| Advisors | Students who TA during their first academic year are expected to find an advisor by the beginning of their second year. It is very important that you notify the Physics Graduate Office when you have joined a research group or need help finding an advisor. Physics graduate students may work for faculty in research groups outside of the department or division with department approval. Your advisor must approve your registration. Unattached students must report to the Chairman of the Physics Graduate Admissions Committee, Alan Weinstein, as their acting advisor. |
| Written Candidacy Qualifying Exams |
Written candidacy exams must be attempted by the end of the first year, meaning the summer exam session. The October exam session is for retakes. To postpone exams from summer to fall, you must meet with Frank Porter and have a really good excuse. First year students may elect to take either CP or QM written exams during the October exam session or during the summer session prior to matriculation, if they wish. Written exams must be successfuly completed by the end of the second year of graduate study. |
| GRAs | GRAs are paid from individual faculty research funds. Students with GRAs are expected to find a research group to support them. Graduate students are paid in twelve equal monthly GRA payments equating to a ~20 hour week. GRAs are paid on the 1st of each month for that month beginning with October 1. When you join a research group, ask your advisor about academic year and summer support. |
| TAs | TAs will be paid at the Institute 15 hour week rate during the nine month academic year only. Exceptions being hourly constraints for foreign students making it necessary to pay for additional TA duties over the summer. GTAs are paid from Institute funds not associated with any particular faculty member. Beyond the second year, additional TA duties may be combined with any other award, fellowship, TA or GRA, with the advisor's approval. TAs are paid on the 1st of each month for that month beginning with October 1st. The last TA payday is June 1st. When you join a research group, ask your advisor about academic year and summer support. |
| Requirements PhD/MS |
Basically, the requirements for admission into candidacy and the Ph.D. are: Two terms of Ph 242 Physics Seminar and an attempt at both CP and QM written candidacy exams by the end of first year. The basic requirement of both written exams and the advanced physics course requirements successfully completed by the end of second year. The oral candidacy exam by the end of third year. Completed program and thesis defense by the end of fifth year, or beyond with department approval. MS: Although the physics department does not admit graduate students to work towards the Master of Science degree, one can be awarded upon request to physics students who have completed the written and oral candidacy examinations. Alternatively, the MS degree can be awarded to any Caltech graduate student in good standing upon satisfactory completion of a program approved by the option representative that fulfills the requirements as listed in the catalog of at least 135 units of coursework. Basically these requirements include 27 units of Ph125 abc or any quantum mechanics-based course; 81 units of physics electives; 27 units of other electives from physics or other options. All course substitutions must be approved by the option representative. For a detailed description of the written and course requirements and a timeline for completing same, please see: Department Guide to Program Completion. |
| Oral Exams - Candidacy & Defense |
The oral candidacy exam must be completed or scheduled before start of first term of the fourth year of graduate study. Beyond this, the student is considered to be in excessive registration candidacy status with the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student will need to petition the Dean, as well as the physics department, in order to register for subsequent terms. The final thesis defense must be scheduled by the end of the summer term of the fifth year of graduate study. Beyond this, the student is considered to be in excessive registration Ph.D. status with the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student will need to petition the Dean, as well as the physics department, and provide a timeline for finishing the thesis, in order to register for subsequent terms. Students will be notified by the Dean of Graduate Studies Office if they are in excessive registration status. If a student falls into both categories, only one petition is required for both candidacy and Ph.D. |
| Registration | Students are required to be registered at all times for a minimum of 36 units. If a student not yet affiliated with a research group elects to drop a course and is not able to add research units, the student will be considered under-registered and will need to petition the Dean of Graduate Studies to be registered for fewer than 36 units. Online registration is available the day after drop day for two weeks each term. Advanced students must be registered for 36 units of research. The student's advisor must approve registration for each term. |
| Detached Duty |
Students are required to be registered at all times for a minumum of 36 units. This also applies to students on Detached Duty. If your thesis project requires that you leave Caltech to perform research elsewhere for an extended period of time, you must file a petition with the Dean of Graduate Studies and indicate the tenure of Detached Duty status. Foreign students must contact the ISP office once the petition is approved so that the I-20 form is properly updated. Online registration is available the day after drop day for two weeks each term. |
| Summer Reading Grants |
Summer Reading Grants are reserved for first year unattached graduate students who performed TA duties during the academic year. These funds are limited and reserved a year ahead. Eligibility requirements will be determined on an individual basis for students beyond the first year. Other than the above, you must be registered for 36 units of reading (Ph 171) or research with a faculty member and remain on campus over the summer. If you are away for one month or longer, the grant will be adjusted downwards proportionately. Summer reading grants will not be available to any student with full fellowship funding from outside Caltech or if the total yearly stipend is already above the minimum. When you join a research group, ask your advisor about academic year and summer support. |
| Summer Funding Alternatives |
If you find yourself in need of additional funding during your second academic year, one alternative funding source might be to take on additional TA duties and postpone payment until the summer months, this works well for international students with hourly constraints during the academic year. Another alternative might be to take on additional TA duties with increased TA salary during the term in which you teach, and not be paid over the summer, this works well if you plan to be away doing an internship or have summer employment elsewhere (JPL) related to your research. Occasionally there are physics lab courses with preparation needs that are funded by TA stipends available over the summer. Frank Porter can let you know if this type of funding is available. You might also consider working for an experimental group that has a summer project. When you join a research group, ask your advisor about academic year and summer support. |
| Who to Ask... |
Many of your questions will be answered at Department Guide to Program Completion. Otherwise, about TA assignments - contact Frank Porter in 348 Lauritsen or fcp@hep. About course requirements or exam committee approval - contact Ken Libbrecht in 263 W. Bridge or kgl@caltech. About signing your registration cards - unattached students may see Frank or Ken if Alan Weinstein is not available in 260 Lauritsen or ajw@caltech. About everything else - contact Donna Driscoll in the Physics Graduate Office, 107 E. Bridge or donnad@caltech. If you change groups, move house or office, have paycheck or funding problems, find an advisor, have advisor problems, please let us know. You must notify the Physics Graduate Office (PGO) if you have found a research group that will support you on a GRA during the academic year or over the summer. It's best not to assume that your advisor will automatically notify the PGO of your funding information. If you are not comfortable asking your advisor about money, notify the PGO and we will ask for you. Lastly, for general physics graduate program information please refer to the Physics Graduate Program home page. |
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© California Institute of Technology | October 2007 |