• The physics option in California Institute of Technology offers a program leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
  • This program prepares students for careers in scientific research or research combined with teaching, and so its most important part is independent research.
  • Courses are offered that give a broad treatment of both fundamental physics and specialized physics research topics.
  • These are intended both to help a beginning graduate student prepare for research and to broaden an advanced student's knowledge of physics.
  • Caltech research opportunities include elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, cosmic-ray, gamma-ray, and X-ray astronomy, submillimeter astronomy, condensed-matter physics, atomic/molecular/ optical physics, quantum information, applied physics, gravitational physics, cosmology, astrophysics, mathematical physics, biophysics, and theoretical physics.
  • A Master of Science degree may be awarded upon completion of a program of courses. Students are not normally admitted to work toward the M.S. in physics unless they are also working toward a Ph.D.