechanical properties of solids. Instructor: Greer.

MS/ME 166. Fracture of Brittle Solids. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Prerequisites: MS 115a (or equivalent). The mechanical response of brittle
materials (ceramics, glasses and some network polymers) will be treated
using classical elasticity, energy criteria, and fracture mechanics. The in-
fluence of environment and microstructure on mechanical behavior will be
explored. Transformation toughened systems, large-grain crack-bridging
systems, nanostructured ceramics, porous ceramics, anomolous glasses,
and the role of residual stresses will be highlighted. Strength, flaw statis-
tics and reliability will be discussed. Not offered 2020-21.

MS/APh 171. Inelastic Scattering of Materials, Molecules, and

Condensed Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: EE/APh
131 or MS 132 or equivalent. Review of Patterson function and memory
function for space or time correlations. Van Hove function for corre-
lated dynamics in space and time, especially for materials with thermal
energy. Dynamical structure factors for coherent scattering from solids
and liquids. Measurements of energy and momentum of dispersive
excitations in crystals using neutrons, x-rays, and electrons. Additional
topics to be selected from the following list: incoherent inelastic scat-
tering and the thermodynamic partition function, transport of thermal
644 energy, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, quasielastic scattering, sideband
information in coherent inelastic scattering, transition from quantum to
classical scattering. Instructor: Fultz.

MS 200. Advanced Work in Materials Science. The staff in materials

science will arrange special courses or problems to meet the needs of
advanced graduate students.

Ae/AM/MS/ME 213. Mechanics and Materials Aspects of Fracture.

9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

ME/MS/Ae/AM 224. Multifunctional Materials . 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. For course description, see Mechanical Engineering.

Courses
APh/MS 256. Computational Solid State Physics and Materials
Science. 9 units (3-3-3); third term. For course description, see Applied
Physics.

ME/MS 260. Micromechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Mechanical Engineering.

MS 300. Thesis Research.

MATHEMATICS
Ma 1 abc. Calculus of One and Several Variables and Linear Alge-
bra. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: high-school
algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Special section of Ma 1 a, 12 units
(5-0-7). Review of calculus. Complex numbers, Taylor polynomials,
infinite series. Comprehensive presentation of linear algebra. Derivatives
of vector functions, multiple integrals, line and path integrals, theorems
of Green and Stokes. Ma 1 b, c is divided into two tracks: analytic and
practical. Students will be given information helping them to choose a
track at the end of the fall term. There will be a special section or sec-
tions of Ma 1 a for those students who, because of their background,
require more calculus than is provided in the regular Ma 1 a sequence.
These students will not learn series in Ma 1 a and will be required to
take Ma 1 d. Instructors: Demiroglu, Katz, Graber, Makarov, Flach, Ni.

Ma 1 d. Series. 4 units (2-0-2); second term only. Prerequisites: special

section of Ma 1 a. This is a course intended for those students in the
special calculus-intensive sections of Ma 1 a who did not have complex
numbers, Taylor polynomials, and infinite series during Ma 1 a. It may
not be taken by students who have passed the regular Ma 1 a. Instruc-
tor: Demiroglu.

Ma 2/102. Differential Equations. 9 units (4-0-5); first term. Prereq-

uisites: Ma 1 abc. The course is aimed at providing an introduction to
the theory of ordinary differential equations, with a particular emphasis
on equations with well known applications ranging from physics to
population dynamics. The material covered includes some existence 645
and uniqueness results, first order linear equations and systems, exact
equations, linear equations with constant coefficients, series solutions,
regular singular equations, Laplace transform, and methods for the
study of nonlinear equations (equilibria, stability, predator-prey equa-
tions, periodic solutions and limiting cycles). Instructors: Wang, Frank.

Ma 3/103. Introduction to Probability and Statistics. 9 units (4-0-5);

second term. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc. Randomness is not anarchy-it
follows mathematical laws that we can understand and use to clarify
our knowledge of the universe. This course is an introduction to the
main ideas of probability and statistics. The first half is devoted to the
fundamental concepts of probability theory, including distributions and

Mathematics
 random variables, independence and conditional probability, expec-
tation, the Law of Averages (Laws of Large Numbers), and “the bell
curve” (Central Limit Theorem). The second half is devoted to statistical
reasoning: given our observations of the world, what can we infer about
the stochastic mechanisms generating our data? Major themes include
estimation of parameters (e.g. maximum likelihood), hypothesis testing,
confidence intervals, and regression analysis (least squares). Students
will be expected to be able to carry out computer-based analyses.
Instructor: Border.

Ma 4/104. Introduction to Mathematical Chaos. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. An introduction to the mathematics of “chaos.” Period doubling
universality, and related topics; interval maps, symbolic itineraries,
stable/unstable manifold theorem, strange attractors, iteration of com-
plex analytic maps, applications to multidimensional dynamics systems
and real-world problems. Possibly some additional topics, such as Sar-
kovski’s theorem, absolutely continuous invariant measures, sensitivity
to initial conditions, and the horseshoe map. Instructor: Parikh.

Ma 5/105 abc. Introduction to Abstract Algebra. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second, third terms. Introduction to groups, rings, fields, and modules.
The first term is devoted to groups and includes treatments of semidi-
rect products and Sylow’s theorem. The second term discusses rings
and modules and includes a proof that principal ideal domains have
unique factorization and the classification of finitely generated modules
over principal ideal domains. The third term covers field theory and Ga-
lois theory, plus some special topics if time permits. Instructors: Graber,
Mantovan.

Ma/CS 6/106 abc. Introduction to Discrete Mathematics. 9 units

(3-0-6); first, third terms. Prerequisites: for Ma/CS 6 c, Ma/CS 6 a or Ma
5 a or instructor’s permission. First term: a survey emphasizing graph
theory, algorithms, and applications of algebraic structures. Graphs:
paths, trees, circuits, breadth-first and depth-first searches, colorings,
matchings. Enumeration techniques; formal power series; combinato-
rial interpretations. Topics from coding and cryptography, including
Hamming codes and RSA. Second term: directed graphs; networks;
combinatorial optimization; linear programming. Permutation groups;
646 counting nonisomorphic structures. Topics from extremal graph and set
theory, and partially ordered sets. Third term: elements of computability
theory and computational complexity. Discussion of the P=NP problem,
syntax and semantics of propositional and first-order logic. Introduction
to the Gödel completeness and incompleteness theorems. Instructors:
Conlon, Kechris.

Ma 7/107. Number Theory for Beginners. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Some of the fundamental ideas, techniques, and open problems of ba-
sic number theory will be introduced. Examples will be stressed. Topics
include Euclidean algorithm, primes, Diophantine equations, including
an + bn = cn and a2—db2 = ±1, constructible numbers, composition
of binary quadratic forms, and congruences. Instructor: Campbell.

Courses
Ma 8. Problem Solving in Calculus. 3 units (3-0-0); first term. Prerequi-
site: simultaneous registration in Ma 1 a. A three-hour per week hands-
on class for those students in Ma 1 needing extra practice in problem
solving in calculus. Instructor: Demiroglu.

Ma 10. Oral Presentation. 3 units (2-0-1); first term. Open for credit to
anyone. Freshmen must have instructor’s permission to enroll. In this
course, students will receive training and practice in presenting math-
ematical material before an audience. In particular, students will present
material of their own choosing to other members of the class. There
may also be elementary lectures from members of the mathematics
faculty on topics of their own research interest. Instructor: Mantovan.

Ma 11. Mathematical Writing. 3 units (0-0-3); third term. Freshmen

must have instructor’s permission to enroll. Students will work with
the instructor and a mentor to write and revise a self-contained paper
dealing with a topic in mathematics. In the first week, an introduction
to some matters of style and format will be given in a classroom set-
ting. Some help with typesetting in TeX may be available. Students are
encouraged to take advantage of the Hixon Writing Center’s facilities.
The mentor and the topic are to be selected in consultation with the
instructor. It is expected that in most cases the paper will be in the
style of a textbook or journal article, at the level of the student’s peers
(mathematics students at Caltech). Fulfills the Institute scientific writing
requirement. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Ni.

FS/Ma 12. Freshman Seminar: The Mathematics of Enzyme Kinet-

ics. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. For course description, see Freshman
Seminars.

Ma 13. Problem Solving in Vector Calculus. 2 units (2-0-0); second

term. Prerequisites: Concurrent registration in Ph 1b. A two-hour per
week, hands-on class for those students enrolled in Ph 1b need-
ing extra practice with problem solving in vector calculus. Instructor:
Demiroglu.

Ma 17. How to Solve It. 4 units (2-0-2); first term. There are many
problems in elementary mathematics that require ingenuity for their
solution. This is a seminar-type course on problem solving in areas of 647
mathematics where little theoretical knowledge is required. Students will
work on problems taken from diverse areas of mathematics; there is no
prerequisite and the course is open to freshmen. May be repeated for
credit. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Rains.

Ma 20. Frontiers in Mathematics. 1 unit (1-0-0); first term. Prerequi-

sites: Open for credit to freshman and sophomores. Weekly seminar
by a member of the math department or a visitor, to discuss his or her
research at an introductory level. The course aims to introduce students
to research areas in mathematics and help them gain an understanding
of the scope of the field. Graded pass/fail. Not Offered 2020-21.

Mathematics
 Ma 92 abc. Senior Thesis. 9 units (0-0-9); first, second, third terms.
Prerequisites: To register, the student must obtain permission of the
mathematics undergraduate representative. Open only to senior math-
ematics majors who are qualified to pursue independent reading and
research. This research must be supervised by a faculty member. The
research must begin in the first term of the senior year and will normally
follow up on an earlier SURF or independent reading project. Two short
presentations to a thesis committee are required: the first at the end
of the first term and the second at the midterm week of the third term.
A draft of the written thesis must be completed and distributed to the
committee one week before the second presentation. Graded pass/
fail in the first and second terms; a letter grade will be given in the third
term.

Ma 97. Research in Mathematics. Units to be arranged in accordance

with work accomplished. This course is designed to allow students to
continue or expand summer research projects and to work on new proj-
ects. Students registering for more than 6 units of Ma 97 must submit a
brief (no more than 3 pages) written report outlining the work completed
to the undergraduate option rep at the end of the term. Approval from
the research supervisor and student’s adviser must be granted prior to
registration. Graded pass/fail.

Ma 98. Independent Reading. 3–6 units by arrangement. Occasion-

ally a reading course will be offered after student consultation with a
potential supervisor. Topics, hours, and units by arrangement. Graded
pass/fail.

Ma 108 abc. Classical Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 1 or equivalent, or instructor’s permission.
May be taken concurrently with Ma 109. First term: structure of the real
numbers, topology of metric spaces, a rigorous approach to differen-
tiation in R^n. Second term: brief introduction to ordinary differential
equations; Lebesgue integration and an introduction to Fourier analysis.
Third term: the theory of functions of one complex variable. Instructors:
Dunn, Karpukhin, Demirel-Frank.

Ma 109 abc. Introduction to Geometry and Topology. 9 units (3-0-6);

648 first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ma 2 or equivalent, and Ma 108
must be taken previously or concurrently. First term: aspects of point set
topology, and an introduction to geometric and algebraic methods in
topology. Second term: the differential geometry of curves and surfaces
in two- and three-dimensional Euclidean space. Third term: an introduc-
tion to differentiable manifolds. Transversality, differential forms, and
further related topics. Instructors: Smillie, Park.

Ma 110 abc. Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.

Prerequisites: Ma 108 or previous exposure to metric space topology,
Lebesgue measure. First term: integration theory and basic real analy-
sis: topological spaces, Hilbert space basics, Fejer’s theorem, measure
theory, measures as functionals, product measures, L^p -spaces, Baire

Courses
category, Hahn- Banach theorem, Alaoglu’s theorem, Krein-Millman
theorem, countably normed spaces, tempered distributions and the
Fourier transform. Second term: basic complex analysis: analytic func-
tions, conformal maps and fractional linear transformations, idea of
Riemann surfaces, elementary and some special functions, infinite sums
and products, entire and meromorphic functions, elliptic functions. Third
term: harmonic analysis; operator theory. Harmonic analysis: maximal
functions and the Hardy-Littlewood maximal theorem, the maximal and
Birkoff ergodic theorems, harmonic and subharmonic functions, theory
of H^p -spaces and boundary values of analytic functions. Operator
theory: compact operators, trace and determinant on a Hilbert space,
orthogonal polynomials, the spectral theorem for bounded operators.
If time allows, the theory of commutative Banach algebras. Instructors:
Karpukhin, Rains, Angelopoulos.

Ma 111 abc. Topics in Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 110 or instructor’s permission. This course will
discuss advanced topics in analysis, which vary from year to year. Top-
ics from previous years include potential theory, bounded analytic func-
tions in the unit disk, probabilistic and combinatorial methods in analy-
sis, operator theory, C*-algebras, functional analysis. The third term will
cover special functions: gamma functions, hypergeometric functions,
beta/Selberg integrals and $q$-analogues. Time permitting: orthogonal
polynomials, Painleve transcendents and/or elliptic analogues. Instruc-
tors: Frank, Angelopoulos, Makarov.

Ma 112 ab. Statistics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: Ma 2

a probability and statistics or equivalent. The first term covers general
methods of testing hypotheses and constructing confidence sets,
including regression analysis, analysis of variance, and nonparametric
methods. The second term covers permutation methods and the boot-
strap, point estimation, Bayes methods, and multistage sampling. Not
offered 2020–21.

Ma 116 abc. Mathematical Logic and Axiomatic Set Theory. 9 units

(3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ma 5 or equivalent, or
instructor’s permission. First term: Introduction to first-order logic and
model theory. The Godel Completeness Theorem and the Complete-
ness Theorem. Definability, elementary equivalence, complete theories, 649
categoricity. The Skolem-Lowenheim Theorems. The back and forth
method and Ehrenfeucht-Fraisse games. Farisse theory. Elimination
of quantifiers, applications to algebra and further related topics if time
permits. Second and third terms: Axiomatic set theory, ordinals and
cardinals, the Axiom of Choice and the Continuum Hypothesis. Models
of set theory, independence and consistency results. Topics in descrip-
tive set theory, combinatorial set theory and large cardinals. Not offered
2020–21.

Ma/CS 117 abc. Computability Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

third terms. Prerequisite: Ma 5 or equivalent, or instructor’s permission.
Various approaches to computability theory, e.g., Turing machines,

Mathematics
 recursive functions, Markov algorithms; proof of their equivalence.
Church’s thesis. Theory of computable functions and effectively
enumerable sets. Decision problems. Undecidable problems: word
problems for groups, solvability of Diophantine equations (Hilbert’s 10th
problem). Relations with mathematical logic and the Gödel incomplete-
ness theorems. Decidable problems, from number theory, algebra,
combinatorics, and logic. Complexity of decision procedures. Inher-
ently complex problems of exponential and superexponential difficulty.
Feasible (polynomial time) computations. Polynomial deterministic vs.
nondeterministic algorithms, NP-complete problems and the P = NP
question. Instructors: Kechris, Vidnyanszky.

Ma 118. Topics in Mathematical Logic: Geometrical Paradoxes. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisite: Ma 5 or equivalent, or instruc-
tor’s permission. This course will provide an introduction to the striking
paradoxes that challenge our geometrical intuition. Topics to be dis-
cussed include geometrical transformations, especially rigid motions;
free groups; amenable groups; group actions; equidecomposability and
invariant measures; Tarski’s theorem; the role of the axiom of choice; old
and new paradoxes, including the Banach-Tarski paradox, the Lacz-
kovich paradox (solving the Tarski circle-squaring problem), and the
Dougherty-Foreman paradox (the solution of the Marczewski problem).
Not offered 2020–21.

Ma 120 abc. Abstract Algebra. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 5 or equivalent or instructor’s permission. This
course will discuss advanced topics in algebra. Among them: an intro-
duction to commutative algebra and homological algebra, infinite Galois
theory, Kummer theory, Brauer groups, semisimiple algebras, Weddburn
theorems, Jacobson radicals, representation theory of finite groups.
Instructors: Szumowicz, Burungale, Flach.

Ma 121 ab. Combinatorial Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third

terms. Prerequisite: Ma 5. A survey of modern combinatorial mathemat-
ics, starting with an introduction to graph theory and extremal problems.
Flows in networks with combinatorial applications. Counting, recursion,
and generating functions. Theory of partitions. (0, 1)-matrices. Partially
ordered sets. Latin squares, finite geometries, combinatorial designs,
650 and codes. Algebraic graph theory, graph embedding, and coloring.
Instructors: Katz, Conlon.

Ma 123. Classification of Simple Lie Algebras. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisite: Ma 5 or equivalent. This course is an introduction to
Lie algebras and the classification of the simple Lie algebras over the
complex numbers. This will include Lie’s theorem, Engel’s theorem, the
solvable radical, and the Cartan Killing trace form. The classification
of simple Lie algebras proceeds in terms of the associated reflection
groups and a classification of them in terms of their Dynkin diagrams.
Not offered 2020–21.

Courses
Ma 124. Elliptic Curves. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ma
5 or equivalent. The ubiquitous elliptic curves will be analyzed from el-
ementary, geometric, and arithmetic points of view. Possible topics are
the group structure via the chord-and-tangent method, the Nagel-Lutz
procedure for finding division points, Mordell’s theorem on the finite
generation of rational points, points over finite fields through a special
case treated by Gauss, Lenstra’s factoring algorithm, integral points.
Other topics may include diophantine approximation and complex mul-
tiplication. Not offered 2020–21.

Ma 125. Algebraic Curves. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ma

5. An elementary introduction to the theory of algebraic curves. Topics
to be covered will include affine and projective curves, smoothness
and singularities, function fields, linear series, and the Riemann-Roch
theorem. Possible additional topics would include Riemann surfaces,
branched coverings and monodromy, arithmetic questions, introduction
to moduli of curves. Not offered 2020–21.

EE/Ma/CS 126 ab. Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127. Error-Correcting Codes. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

Ma 128. Homological Algebra. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prerequi-

sites: Math 120 abc or instructor’s permission. This course introduces
standard concepts and techniques in homological algebra. Topics will
include Abelian and additive categories; Chain complexes, homotopies
and the homotopy category; Derived functors; Yoneda extension and its
ring structure; Homological dimension and Koszul complexe; Spectral
sequences; Triangulated categories, and the derived category. Instruc-
tor: Mazel-Gee.

Ma 130 abc. Algebraic Geometry. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisite: Ma 120 (or Ma 5 plus additional reading). Plane
curves, rational functions, affine and projective varieties, products, local
properties, birational maps, divisors, differentials, intersection numbers,
schemes, sheaves, general varieties, vector bundles, coherent sheaves,
curves and surfaces. Instructors: Graber, Aluffi, Campbell. 651

Ma 132 abc. Topics in Algebraic Geometry. 9 units (3-0-6). Prerequi-

sites: Ma 130 or instructor’s permission. This course will cover advanced
topics in algebraic geometry that will vary from year to year. Topics will
be listed on the math option website prior to the start of classes. Previ-
ous topics have included geometric invariant theory, moduli of curves,
logarithmic geometry, Hodge theory, and toric varieties. This course can
be repeated for credit. Not offered 2020–21.

Ma 135 ab. Arithmetic Geometry. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prereq-

uisite: Ma 130. The course deals with aspects of algebraic geometry
that have been found useful for number theoretic applications. Topics

Mathematics
 will be chosen from the following: general cohomology theories (étale
cohomology, flat cohomology, motivic cohomology, or p-adic Hodge
theory), curves and Abelian varieties over arithmetic schemes, moduli
spaces, Diophantine geometry, algebraic cycles. Not offered 2020–21.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 136. Topics in Information Theory. 9 units (3-0-

6); third term. For course description, see Electrical Engineering.

Ma/ACM/IDS 140 ab. Probability. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. Prerequisites: For 140 a, Ma 108 b is strongly recommend-
ed. Overview of measure theory. Random walks and the Strong law of
large numbers via the theory of martingales and Markov chains. Char-
acteristic functions and the central limit theorem. Poisson process and
Brownian motion. Topics in statistics. Instructor: Tamuz, Ouimet.

Ma/ACM 142 ab. Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations. 9 units

(3-0-6); first, second terms. Prerequisites: Ma 108; Ma 109 is desir-
able. The mathematical theory of ordinary and partial differential equa-
tions, including a discussion of elliptic regularity, maximal principles,
solubility of equations. The method of characteristics. Instructors:
Frank. Only offered second term.

Ma 145 abc. Topics in Representation Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. Prerequisites: Ma 5. This course will discuss the study of
representations of a group (or related algebra) by linear transformations
of a vector space. Topics will vary from year to year, and may include
modular representation theory (representations of finite groups in finite
characteristic), complex representations of specific families of groups
(esp. the symmetric group) and unitary representations (and structure
theory) of compact groups. Part a and c not offered in 2020–21. Instruc-
tor: Campbell.

Ma 147 abc. Dynamical Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 108, Ma 109, or equivalent. First term: real dynam-
ics and ergodic theory. Second term: Hamiltonian dynamics. Third term:
complex dynamics. Instructors: Radziwill, Makarov. Not offered 2020-21.

Ma 148 ab. Topics in Mathematical Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

652 second terms. This course covers a range of topics in mathematical
physics. The content will vary from year to year. Topics covered will
include some of the following: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism
of classical mechanics; mathematical aspects of quantum mechanics:
Schroedinger equation, spectral theory of unbounded operators, repre-
sentation theoretic aspects; partial differential equations of mathemati-
cal physics (wave, heat, Maxwell, etc.); rigorous results in classical and/
or quantum statistical mechanics; mathematical aspects of quantum
field theory; general relativity for mathematicians. Geometric theory of
quantum information and quantum entanglement based on information
geometry and entropy. Instructors: Demirel-Frank, Marcolli.

Ma 151 abc. Algebraic and Differential Topology. 9 units (3-0-6);

first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: Ma 109 abc or equivalent. A

Courses
basic graduate core course. Fundamental groups and covering spaces,
homology and calculation of homology groups, exact sequences.
Fibrations, higher homotopy groups, and exact sequences of fibrations.
Bundles, Eilenberg-Maclane spaces, classifying spaces. Structure of
differentiable manifolds, transversality, degree theory, De Rham co-
homology, spectral sequences. Instructors: Mazel-Gee, Chen.

Ma 157 abc. Riemannian Geometry. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. Prerequisite: Ma 151 or equivalent, or instructor’s permission.
Part a: basic Riemannian geometry: geometry of Riemannian manifolds,
connections, curvature, Bianchi identities, completeness, geodesics,
exponential map, Gauss’s lemma, Jacobi fields, Lie groups, principal
bundles, and characteristic classes. Part b: basic topics may vary from
year to year and may include elements of Morse theory and the calculus
of variations, locally symmetric spaces, special geometry, comparison
theorems, relation between curvature and topology, metric functionals
and flows, geometry in low dimensions. Part c not offered in 2020–21.
Instructor: Wang, Park.

Ma 160 abc. Number Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.
Prerequisites: Ma 5. In this course, the basic structures and results of al-
gebraic number theory will be systematically introduced. Topics covered
will include the theory of ideals/divisors in Dedekind domains, Dirichlet
unit theorem and the class group, p-adic fields, ramification, Abelian
extensions of local and global fields. Instructors: Radziwill, Szumowicz,
Dunn.

Ma 162 ab. Topics in Number Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

term. Prerequisite: Ma 160. The course will discuss in detail some
advanced topics in number theory, selected from the following: Galois
representations, elliptic curves, modular forms, L-functions, special
values, automorphic representations, p-adic theories, theta functions,
regulators. Not offered 2020–21.

Ma 191 abc. Selected Topics in Mathematics. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second, third terms. Each term we expect to give between 0 and 6
(most often 2-3) topics courses in advanced mathematics covering an
area of current research interest. These courses will be given as sec-
tions of 191. Students may register for this course multiple times even 653
for multiple sections in a single term. The topics and instructors for each
term and course descriptions will be listed on the math option website
each term prior to the start of registration for that term. Instructors:
Burungale, Ni, Parikh, Karpukhin, Smillie, Szumowicz

Ma 290. Reading. Hours and units by arrangement. Occasionally,

advanced work is given through a reading course under the direction of
an instructor.

Ma 390. Research. Units by arrangement.

See also the list of courses in Applied and Computational

Mathematics.

Mathematics
 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Additional advanced courses in the field of mechanical engineering
may be found listed in other engineering options such as aero-
space engineering, applied mechanics, applied physics, control
and dynamical systems, and materials science.

EE/ME 7. Introduction to Mechatronics. 6 units (2-3-1). For course

description, see Electrical Engineering.

ME 10. Thinking Like an Engineer. 1 unit; first term. A series of weekly

seminars by practicing engineers in industry and academia to introduce
students to principles and techniques useful for Mechanical Engineer-
ing. The course can be used to learn more about the different areas of
study within Mechanical Engineering. Topics will be presented at an
informal, introductory level. Required for ME undergraduates. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Andrade.

ME 11 abc. Thermal Science. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing required; ME 12 abc, may be taken
concurrently. An introduction to classical thermodynamics and transport
with engineering applications. First and second laws; closed and open
systems; properties of a pure substance; availability and irreversibility;
generalized thermodynamic relations; gas and vapor power cycles;
propulsion; mixtures; combustion and thermochemistry; chemical equi-
librium; momentum and heat transfer including boundary layers with
applications to internal and external flows. Not offered on a pass/fail
basis. Instructors: Minnich, Hunt, Colonius.

ME 12 abc. Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing required; ME 11 abc, may be taken
concurrently. An introduction to statics and dynamics of rigid bodies,
deformable bodies, and fluids. Equilibrium of force systems, principle
of virtual work, distributed force systems, friction, static analysis of rigid
and deformable structures, hydrostatics, kinematics, particle dynam-
ics, rigid-body dynamics, Euler’s equations, ideal flow, vorticity, viscous
stresses in fluids, dynamics of deformable systems, waves in fluids and
654 solids. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructors: Mello, Daraio, Fu.

ME 13/113. Mechanical Prototyping. 4 units (0-4-0); second, summer

terms. Enrollment is limited and is based on responses to a question-
naire available in the Registrar’s Office. Introduction to the technologies
and practices needed to fabricate mechanical prototypes. Students will
acquire the fundamental skills necessary to begin using 3D Computer-
Aided Design (CAD) software. Students will learn how to build paramet-
ric models of parts and assemblies and learn how to generate detailed
drawings of their designs. Students will also be introduced to manual
machining techniques, as well as computer-controlled prototyping tech-
nologies, such as three-dimensional printing, laser cutting, and water jet
cutting. Students will receive safety-training, instruction on the theories

Courses
underlying different machining methods, and hands-on demonstrations
of machining and mechanical assembly methods. Several prototypes
will be constructed using the various technologies available in the Me-
chanical Engineering Machine Shop. Instructors: Van Deusen, Stovall.

ME 14. Design and Fabrication. 9 units (3-5-1); third term. Prerequi-

sites: ME 12 ab, ME 13. Enrollment is limited and is based on responses
to a questionnaire available in the Registrar›s office. Introduction to
mechanical engineering design, fabrication, and visual communication.
Principles of mechanical engineering design are taught through a series
of lectures and short group-based design projects with an emphasis on
formal design reviews and team competitions. Course lectures address
the strength properties of engineering materials, statistical descriptions
of stress and strength, design safety factors, static and variable loading
design criteria, engineering case studies, and the design of mechani-
cal elements. Group-based projects include formal design reviews and
involve substantial use of the machine shop and maker-space facilities,
for the construction of working prototypes. Not offered on a pass/fail
basis. Instructors: Mello, Van Deusen.

ME 23/123. CNC Machining. 4 units (0-4-0); third, summer terms. Pre-

requisites: ME 13/113. Enrollment is limited and is based on responses
to a questionnaire available in the Registrar’s office. Introduction to
computer numerical control machining. Students will learn to create
Gcode and Mcode using Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) soft-
ware; they will be instructed on how to safely prepare and operate the
machine’s functions; and will be taught how to implement programmed
data into several different types of CNC equipment. The class will cover
the parts and terminology of the equipment, fixturing materials, setting
workpiece, and tool offsets. Weekly assignments will include the use
of CAM software, machine operation demonstrations, and machining
projects. Instructors: Stovall, Van Deusen.

ME 40. Dimensional and Data Analyses in Engineering. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc. The first part of this course covers
the application of symmetry and dimensional homogeneity (Buckingham
Pi theorem) to engineering analysis of systems. The important role of
dimensional analysis in developing empirical theories, designing experi-
ments and computer models, and analyzing data are stressed. The sec- 655
ond part of the course focuses on quantitative data analysis including
linear regression, least-squares, principle components, Fourier analysis,
and Bayesian methods. The underlying theory is briefly covered, but the
focus is on application to real-world problems encountered by mechani-
cal engineers. Applications to uncertainty analysis and quantification
are discussed. Homework will include implementation of techniques in
Matlab. Instructor: Colonius.

ME 50 ab. Experiments and Modeling in Mechanical Engineering.

9 units (0-6-3); second, third terms. Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12
abc, ME 13, ME 14, and programming skills at the level of ACM 11.
Two-quarter course sequence covers the general theory and methods

Mechanical Engineering
 of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA)
with experimental laboratory methods applied to complementary engi-
neering problems in solid, structural, and fluid mechanics. Computation-
al procedures are discussed and applied to the analysis of steady-state,
transient, and dynamic problems using a commercial software. CFD
and FEA topics covered include meshing, types of elements, steady and
unsteady solvers, inviscid and viscous flow, internal and external flow,
drag and lift, static and dynamic mechanical loading, elastic and plastic
behavior, and vibrational (modal) analysis. Fluid mechanics labora-
tory experiments introduce students to the operation of a water tunnel
combined with laser particle image velocimetry (PIV) for quantified flow
field visualization of velocity and vorticity. Solid mechanics experiments
introduce students to the operation of a mechanical (axial/torsional) load
frame combined with digital image correlation (DIC) and strain gage
transducers for quantification and full field visualization of displacement
and strain. Technical writing skills are emphasized through the genera-
tion of detailed full-length lab reports using a scientific journal format.
Instructor: Mello.

ME 72 ab. Engineering Design Laboratory. 9 units (3-4-2) first term;

(1-8-0) second term. Prerequisites: ME 14. Enrollment is limited. A proj-
ect-based course in which teams of students are challenged to design,
test, analyze, and fabricate a robotic device to compete against devices
designed by other student teams. The class lectures and team projects
stress the integration of mechanical design, electronics, mechatronics,
engineering analysis, and computation to solve problems in engineering
system design. Critical feedback is provided through a series of formal
design reviews scheduled throughout the ME 72 ab course sequence.
The laboratory units of ME 72 can be used to fulfill a portion of the
laboratory requirement for the EAS option. Not offered on a pass/fail
basis. Instructors: Mello, Van Deusen.

CS/EE/ME 75 abc. Multidisciplinary Systems Engineering. 3 units

(2-0-1), 6 units (2-0-4), or 9 units (2-0-7) first term; 6 units (2-3-1), 9 units
(2-6-1), or 12 units (2-9-1) second and third terms. For course descrip-
tion, see Computer Science.

ME 90 abc. Senior Thesis, Experimental. 9 units; (0-0-9) first term;

656 (0-9-0) second, third terms. Prerequisites: senior status; instructor’s
permission. Experimental research supervised by an engineering
faculty member. The topic selection is determined by the adviser and
the student and is subject to approval by the Mechanical Engineering
Undergraduate Committee. First and second terms: midterm progress
report and oral presentation during finals week. Third term: completion
of thesis and final presentation. The second and third terms may be
used to fulfill laboratory credit for EAS. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.
Instructor: Minnich.

ME 100. Independent Studies in Mechanical Engineering. Units are

assigned in accordance with work accomplished. A faculty mentor will
oversee a student proposed, independent research or study project

Courses
to meet the needs of undergraduate students. Graded pass/fail. The
consent of a faculty mentor and a written report is required for each
term of work.

Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc. Fluid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Mechanics of Structures and Solids. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

E/ME/MedE 105 ab. Design for Freedom from Disability. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Engineering.

ME 110. Special Laboratory Work in Mechanical Engineering. 3–9

units per term; maximum two terms. Special laboratory work or experi-
mental research projects may be arranged by members of the faculty to
meet the needs of individual students as appropriate. A written report is
required for each term of work. Instructor: Staff.

CE/ME 112 ab. Hydraulic Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Civil Engineering.

ME 115 ab. Introduction to Kinematics and Robotics. 9 units (3-0-6);

second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ma 2, ACM 95/100 ab recommend-
ed. Introduction to the study of planar, rotational, and spatial motions
with applications to robotics, computers, computer graphics, and me-
chanics. Topics in kinematic analysis will include screw theory, rotational
representations, matrix groups, and Lie algebras. Applications include
robot kinematics, mobility in mechanisms, and kinematics of open and
closed chain mechanisms. Additional topics in robotics include path
planning for robot manipulators, dynamics and control, and assembly.
Course work will include laboratory demonstrations using simple robot
manipulators. Not offered 2020–21.

MS/ME/MedE 116. Mechanical Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Materials Science.

ME/EE/EST 117. Energy Technology and Policy. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ch 1 ab and Ma 1 abc. Energy technolo- 657
gies and the impact of government policy. Fossil fuels, nuclear power,
and renewables for electricity production and transportation. Resource
models and climate change policies. New and emerging technolo-
gies. Instructor: Blanquart.

Mechanical Engineering
 Ae/ME 118. Classical Thermodynamics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Aerospace.

ME 119. Heat and Mass Transfer. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prereq-
uisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc, ACM 95/100 (may be taken concur-
rently). Transport properties, conservation equations, conduction heat
transfer, convective heat and mass transport in laminar and turbulent
flows, phase change processes, thermal radiation. Instructor: Hunt.

Ae/ME 120. Combustion Fundamentals. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

ME/CS/EE 129. Experimental Robotics. 9 units (3-6-0); first term. This

course covers the foundations of experimental realization on robotic
systems. This includes software infrastructures, e.g., robotic operating
systems (ROS), sensor integration, and implementation on hardware
platforms. The ideas developed will be integrated onto robotic systems
and tested experimentally in the context of class projects. Not offered
2020-2021.

ME/CS/EE 133 abc. Robotics. 9 units (3-3-3); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 129, may be taken concurrently, or with
permission of instructor. The course develops the core concepts of
robotics. The first quarter focuses on classical robotic manipulation, in-
cluding topics in rigid body kinematics and dynamics. It develops planar
and 3D kinematic formulations and algorithms for forward and inverse
computations, Jacobians, and manipulability. The second quarter transi-
tions to planning, navigation, and perception. Topics include configura-
tion space, sample-based planners, A* and D* algorithms, to achieve
collision-free motions. The third quarter discusses advanced material,
for example grasping and dexterous manipulation using multi-fingered
hands, or autonomous behaviors, or human-robot interactions. The lec-
tures will review appropriate analytical techniques and may survey the
current research literature. Course work will focus on an independent
research project chosen by the student. Instructor: Niemeyer.

ME/CS/EE 134. Robotic Systems. 9 units (3-6-0); second term. Pre-

requisites: ME/CS/EE 129, may be taken concurrently, or with permis-
658 sion of instructor. This course builds up, and brings to practice, the
elements of robotic systems at the intersection of hardware, kinematics
and control, computer vision, and autonomous behaviors. It presents
selected topics from these domains, focusing on their integration into a
full sense-think-act robot. The lectures will drive team-based projects,
progressing from building custom robots to writing software and imple-
menting all necessary aspects. Working systems will autonomously
operate and complete their tasks during final demonstrations. Instruc-
tor: Niemeyer.

AM/CE/ME 150 abc. Graduate Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; each

term. For course description, see Applied Mechanics.

Courses
Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab. Continuum Mechanics of Fluids and Solids. 9
units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

MS/ME 161. Imperfections in Crystals. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Materials Science.

ME/CE 163. Mechanics and Rheology of Fluid-Infiltrated Porous

Media. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Continuum Mechan-
ics—Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab. This course will focus on the physics of porous
materials (e.g., geomaterials, biological tissue) and their intimate
interaction with interstitial fluids (e.g., water, oil, blood). The course will
be split into two parts: Part 1 will focus on the continuum mechanics
(balance laws) of multi-phase solids, with particular attention to fluid
diffusion-solid deformation coupling. Part 2 will introduce the concept of
effective stresses and state of the art rheology available in modeling the
constitutive response of representative porous materials. Emphasis will
be placed on poro-elasticity and poro-plasticity. Not offered 2020–21.

AM/ME 165. Finite Elasticity. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Applied Mechanics.

MS/ME 166. Fracture of Brittle Solids. 9 units (3-0-6); For course

description, see Materials Science.

CE/ME/Ge 173. Mechanics of Soils. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For

course description, see Civil Engineering.

ME/CE/Ge 174. Mechanics of Rocks. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: Ae/Ge/ME 160a. Basic principles of deformation,
strength, and stressing of rocks. Elastic behavior, plasticity, viscoelastic-
ity, viscoplasticity, creep, damage, friction, failure mechanisms, shear
localization, and interaction of deformation processes with fluids. Engi-
neering and geological applications. Instructor: Lapusta.

ME 200. Advanced Work in Mechanical Engineering. A faculty men-

tor will oversee a student proposed, independent research or study
project to meet the needs of graduate students. Graded pass/fail. The
consent of a faculty mentor and a written report is required for each
term of work. 659

ME 201. Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering. 9 units (3-0-6);

second term. The faculty will prepare courses on advanced topics to
meet the needs of graduate students. Instructor: Andrade.

ME 202 abc. Engineering Two-Phase Flows. 9 units (3-0-6). Prerequi-

sites: ACM 95/100 ab, Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, or equivalents. Selected
topics in engineering two-phase flows with emphasis on practical
problems in modern hydro-systems. Fundamental fluid mechanics and
heat, mass, and energy transport in multiphase flows. Liquid/vapor/gas
(LVG) flows, nucleation, bubble dynamics, cavitating and boiling flows,
models of LVG flows; instabilities, dynamics, and wave propagation;

Mechanical Engineering
 fluid/structure interactions. Discussion of two-phase flow problems in
conventional, nuclear, and geothermal power plants, marine hydrofoils,
and other hydraulic systems. Not offered 2020–21.

Ae/AM/MS/ME 213. Mechanics and Materials Aspects of Fracture.

9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 214 ab. Computational Solid Mechanics. 9 units

(3-5-1). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/ME 215. Dynamic Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/ME/APh 218. Statistical Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Aerospace.

CE/Ge/ME 222. Earthquake Source Processes, Debris Flows, and

Soil Liquefaction: Physics-based Modeling of Failure in Granular
Media. 6 units (2-0-4). For course description, see Civil Engineering.

Ae/AM/ME 223. Plasticity. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see

Aerospace.

ME/MS/Ae/AM 224. Multifunctional Materials. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: MS 115 or equivalent, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102abc or
APh105abc (may be waived with instructor’s permission). Multiscale
view of materials and different approaches of introducing functionality;
Electronic aspects and multiferroic materials; Symmetry breaking phase
transformations, microstructure: shape-memory alloys, ferroelectrics,
liquid crystal elastomers; Composite materials and metamaterials: multi-
functional structures. Instructor: Bhattacharya.

Ae/AM/ME/Ge 225. Special Topics in Solid Mechanics. Units to be

arranged. For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/ACM/ME 232 ab. Computational Fluid Dynamics. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Aerospace.

660 Ae/CDS/ME 251 ab. Closed Loop Flow Control. 9 units; (3-0-6 a, 1-3-
5 b). For course description, see Aerospace.

AM/CE/ME 252. Linear and Nonlinear Waves in Structured Media. 9

units (2-1-6). For course description, see Applied Mechanics.

ME/MS 260. Micromechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites:

ACM 95/100 or equivalent, and Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc or Ae/Ge/ME
160 ab or instructor’s permission. The course gives a broad overview of
micromechanics, emphasizing the microstructure of materials, its con-
nection to molecular structure, and its consequences on macroscopic
properties. Topics include phase transformations in crystalline solids, in-
cluding martensitic, ferroelectric, and diffusional phase transformations,

Courses
twinning and domain patterns, active materials; effective properties
of composites and polycrystals, linear and nonlinear homogenization;
defects, including dislocations, surface steps, and domain walls; thin
films, asymptotic methods, morphological instabilities, self-organization;
selected applications to microactuation, thin-film processing, composite
materials, mechanical properties, and materials design. Open to under-
graduates with instructor’s permission. Not offered 2020–21.

Ae/AM/CE/ME/Ge 265 ab. Static and Dynamic Failure of Brittle

Solids and Interfaces, from the Micro to the Mega. 9 units; (3-0-6).
For course description, see Aerospace.

ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab. Dynamic Fracture and Frictional Faulting. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc or Ae/Ge/ME
160 ab or instructor’s permission. Introduction to elastodynamics and
waves in solids. Dynamic fracture theory, energy concepts, cohesive
zone models. Friction laws, nucleation of frictional instabilities, dynamic
rupture of frictional interfaces. Radiation from moving cracks. Thermal
effects during dynamic fracture and faulting. Crack branching and fault-
ing along nonplanar interfaces. Related dynamic phenomena, such as
adiabatic shear localization. Applications to engineering phenomena
and physics and mechanics of earthquakes. Not offered 2020-2021.

ME 300. Research in Mechanical Engineering. Hours and units by ar-

rangement. Research in the field of mechanical engineering. By arrange-
ment with members of the faculty, properly qualified graduate students
are directed in research.

MEDICAL ENGINEERING
MedE 99. Undergraduate Research in Medical Engineering. Vari-
able units as arranged with the advising faculty member; first, second,
third terms. Undergraduate research with a written report at the end of
each term; supervised by a Caltech faculty member, or co-advised by
a Caltech faculty member and an external researcher. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Staff.
661
MedE 100 abc. Medical Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; first, second,
third terms. All PhD degree candidates in Medical Engineering are
required to attend all MedE seminars. If there is no MedE seminar
during a week, then the students should go to any other graduate-level
seminar that week. Students should broaden their knowledge of the
engineering principles and sciences of medical engineering. Students
are expected to learn the forefronts of the research and development of
medical materials, technologies, devices and systems from the semi-
nars. Graded pass/fail. Instructors: Gao, Tai and Wang.

MedE 101. Introduction to Clinical Physiology and Pathophysiology

for Engineers. 9 units (3-0-6); First term. Prerequisites: No Prerequi-

Medical Engineering
 sites, Bi 1 or equivalent recommended. The goal of this course is to
introduce engineering scientists to medical physiological systems: with
a special emphasis on the clinical relevance. The design of the course is
to present two related lectures each week: An overview of the physiol-
ogy of a system followed by examples of current clinical medical chal-
lenges and research highlighting diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
The final three weeks of the course will be a mini-work shop where the
class explores challenging problems in medical physiology. The course
ultimately seeks to promote a bridge between relevant clinical problems
and engineering scientists who desire to solve them. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Petrasek.

E/ME/MedE 105 ab. Design for Freedom from Disability. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Engineering.

ChE/BE/MedE 112. Creativity and Technological Innovation with

Microfluidic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Chemical Engineering.

EE/MedE 114 ab. Analog Circuits Design. 12 units (4-0-8). For course
description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/MedE 115. Micro-/Nano-scales Electro-optics. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

MS/ME/MedE 116. Mechanical Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see Materials Science.

EE/MedE 124. Mixed-mode Integrated Circuits. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/CS/MedE 125. Digital Electronics and Design with FPGAs and

VHDL. 9 units (3-6-0). For course description, see Electrical Engineer-
ing.

MedE/EE/BE 168 abc. Biomedical Optics: Principles and Imaging. 9

units (4-0-5) each; parts a and b are taught in second and third terms
in odd academic years, and part c is taught in second term in even
662 academic years. Prerequisites: instructor’s permission. Part a covers the
principles of optical photon transport in biological tissue. Topics include
a brief introduction to biomedical optics, single-scatterer theories,
Monte Carlo modeling of photon transport, convolution for broad-beam
responses, radiative transfer equation and diffusion theory, hybrid Mon-
te Carlo method and diffusion theory, and sensing of optical properties
and spectroscopy, (absorption, elastic scattering, Raman scattering,
and fluorescence). Part b covers established optical imaging technolo-
gies. Topics include ballistic imaging (confocal microscopy, two-photon
microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, etc.), optical coherence
tomography, Mueller optical coherence tomography, and diffuse optical
tomography. Part c covers emerging optical imaging technologies. Top-
ics include photoacoustic tomography, ultrasound-modulated optical

Courses
tomography, optical time reversal (wavefront shaping/engineering), and
ultrafast imaging. Instructor: Wang. MedE/EE/BE 168ab not offered
2020-2021. MedE/EE/BE 168c offered 2020-2021.

EE/CS/MedE 175. Digital Circuits Analysis and Design with Complete

VHDL and RTL Approach. 9 units (3-6-0). For course description, see
Electrical Engineering.

EE/BE/MedE 185. MEMS Technology and Devices. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Electrical Engineering.

EE/MedE 187. VLSI and ULSI Technology. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see Electrical Engineering.

ChE/BE/MedE 188. Molecular Imaging. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Chemical Engineering.

BE/EE/MedE 189 ab. Design and Construction of Biodevices. 189 a,

12 units (3-6-3) offered both first and third terms. 189b, 9 units (0-9-0) of-
fered only third term. For course description, see Bioengineering.

MedE 199. Special Topics in Medical Engineering. Units to be ar-

ranged, terms to be arranged. Subject matter will change from term to
term depending upon staff and student interest, but will generally center
on the understanding and applying engineering for medical problems.
Instructor: Staff.

MedE 201 ab. Principles and Design of Medical Devices. 9 units

(3-0-6); second and third term. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. This
course provides a broad coverage on the frontiers of medical diagnostic
and therapeutic technologies and devices based on multidisciplinary
engineering principles. Topics include biomaterials and biomechan-
ics; micro/nanofluidics; micro/nano biophotonics and medical imaging;
medical electronics, wireless communications through the skin and
tissue; electrograms and biotic/abiotic interface; biochips, microPCR and
sequencer and biosensors; micro/nano implants. The course will focus
on the scientific fundamentals specific to medical applications. How-
ever, both the lectures and assignments will also emphasize the design
aspects of the topics as well as up-to-date literature study. Instructors: 663
MedE 201a-Gao, MedE 201b-Tai.

MedE 202. Sensors in Medicine. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prereq-

uisites: None. Sensors play a very important role in all aspect of modern
life. This course is an essential introduction to a variety of physical,
chemical and biological sensors that are used in medicine and healthcare.
The fundamental recognition mechanisms, transduction principles and
materials considerations for designing powerful sensing and biosens-
ing devices will be covered. We will also discuss the development of
emerging electronic-skin, wearable and soft electronics toward personal-
ized health monitoring. Participants in the course will develop proposals

Medical Engineering
 for novel sensing technologies to address the current medical needs.
Instructor: Gao.

MedE 205. New Frontiers in Medical Technologies. 6 units (2-0-4);

third term. Prerequisites: None but knowledge of semiconductor phys-
ics and some system engineering, basic electrical engineering highly
recommended. New Frontiers of Medical Technologies is an introductory
graduate level course that describes space technologies, instruments,
and engineering techniques with current and potential applications in
medicine. These technologies have been originally and mainly devel-
oped for space exploration. Spinoff applications to medicine have been
explored and proven with various degrees of success and maturity.
This class introduces these topics, the basics of the technologies, their
intended original space applications, and the medical applications. Topics
include but are not limited to multimodal imaging, UV/Visible/NIR imag-
ing, imaging spectrometry, sensors, robotics, and navigation. Graded
pass/fail. Instructor: Nikzad.

MedE/BE/Ae 243. Physiological Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent or ChE 103
a. Internal flows: steady and pulsatile blood flow in compliant vessels,
internal flows in organisms. Fluid dynamics of the human circulatory
system: heart, veins, and arteries (microcirculation). Mass and momentum
transport across membranes and endothelial layers. Fluid mechanics of
the respiratory system. Renal circulation and circulatory system. Biologi-
cal pumps. Low and High Reynolds number locomotion. Instructor: TBD

MedE/EE 268. Medical Imaging. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. Medical

imaging technologies will be covered. Topics include X-ray radiography,
X-ray computed tomography (CT), nuclear imaging (PET & SPECT),
ultrasonic imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Instructor:
Lihong Wang.

MedE 291. Research in Medical Engineering. Units to be arranged,

first, second, third terms. Qualified graduate students are advised in
medical engineering research, with the arrangement of MedE staff.

MUSIC
664

Mu 51. Understanding Music. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. The Listen-

ing Experience I. How to listen to and what to listen for in classical and
other musical expressions. Listening, analysis, and discussion of musi-
cal forms, genres, and styles. Course is intended for musicians as well
as nonmusicians and is strongly recommended as an introduction to
other music courses. Instructor: Neenan.

Mu 55. The Great Orchestras: Their History, Conductors and

Repertoire. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This survey course will trace the
symphony orchestra from its origins in the mid eighteenth century to the

Courses
present day. Special emphasis will be given to the great civic orchestras
of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, their conductors, and core
orchestral repertoire. Making use of historic audio and video recordings
from the twentieth century, along with more recent documentary record-
ings, students will be exposed to the cultural history of modern Europe
and America through the medium of classical music. Instructor: Neenan.

Mu 56. Jazz History. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course will
examine the history of jazz in America from its roots in the unique con-
fluence of racial and ethnic groups in New Orleans around 1900 to the
present. The lives and music of major figures such as Robert Johnson,
Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington,
Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Miles
Davis and others will be explored. Instructor: Neenan.

Mu 57. Fundamentals of Music Theory and Elementary Ear Train-

ing. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Basic vocabulary and concepts of music
theory (rhythm and pitch notation, intervals, scales, function of key sig-
natures, etc.); development of aural perception via elementary rhythmic
and melodic dictation, and sight-singing exercises. Instructor: Neenan.
Not offered 2020-21.

Mu 58. Harmony I. 9 units (3-0-6), second term. Prerequisite: Mu 57

or entrance exam. Study of tonal harmony and intermediate music
theory; techniques of chord progression, modulation, and melody writ-
ing according to common practice; ear training, continued. Instructor:
Neenan. Not offered 2020-21.

Mu 59. Harmony II. 9 units (3-0-6), third term. Prerequisite: Mu 58 or

entrance exam. More advanced concepts of music theory, including
chromatic harmony, and 20th-century procedures relating to selected
popular music styles; ear training, continued. Instructor: Neenan. Not
offered 2020-21.

Mu 137. History I: Music History to 1750. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

The course traces the history of music from ancient Greece to the time
of Bach and Handel. A survey of the contributions by composers such
as Machaut, Josquin, and Palestrina will lead to a more in-depth look
at the music of Monteverdi, Purcell, Corelli, Vivaldi, and the two most 665
important composers of the high baroque, Bach and Handel. Instructor:
Neenan.

Mu 138. History II: Music History from 1750 to 1850. 9 units (3-0-6);
second term. Music composed between 1750 and 1850 is among the
most popular concert music of today and the most recorded music in
the classical tradition. This course will focus on developments in Eu-
ropean music during this critical period. An in-depth look at the music
of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven along with the cultural and societal
influences that shaped their lives will be the primary focus. Music of
composers immediately preceding and following them (the Bach sons,
Schubert, Chopin, and others) will also be surveyed. Instructor: Neenan.

Music
 Mu 139. History III: Music History from 1850 to the Present. 9 units
(3-0-6); third term. From the end of the 19th century to the present day,
classical music has undergone the fastest and most radical changes in
its history. The course explores these changes, tracing the development
of various musical styles, compositional methods, and music technolo-
gies while examining acknowledged masterpieces from throughout the
period. Instructor: Neenan.

NEUROBIOLOGY
Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150. Introduction to Neuroscience. 10 units (4-0-6).
For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 152. Neural Circuits and Physiology of Appetite and

Body Homeostasis. 6 units (2-0-4). For course description, see Biol-
ogy.

Bi/CNS/NB 154. Principles of Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Biology.

Bi/NB/BE 155. Neuropharmacology. 6 units (3-0-3). For course de-

scription, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 157. Comparative Nervous Systems. 9 units (2-3-4). For

course description, see Biology.

Pl/CNS/NB/Bi/Psy 161. Consciousness. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Philosophy.

Bi/CNS/NB 162. Cellular and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory. 12

units (2-4-6). For course description, see Biology.

NB/Bi/CNS 163. The Biological Basis of Neural Disorders. 6 (3-0-3);

second term. Prerequisites: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or instructor’s permis-
sion. The neuroscience of psychiatric, neurological, and neurodegen-
erative disorders and of substance abuse, in humans and in animal
666 models. Students master the biological principles including genetics,
cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, and circuits. Topics are taught
at the research level and include classical and emerging therapeutic
approaches and diagnostic strategies. Instructors: Lester, Lois. Given in
alternate years; Not offered 2020–21.

Bi/CNS/NB 164. Tools of Neurobiology. 9 units (3-0-6). Prerequisites:

Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or equivalent. For course description, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/Psy/NB 176. Cognition. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. For course

description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Courses
Bi/CNS/NB 184. The Primate Visual System. 9 units (3-1-5). For
course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 185. Large Scale Brain Networks. 6 units (2-0-4). For

course description, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186. Vision: From Computational Theory to

Neuronal Mechanisms. 12 units (4-4-4). For course description, see
Computation and Neural Systems.

CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187. Neural Computation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi/CNS/NB 195. Mathematics in Biology. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Biology.

BE/Bi/NB 203. Introduction to Programming for the Biological Sci-

ences Bootcamp. 6 units. For course description, see Bioengineering.

Bi/CNS/NB 216. Behavior of Mammals. 6 units (2-0-4). For course

description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 217. Central Mechanisms in Perception. 6 units (2-0-4).

For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/NB 220. Genetic Dissection of Neural Circuit Function. 6

units (2-0-4). For course description, see Biology.

Bi/CNS/BE/NB 230. Optogenetic and CLARITY Methods in Experi-

mental Neuroscience. 9 units (3-2-4). For course description, see
Biology.

CNS/Bi/NB 247. Cerebral Cortex. 6 units (2-0-4). For course descrip-

tion, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Bi/CNS/NB 250 c. Topics in Systems Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6);

third term. For course description, see Biology.

CNS/Bi/NB 256. Decision Making. 6 units (2-0-4). For course descrip- 667
tion, see Computation and Neural Systems.

NB 299. Graduate Research. Units to be arranged; first, second, third

terms. Students may register for research units after consultation with
their adviser.

Neurobiology
 PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS
Courses under this heading cover the instructional content of a range of
extracurricular activities and work in the fine arts and elsewhere. These
courses will appear on the student’s transcript, and will be graded pass/
fail only. The units count toward the total unit requirement for gradua-
tion, but they do not count toward the 108-unit requirement in humani-
ties and social sciences.

PVA 30 abc. Guitar. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third terms. Offered
on three levels: beginning (no previous experience required), intermedi-
ate, and advanced. Instruction emphasizes a strong classical technique,
including an exploration of various styles of guitar-classical, flamenco,
folk, and popular. Instructor: Elgart.

PVA 31 abc. Chamber Music. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third terms.
Study and performance of music for instrumental ensembles of two to
eight members, and for piano four-hands. Literature ranges from the
16th to 21st centuries. Open to students who play string, woodwind,
brass instruments, guitar, or piano. After auditioning, pianists will be
placed in sections by the instructors. Section 1: Mixed ensembles.
Section 2: Piano four-hands. Section 3: Guitar ensemble. Instructors:
Jasper White, Ward, Elgart.

PVA 32 abc. Symphony Orchestra. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second,

third terms. Study and performance of music written for full symphony
orchestra and chamber orchestra. The orchestra performs both the
standard symphonic repertoire and contemporary music. Two and a half
hours of rehearsal per week. Instructor: Price.

PVA 33 abc. Wind Orchestra. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third terms.
The Caltech-Occidental Wind Orchestra is comprised of students,
faculty, staff, and alumni from Caltech and Occidental College. The
ensemble rehearses Thursday nights from 7:30-9:45 pm. and performs
three programs per year (one per term) at Ramo Auditorium and Thorne
Hall. Repertoire is comprised of traditional and contemporary music
encompassing a wide variety of styles, and regularly features renowned
668 guest artists. Open to students of all levels of previous experience.
Instructor: Price.

PVA 34 abc. Jazz Band/Jazz Improvisation. 3 units (0-3-0); first, sec-

ond, third terms. Study and performance of all styles of big-band jazz
from Duke Ellington to Maria Schneider, with additional opportunity for
the study of improvisation. Class meets one evening per week.Instruc-
tor: Catlin.

PVA 35 abc. Glee Club. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third terms. Prep-
aration and performance of choral repertoire spanning a range of
historical periods and musical styles. Includes occasional collaborative

Courses
performances with the orchestra. No previous experience required.
Three hours a week. Instructor: Sulahian.

PVA 37 abc. Chamber Singers. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third

terms. Advanced study and performance of SATB choral music. Em-
phasis is placed on more difficult choral repertoire, both a capella and
accompanied. Includes performances with the Glee Clubs as well as at
other on-campus events. Audition required. Participation in Glee Clubs
required. Instructor: Sulahian.

PVA 40 a. Find Your Stories. 3 units (2-0-1); first term. Through a series
of writing exercises, improvisation, and performance/vocal techniques,
students will explore/discover/write new narratives for the ever-
changing 21st century global landscape. The class culminates in public
presentations recorded in front of a live audience. Instructor: Brophy.

PVA 40 b. Moth to the Flame. 3 units (2-0-1); first term.; second

term. This second term emphasizes the relation of the speaker with
community. In multiple five minute presentations covering selected
topics, students will condense their stories to communicate complex
social/scientific narratives and practice how scientists deal with citizen
science and democracy in open forums. Lecturers from other Divisions
will discuss their own history of public speaking and share their process
on how they construct, justify and arrive at their scientific explana-
tions. Instructor: Brophy.

PVA 40 c. Long Form Storytelling. 3 units (2-0-1); first term.; third

term. This final term combines the various narratives compiled over pre-
vious terms and weaves them into a long-form storytelling narrative for
a live invited audience at the conclusion. Students receive public speak-
ing experience and end the year with a forum to share their process and
their science stories with an invited audience. Efforts will be made to
coordinate the event with outside opportunities such as existing TedX or
Moth events. Instructor: Brophy.

PVA 41 abc. Storytelling for Scientists. 3 units (2-0-1); first, second,

third terms. To be effective leaders and communicators, scientists need
to explain/perform their science. Through a series of writing exercises,
performance/vocal techniques with new media, students explore/write 669
and perform new narratives for the ever-changing 21st century global
landscape. The final class culminates in original stories recorded in front
of a live audience. May be repeated for credit. Instructors: Brophy.

PVA 42 abc. Improvisation for Scientists. 3 units (2-0-1); first, second,

third terms. This class is taught sequentially over the academic year
and begins with rudimentary improvisation techniques, and continues
in the winter/spring with professional improvisation guidance, long form
improvisation, and advanced techniques with monthly public perfor-
mances. Instructors: Brophy.

Performing and Visual Arts

 PVA 61 abc. Silkscreen and Silk Painting. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second,
third terms. Instruction in silkscreening techniques, primarily for T-shirts.
Progressive development of silk painting skills for fine art. Instructor:
Barry.

PVA 62 abc. Drawing and Painting. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third
terms. Instruction in techniques of painting in acrylics and watercolor
and life drawing of models. Emphasis on student-chosen subject with a
large reference library. Instructor: Barry.

PVA 63 abc. Ceramics. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third terms. In-
struction in the techniques of creating ceramics, including the slab roller
and potter’s wheel, and glazing methods. Instructor: Freed.

PHILOSOPHY
Hum/Pl 39. Ancient Greek Philosophy. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.
For course description, see Humanities.

Hum/Pl 40. Right and Wrong. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see Humanities.

Hum/Pl 41. Knowledge and Reality. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-
scription, see Humanities.

Hum/Pl 43. Meaning In Life. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,

see Humanities.

Hum/Pl 44. Philosophy Through Science Fiction. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Humanities.

Hum/Pl 45. Ethics & AI. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
Humanities.

Hum/Pl 46. Thinking about Climate Change. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. For course description, see Humanities.
670
Pl 90 ab. Senior Thesis. 9 units (1-0-8). Required of students taking
the philosophy option. To be taken in any two consecutive terms of the
senior year. Students will research and write a thesis of 10,000–12,000
words on a philosophical topic to be determined in consultation with
their thesis adviser. Limited to students taking the philosophy option.
Instructor: Staff.

Pl 98. Reading in Philosophy. 9 units (1-0-8). Prerequisite: instructor’s

permission. An individual program of directed reading in philosophy, in
areas not covered by regular courses. Instructor: Staff.

Courses
Pl/Law 99. Causation and Responsibility. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.
This course will examine the interrelationships between the concepts
of causation, moral responsibility, and legal liability. It will consider legal
doctrines of causation and responsibility, as well as attempts within
philosophy to articulate these concepts. Questions to be addressed
include: Can you be morally or legally responsible for harms that you
do not cause? Is it worse to cause some harm, than to unsuccessfully
attempt it? Is it justified to punish those who cause harm more severely
than those who attempt harm? When, if ever, can the ends justify the
means? What constitutes negligence? Is it worse to cause some harm,
than to allow it to happen (when you could have prevented it)? Not of-
fered 2020-21.

Pl 100. Free Will. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. This course examines
the question of what it means to have free will, whether and why free
will is desirable, and whether humans have free will. Topics may include
historical discussions of free will from writers such as Aristotle, Bo-
ethius, and Hume; what it means for a scientific theory to be determinis-
tic, and whether determinism is compatible with free will; the connection
between free will and moral responsibility; the relationship between free
will and the notion of the self; beliefs about free will; the psychology of
decision making; and the insanity defense in law. Instructor: Hitchcock.
Not offered 2020-21.

Pl 102. Selected Topics in Philosophy. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by

announcement. Prerequisite: Hum/Pl 40 or Hum/Pl 41 or instructor’s
permission.

HPS/Pl/CS 110. Causation and Explanation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 120. Introduction to Philosophy of Science. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 122. Probability, Evidence, and Belief. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 123. Introduction to the Philosophy of Physics. 9 units (3-0-

6); For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science. 671

HPS/Pl 124. Philosophy of Space and Time. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 125. Philosophical Issues in Quantum Physics. 9 units (3-0-

6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 128. Philosophy of Mathematics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 136. Happiness and the Good Life. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy
 HPS/Pl 138. Human Nature and Society. 9 units (3-0-6). For course
description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

HPS/Pl 139. Human Nature, Welfare, & Sustainability. 9 units (3-0-

6); first term. For course description, see History and Philosophy of
Science.

Pl/CNS/NB/Bi/Psy 161. Consciousness. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.

Prerequisites: None, but strongly suggest prior background in philoso-
phy of mind and basic neurobiology (such as Bi150). One of the last
great challenges to our understanding of the world concerns conscious
experience. What exactly is it? How is it caused or constituted? And
how does it connect with the rest of our science? This course will cover
philosophy of mind, cognitive psychology, and cognitive neuroscience
in a mixture of lectures and in-class discussion. There are no formal pre-
requisites, but background in philosophy (equivalent to PI41, PI110) and
in neuroscience (equivalent to BI/CNS 150) is strongly recommended
and students with such background will be preferentially considered.
Limited to 20. Instructors: Adolphs, Eberhardt.

HPS/Pl 165. Selected Topics in Philosophy of Science. 9 units (3-0-

6). For course description, see History and Philosophy of Science.

Pl 185. Moral Philosophy. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. A survey of topics

in moral philosophy. The emphasis will be on metaethical issues, al-
though some normative questions may be addressed. Metaethical top-
ics that may be covered include the fact/value distinction; the nature of
right and wrong (consequentialism, deontological theories, rights-based
ethical theories, virtue ethics); the status of moral judgments (cognitiv-
ism vs. noncognitivism, realism vs. irrealism); morality and psychology;
moral relativism; moral skepticism; morality and self-interest; the nature
of justice. The implications of these theories for various practical moral
problems may also be considered. Instructor: Pham.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
672 PE 1. Wellness. 3 units; offered by announcement. An introductory
survey course of important topics of physical, mental and overall health
and wellness for students designed to be taken in the first two years.
Topics include basic principles and components of exercise and physi-
cal conditioning, the role of sleep and nutrition in overall health, time
and stress management skills, emotional and mental self and com-
munity care principals. The course will be team taught by members of
the physical education department in collaboration with other student
affairs partners and resources. Instructor: Staff.

PE 2. Student Designed Fitness. 3 units; offered by announce-

ment. This course provides students with knowledge and practical
opportunities to develop and implement an individualized program to

Courses
successfully accomplish their physical fitness goals. Detailed proposals
are developed during week two of the term, and journals are maintained
throughout the term to monitor progress. May only be used for 3 units of
the 9-unit physical education requirement. Instructor: Staff.

PE 3. Hiking. 3 units; offered by announcement. This course is de-

signed to provide students an opportunity to explore the outdoors of
Pasadena and the San Gabriel Mountains while participating in physical
fitness activities. Learn about proper hiking gear, basics for safety, trip
plans, and how to research trails in the local area. The class will meet on
campus and then travel to one of the local trails for an afternoon hike.
Students will be asked to use maps, compass, and GPS devices on
various hikes to teach them proper use of all forms of location guid-
ance. Along the trail, students will be asked to identify local flora and
vegetation, learn trail etiquette, discuss survival scenarios in the event
of emergency, and practice basic trail first aid. Topics such as trail nutri-
tion and hydration will be presented, and students will create a search
and rescue plans in the event of an overnight emergency. This class will
only be offered on Friday afternoon in the fall and spring, meeting once
per week for a three-hour block to accommodate travel off campus.
Instructor: Staff.

PE 4. Introduction to Power Walking. 3 units; offered by announce-

ment. Introduction to walking for fitness. Emphasis on cardiovascular
benefits for a healthy lifestyle. The program is progressive and suitable
for walkers of all levels. Instructor: Staff.

PE 5. Beginning Running. 3 units; offered by announcement. Students

will learn fundamental principles of sound running training to help with
short-term and long-term improvement. The course will cover workout
design, running mechanics, injury prevention and other related topics.
The course can accommodate a wide range of abilities and experience
levels, from beginner to intermediate. Course assessments will include
fitness tests to gauge improvement and written work on running-related
topics. Instructors: Staff.

PE 6. Core Training, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Learn to develop functional fitness using core stability
training techniques that focus on working deep muscles of the entire 673
torso at once. The course is taught using exercises that develop core
strength, including exercises on a stability ball, medicine ball, wobble
boards as well as with Pilates exercise programs. Instructor: Staff.

PE 7. Speed and Agility Training, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units;

offered by announcement Instruction to increase foot speed and agility
with targeted exercises designed to help the student increase these
areas for use in competitive situations. Instruction will focus on increas-
ing foot speed, leg turnover, sprint endurance, and competitive balance.
Proper technique and specific exercises as well as development of an
individual or sport-specific training workout will be taught. Instructor:
Staff.

Physical Education
 PE 8. Fitness Training, Beginning. 3 units; offered by announcement.
An introductory course for students who are new to physical fitness.
Students will be introduced to different areas of fitness such as weight
training, core training, walking, aerobics, yoga, swimming, and cycling.
Students will be able to design an exercise program for lifelong fitness.
Instructor: Staff.

PE 9. Soccer. 3 units; offered by announcement. Fundamental instruc-

tion on shooting, passing, trapping, dribbling, penalty kicks, offensive
plays, defensive strategies, and goal keeping. Course includes competi-
tive play using small field and full field scrimmages. Instructor: Staff.

PE 10. Aerobic Dance. 3 units; offered by announcement. Each class

includes a thorough warm-up, a cardiovascular workout phase that
includes a variety of conditioning exercises designed to tone and
strengthen various muscle groups, and a relaxation cool-down and
stretch, all done to music. Instructor: Staff.

PE 14. Basketball Skills, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered

by announcement. Features fundamental instruction on shooting, drib-
bling, passing, defensive positioning, and running an offense. Course
includes competitive play and free-throw shooting. Instructors: Staff.

PE 20. Fencing, Beginning. 3 units; offered by announcement Begin-

ning fencing includes basic techniques of attack, defense, and counter-
offense. Lecture topics include fencing history, strategy, scouting and
analysis of opponents, and gamesmanship. Instructor: Staff.

PE 24. Yoga, Beginning. 3 units; offered by announcement. Hatha Yoga

is a system of physical postures designed to stretch and strengthen the
body, calm the nervous system, and center the mind. It is a noncompet-
itive activity designed to reduce stress for improved health of body and
mind while increasing flexibility, strength, and stamina, and reducing
chance of athletic injury. Instructor: Staff.

PE 27. Frisbee Golf. 3 units; offered by announcement. This course is

designed to provide students an opportunity to learn various disc golf
shots (driving, mid-range, putting), strategies, rules, and etiquette. Class
674 time will be used practicing on campus and playing the game at various
local courses. Students will develop the knowledge and ability to play
disc golf confidently on a recreational basis. Instructor: Staff.

PE 29. Outdoor Lawn Games. 3 units; offered by announcement.

Students will participate in 5 specifically chosen strategic games (Inner
Tube Water Polo, Dodgeball, Bocce, Corn Hole, Flag Football) and learn
basic strategy and rules, fitness and health components as well as
learning how to compete in cooperative team games. Course require-
ments include great attitude, attendance and effort of having fun and
trying something new while working on your coordination and general
fitness. Instructors: Staff.

Courses
PE 30. Golf, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered by an-
nouncement. Beginning course covers fundamentals of the game, in-
cluding rules, terminology, etiquette, basic grip, set-up, swing, and club
selection for each shot. The following shots will be covered: full swing
(irons and woods), chip, pitch, sand, and putting. Intermediate course
will focus on swing development of specialty shots and on course play
management. Instructors: Staff.

PE 31. Indoor/Outdoor Cycling. 3 units; offered by announcement.

During this introductory course students will utilize both indoor cycling
and outdoor cycling as a tool for fitness and fun. Students will also
learn and apply principles of lifetime physical fitness utilizing major
components of cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and
endurance, and flexibility. It is recommended students have a bicycle
and helmet however equipment will be provided as needed. Please see
instructor. Instructors: Staff.

PE 33. Beginning Triathlon Training. 3 units; offered by announce-

ment. This course is designed to help beginners learn to train for a
sprint distance triathlon. All three disciplines will be taught, with specific
technique instruction in each area. Students will learn how to develop
a training schedule, choosing the correct event for their skill, nutri-
tion, safety, and race preparation. The course will include techniques
to increase transition efficiency, trouble shoot issues on the route and
strategies to record a personal best in future races. Safe training to
reduce injury and assure a healthy race is the foundation of this course.
Instructor: Staff.

PE 35. Diving, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered by announce-

ment. Students will learn fundamentals of springboard diving to include
basic approach, and five standard dives. Intermediate course includes
instruction in the back somersault, forward somersault, forward somer-
sault full twist, and reverse somersault. Instructor: Staff.

PE 36. Swimming, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Instruction in all basic swimming strokes, including
freestyle, elementary backstroke, racing backstroke, breaststroke, side-
stroke, and butterfly. Instructors: Staff.
675
PE 38. Water Polo. 3 units; offered by announcement. Basic recreation-
al water polo with instruction of individual skills and team strategies. A
background in swimming is encouraged. Instructor: Staff.

PE 40. Beginning Self Defense. 3 units; offered by announcement.

Students will learn basics of keeping themselves safe when an unknown
person threatens their safety. The course is focused on staying safe
while rendering an assailant temporarily unable to give chase to allow
the student to get help. Techniques taught will assist students in learn-
ing vulnerable targets to disable an attacker, using their own body to
maximize damage to allow escape, and finding methods to generate
force. Using an assailant’s attack against him to maintain balance and

Physical Education
 administer the greatest degree of force necessary to disable a threat is
the foundation of the course. Instructor: Staff.

PE 44. Karate (Shotokan), Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced. 3

units; offered by announcement. Fundamental self-defense techniques
including form practice and realistic sparring. Emphasis on improving
muscle tone, stamina, balance, and coordination, with the additional
requirement of memorizing one or more simple kata (forms). Instructor:
Staff.

PE 48. T’ai-Chi Ch’uan, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered

by announcement. Chinese movement art emphasizing relaxation and
calm awareness through slow, flowing, meditative movement using only
minimum strength needed to accomplish the action. Instructors: Staff.

PE 50. Badminton, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Basic skills will be taught, including grips, services,
overhead and underhand strokes, and footwork. Rules, terminology, and
etiquette are covered. Intermediate skills such as drives, serve returns,
forehand and backhand smash returns, attacking clears, and sliced
drop shots are taught. Singles and doubles play along with drill work
throughout the term. Instructor: Staff.

PE 54. Racquetball, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Fundamentals of the game will be emphasized, includ-
ing rules, scoring, strategy, and winning shots. All types of serves will be
covered, as well as a variety of shots to include kill, pinch-off, passing,
ceiling, and off-the-backwall. Singles and doubles games will be played.
Intermediate course will review all fundamentals with a refinement of
winning shots, serves, and daily games. Instructors: Staff.

PE 56. Squash, Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced. 3 units; of-

fered by announcement. Learn by playing as basic rules and strokes
are taught. Fundamentals to include proper grip, stroke, stance, and
positioning, along with serve and return of serve. Intermediate and
Advanced course will concentrate on skill development with inclusion of
forehand and backhand drives, lobs, volleys, and drops, with emphasis
on court movement, shot selection, and tactics. Instructor: Staff.
676
PE 60. Tennis, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered by an-
nouncement. Stroke fundamentals, singles and doubles play, plus rules,
terminology, and etiquette are covered in all classes. Beginning course
emphasizes groundstrokes, volleys, serve, and grips. Beginning/Inter-
mediate course is for those players between levels and will concentrate
on strategy, drills, and match play. Intermediate level focuses on im-
proving technique, footwork, and court positioning, with instruction on
approach shots, volleys, overheads, and lobs. Instructors: Staff.

PE 70. Weight Training, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered

by announcement. Active participation in a strength and conditioning

Courses
program designed for individual skill level and desired effect. Course will
enlighten students on various methods, terminology, and techniques in
isokinetic strength and cardiovascular fitness training. Instructor: Staff.

PE 71. Advanced Techniques of Human Performance. 3 units;

offered by announcement. Prerequisites: PE 70, instructor approval
. This course is intended for those experienced with high level physi-
cal training. This course helps individuals improve sport and physical
fitness skills by addressing components including muscular strength,
foot speed, agility, cardiovascular conditioning and flexibility. Instructor:
Staff.

PE 77. Volleyball, Beginning and Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Fundamental instruction on drills, strategies, and rules,
with game-playing opportunities. Basics of serve, pass, set, spike,
defense, and court position will be taught. Intermediate level focuses on
skill development to a more competitive standard and features multiple
offenses and understanding officiating. Instructors: Staff.

PE 81. Bouldering. 3 units; offered by announcement. Taught at the

Caltech bouldering cave, Brown Gym. During this introductory course
to bouldering, students will learn terminology, how to properly fit into a
harness, set-up and use a tubular belay device, and belay commands.
This course will emphasize muscle strength and endurance, balance,
and flexibility, as well as be challenging for mind and body. Instructors:
Staff.

PE 82. Rock Climbing, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Taught at the Caltech Climbing Wall, Brown Gym. Basic
skills will be covered to utilize each student’s strength and endurance
while learning to climb safely. Use of climbing rope and other equipment
for belaying, rappelling, and emergency ascent will be taught. Instructor:
Staff.

PE 84. Table Tennis, Beginning/Intermediate. 3 units; offered by

announcement. Introductory course to provide general knowledge of
equipment, rules, and basic strokes, including topspin drive, back-
spin chop, and simple block in both forehand and backhand. Multiball
exercise utilizing robot machines and video. Intermediate class covers 677
regulations for international competition and fundamentals of winning
table tennis, including footwork drills, smash, serve, and attack. Instruc-
tor: Staff.

Intercollegiate Teams

PE 85 ab. Intercollegiate Track and Field Teams. 3 units; second,

third terms. Coach: Raphelson.

PE 87 ab. Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Teams. 3 units; first,

second terms. Coach: Brabson.

Physical Education
 PE 89 ab. Intercollegiate Fencing Teams. 3 units; not offered 2020-21.

PE 90 abc. Intercollegiate Water Polo Teams. 3 units; first, second,

third terms. Coach: Bonafede.

PE 91 ab. Intercollegiate Basketball Teams. 3 units; first, second

terms. Coaches: Eslinger, Reyes.

PE 92. Intercollegiate Soccer Teams. 3 units; first term. Coaches:

Rensing, Gould.

PE 93 ab. Intercollegiate Baseball Team. 3 units; second, third terms.

Coach: Whitehead.

PE 95 ab. Intercollegiate Tennis Teams. 3 units; second, third terms.

Coaches: Cohen, Gamble.

PE 97. Intercollegiate Cross-Country Teams. 3 units; first term.

Coach: Raphelson.

PE 99. Intercollegiate Volleyball Team. 3 units; first term. Coaches:

Gardner.

PHYSICS
Ph 1 abc. Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism. 9 units (4-0-
5); first, second, third terms. The first year of a two-year course in intro-
ductory classical and modern physics. Topics: Newtonian mechanics
in Ph 1 a; electricity and magnetism, and special relativity, in Ph 1 b, c.
Emphasis on physical insight and problem solving. Ph 1 b, c is divided
into two tracks: the Practical Track emphasizing practical electricity,
and the Analytic Track, which teaches and uses methods of multivari-
able calculus. Students enrolled in the Practical Track are encouraged
to take Ph 8 bc concurrently. Students will be given information helping
them to choose a track at the end of fall term. Instructors: Cheung,
Hsieh, Refael, Alicea.
678
Ph 2 abc. Waves, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Physics. 9
units (3-0-6) ; first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ma 1
abc. An introduction to several areas of physics including applications in
modern science and engineering. Topics include discrete and continu-
ous oscillatory systems, wave mechanics, applications in telecommuni-
cations and other areas (first term); foundational quantum concepts, the
quantum harmonic oscillator, the Hydrogen atom, applications in optical
and semiconductor systems (second term); ensembles and statistical
systems, thermodynamic laws, applications in energy technology and
other areas (third term). Although best taken in sequence, the three
terms can be taken independently. Instructors: Porter, Cheung, Adhikari.

Courses
Ph 3. Introductory Physics Laboratory. 6 units (0-3-3); first, second,
third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 1 a or instructor’s permission. Introduction
to experimental physics and data analysis, with techniques relevant to
all fields that deal in quantitative data. Specific physics topics include
ion trapping, harmonic motion, mechanical resonance, and precision
interferometry. Broader skills covered include introductions to essential
electronic equipment used in modern research labs, basic digital data
acquisition and analysis, statistical interpretation of quantitative data,
professional record keeping and documentation of experimental re-
search, and an introduction to the Mathematica programming language.
Only one term may be taken for credit. Instructors: Black, Libbrecht.

FS/Ph 4. Freshman Seminar: Astrophysics and Cosmology with

Open Data. 6 units (3-0-3). For course description, see Freshman Semi-
nar. Not offered 2020–21.

Ph 5. Analog Electronics for Physicists. 9 units (0-5-4); first term.

Prerequisites: Ph1abc, Ma1abc, Ma2 taken concurrently. A fast-paced
laboratory course covering the design, construction, and testing of
practical analog and interface circuits, with emphasis on applications of
operational amplifiers. No prior experience with electronics is required.
Basic linear and nonlinear elements and circuits are studied, including
amplifiers, filters, oscillators and other signal conditioning circuits. Each
week includes a 45 minute lecture/recitation and a 2½ hour laboratory.
The course culminates in a two-week project of the student’s choosing.
Not offered 2020–21.

Ph 6. Physics Laboratory. 9 units; second term. Prerequisites: Ph 2 a

or Ph 12 a, Ma 2, Ph 3, Ph 2 b or Ph 12 b (may be taken concurrently),
Ma 3 (may be taken concurrently). A laboratory introduction to experi-
mental physics and data analysis. Experiments use research-grade
equipment and techniques to investigate topics in classical electrody-
namics, resonance phenomena, waves, and other physical phenom-
ena. Students develop critical, quantitative evaluations of the relevant
physical theories; they work individually and choose which experiments
to conduct. Each week includes a 30-minute individual recitation and a
3 hour laboratory. Instructors: Rice, Politzer.

Ph 7. Physics Laboratory. 9 units; third term. Prerequisites: Ph6, 679

Ph2b or Ph12b, Ph2c or Ph12c taken concurrently. A laboratory course
continuing the study of experimental physics introduced in Physics 6.
The course introduces some of the equipment and techniques used in
quantum, condensed matter, nuclear, and particle physics. The menu of
experiments includes some classics which informed the development of
the modern quantum theory, including electron diffraction, the Stern-
Gerlach experiment, Compton scattering, and the Mössbauer Effect.
The course format follows that of Physics 6: students work individually
and choose which experiments to conduct, and each week includes a
30 minute individual recitation and a 3 hour laboratory. Instructors: Rice,
Politzer.

Physics
 Ph 8 bc. Experiments in Electromagnetism. 3 units (0-3-0); second,
third terms. Prerequisite: Ph 1 a. A two-term sequence of experiments
that parallel the material of Ph 1 bc. It includes measuring the force be-
tween wires with a homemade analytical balance, measuring properties
of a 1,000-volt spark, and building and studying a radio-wave transmit-
ter and receiver. The take-home experiments are constructed from a kit
of tools and electronic parts. Measurements are compared to theoretical
expectations. Instructor: Spiropulu.

FS/Ph 9. Freshman Seminar: The Science of Music. 6 units (2-0-4).

For course description, see Freshman Seminar.

Ph 10. Frontiers in Physics. 3 units (2-0-1); first term. Open for credit
to freshmen and sophomores. Weekly seminar by a member of the
physics department or a visitor, to discuss his or her research at an
introductory level; the other class meetings will be used to explore
background material related to seminar topics and to answer questions
that arise. The course will also help students find faculty sponsors for
individual research projects. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Spiropulu.

FS/Ph 11 abc. Freshman Seminar: Beyond Physics. 6 units (2-0-4).

For course description, see Freshman Seminar.

Ph 12 abc. Waves, Quantum Physics, and Statistical Mechanics.

9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc, Ma
1 abc, or equivalents. A one-year course primarily for students intend-
ing further work in the physics option. Topics include classical waves;
wave mechanics, interpretation of the quantum wave-function, one-
dimensional bound states, scattering, and tunneling; thermodynamics,
introductory kinetic theory, and quantum statistics. Instructors: X. Chen,
Filippone, Patterson.

Ph 20. Computational Physics Laboratory I. 6 units (0-6-0); first, sec-

ond, third terms. Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent. Introduction to the
tools of scientific computing. Use of numerical algorithms and symbolic
manipulation packages for solution of physical problems. Python for
scientific programming, Mathematica for symbolic manipulation, Unix
tools for software development. Instructors: Mach, Weinstein.
680
Ph 21. Computational Physics Laboratory II. 6 units (0-6-0); second,
third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 20 or equivalent experience with program-
ming. Computational tools for data analysis. Use of python for access-
ing scientific data from the web. Bayesian techniques. Fourier tech-
niques. Image manipulation with python. Instructors: Mach, Weinstein.

Ph 22. Computational Physics Laboratory III. 6 units (0-6-0); second,

third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 20 or equivalent experience with program-
ming and numerical techniques. Computational tools and numerical
techniques. Applications to problems in classical mechanics. Numeri-
cal solution of 3-body and N-body systems. Monte Carlo integration.
Instructors: Mach, Weinstein.

Courses
Ph 50 ab. Caltech Physics League. 3 units (1-0-2); first, second terms.
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc. This course serves as a physics club, meeting
weekly to discuss and analyze real-world problems in physical sciences.
A broad range of topics will be considered, such as energy production,
space and atmospheric phenomena, astrophysics, nano-science, and
others. Students will use basic physics knowledge to produce simplified
(and perhaps speculative) models of complex natural phenomena. In
addition to regular assignments, students will also compete in solving
challenge problems each quarter with prizes given in recognition of the
best solutions. Not offered 2020–21.

Ph 70. Oral and Written Communication. 6 units (2-0-4); first, third

terms. Provides practice and guidance in oral and written communica-
tion of material related to contemporary physics research. Students
will choose a topic of interest, make presentations of this material in
a variety of formats, and, through a guided process, draft and revise
a technical or review article on the topic. The course is intended for
senior physics majors. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement.
Instructor: Hitlin.

Ph 77 abc. Advanced Physics Laboratory. 9 units (0-5-4); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 7 or instructor’s permission. Ad-
vanced preparation for laboratory research. Dual emphasis on practical
skills used in modern research groups and historic experiments that il-
luminate important theoretical concepts. Topics include advanced signal
acquisition, conditioning, and data processing, introductions to widely-
used optical devices and techniques, laser-frequency stabilization, and
classic experiments such as magnetic resonance, optical pumping, and
doppler-free spectroscopy. Fundamentals of vacuum engineering, thin-
film sample growth, and cryogenics are occasionally offered. Special
topics and student-led projects are available on request. Instructors:
Black, Libbrecht.

Ph 78 abc. Senior Thesis (Experiment). 9 units; first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: To register for this course, the student must obtain
approval of the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee (Ken
Libbrecht). Open only to senior physics majors. Experimental research
must be supervised by a faculty member, the student’s thesis adviser.
Two 15-minute presentations to the Physics Undergraduate Committee 681
are required, one near the end of the first term and one near the end of
third term. The written thesis must be completed and distributed to the
committee one week before the second presentation. Students wishing
assistance in finding an adviser and/or a topic for a senior thesis are in-
vited to consult with the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee,
or any other member of this committee. A grade will not be assigned in
Ph 78 untli the end of the third term. P grades will be given the first two
terms, and then changed at the end of the course to the appropriate
letter grade. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.

Ph 79 abc. Senior Thesis (Theory). 9 units; first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: To register for this course, the student must obtain

Physics
 approval of the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee (Ken
Libbrecht). Open only to senior physics majors. Theoretical research
must be supervised by a faculty member, the student’s thesis adviser.
Two 15-minute presentations to the Physics Undergraduate Committee
are required, one near the end of the first term and one near the end of
third term. The written thesis must be completed and distributed to the
committee one week before the second presentation. Students wishing
assistance in finding an adviser and/or a topic for a senior thesis are in-
vited to consult with the chair of the Physics Undergraduate Committee,
or any other member of this committee. A grade will not be assigned in
Ph 79 until the end of the third term. P grades will be given the first two
terms, and then changed at the end of the course to the appropriate
letter grade. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.

Ph 101. Order-of-Magnitude Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term.

Emphasis will be on using basic physics to understand complicated
systems. Examples will be selected from properties of materials, geo-
physics, weather, planetary science, astrophysics, cosmology, biome-
chanics, etc. Offered in alternate years. Instructor: Phinney.

Ay/Ph 104. Relativistic Astrophysics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course de-

scription, see Astrophysics.

Ph 105. Analog Electronics for Physicists. 9 units; first term. Prereq-

uisites: Ph1abc, Ma2, or equivalent. A laboratory course intended for
graduate students, it covers the design, construction, and testing of
simple, practical analog and interface circuits useful for signal condi-
tioning and experiment control in the laboratory. No prior experience
with electronics is required. Students will use operational amplifiers,
analog multipliers, diodes, bipolar transistors, and passive circuit ele-
ments. Each week includes a 45 minute lecture/recitation and a 2½ hour
laboratory. The course culminates in a two-week project of the student’s
choosing. Not offered 2020–21.

Ph 106 abc. Topics in Classical Physics. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second,

third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 2 ab or Ph 12 abc, Ma 2. An intermedi-
ate course in the application of basic principles of classical physics
to a wide variety of subjects. Ph106a will be devoted to mechanics,
682 including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics, small
oscillations and normal modes, central forces, and rigid-body motion.
Ph106b will be devoted to fundamentals of electrostatics, magnetostat-
ics, and electrodynamics, including boundary-value problems, multipole
expansions, electromagnetic waves, and radiation. It will also cover
special relativity. Ph106c will cover advanced topics in electromagne-
tism and an introduction to classical optics. Instructors: Fuller, Golwala,
Hutzler.

APh/Ph 115. Physics of Momentum Transport in Hydrodynamic

Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); second term.For course description, see Ap-
plied Physics.

Courses
APh/Ph/Ae 116. Physics of Thermal and Mass Transport in Hydro-
dynamic Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. For course description,
see Applied Physics.

Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 abc. Physics of Measurement. 9 units (3-0-6);

second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph127, APh 105, or equivalent, or
permission from instructor. This course focuses on exploring the funda-
mental underpinnings of experimental measurements from the perspec-
tives of responsivity, noise, backaction, and information. Its overarching
goal is to enable students to critically evaluate real measurement sys-
tems, and to determine the ultimate fundamental and practical limits to
information that can be extracted from them. Topics will include physi-
cal signal transduction and responsivity, fundamental noise processes,
modulation, frequency conversion, synchronous detection, signal-
sampling techniques, digitization, signal transforms, spectral analyses,
and correlations. The first term will cover the essential fundamental
underpinnings, while topics in second term will include examples from
optical methods, high-frequency and fast temporal measurements, bio-
logical interfaces, signal transduction, biosensing, and measurements at
the quantum limit. Part c not offered in 2020–21. Instructor: Roukes.

CS/Ph 120. Quantum Cryptography. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. For

course description, see Computer Science.

Ph 121 abc. Computational Physics Lab. 6 units (0-6-0); first, second,

third terms. Many of the recent advances in physics are attributed to
progress in computational power. In the advanced computational lab,
students will hone their computational skills bu working through proj-
ects inspired by junior level classes (such as classical mechanics and
E, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics and quantum many-body
physics). This course will primarily be in Python and Mathematica. This
course is offered pass/fail. Instructors: Simmons-Duffin, Refael.

Ph 125 abc. Quantum Mechanics. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ma 2 ab, Ph 12 abc or Ph 2 ab, or equivalents.
A one-year course in quantum mechanics and its applications, for
students who have completed Ph 12 or Ph 2. Wave mechanics in 3-D,
scattering theory, Hilbert spaces, matrix mechanics, angular momen-
tum, symmetries, spin-1/2 systems, approximation methods, identi- 683
cal particles, and selected topics in atomic, solid-state, nuclear, and
particle physics. Instructor: Wise, Y. Chen.

Ph 127 abc. Statistical Physics. 9 units (4-0-5); first, second terms.

Prerequisites: Ph 12 c or equivalent, and a basic understanding of
quantum and classical mechanics. A course in the fundamental ideas
and applications of classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Topics
to be covered include the statistical basis of thermodynamics; ideal
classical and quantum gases (Bose and Fermi); lattice vibrations and
phonons; weak interaction expansions; phase transitions; and fluctua-
tions and dynamics. Instructors: Motrunich.

Physics
 Ph 129 abc. Mathematical Methods of Physics. 9 units (4-0-5); first,
second terms. Prerequisites: Ma 2 and Ph 2 abc, or equivalent. Math-
ematical methods and their application in physics. First term focuses on
group theoretic methods in physics. Second term includes analytic and
numerical methods for solving differential equations, integral equations,
and transforms, and other applications of real analysis. The term that
covers probability and statistics in physics, part c, will not be offered in
the 2020-21 academic year. Each part may be taken independently. In-
structors: X. Chen, Chatziioannou.

Ph 135. Introduction to Condensed Matter. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent or instructor’s permis-
sion. This course is an introduction to condensed matter which covers
electronic properties of solids, including band structures, transport, and
optical properties. Ph 135 a is continued by Ph 223 ab in second and
third terms. Instructor: Refael.

Ph 136 abc. Applications of Classical Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 106 ab or equivalent. Applications
of classical physics to topics of interest in contemporary “macroscopic’’
physics. Continuum physics and classical field theory; elasticity and
hydrodynamics; plasma physics; magnetohydrodynamics; thermody-
namics and statistical mechanics; gravitation theory, including general
relativity and cosmology; modern optics. Content will vary from year to
year, depending on the instructor. An attempt will be made to organize
the material so that the terms may be taken independently. Ph 136a will
focus on thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, random processes,
and optics. Ph136b will focus on fluid dynamics, MHD, turbulence, and
plasma physics. Ph 136c will cover an introduction to general relativity.
Offered in alternate years. Instructors: Phinney, Fuller, Teukolsky.

Ph/APh 137 abc. Atoms and Photons. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second
terms. Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent, or instructor’s permis-
sion. This course will provide an introduction to the interaction of atomic
systems with photons. The main emphasis is on laying the foundation
for understanding current research that utilizes cold atoms and mol-
ecules as well as quantized light fields. First term: resonance phenom-
ena, atomic/molecular structure, and the semi-classical interaction
684 of atoms/molecules with static and oscillating electromagnetic fields.
Techniques such as laser cooling/trapping, coherent manipulation and
control of atomic systems. Second term: quantization of light fields,
quantized light matter interaction, open system dynamics, entangle-
ment, master equations, quantum jump formalism. Applications to
cavity QED, optical lattices, and Rydberg arrays. Third term [not offered
2020-21]: Topics in contemporary research. Possible areas include
introduction to ultracold atoms, atomic clocks, searches for funda-
mental symmetry violations, synthetic quantum matter, and solid state
quantum optics platforms. The emphasis will be on reading primary and
contemporary literature to understand ongoing experiments. Instructors:
Hutzler, Endres.

Courses
APh/Ph 138 ab. Quantum Hardware and Techniques. 9 units (3-0-6).
For course description, see Applied Physics.

Ph 139. Introduction to High Energy Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent, or instructor’s permis-
sion. This course provides an introduction to particle physics which
includes Standard Model, Feynman diagrams, matrix elements, elec-
troweak theory, QCD, gauge theories, the Higgs mechanism, neutrino
mixing, astro-particle physics/cosmology, accelerators, experimental
techniques, important historical and recent results, physics beyond
the Standard Model, and major open questions in the field. Instructor:
Weinstein.

Ph 171. Reading and Independent Study. Units in accordance with

work accomplished. Occasionally, advanced work involving reading,
special problems, or independent study is carried out under the supervi-
sion of an instructor. Approval of the instructor and of the student’s
departmental adviser must be obtained before registering. The instruc-
tor will complete a student evaluation at the end of the term. Graded
pass/fail.

Ph 172. Research in Physics. Units in accordance with work accom-

plished. Undergraduate students registering for 6 or more units of Ph
172 must provide a brief written summary of their work, not to exceed
3 pages, to the option rep at the end of the term. Approval of the stu-
dent’s research supervisor and departmental adviser must be obtained
before registering. Graded pass/fail.

Ph 177. Advanced Experimental Physics. 9 units (0-4-5); second,

third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 7, Ph 106 a, Ph 125 a or equivalents.
A one-term laboratory course which will require students to design,
assemble, calibrate, and use an apparatus to conduct a nontrivial
experiment involving quantum optics or other current research area of
physics. Students will work as part of a small team to reproduce the
results of a published research paper. Each team will be guided by an
instructor who will meet weekly with the students; the students are each
expected to spend an average of 4 hours/week in the laboratory and the
remainder for study and design. Enrollment is limited. Permission of the
instructors required. Instructors: Rice, Hutzler. 685

CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187. Neural Computation. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Ph 198. Special Topics in Physics. Units in accordance with work

accomplished. Topics will vary year to year and may include hands-
on laboratory work, team projects and a survey of modern physics
research. Instructor: Staff.

Ph 199. Frontiers of Fundamental Physics. 9 units (3-0-6); third

term. Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab, Ph 106 ab, or equivalent. This course
will explore the frontiers of research in particle physics and cosmology,

Physics
 focusing on the physics at the Large Hadron Collider. Topics include the
Standard Model of particle physics in light of the discovery of the Higgs
boson, work towards the characterization and measurements of the
new particle’s quantum properties, its implications on physics beyond
the standard model, and its connection with the standard model of
cosmology focusing on the dark matter challenge. The course is geared
toward seniors and first-year graduate students who are not in particle
physics, although students in particle physics are welcome to attend.
Not offered 2020-21.

Ph 201. Candidacy Physics Fitness. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. The

course will review problem solving techniques and physics applications
from the undergraduate physics college curriculum. In particular, we will
touch on the main topics covered in the written candidacy exam: clas-
sical mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics and quantum
physics, optics, basic mathematical methods of physics, and the physi-
cal origin of everyday phenomena. Instructor: Endres.

Ph 205 abc. Relativistic Quantum Field Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 125. Topics: the Dirac equation,
second quantization, quantum electrodynamics, scattering theory,
Feynman diagrams, non-Abelian gauge theories, Higgs symmetry-
breaking, the Weinberg-Salam model, and renormalization. Instructors:
Gukov, Zurek, Kapustin.

Ph 217. Introduction to the Standard Model. 9 units (3-0-6); first term.

Prerequisites: Ph 205 abc and Ph 236 abc, or equivalent. An introduc-
tion to elementary particle physics and cosmology. Students should
have at least some background in quantum field theory and general
relativity. The standard model of weak and strong interactions is devel-
oped, along with predictions for Higgs physics and flavor physics. Some
conjectures for physics beyond the standard model are introduced: for
example, low-energy supersymmetry and warped extra dimensions. Not
offered 2020–21.

Ph/CS 219 abc. Quantum Computation. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second

terms. Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent. The theory of quantum in-
formation and quantum computation. Overview of classical information
686 theory, compression of quantum information, transmission of quantum
information through noisy channels, quantum error-correcting codes,
quantum cryptography and teleportation. Overview of classical com-
plexity theory, quantum complexity, efficient quantum algorithms, fault-
tolerant quantum computation, physical implementations of quantum
computation. Part c not offered in 2020-21. Instructors: Preskill, Kitaev.

Ph/APh 223 ab. Advanced Condensed-Matter Physics. 9 units

(3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ph 135 or equivalent, or
instructor’s permission. Advanced topics in condensed-matter physics,
with emphasis on the effects of interactions, symmetry, and topol-
ogy in many-body systems. Ph/Aph 223a covers second quantization,
Hartree-Fock theory of the electron gas, Mott insulators and quantum

Courses
magnetism, bosonization, quantum Hall effects, and symmetry pro-
tected topological phases such as topological insulators. Ph/APh 223b
will continue with BCS theory of superconductivity, Ginzburg-Landau
theory, elements of unconventional and topological superconductors,
theory of superfluidity, Bose-Hubbard model and bosonic Mott insula-
tors, and some aspects of quantum systems with randomness. Instruc-
tors: Alicea, Kitaev.

Ph 229 ab. Advanced Mathematical Methods of Physics. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. Prerequisites: Ph 205 abc or equivalent. A course
on conformal field theory and the conformal bootstrap. Students should
have some background in quantum field theory. Topics will include
the renormalization group, phase transitions, universality, scale vs.
conformal invariance, conformal symmetry, operator product expan-
sion, state-operator correspondence, conformal blocks, the bootstrap
equations, bootstrap in d=2 dimensions, numerical bootstrap methods
in d>2, analytical bootstrap methods, introduction to AdS/CFT. Possible
additional topics (time permitting) include superconformal field theories,
entanglement entropy, monotonicity theorems, and conformal perturba-
tion theory. Instructor: Kapustin.

Ph 230 ab. Elementary Particle Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, third

terms. Prerequisites: Ph 205 abc or equivalent. Advanced methods
in quantum field theory. First term: introduction to supersymmetry,
including the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model,
supersymmetric grand unified theories, extended supersymmetry, su-
pergravity, and supersymmetric theories in higher dimensions. Second
term: Advanced topics will be chosen from nonperturbative phenomena
in non-Abelian gauge field theories, including quark confinement, chiral
sym-metry breaking, anomalies, instantons, the 1/N expansion, lattice
gauge theories, and topological solitons. Instructors: Zurek, Ooguri.

Ph 236 abc. General Relativity. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Pre-
requisite: a mastery of special relativity at the level of Goldstein’s Classi-
cal Mechanics, or of Jackson’s Classical Electrodynamics. A systematic
exposition of Einstein’s general theory of relativity and its applications
to gravitational waves, black holes, relativistic stars, causal structure of
space-time, cosmology and brane worlds. Offered in alternate years.
Not offered 2020–21. 687

Ph 237. Gravitational Radiation. 9 units (3-0-6). Prerequisites: Ph 106

b, Ph 12 b or equivalents. Special topics in Gravitational-wave Detec-
tion. Physics of interferometers, limits of measurement, coherent quan-
tum feedback, noise, data analysis. Not offered 2020-21.

Ph 242 ab. Physics Seminar. 4 units (2-0-2); first, second terms. An

introduction to independent research, including training in relevant
professional skills and discussion of current Caltech research areas with
Caltech faculty, postdocs, and students. One meeting per week plus
student projects. Registration restricted to first-year graduate students
in physics. Instructor: Patterson.

Physics
 Ph 250. Introduction to String Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); second
term. Prerequisites: Ph 205 or equivalent. This year, we offer a lighter
version of the course. It will cover a condensed version of the world-
sheet formulation, then basic elements of the target space physics,
after which we will discuss interesting phenomena/applications, such as
T-duality, D-branes, anomalies, building semi-realistic models of particle
physics from string compactifications, etc. Instructor: Gukov.

Ph 300. Thesis Research. Units in accordance with work accom-

plished. Ph 300 is elected in place of Ph 172 when the student has pro-
gressed to the point where research leads directly toward the thesis for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Approval of the student’s research
supervisor and department adviser or registration representative must
be obtained before registering. Graded pass/fail.

POLITICAL SCIENCE
PS 12. Introduction to Political Science. 9 units (3-0-6); first, third
terms. Introduction to the tools and concepts of analytical political
science. Subject matter is primarily American political processes and in-
stitutions. Topics: spatial models of voting, redistributive voting, games,
presidential campaign strategy, Congress, congressional-bureaucratic
relations, and coverage of political issues by the mass media. Instruc-
tors: Ordeshook, Kiewiet.

PS 20. Political-Economic Development and Material Culture.

9 units (3-0-6); second term. During the 19th-century the American
economy, despite the Civil War, caught up to and surpassed all Eu-
ropean economies. How did the likes of Singer, John Deere and Seth
Thomas — latecomers to the markets they served—come to dominate
those markets both domestically and internationally? Why did the tech-
nology of interchangeable parts and mass production become known
as ’the American system’ when much of that technology was imported
from Europe? What role did government play in facilitating or thwart-
ing innovation and economic growth? This course will explore such
questions as reflected in the ordinary things people collect under the
688 label ’antiques’. What do we learn from the fact that we can document
a half dozen American manufacturers of apple peelers but not a single
comparable European company? Why is the hand sewn quilt a nearly
unique American folk art form and what does the evolution of quilt-
ing patterns tell us about technology and economic prosperity? What
do baking powder cans as a category of collectible tell us about the
politics of federal versus state regulation? Students will be expected to
each choose a topic that asks such questions and to explore possible
answers, all with an eye to understanding the interplay of economics,
politics, and demography. Instructor: Ordeshook.

BEM/Ec/PS 80. Frontiers in Social Sciences. 1 unit (1-0-0). For

course description, see Business, Economics, and Management.

Courses
PS 97. Undergraduate Research. Unites to be arranged; any term.
Prerequisites: advanced political science and instructor’s permission.
This course offers advanced undergraduates the opportunity to pursue
research in political science individually or in a small group. Graded
pass/fail.

PS 99 ab. Political Science Research Seminar. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second terms. Prerequisites: political science major; completion of a
required PS course for major. Development and presentation of a major
research paper on a topic of interest in political science or political
economy. The project will be one that the student has initiated in a po-
litical science course he or she has already taken from the PS courses
required for the PS option, numbered above 101. This course will be
devoted to understanding research in political science, and basic politi-
cal science methodology. Students will be exposed to current research
journals, work to understand a research literature of interest, and work
to formulate a research project. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing
requirement. Instructor: Ordeshook

PS 101. Selected Topics in Political Science. Units to be determined

by arrangement with the instructor; offered by announcement. Instruc-
tor: Staff.

PS 120. American Electoral Behavior and Party Strategy. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. A consideration of existing literature on the voting
behavior of the citizen, and an examination of theoretical and empirical
views of the strategies followed by the parties. Two substantial papers
are expected of students. Instructor: Alvarez.

PS 121. Analyzing Congress. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Introduction to

the US Congress with an emphasis on thinking analytically and empiri-
cally about the determinants of Congressional behavior. Among the fac-
tors examined are the characteristics and incentives of legislators, rules
governing the legislative process and internal organization, separation
of powers, political parties, Congressional elections, and interest group
influence. Not offered 2020-21.

PS 122. Political Representation. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prereq-

uisite: PS 12. Why does the U.S. Constitution feature separation of 689
powers and protect states’ rights? Should the Senate have a filibus-
ter? When can Congress agree on the best policy for the country (and
what does “best” even mean)? This course uses a rigorous set of tools
including game theory and social choice to help students understand
the effectiveness of American democracy to represent diverse interests.
Using the tools, we study U.S. electoral systems, Congress, federal-
ism, and the courts, with a focus on understanding how the country
has tried to overcome the challenges of group decision making and the
inevitable conflicts that arise between the branches of government and
divided political interests. Students will leave the course with a deeper
understanding of how rules and strategy shape U.S. democracy. Not
offered 2020-21.

Political Science
 PS 123. Regulation and Politics. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Prereq-
uisite: PS 12. This course will examine the historical origins of several
regulatory agencies and trace their development over the past century
or so. It will also investigate a number of current issues in regulatory
politics, including the great discrepancies that exist in the cost-effec-
tiveness of different regulations, and the advent of more market-based
approaches to regulations instead of traditional “command-and-con-
trol.” Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Instructor: Kiewiet.

Ec/PS 124. Identification Problems in the Social Sciences. 9 units

(3- 0-6); second term. Prerequisite: Ec 122. For course description, see
Economics.

PS 125. Analyzing Political Conflict and Violence. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-

ond term. This course examines the causes of and solutions for conflict
and violence: Why do wars occur and how do we stop them? We cover
topics such as terrorism, ethnic violence, civil wars, the Israeli-Pales-
tinian conflict, repression, revolutions, and inter-state wars. We study
these phenomena using the rational choice framework and modern
tools in data analysis. The goals of the class are to explain conflicts and
their terminations as outcomes of strategic decision-making and to un-
derstand the empirical strengths and weakness of current explanations.
Instructor: Gibilisco.

IDS/Ec/PS 126. Applied Data Analysis. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Pre-
requisites: Math 3/103 or ACM/EE/IDS 116, Ec 122 or IDS/ACM/CS 157
or Ma 112a. For course description, see Information and Data Sciences.

An/PS 127. Corruption. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see

Anthropology.

PS 132. Formal Theories in Political Science. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. Prerequisites: PS 12 and Ec/PS 172. Axiomatic structure and be-
havioral interpretations of game theoretic and social choice models and
models of political processes based on them. Instructor: Agranov.

PS 135. Analyzing Legislative Elections. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. The

purpose of this course is to understand legislative elections. The course
690 will study, for example, what role money plays in elections and why in-
cumbents do better at the polls. It will also examine how electoral rules
impact the behavior both of candidates and voters, and will explore
some of the consequences of legislative elections, such as divided
government. Not offered 2020-21.

PS 139. Comparative Politics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite:

PS 12. This course offers a broad introduction to the theoretical and
empirical research in comparative political economy. An emphasis will
be placed on the parallel process of political and economic develop-
ment and its consequences on current democratic political institutions
such as: electoral rules, party systems, parliamentary versus presiden-
tial governments, legislatures, judicial systems, and bureaucratic agen-

Courses
cies as exemplified in central bank politics. We will study the differential
impact of these political institutions on the type of policies they imple-
ment and the economic outcomes they produce. The main objective of
the course will be to assess the robustness of the analyzed theories in
light of their empirical support, coming mainly from statistical analysis.
Instructor: Lopez-Moctezuma.

PS 141 ab. A History of Budgetary Politics in the United States. 9

units (3-0-6); second, third terms. This class will examine budgetary
conflict at key junctures in U.S. history. Topics include the struggle to
establish a viable fiscal system in the early days of the Republic, the
ante bellum tariff, the “pension politics” of the post-Civil War era, the
growth of the American welfare state, and the battle over tax and en-
titlement reform in the 1980s and 1990s. Instructor: Kiewiet.

Ec/PS 160 abc. Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences. 9

units (3-3-3). For course description, see Economics.

PS/Ec 172. Game Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Prerequisites: Ec

11 or PS 12. This course is an introduction to non-cooperative game
theory, with applications to political science and economics. It covers
the theories of normal-form games and extensive-form games, and in-
troduces solutions concepts that are relevant for situations of complete
and incomplete information. The basic theory of repeated games is
introduced. Applications are to auction theory and asymmetric informa-
tion in trading models, cheap talk and voting rules in congress, among
many others. Instructor: Tamuz.

PSYCHOLOGY
Psy 13. Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. 9 units (3-0-6); third
term. This course will provide an introduction to what we know about
the fascinating link between the brain, the mind, and behavior. We will
start with a basic review of the brain as a biological organ, its evolu-
tion, development, and its basic operations including visual and others’
senses. Next, we will discuss how the brain gives rise to a wide variety
of complex behaviors, memory, social and emotional behaviors. The 691
course will finally introduce students to the wider neurophilosophical
questions concerning freewill, death and morality. Instructor: Mobbs.

Psy 25. Reading and Research in Psychology. Units determined by

the instructor. Not available for credit toward humanities–social science
requirement. Written report required. Graded pass/fail. Not offered
2020-21.

Psy 90. Applied Neuropsychology of Learning. 9 units (3-0-6); first

term. An introduction to the neuropsychological mechanisms associ-
ated with learning and creativity, and to how different factors and
behaviors impede and enhance them. No previous coursework in

Psychology
 psychology or neuroscience is required. The course includes labs in
which the students will test various hypothesis about their own learning
processes. Graded or P/F. Note that this course can be used to fulfill the
overall HSS core requirements but does not count towards the introduc-
tory or advanced social science requirement. Offered alternating years.
Not offered 2020-21.

Psy 101. Selected Topics in Psychology. Units determined by arrange-

ment with the instructor; offered by announcement. Instructor: Staff.

CNS/Psy/Bi 102 ab. Brains, Minds, and Society. 9 units (3-0-6); sec-
ond, third terms. For course description, see Computation and Neural
Systems.

Psy/CNS 105 ab. Frontiers in Neuroeconomics. 5 units (1.5-0-3.5);

second term. The new discipline of Neuroeconomics seeks to under-
stand the mechanisms underlying human choice behavior, born out of
a confluence of approaches derived from Psychology, Neuroscience
and Economics. This seminar will consider a variety of emerging themes
in this new field. Some of the topics we will address include the neural
bases of reward and motivation, the neural representation of utility and
risk, neural systems for inter-temporal choice, goals vs habits, and
strategic interactions. We will also spend time evaluating various forms
of computational and theoretical models that underpin the field such as
reinforcement-learning, Bayesian models and race to barrier models.
Each week we will focus on key papers and/or book chapters illustrat-
ing the relevant concepts. Not offered 2020-21.

Psy 115. Social Psychology. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. The study of
how people think about other people and behave toward or around oth-
ers. Topics include social cognition and emotions (theory of mind and
empathy), their development from childhood to old age, impairments in
social functions, altruism and cooperation, social groups (ingroup and
outgroup), attribution and stereotypes. The class also presents evidence
on how these social phenomena are implemented in the human brain
and introduces behavioral and neuroscientific methods used in social
psychology and social neuroscience. Instructor: Kahn.

692 Psy 120. Metascience: The Science of Being An Impactful Scientist.

9 units (3-0-6); third term. There are no prerequisites, but having taken
Bi/CNS 150 would be advantageous. This course will provide the stu-
dent with a unique insight into the skills used by successful scientists in
the social sciences, with the focus being on psychology and cognitive
neuroscience (although this is interesting for any type of science career).
The course promotes active (hands on) learning, to enhance skills such
as creative idea formation, theory, science communication including
presentation and writing skills for the public. The class will also provide
discussion on practices and expert opinions on what departments looks
for when recruiting students and hiring faculty. Instructor: Mobbs.

Courses
Psy 125. Reading and Research in Psychology. Same as Psy 25, but
for graduate credit. Not available for credit toward humanities–social
science requirement. Not offered 2020-21.

Psy/CNS 130. Introduction to Human Memory. 9 units (3-0-6); second

term. The course offers an overview of experimental findings and theo-
retical issues in the study of human memory. Topics include iconic and
echoic memory, working memory, spatial memory, implicit learning and
memory; forgetting: facts vs. skills, memory for faces; retrieval: recall vs.
recognition, context-dependent memory, semantic memory, spreading
activation models and connectionist networks, memory and emotion,
infantile amnesia, memory development, and amnesia. Not offered
2020-21.

CNS/Psy/Bi 131. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation. 9 units

(3-0-6). For course description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Psy/CNS 132. Computational Reinforcement-learning in Biological

and Non-biological Systems. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. Reinforce-
ment-learning concerns the computational principles by which animals
and artificial agents can learn to select actions in their environment in
order to maximize their future rewards. Over the past 50 years there has
been a rich interplay between the development and application of re-
inforcement-learning models in artificial intelligence, and the investiga-
tion of reinforcement-learning in biological systems, including humans.
This course will review this rich literature, covering the psychology of
animal-learning, the neurobiology of reward and reinforcement, and the
theoretical basis and application of reinforcement-learning models to
biological and non-biological systems. Not offered 2020-21.

Psy 133. Computation, Cognition and Consciousness. 9 units

(3-0-6); second term. This course will critically examine the impact of
recent advances in computational neuroscience for central problems
of philosophy of mind. Beginning with a historical overview of compu-
tationalism (the thesis that mental states are computational states), the
course will examine how psychological explanation may be understood
in computational terms across a variety of levels of description, from
sub-neuronal and single neuroncomputation to circuit and network
levels. Specific issues will include: whether computation provides unify- 693
ing psychological principles across species; whether specific mental
states such as pain are computational states; digital/analog computa-
tion, dynamical systems, and mental representation; whether conscious
experience can be understood as a computational process. Not offered
2020-21.

Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150. Introduction to Neuroscience. 10 units (4-0-6).

For course description, see Biology.

Pl/CNS/NB/Bi/Psy 161. Consciousness. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Philosophy.

Psychology
 CNS/Bi/Psy/NB 176. Cognition. 9 units (4-0-5); third term. For course
description, see Computation and Neural Systems.

Psy/Bi/CNS 255. Topics in Emotion and Social Cognition. 9 units

(3-0-6); third term. Prerequisite: Bi/CNS/NB/Psy 150 or instructor’s
permission. Emotions are at the forefront of most human endeavors.
Emotions aid us in decision-making (gut feelings), help us remember,
torment us, yet have ultimately helped us to survive. Over the past few
decades, we have begun to characterize the neural systems that extend
from primitive affective response such as fight or flight to the complex
emotions experienced by humans including guilt, envy, empathy and
social pain. This course will begin with an in-depth examination of the
neurobiological systems that underlie negative and positive emotions
and move onto weekly discussions, based on assigned journal articles
that highlight both rudimentary and complex emotions. The final weeks
will be devoted to exploring how the neurobiological systems are
disrupted in affective disorders including anxiety, aggression and psy-
chopathy. In addition to these discussions and readings, each student
will be required to write a review paper or produce a short movie on a
topic related to one of the emotions discussed in these seminars and its
underlying neural mechanisms. Instructor: Mobbs.

Psy 283 abc. Graduate Proseminar in Social and Decision Neuro-

science. 3 units (1.5-0-1.5); first, second, and third terms. The course
involves student presentations of their research, reading and discussion
of recent research in social and decision neuroscience, and develop-
ment of professional skill such as scientific writing and speaking,
research ethics, writing grants and peer review. This course is only
open to graduate students in the Social and Decision Neuroscience,
Computational and Neural Systems and Social Science PhD programs.
Instructors: Adolphs/O’Doherty, Rangel, Staff.

SS/Psy/CNS 285. Topics in Social, Cognitive, and Decision Sci-

ences. 3 units (3-0-0); second term. See Social Science for course
description.

694 SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING

COMMUNICATION
SEC 10. Technical Seminar Presentations. 3 units (3-0-0); first, sec-
ond, third terms; (Seniors required to take this course are given priority
in registration.). The purpose of this course is to equip students with
the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to give effective oral
presentations. The course will include a mix of formal instruction, group
discussions, practice presentations, and individual feedback. Limited
enrollment. May not be repeated for credit. Instructor: Javier.

SEC 11. Written Academic Communication in Engineering and Ap-

plied Science. 3 units (1-0-2); terms to be arranged. This class provides

Courses
the opportunity for students to gain experience in academic technical
writing in engineering and applied science. Students will choose a tech-
nical topic of interest, possibly based on a previous research or course
project, and write a paper in an academic genre on that topic. Appropri-
ate genres include the engineering report, review paper, or a peer-
reviewed journal paper. Students will receive instruction in academic
discourse in engineering and applied sciences as well as substantial
feedback on their work-in-progress. This course is recommended for
students who plan to attend graduate school or who wish to work
toward a senior thesis or academic publication. Fulfills the Institute
scientific writing requirement. Enrollment is limited to students in E&AS
options and priority is given to seniors. Instructor: TBD.

SEC 12. Written Professional Communication in Engineering and

Applied Science. 3 units (1-0-2); Terms to be arranged. Prerequisites:
None. This class introduces students to common workplace genres of
writing in professional (non-academic) fields in engineering and the ap-
plied sciences. Students will compose professional technical writing in
multiple genres and consider the varied audiences and goals of writing
in various engineering and applied sciences industries. Genres covered
may include specifications; proposals; progress reports; recommenda-
tion reports; code documentation; contracts, patents, and trademarks;
user manuals or instructions; formal memos; business emails; or instant
message communication. This course is recommended for students
who plan to seek jobs in industry. Fulfills the Institute scientific writ-
ing requirement. Enrollment is limited to students in E&AS options and
priority is given to seniors. Instructor: TBD.

SEC 13. Written Communication about Engineering and Applied

Science to Non-Experts. 3 units (1-0-2); Terms to be arranged. Pre-
requisites: None. Engineers and applied scientists often work on highly
technical, specialized projects. However, their work often is of interest
to readers with varied levels of area and technical expertise-including
investors, community stakeholders, government regulators, consumers,
voters, students, and enthusiasts. This course introduces students to
diverse types of writing about technical engineering and applied science
topics intended for these “non-expert” readers who lack some or all of
the technical knowledge the author has. Students will compose multiple
texts written for different purposes and to different types of non-expert 695
readers. This course is recommended for students who may plan en-
trepreneurial, non-profit, or government careers, where communication
to non-experts is crucial to success. It may also interest students who
enjoy public advocacy or creative writing about technical topics. Fulfills
the Institute scientific writing requirement. Enrollment is limited to stu-
dents in E&AS options and priority is given to seniors. Instructor: TBD.

SEC 100. Special Topics in Scientific and Engineering Communica-

tion. Units to be arranged; terms to be arranged in consultation with
the instructor. Content may vary from year to year, at a level suitable for
advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Topics will be chosen to
meet the emerging needs of students. Instructor: Javier.

Scientific and Engineering Communication

 E/SEC 102. Scientific and Technology Entrepreneurship. 9 units (3-0-
6). For course description, see Engineering.

E/SEC 103. Management of Technology. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Engineering.

ChE/Ch/Bi/SEC 107. Social Media for Scientists. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see Chemical Engineering.

SEC 111. Effective Communication Strategies for Engineers and

Scientists. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. Prerequisites: none. This graduate
course offers instruction and practice in written and oral communica-
tion for scientists and engineers. The course is designed to increase
students’ effectiveness in communicating complex technical information
to diverse audiences and to deepen their understanding of communica-
tion tools and techniques. Students will explore scientific storytelling
through multiple communication genres, including research manuscripts
and presentations, visual narratives, and traditional and social media
channels. In-class workshops will provide students with the opportu-
nity to revise their work and consider feedback from instructors and
peers. (Registration by application only, and EAS graduate students are
given priority.) Instructor: Javier.

SEC 120. Data Visualization Projects. 6 units (2-0-4); third term. This
course will provide students with a forum for discussing and working
through challenges of visualizing students’ data using techniques and
principles from graphic design, user experience design, and visual prac-
tices in science and engineering. Working together, we will help create
and edit students’ graphics and other visual forms of data to improve
understanding. We will consider the strengths and weaknesses of com-
municating information visually in drawing, design and diagramming
forms such as flow charts, brainstorming maps, graphs, illustrations,
movies, animation, as well as public presentation materials, depending
on the needs of students’ projects. Our approach will be derived from
design principles outlined by Edward Tufte and others. The course is
targeted towards students across disciplines using visual display and
exploration in research. There is no pre-requisite, but students should
be competent in acquiring and processing data. Instructor: to be deter-
696 mined.

SEC 130. Science Activation: Bringing Science to Society. 6 units

(3-0-3); second term. Prerequisites: none. Working with policy makers
is more than science communication. It requires a bilateral approach
to exploring complex problems and solutions that encompass societal
objectives as well as physical requirements. An intellectual under-
standing of the differences communication norms in the research and
policy realms can help scientists make better decisions about how to
communicate about their work and engage with policy makers to get it
used. This course combines analysis of the differences in communica-
tion norms with practical experience in communicating and develop-

Courses
ing relationships with elected officials and their staffs. Instructor: Lucy
Jones and John Bwarie. (Not offered 2020-’21)

SOCIAL SCIENCE
SS 200. Selected Topics in Social Science. Units to be determined
by arrangement with instructors; offered by announcement. Instructors:
Staff, visiting lecturers.

SS 201 abc. Analytical Foundations of Social Science. 9 units (3-0-6);

first, second, third terms. This course covers the fundamentals of utility
theory, game theory, and social choice theory. These basic theories are
developed and illustrated with applications to electoral politics, market
trading, bargaining, auctions, mechanism design and implementation,
legislative and parliamentary voting and organization, public econom-
ics, industrial organization, and other topics in economics and political
science. Open to Social Science graduate students only. Instructors:
Echenique, Saito, Pomatto.

SS 202 abc. Political Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.
Course will introduce the student to the central problems of political
theory and analysis, beginning with the essential components of the
democratic state and proceeding through a variety of empirical top-
ics. These topics will include the analysis of electoral and legislative
institutions, legislative agenda processes, voting behavior, comparative
political economy, and cooperation and conflict in international politics.
The student will be sensitized to the primary empirical problems of the
discipline and trained in the most general applications of game theoretic
reasoning to political science. Open to Social Science graduate stu-
dents only. Instructors: Hirsch, Katz, Lopez-Moctezuma.

SS 205 abc. Foundations of Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

third terms. This is a graduate course in the fundamentals of economics.
Topics include comparative statics and maximization techniques, the
neo-classical theory of consumption and production, general equilib-
rium theory and welfare economics, public goods and externalities, the
economic consequences of asymmetric information and incomplete 697
markets, and recursive methods with applications to labor eco-nomics
and financial economics. Open to Social Science graduate students
only. Instructors: Border, Tamuz, Palfrey.

SS 209. Behavioral Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Prerequisite:

SS 201 abc or instructor’s permission. This course explores how psy-
chological facts and constructs can be used to inform models of limits
on rationality, willpower and greed, to expand the scope of economic
analysis. Topics include overconfidence, heuristics for statistical judg-
ment, loss-aversion, hyperbolic discounting, optimal firm behavior when
consumers are limited in rationality, behavioral game theory, behavioral

Social Science
 finance, neuroeconomic dual-self models, and legal and welfare impli-
cations of rationality limits. Not offered 2020-21.

SS 210 abc. Foundations of Political Economy. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second terms. Prerequisites: SS 202c, SS 205b. Mathematical theories
of individual and social choice applied to problems of welfare econom-
ics and political decision making as well as to the construction of politi-
cal economic processes consistent with stipulated ethical postulates,
political platform formulation, the theory of political coalitions, and deci-
sion making in political organizations. Instructors: Hirsch, Gibilisco.

SS 211 abc. Advanced Economic Theory. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

third terms. May be repeated for credit. Advanced work in a specialized
area of economic theory, with topics varying from year to year according
to the interests of students. Instructors: Tamuz, Pomatto, Saito.

SS 212 abc. Experimental Economics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second,

and third terms. Prerequisites: SS 201abc, SS 202abc, SS 205 abc,
SS 222 abc or with permission of the instructor. This three-quarter
sequence is designed for advanced Social Science Ph.D. students
with the aim of introducing students to the methodology of modern
experimental economics and to provide an in-depth overview of the
contributions of experimental methods to a wide variety of fields. The
specific topics covered, which will vary from year to year, include but
are not limited to individual decision making, preference and belief elici-
tation, game theory, social learning, bargaining, labor economics, public
finance, auctions, voting and elections, competitive markets, networks,
matching, mechanism design, coordination/communication, and infor-
mation aggregation. The focus will be on theory-based experiments and
how the dialog between theoretical analysis and laboratory data feeds
each other, thereby leading to new avenues of theoretical and experi-
mental research. Instructors: Sprenger, Nielsen, Agranov.

SS 213 abc. Financial Economics. 9 units (3-2-4); first, second terms.

Mathematical finance: Pricing financial derivatives, risk management,
and optimal portfolio selection. Methods of stochastic, Ito calculus for
models driven by Brownian motion. Asset pricing theory: Mean-variance
theory, information economics, continuous-time finance and differential
698 equations, intertemporal consumption-based asset pricing theories,
recent developments in intermediary-based and behavioral asset pric-
ing theories. Behavioral finance: Empirical facts about asset prices,
investor trading behavior, and firm behavior. Psychology about investor
preferences and beliefs. Behavioral finance models that explain empiri-
cal facts. Trading strategies implemented by hedge funds. Prescriptive
behavioral finance that aims at helping individuals and institutions to
make better financial decisions. Instructors: Cvitanic, Jin.

SS 218. Neuroscience Applications to Economics and Politics. 9

units (3-0-6); second term. Topics in behavioral, affective, and social
neuroscience that inform how individuals make economic decisions.
Applications of neuroscience ideas and methods to understanding

Courses
choice under risk and uncertainty, temporal discounting and self-
control, advertisement and preference formation, habit, addiction, and
judgment bias. Not offered 2020-21.

SS 222 abc. Econometrics. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms.

Introduction to the use of multivariate and nonlinear methods in the so-
cial sciences. Open to Social Science graduate students only. Instruc-
tors: Shum, Xin, Sherman.

SS 223 abc. Topics in Theoretical and Applied Econometrics. 9 units

(3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: SS 222 abc; may be
repeated for credit. The courses in this sequence cover advanced meth-
ods and tools in econometrics, as well as their applications to a variety
of topics in economics, including industrial organization, dynamic
choice, information economics, political economy, market design, and
behavioural economics. Instructors: Shum, Sherman, Xin.

SS 224. Social Science Data. 9 units (3-3-3); second term. This course
provides broad coverage of empirical methods in the social sciences.
This includes both methods of data collection and practical aspects of
data analysis, as well as related issues of survey design, experimental
design, techniques for handling large datasets, and issues specific to
the collection and analysis of field and historical data. This course also
provides students with hands-on experience with data. Open to Social
Science graduate students only. Instructor: Alvarez.

SS 225. Experimetrics. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course explores

the interaction of experimental design and econometric inference in
the laboratory approach to economic questions. The course critically
evaluates existing experimental studies to highlight this interaction and
motivate consideration of inferential strategies early in an experiments
design. Methodological topics may include testing theories in two-
by-two designs, power and optimal design, classifying subjects into
canonical types, testing based on elicited preferences and beliefs, and
challenges introduced by communication and dynamics in economic
experiments. Not offered 2020-21.

SS 228 abc. Applied Empirical Methods in the Social Sciences.

9 units (3-0-6); third term. Course covers methods used in contem- 699
porary applied empirical work in a variety of social sciences. Topics
covered include (a) maximum likelihood, Bayesian estimation, manage-
ment and computation of large datasets, (b) reduced form methods
like instrumental variables (IV), difference-in-differences (DID), natural
experiments, event study and panel data methods, and (c) structural
estimation. Emphasis is on the application of tools to substantive
social science problems rather than statistical theory, in areas including
political science, political economy, corporate finance, and accounting.
Application focus will vary with instructor interests. Instructor: Lopez-
Moctezuma.

Social Science
 SS 229 abc. Theoretical and Quantitative Dimensions of Historical
Development. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. May be repeated for
credit. Introduction to modern quantitative history. The tools of eco-
nomic and political theory applied to problems of economic, social, and
political development in a historical context. Second and third terms
will be graded together. A pass/fail will be assigned in the second term
and then changed to the appropriate letter grade at the end of the third
term. Instructors: Rosenthal, Hoffman.

SS 231 abc. American and Comparative Politics. 9 units (3-0-6); first,

second terms. Prerequisites: SS 202 abc, or permission of the instruc-
tor. An advanced graduate Social Science sequence in American and
comparative politics. The sequence will focus on political institutions
and behavior, introducing students to the important theories of Ameri-
can and comparative politics. Students will learn how historical, obser-
vational, and experimental data are used in American and comparative
political analysis. Instructors: Katz, Alvarez.

SS 260. Experimental Methods of Political Economy. 9 units (3-3-3);

first, second, third terms. Survey of laboratory experimental research
related to the broad field of political economy. Topics: the behavior of
markets, organizations, committee processes, and election processes.
Emphasis on experimental methods and techniques. Students will de-
sign and conduct experiments. May be repeated for credit with instruc-
tor’s permission. Instructor: Plott.

SS 281. Graduate Social Science Writing Seminar. 9 units (3-0-6);

first term. Only open to advanced graduate students in social science.
How can social scientists write in a style that makes someone actually
want to read their papers? This seminar combines writing exercises with
help in planning a professional social science paper and with extensive
comments on drafts. Instructor: Rosenthal.

SS 282 abc. Graduate Proseminar in Social Science. 3 units (1.5-0-

1.5); first, second, third terms. Course for graduate students in social
sciences. Students present their research and lead discussion of mate-
rial relevant to their research program. Open to Social Science Graduate
Students only. Instructors: Gibilisco, Lopez-Moctezuma.
700
SS/Psy/CNS 285. Topics in Social, Cognitive, and Decision Sci-
ences. 3 units (3-0-0); second term. Select faculty will present their
research background, methods, and a sampling of current questions/
studies. Background readings and pdf of presentation will be provided.
Not offered 2020-21.

SS 299. Writing. 6 units (3-0-3); summer term. This course is designed

for students to improve their ability for written expression in the English
language. This course is only open to graduate students in the Social
Decision Neuroscience and Social Science Ph.D. programs. Instructor:
Staff.

Courses
SS 300. Research in Social Science. Units to be arranged.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES
SA 15 abc. Student Publications. SA 15a 5 units (2-0-3), first term; SA
15bc 4 units (1-0-3), second and third terms. Prerequisites: SA 15a is a
prerequisite for SA 15b and SA 15c. This course will enable students to
produce quality, journalistically-crafted stories for the Tech newspaper.
It will teach journalistic values of clarity, accuracy, fairness and balance,
and acquaint the students with the primary elements of journalism,
including reporting, basic story structure and news/opinion-writing
distinctions. Students will produce feature stories for the Tech (with
assigned art or graphics) about campus life and activities, profiles of
campus faculty or staff, and issues of campus community interest. May
be re-taken for credit. Instructor: Kipling.

SA 16 abc. Cooking Basics. 3 units (0-3-0); first, second, third

terms. The class will survey different cooking styles, techniques, and
cuisines from around the world. Topics covered may include knives and
tools; tastes and flavors; sauces and reductions; legumes, grains, and
beans; meat; dessert. The emphasis will be on presentation and creativ-
ity. Instructor: Staff.

SA 42. Computer Science Education in K-14 Settings Practicum. 4

units (0-2-2); first, second, third terms. Prerequisites: CS 42. This course
is a follow-on for students who have already taken CS 42 and would like
to continue as part of a teaching group partnered with a local school or
community college. Each week students are expected to spend about 2
hours teaching and 2 hours developing curricula. Students may take SA
42 multiple times. Graded pass/fail only. Instructor: Ralph.

SA 80 abc. Health Advocates. 3 units (1-1-1); first, second, third terms.

A course designed to involve students with health care and educa-
tion, develop familiarity with common college health problems, and
provide peer health services on and off campus. First term: CPR and
first aid certification and basic anatomy and physiology. Second and
third terms: lectures and discussions on current student and community 701
health problems, symptoms, and treatment. Each student will be ex-
pected to devote one hour per week to a supervised clinical internship
at the Health Center. Instructor: Stapf.

SA 81 ab. Peer Advocates. 3 units (1-1-1); first and third terms. A

course designed to involve students with appropriate peer support
and education, develop familiarity with common college mental health
problems, and provide peer mental health support to students on and
off campus. Peer Advocates will begin the course in the spring term
prior to the year of service, and continue coursework in the following fall
term. Spring term: Active listening skills, identifying students in distress,
suicide prevention training using the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)

Student Activities
 model; Fall term: Lectures and discussions on substance abuse, dating
violence, sexual assault, depression, and other relevant mental health
topics, as well as ongoing consultation about practical experience.
Enrolled with permission only. Instructor: Staff.

VISUAL CULTURE
Hum/VC 48. Ways of Seeing. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For course
description, see Humanities.

Hum/VC 49. Consuming Victorian Media. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see Humanities.

Hum/VC 50. Introduction to Film. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-

tion, see Humanities.

VC 53. Making Data Visual. 6 units (3-0-3); third term. This course will
explore and experiment with strategies and approaches to rendering
scientific and mathematical data into visually powerful forms and expe-
riences. Students will work towards individual pieces and a collabora-
tive visual project that includes, critiques or presents scientific and/or
quantitative data. All/any forms are encouraged: virtual/technological
media, painting, performance, sculpture, poetry, public interventions,
film/video, projections etc. Through the close readings and discussion
of related texts, the critical examination of art that intersects with sci-
ence, and independent/collaborative research experiments with various
formal processes, students will gain an understanding of how the visual
can: expand or constrict knowledge; pose more questions than an-
swers; provoke extreme emotional reactions and intellectual responses;
and actively involve the viewer. Taught concurrently with CS 163 and
can only be taken once, as VC 53 or CS 163. Instructor: Slavick.

VC 54. Relative to You: Representing Scale in Art and Science. 6

units (3-0-3); third term. The relationship to scale is an essential compo-
nent that both artists and scientists contend with. How do we con-
ceptualize the very, very large and the very, very small and even more
702 challenging, how do we represent extreme scales of size or time in an
understandable and meaningful way? The focus of this course explores
the various ways art and science grapple with scale and find ways
to communicate that scale. This course will take an interdisciplinary
approach in thinking and making to include history, theory, and the cre-
ation of artwork. Each student will use their major as the bounding point
to explore what scale means in their discipline to conceptualize three
key themes in the course: mapping, size, and time. In lectures, readings,
and writing, students will explore the trajectory and visual histories of
scale between the interconnections of art and science. The course will
include regular drawing assignments as a tool to visualize thinking.
Students will have the autonomy to create their projects in the medium
of their choice (sculpture, painting, video, or creative use of technology

Courses
to make an artwork). Course will contain drawing and making demos,
no previous art experience required. This course will include a field trip
to Mt. Wilson Observatory for a night of observing on the 60” telescope
and other campus field trips to Caltech labs, including the LIGO 40-me-
ter prototype. Instructor: Halloran. Not offered 2020-21.

VC 55. Visual Narratives & Colors of the Americas. 6 units (3-0-

3); second term. This course focuses on various ways in which artists
have processed materials from the natural world to create colorants
of the Americas. Each week students will be introduced to a different
color by means of practical handling of mineral pigments and organic
colorants that we will process, map, and learn about its history. Specific
topics will include, but not limited to, the role of the artist in articulat-
ing cultural identity, the place of politics in art, and the intersections
between art, poetry and science. Consequently, students confront
the course themes through the various lenses motivated by a belief in
the power of the arts, civic engagements and humanities to articulate
human experience in relationship to the land we occupy. Instructor:
Rodriguez.

VC 60. Art/Media. Units to be determined by the instructor; offered by

announcement. A practice-based course taught by a visiting artist in
residence. See registrar’s announcement for details. Instructor: TBD.

VC 70. Traditions of Japanese Art. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. An

introduction to the great traditions of Japanese art from prehistory
through the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). Students will examine major
achievements of sculpture, painting, temple architecture, and ceramics
as representations of each artistic tradition, whether native or adapted
from foreign sources. Fundamental problems of style and form will be
discussed, but aesthetic analysis will always take place within the con-
ditions created by the culture. Instructor: Wolfgram.

VC 72. Data, Algorithms and Society. 9 units (3-0-6). For course

description, see CS/IDS 162. Taught concurrently with CS/IDS 162 and
can only be taken once as VC 72 or CS/IDS 162. Instructors: Mushkin,
Ralph.

E/VC 88. Critical Making. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see 703
Engineering.

E/H/VC 89. New Media Arts in the 20th and 21st Centuries. 9 units
(3-0-6). For course description, see Engineering.

VC 104. French Cinema. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see L

104. Not offered 2020–21. Instructor: Orcel.

En/VC 108. Volcanoes. 9 units (3-0-6). For class description, see

English.

Visual Culture
 L/VC 109. Introduction to French Cinema from Its Beginning to the
Present. 9 units (3-0-6). For class description, see Languages.

En/VC 117. Picturing the Universe. 9 units (3-0-6). For class descrip-
tion, see English.

VC 120. Landscape, Representation and Society. 6 units (2-2-2); third

term. This course examines historical and contemporary representations
of the natural world in art and science through a social lens. We will
draw upon theory and practices from art, science, geography and land-
scape studies to critically analyze how artists, explorers, speculators,
scientists, military strategists, and local inhabitants use environmental
imagery for diverse purposes with sometimes conflicting interests. The
course includes projects, lectures, readings, discussions and a 2-day
field trip. Students will learn to think critically while developing creative,
culturally complex approaches to observing, recording and represent-
ing the natural world. Students hoping to combine their course work
with a research paper may sign up for a separate independent study
and conduct research concurrently, with instructor approval. Instructor:
Mushkin.

L/VC 153. Refugees and Migrants’ Visual and Textual Representa-

tions. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Languages.

En/VC 160 ab. Classical Hollywood Cinema. 9 units (3-0-6). For

course description, see English.

En/VC 161. The New Hollywood. 9 units (3-0-6). For course descrip-
tion, see English.

VC/H/HPS 163. Science on Screen. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. Many of

our ideas about who scientists are and what they do have been formed
through media consumption - especially from the movies. This course
examines how our ideas about science have been constructed at the
movies and on television, and how science and cinema, their histories,
philosophies, and visual cultures, are interconnected. Instructor: Shell.

VC/H/HPS 164. Fashion and Waste. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. Be-
704 fore the Industrial Revolution, new clothes were few and far between.
By the early 1800s, new industrial recycling processes enabled wool
rags to be reprocessed into new suits, and for the first time the working
class gained access to ‘Sunday finery.’ Dressing better meant a chance
at increased social mobility. Today we take for granted fast fashion and
disposable clothing. This course examines the complex interrelation-
ship among history, technology, and the ways in which we construct our
own identities through clothing; visual, textile and other material culture
sources will be front and center. Students will dig into their own closets,
memories, and dreams. Not offered 2020-21. Instructor: Shell.

VC 169. The Arts of Dynastic China. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. A

survey of the development of Chinese art in which the major achieve-

Courses
ments in architecture, sculpture, painting, calligraphy, and ceramics will
be studied in their cultural contexts from prehistory through the Manchu
domination of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Emphasis will be placed
on the aesthetic appreciation of Chinese art as molded by the philoso-
phies, religions, and history of China. Instructor: Wolfgram. Not offered
2020-21.

En/VC 170. Plantation Imaginaries. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. For

course description, see English.

VC 170. Special Topics in Visual Culture. 9 units (3-0-6); offered by

announcement. An advanced humanities course on a special topic in vi-
sual culture. Topics may include art history, film, digital and print media,
architecture, photography or cartography. It is usually taught by new or
visiting faculty. The course may be re-taken for credit except as noted
in the course announcement. Limited to 15 students. See registrar’s an-
nouncement for details. Instructor: Staff.

VC 171. Arts of Buddhism. 9 units (3-0-6); second term. An exami-

nation of the impact of Buddhism on the arts and cultures of India,
Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan from its earliest imagery in the
4th century B.C.E. India through various doctrinal transformations to
the Zen revival of 18th-century Japan. Select monuments of Buddhist
art, including architecture, painting, sculpture, and ritual objects, will
serve as focal points for discussions on their aesthetic principles and for
explorations into the religious, social, and cultural contexts that underlie
their creation. Instructor: Wolfgram. Not offered 2020-21.

VC 175. The Art of Science. 9 units (3-0-6); third term. This course
examines the frequent and significant encounters between what chem-
ist/novelist C.P. Snow famously dubbed the “two cultures”-the sciences
and the humanities-with an emphasis on forms and practices of visual
culture that blur the boundaries between science, technology, and art.
What role, we will ask, have visual culture and visuality played in the
construction of scientific knowledge? Taking a broad historical and
geographical approach, we will explore topics including representations
of science and technology in the arts and popular culture; the use of
photography, illustration, and visualization in the sciences; histories of
visuality and visual devices; and the everyday visual practices of scien- 705
tific inquiry. Instructor: Jacobson.

H/HPS/VC 185. Angels and Monsters: Cosmology, Anthropology,

and the Ends of the World. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see
History.

H/HPS/VC 186. From Plato to Pluto: Maps, Exploration and Culture

from Antiquity to the Present. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description,
see History.

Visual Culture
 WRITING
Wr 1. Introduction to Academic Writing for Multilingual Writers.
9 units (3-0-6); TBD. This course offers a focused introduction to the
practices of reading, thinking, and writing that characterize academic
writing. More specifically, the course teaches students how to articulate
a position, situate writing within specific contexts, engage with the work
of others, locate and provide convincing evidence, and understand the
expectations of different types of academic readers. Additionally, this
course focuses on the challenges of academic writing that can be espe-
cially demanding for multilingual writers, including mastery of Academic
English, understanding American academic conventions regarding
citation and plagiarism, and being comfortable with American academic
readers’ expectations regarding argumentation and evidence. Students
will take several writing projects through multiple stages of revision, im-
proving their work with feedback from seminar discussions, workshops,
and frequent one-to-one conferences with the instructor. Students are
placed in Wr 1 based on a writing assessment that is required of all in-
coming students; successful completion of the course is required before
taking freshman humanities courses. Enrolled students may be required
to take Wr 3, 4, and/or 50 in subsequent quarters. Instructor: Hall. Not
offered 2020-21.

Wr 2. Introduction to Academic Writing. 9 units (3-0-6); first term. This

course offers a focused introduction to the practices of reading, think-
ing, and writing that characterize academic writing. More specifically,
the course teaches students how to articulate a position, situate writing
within specific contexts, engage with the work of others, locate and pro-
vide convincing evidence, and understand the expectations of different
types of academic readers. Students will take several writing projects
through multiple stages of revision, improving their work with feed-
back from seminar discussions, workshops, and frequent one-to-one
conferences with the instructor. Students are placed in Wr 2 based on a
writing assessment that is required of all incoming students; successful
completion of the course is required before taking freshman humanities
courses. Enrolled students may be required to take Wr 3, 4, and/or 50 in
subsequent quarters. Instructors: Daley, Hall. Not offered 2020-21.
706
Wr 3. Reading and Composing Academic Writing. 9 units (1-0-8);
second term. This course builds on Wr 1 or 2 for students who need ad-
ditional instruction in both the core concepts and practices of academic
writing before beginning their freshman humanities coursework. The
course will focus on developing critical reading skills and composing
successful academic essays. By taking several writing projects through
multiple stages of revision, students will develop a deeper sense of
their strengths and limitations as writers, and seminar discussions,
workshops, and frequent one-to-one conferences with the instructor
will equip students to address those limitations. Not available for credit
toward the humanities-social science requirement. Enrolled students

Courses
may be required to take Wr 4 and/or 50 in subsequent quarters. Instruc-
tor: Daley.

Wr 4. Principles and Practices of Academic Writing. 3 units (1-0-2);

second term. Taken simultaneously with a freshman humanities course,
this course offers weekly discussion of core concepts in academic
writing. By focusing on the diverse scenes, situations, and genres
of academic writing, the course aims to support writers both in their
concurrent work writing in humanistic disciplines and to connect that
learning to writing tasks that students will encounter in other academic
locations. Not available for credit toward the humanities-social science
requirement. Enrolled students also take Wr 50. Instructor: Hall.

Wr 50. Tutorial in Writing. 1-3 units to be arranged; first, second, third

terms. By permission only. Individualized tutorial instruction in writing
and communication for students who benefit from weekly discussions
about their work as writers. Not available for credit toward the humani-
ties-social science requirement. Instructor: Hall.

En/Wr 84. Communicating Science to Non-Experts. 9 units (3-0-6).

For course description, see English.

ESL/Wr 107. Graduate Writing Seminar. 6 units (3-0-3). For course

description, see English as a Second Language.

ESL/Wr 108. Intermedia Graduate Writing Seminar. 6 units (3-0-

3). For course description, see English as a Second Language.

Wr 109. Writing and Publishing Research Articles in STEM Fields. 6

units (3-0-3); summer term. This course focuses on strategies for com-
posing an academic journal article in a STEM field. The rhetorical pur-
pose and form of each section of the journal article will be considered in
depth. The course is intended for graduate students who are prepared
to be a lead author on a manuscript. While the course will cover strate-
gies for collaborative writing, students will be asked to draft sections of
an original journal article based upon their own research. The course will
also provide instruction on selecting a target journal, preparing a manu-
script for submission, and responding to feedback from peer reviewers.
Clarity in scientific writing and creating effective figures will also be 707
discussed. Course enrollment is limited to 15 students. Instructor: Staff.

Writing