Graduate requirements: Geology option
The geology option requirements include any two out of the three courses Ge 102, 103, and 104, which also satisfy the basic division requirement, and 36 units in 100-level science or engineering courses taken outside the GPS division, or in courses cross-listed with other divisions. Ch 21 abc may be included as part of these units. An additional 54 units are required in 100- or 200-level courses within the GPS division. Ge 121 ab, and Ge 122 or a third term of Ge 121 a or b taken from a different instructor must be included in these 54 units. Courses that cannot be used to satisfy these requirements include research and reading courses, and certain courses constituting basic preparation in the field of geology, such as Ge 106, Ge 112, Ge 114 ab, Ge 115, and Ge 120. A grade of C or better is required for all course work that satisfies these requirements. Knowledge of basic physics, mathematics, and data analysis at the level of Ge 108 and ACM/ESE 118 is required of all Ph.D. candidates in geology. Students entering the geology option with a master’s degree in a science or mathematics may be exempt from up to 45 units at the discretion of the option representative.Units at Caltech nominally reflect the total hours a typical student will spend per week in the classroom, the lab and with homework. Thus, a nine unit course may involve three hours in the classroom, two hours in a laboratory and four hours doing homework each week.
