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EAS Courses (2024-25)

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CS 1
Introduction to Computer Programming
9 units (3-4-2)  | first, third terms

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 programming 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 and object-oriented programming. Program development and maintenance 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.

Instructors: Blank, Vanier
CS 1 x
Intermediate Computer Programming
6 units (2-2-2)  | first term
Prerequisites: Enrollment by instructor permission only.

Students must be placed into this course via the CS placement test. An intermediate course on computer programming emphasizing the program design process and pragmatic programming skills. It will use the Java programming language and will assume previous programming experience such as an AP CS A course. Material will focus on more advanced topics such as recursion, exception handling and object-oriented programming. Program development and maintenance 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: Vanier
EE 1
The Science of Data, Signals, and Information
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

Electrical Engineering has given rise to many key developments at the interface between the physical world and the information world. Fundamental ideas in data acquisition, sampling, signal representation, 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 transmission 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. Not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Vaidyanathan
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 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.

Instructor: Blank
E 2
Frontiers in Engineering and Applied Science
1 unit  | first term

Open for credit to first-year students and sophomores. Weekly seminar by a member of the EAS faculty to discuss their 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: Gold
EE 2/102
Electrical Engineering Entrepreneurial and Research Seminar
1 unit  | second term

Required for EE graduates and undergraduates. Weekly seminar given by successful entrepreneurs and EE faculty, broadly describing 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: Yang
CS 3
Introduction to Software Design
9 units (2-6-1)  | third term
Prerequisites: CS 2 or equivalent.

CS 3 is a practical introduction to designing 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.

Instructors: Blank, Staff
CS 4
Fundamentals of Computer Programming
9 units (3-4-2)  | second term
Prerequisites: CS 1 or instructor's permission.

This course gives students the conceptual background necessary to construct and analyze programs, which includes specifying computations, understanding 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
IST 4
Information and Logic
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

The course explains the key concepts at the foundations of computing with physical 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 functions 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, complexity theory, information theory, and biochemical systems. Not offered on a pass/fail basis. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Bruck
Ma/CS 6/106 abc
Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, 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; combinatorial interpretations. Topics from coding and cryptography, including Hamming codes and RSA. Second term: directed graphs; networks; combinatorial optimization; linear programming. Permutation groups; counting nonisomorphic structures. Topics from extremal graph and set theory, and partially ordered sets. Third term: syntax and semantics of propositional and first-order logic. Introduction to the Godel completeness and incompleteness theorems. Elements of computability theory and computational complexity. Discussion of the P=NP problem.

Instructors: T. Yu, Babecki, Ervin
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 introduction 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, piezoelectric devices, light sensors, ultrasonic transducers, and navigational sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: George
ME 8
Introduction to Robotics
6 units (1-4-1)  | first term
Prerequisites: Basic python programming, evidenced by the successful completion of a programming exercise by the end of the first week of classes.

This course examines the range of concepts and engineering approaches applicable to robotics. This includes tools from mechanical design and fabrication, mathematical analysis of mechanisms, a variety of sensors, programming at all levels, algorithms to interpret visual images, and planners to determine actions. Robots also act in a larger context, involving human-robot interactions, social cues, and even raising ethical questions. The course will explore these topics through hardware and software mini-projects. Lab work will combine instructor-led, mandatory sessions with additional self-paced times. Open only to first-year students. Sophomore students by permission of the instructor.

Instructor: Niemeyer
APh/EE 9
Solid-State Electronics for Integrated Circuits
6 units (2-2-2)  | first term
Introduction to solid state electronic devices and fabrication. Topics: semiconductor physics, crystal growth and materials deposition, ion implantation and etching technology, diodes and transistors, microfluidics, nanotechnology and its applications, limitations of miniaturization. Laboratory includes semiconductor physics experiments, circuit design, lasers and optoelectronics, microfluidics and electron microscopy and characterization.
Instructor: Scherer
CMS 9
Introduction to Computer Science Research
1 unit (1-0-0)  | 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
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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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 principles 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 programming principles (interfacing to hardware, events, user interfaces, and multi-tasking).

Instructor: George
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 Engineering. 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: Colonius
SEC 10
Technical Seminar Presentations
3 units (3-0-0)  | first, second, 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: Gold
ACM 11
Introduction to Computational Science and Engineering
6 units (2-2-2)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 ab, Co-requisite Ma 1 c. CS 1 or prior programming experience recommended.

This course is intended to serve as a practical introduction to the methods of computational science and engineering for students in all majors. The goal is to provide students exposure to and hands-on experience with commonly-used computational methods in science and engineering, with theoretical considerations confined to a level appropriate for first-year undergraduate students. Topics covered include computational simulation by discretization in space and time, numerical solution of linear and nonlinear equations, optimization, uncertainty quantification, and function approximation via interpolation and regression. Emphasis is on understanding trade-offs between computational effort and accuracy, and on developing working knowledge of how these tools can be used to solve a wide range of problems arising in applied math, science, and engineering. Assignments and in-class activities use MATLAB. No prior experience with MATLAB expected.

Instructor: Carlson
CS 11
Computer Language Lab
3 units (0-3-0)  | first, second, and third terms
Prerequisites: CS 1 or instructor's permission.

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 students through the pragmatic use of the chosen language, building their 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.

Instructor: Staff
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 equilibrium; momentum and heat transfer including boundary layers with applications to internal and external flows. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.

Instructors: Hunt, Minnich, Fu
SEC 11
Written Academic Communication in Engineering and Applied Science
3 units (1-0-2)  | terms to be arranged

This class provides the opportunity for students to gain experience in academic technical writing in engineering and applied science. Students will choose a technical topic of interest, possibly based on a previous research or course project, and write a paper in an academic genre on that topic. Appropriate 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. For Winter and Spring terms, seniors will be given priority; however this class is open to all students in EAS and GPS, and to students in other divisions as space allows.

Instructors: Burkett, Meyer, George
CS 12
Student-Taught Topics in Computing
variable units between 1 and 9  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: CS 1 or instructor's permission.

Each section covers a topic in computing with associated sets or projects. Sections are designed and taught by an undergraduate student under the supervision of a CMS faculty member. CS 12 may be repeated for credit of up to a total of nine units.

Instructor: Staff
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 dynamics, rigid-body dynamics, Euler's equations, ideal flow, vorticity, viscous stresses in fluids, dynamics of deformable systems, waves in fluids and solids. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.

Instructors: Mello, Andrade, Asimaki
SEC 12
Written Professional Communication in Engineering and Applied Science
3 units (1-0-2)  | Terms to be arranged

This class introduces students to common workplace genres of writing in professional (non-academic) fields in engineering and the applied sciences. Students will study and practice effective writing strategies within these genres and consider the varied audiences and goals of communicating in engineering and applied science industries. Genres covered may include job applications; performance reviews and recommendation letters; clean code and code documentation; technical reports; progress reports; proposals; or recommendation reports. This course is recommended for students who plan to seek jobs in industry. Fulfills the Institute scientific writing requirement. For Winter and Spring terms, seniors will be given priority; however this class is open to all students in EAS and GPS, and to students in other divisions as space allows.

Instructor: Meyer
CS 13
Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: CS 1.

This course introduces key mathematical concepts used in computer science, and in particular it prepares students for proof-based CS courses such as CS 21 and CS 38. Mathematical topics are illustrated via applications in Computer Science. CS 1 is a co-requisite as there will be a small number of programming assignments. The course covers basic set theory, induction and inductive structures (e.g., lists and trees), asymptotic analysis, and elementary combinatorics, number theory, and graph theory. Applications include number representation, basic cryptography, basic algorithms on trees, numbers, and polynomials, social network graphs, compression, and simple error-correcting codes. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Blank
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 includes schematic capture and printed circuit board design. Additionally, 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.

Instructor: George
ME 13/113
Mechanical Prototyping
4 units (0-4-0)  | first, second, summer terms

Enrollment is limited and is based on responses to a questionnaire 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 parametric 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 technologies, such as three-dimensional printing, laser cutting, and water jet cutting. Students will receive safety-training, instruction on the theories 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 Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop.

Instructors: Stovall, Wilson
SEC 13
Written Communication about Engineering and Applied Science to Non-Specialists
3 units (1-0-2)  | Terms to be arranged

Engineers and applied scientists often work on highly technical, specialized projects. However, their work is often of interest to readers with varied areas and levels of 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-specialist" 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 audiences outside of their area of expertise. This course is recommended for students who may plan entrepreneurial, non-profit, or government careers, where communication to non-specialists 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. For Winter and Spring terms, seniors will be given priority; however this class is open to all students in EAS and GPS, and to students in other divisions as space allows.

Instructor: Burkett
ME 14
Design and Fabrication
9 units (3-5-1)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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 mechanical 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, Stovall
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 engineering. 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 2024-25.

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 first and 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. Graded pass/fail. Part b not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Ralph
CS 21
Decidability and Tractability
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: 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, reductions between computational problems, and the theory of NP-completeness.

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 demanding 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Blank
APh/EE 23
Demonstration Lectures in Classical and Quantum Photonics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc is required; a class on waves (Ph2a or Ph12a) is strongly encouraged but not required; prior knowledge of quantum mechanics is not required..

This course focuses on basic concepts needed for understanding classical and quantum optical phenomena and their applications to modern optical components and systems. Classical optical phenomena 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 and demonstrations will be selected from optical communications, lidar, adaptive optical systems, nano-photonic devices and quantum communications. Visits to research laboratories in optics are expected at the end of the course. This class is optimal for sophomores/juniors/seniors who want to get their first serious exposure to optics but also might work for well-prepared and motivated First-Year students.

Instructor: Staff
ME 23/123
CNC Machining
4 units (0-4-0)  | third, summer terms
Prerequisites: 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) software; 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, Wilson
APh/EE 24
Introductory Optics and Photonics Laboratory
9 units (1-3-5)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ph 1 abc is required; APh 23 and a class on waves (Ph2a or Ph12a) are strongly encouraged but not required.

Laboratory experiments to acquaint students with the basic aspects of Optics and Photonics Research and Technology. This course offers hands-on experience and teaches students how to handle major optical and electronic equipment and conduct experiments. It is useful for those who are thinking about a career utilizing both optical and electronic tools. Experiments encompass some of the topics and concepts covered in APh 23.

Instructor: Staff
CS 24
Introduction to Computing Systems
9 units (3-3-3)  | first term
Prerequisites: CS 2 and 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, including 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 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.

Instructors: Mahadev,Ralph
EE/APh 40
Physics of Electrical Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental physics of modern device technologies in electrical engineering used for sensing, communications, computing, imaging, and displays. The course overviews topics including semiconductor physics, quantum mechanics, 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
ME 40
Dimensional and Data Analyses in Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, ME 11 abc, ME 12 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 experiments and computer models, and analyzing data are stressed. The second 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 mechanical engineers. Applications to uncertainty analysis and quantification are discussed. Homework will include implementation of techniques in Matlab.
Instructor: Colonius
CS 42
Computer Science Education in K-14 Settings
6 units (2-2-2)  | second term

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 applying 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.

Instructors: Ralph, Wierman
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 deterministic 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)  | third 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, transistors, amplifiers.

Instructor: Emami
ME 50 ab
Experiments and Modeling in Mechanical Engineering
12 units (3-6-3)  | 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 of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) with experimental laboratory methods applied to complementary engineering problems in solid, structural, and fluid mechanics. Computational 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 laboratory 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 generation of detailed full-length lab reports using a scientific journal format.
Instructor: Mello
EE 55
Mathematics of Electrical Engineering
12 units (4-0-8)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc.

Linear algebra and probability are fundamental to many areas of study in electrical engineering. This class provides 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, elementary probability and random variables, common distributions that arise in electrical engineering, and data-fitting. Connections to signal processing, systems, communications, optimization, and machine learning are highlighted.

Instructor: Chandrasekaran
ME 72 ab
Engineering Design Laboratory
12 units (2-8-2) first term; 15 units (1-13-1) second term  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: ME 14.
Enrollment is limited. A project-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, Stovall
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  | first, second, third terms

This course presents the fundamentals of modern multidisciplinary systems engineering in the context of a substantial design 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 component 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. First-year undergraduate students must receive permission from the lead instructor to enroll. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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 2024-25.

APh 78 abc
Senior Thesis, Experimental
9 units (0-9-0)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Supervised experimental 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
MS 78 abc
Senior thesis
9 units  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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 engineering 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
APh 79 abc
Senior Thesis, Theoretical
9 units (0-9-0)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Supervised theoretical 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. This course cannot be used to satisfy the laboratory requirement in APh.

Instructor: Staff
ACM 80 abc
Undergraduate Thesis
9 units  | 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 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
CS 80 abc
Undergraduate Thesis
9 units  | 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 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: Staff
EE 80 abc
Senior Thesis
9 units  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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 faculty. Project must include significant design effort. A written thesis must be submitted to the department. Open only to senior electrical engineering majors. 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 accomplished  | 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
CS 81 abc
Undergraduate Projects in Computer Science
Units are assigned in accordance with work accomplished 
Prerequisites: Consent 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: Staff
VC/E 81
Careers in STEAM
1 unit (1-0-0)  | second term

A series of weekly seminars by practitioners in industry and academia working at the intersections of science, technology, engineering, art and design. The course can be used to learn more about the different careers in these interdisciplinary areas. Guest speakers will talk about their career trajectory, the nature of their work and the role that science, engineering and/or computing plays in their field. Speakers may include professionals in the fields of investigative science journalism, film/TV, apparel design and manufacturing, architecture, music/sound engineering and editing, art, culture and heritage exhibition and conservation, creative coding, technological art and other areas. Topics will be presented at an informal, introductory level. Graded pass/fail. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Mushkin
E/VC 88
Critical Making
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

This course examines the concepts and practices of maker culture through hands-on engagement, 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Mushkin
E/H/VC 89
New Media Arts in the 20th and 21st Centuries
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

This course will examine artists' 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 critical 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 projects. Topics may include systems in art, the influence of industrialism, 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Mushkin
CDS 90 abc
Senior Thesis in Control and Dynamical Systems
9 units (0-0-9)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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
CS 90
Undergraduate Reading in Computer Science
Units are assigned 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: Staff
EE 90
Analog Electronics Project Laboratory
9 units (1-8-0)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE 45 or EE 85.

A structured laboratory course that gives the student the opportunity to design and build a simple analog electronics project. The goal is to gain familiarity with circuit design and construction, component selection, CAD support, and debugging techniques.

Instructor: Ohanian
ME 90 abc
Senior Thesis: Major Design Experience
9 units (0-0-9)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: senior status; instructor's permission.
Students complete a senior thesis that includes a major design experience (as required for the ME degree). The major design experience builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework and incorporates appropriate engineering design standards and multiple design constraints. The thesis is 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. Not offered on pass/fail basis.
Instructor: Ames
MS 90
Materials Science Laboratory
9 units (1-6-2)  | third term
Prerequisites: MS 115 recommended.

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: Staff
EE 91 ab
Experimental Projects in Electronic Circuits
9 units (1-8-0) first term; 6 units (1-5-0) second term 
Prerequisites: EE 90; Recommended: EE/ME 007, EE/CS 10 ab, EE 13 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. Students select, design, and implement a significant electronics project and define the engineering approach using modern electronics techniques and demonstrate their design and finished product in two terms. DSP/microprocessor development support and analog/digital CAD facilities available.
Instructor: Ohanian
ME 91 abc
Senior Thesis
9 units (0-0-9)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: senior status; instructor's permission.
Students complete a senior thesis involving research in mechanical engineering; the thesis is 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. Not offered on a pass/fail basis.
Instructor: Ames
ACM 95/100 ab
Introductory Methods of Applied Mathematics for the Physical Sciences
12 units (4-0-8)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ma 2 or equivalents.

Complex analysis: analyticity, Laurent series, contour integration, residue calculus. Ordinary differential 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.

Instructors: Zuev, Hoffmann
EE 99
Advanced Work in Electrical Engineering
Units to be arranged 

Special problems relating to electrical engineering will be arranged. For undergraduates; students should consult with their advisers. Graded pass/fail.

MedE 99
Undergraduate Research in Medical Engineering
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; supervised by a Caltech faculty member, or co-advised by a Caltech faculty member and an external researcher. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Staff
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.

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 advisers before registering. Graded pass/fail.

CE 100
Special Topics in Civil Engineering
Units to be based upon work done, any term 

Special problems or courses arranged to meet the needs of first-year graduate students or qualified undergraduate students. Graded pass/fail.

E 100
Special Topics in Engineering Applied Science
Units to be arranged  | terms to be arranged

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.

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 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.

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 seminars. Graded pass/fail.

Instructors: Gao, Wang
MS 100
Advanced Work in Materials Science
 

The staff in materials 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
SEC 100
Special Topics in Scientific and Engineering Communication
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: Gold
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 matching. Method of multiple scales for oscillatory systems. Second term: Applied spectral theory, special functions, generalized eigenfunction expansions, convergence theory. Gibbs and Runge phenomena and their resolution. Chebyshev expansion and Fourier Continuation methods. Review of numerical stability theory for time evolution. Fast spectrally-accurate PDE solvers for linear and nonlinear Partial Differential Equations in general domains. Integral-equations methods for linear partial differential equation in general domains (Laplace, Helmholtz, Schroedinger, 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
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).

Fundamentals of fluid mechanics. Microscopic and macroscopic properties of liquids and gases; the continuum hypothesis; review of thermodynamics; 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: Bae, Pullin, Colonius
CS 101
Special Topics in Computer Science
Units in accordance with work accomplished  | Offered by announcement
Prerequisites: Prerequisites specified by instructor.
The topics covered vary from year to year, depending on the students and staff. Primarily for undergraduates.
Instructor: Staff
MedE 101
Introduction to Clinical Physiology and Pathophysiology for Engineers
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: No Prerequisites, 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 physiology of a system followed by examples of current clinical medical challenges 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: Staff
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 propagation. Analysis of rods, plates and shells with applications in a variety of fields. Variational theorems and approximate solutions. Elastic stability.

Instructors: Lapusta, Ravichandran
CS 102 abc
Seminar in Computer Science
3, 6, or 9 units as arranged with the instructor 

Instructor's permission required.

Instructor: Staff
E/SEC 102
Scientific and Technology Entrepreneurship
9 units (3-0-6)  | first 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, determining how best to implement those ideas in a startup venture, attracting 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 leading early stage companies toward "launch velocity".

Instructor: Low
Ae 103 ab
Aerospace Control Systems
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: ACM 104, as well as ACM 100 a (or equivalent), can be taken concurrently.

Part a: Linear state space systems, including concepts of controllability/reachability and observability. State feedback and optimal control. Frequency domain tools (Bode plots, Nyquist analysis, input/output performance). Part b: Optimization-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 autonomous systems.

Instructor: Rahmani
CS 103 abc
Reading in Computer Science
3, 6, or 9 units as arranged with the instructor 

Instructor's permission required.

Instructor: Staff
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 business 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.

ACM/IDS 104
Applied Linear Algebra
9 units (3-1-5)  | first term
Prerequisites: 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 mathematics, 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, interpolation, 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
Ae/APh 104 abc
Experimental Methods
9 units (3-0-6) first term; (0-6-3) second, third terms  | first, 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.

Instructor: Dabiri
Ae 105 abc
Space Engineering
9 units (3-0-6) first term, (2-4-3) second 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.

Instructors: Campagnola, Watkins
APh/MS/ME 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, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and phase transitions.

Instructors: Minnich, Troian, Falson
EE 105 ab
Electrical Engineering Seminar
1 unit  | first, 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: Yang
ACM/EE 106 ab
Introductory Methods of Computational Mathematics
12 units (3-0-9)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: For ACM/EE 106 a, Ma 1 abc, Ma 2, Ma 3, ACM 11; for ACM/EE 106 b, 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 cover basic methods such as direct and iterative solution of large linear 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 algebraic solvers. The approximation theory includes data fitting; interpolation 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 equations. Study of numerical PDE will include stability analysis. Programming is a significant part of the course.

Instructor: Hou
E/ME/MedE 106 ab
Design for Freedom from Disability
9 units (3-0-6)  | terms to be arranged

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 associates. Speakers include people with assistive needs, therapists and researchers. Classes teach normative design methodologies as adapted for this special area. Not offered 2024-25.

ChE/Ch/Bi/SEC 107
Social Media for Scientists
9 units (3-0-6)  | second 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. Not offered 2024-25.

CMS/ACM/IDS 107 ab
Linear Analysis with Applications
12 units (3-0-9)  | first term
Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104 or equivalent, Ma 1b or equivalent.

Part a: Covers the basic algebraic, geometric, and topological properties 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 equations. Topics: Completeness, Banach spaces (l_p, L_p), Hilbert spaces (weighted l_2, L_2 spaces), introduction to Fourier transform, Fourier series and Sobolev spaces, Banach spaces of linear operators, duality and weak convergence, density, separability, completion, Schauder bases, continuous and compact embedding, compact operators, orthogonality, Lax-Milgram, Spectral Theorem and SVD for compact operators, integral operators, Jordan normal form. Part b: Continuation of ACM 107a, developing new material and providing further details on some topics already covered. Emphasis is placed both on rigorous mathematical development and on applications to control theory, data analysis and partial differential equations.Topics: Review of Banach spaces, Hilbert spaces, Linear Operators, and Duality, Hahn-Banach Theorem, Open Mapping and Closed Graph Theorem, Uniform Boundedness Principle, The Fourier transform (L1, L2, Schwartz space theory), Sobolev spaces (W^s,p, H^s), Sobolev embedding theorem, Trace theorem Spectral Theorem, Compact operators, Ascoli Arzela theorem, Contraction Mapping Principle, with applications to the Implicit Function Theorem and ODEs, Calculus of Variations (differential calculus, existence of extrema, Gamma-convergence, gradient flows) Applications to Inverse Problems (Tikhonov regularization, imaging applications).

Instructor: Stuart
CE/Ae/AM 108
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 mechanics. Transient and nonlinear problems. Computational aspects and development and use of finite element code.

Instructor: Ramarathinam
ACM 109
Mathematical Modelling
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

Prerequisites 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. Emphasis will be placed on the principles used to develop these models, and on the unity and cross-cutting nature of the mathematical and computational 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Stuart
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 microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron-beam writing.

Instructor: Staff
APh 110
Topics in Applied Physics
2 units (2-0-0)  | first, second terms

A seminar course designed to acquaint advanced undergraduates 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 their field of research. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Bellan
CDS 110
Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems
9 units (3-3-3)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc and Ma 2/102 or equivalents.

An introduction to analysis and design of feedback control systems in the time and frequency domain, with an emphasis on state space methods, robustness, and design tradeoffs. Linear input/output systems, including input/output response via convolution, reachability, and observability. State feedback methods, including eigenvalue placement, linear quadratic regulators, and model predictive control. Output feedback including estimators and two-degree of freedom design. Input/output modeling via transfer functions and frequency domain analysis of performance and robustness, including the use of Bode and Nyquist plots. Robustness, tradeoffs and fundamental limits, including the effects of external disturbances and unmodeled dynamics, sensitivity functions, and the Bode integral formula.

Instructor: Mazumdar
E 110
Principles of University Teaching and Learning in STEM
3 units (2-0-1)  | second, third terms

This graduate course examines the research on university-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, 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 development as applied to university teaching. We will explore the roles of active learning, student engagement, and inclusive teaching practices 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
EE 110 abc
Embedded Systems Design Laboratory
9 units (3-4-2); 9 units (1-8-0)  | 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 techniques, modern development facilities, and embedded systems programming. The lectures cover topics in embedded system design such as display technologies, interfacing to analog signals, communication protocols, PCB design, and programming in high-level and assembly languages.
Instructor: George
HPS/Pl/CS 110
Causation and Explanation
9 units (3-0-6)  | second 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
ME 110
Special Laboratory Work in Mechanical Engineering
3-9 units per term  | maximum two terms

Special laboratory work or experimental 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
MS 110 abc
Materials Research Lectures
1 unit (1-0-0)  | first, second, third terms

A seminar course designed to introduce advanced undergraduates and graduate students to modern research in materials science.

Instructors: Faber, Falson, Fultz
SEC 110
Technical Seminar Presentations
3 units (3-0-0)  | terms to be arranged

The purpose of this graduate-level 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.

Instructor: Gold
ChE/ESE/ME/MS 111
Sustainable Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: (ChE 62 and ChE 63 ab) or (ME 11 abc) or (Ph 2 c and MS 115) or Instructor's permission.

Examines the Earth's resources including fresh water, nitrogen, carbon and other biogeochemical cycles that impose planetary constraints on engineering; systems approaches to sustainable development goals; fossil fuel formation, chemical composition, production and use; engineering challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing energy, transportation and industry; global flows of critical elements used in zero-carbon energy systems; food-water-energy nexus; analysis of regional and local systems to model effects of human activities on air, water and soil.

Instructor: Kornfield
CS 111
Graduate Programming Practicum
3 units (0-3-0)  | first, second, and third 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 their 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 graduate students only. CS 111 may be repeated for credit of up to a total of nine units. Undergraduates should register for CS 11.

Instructor: Staff
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 electrical 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
SEC 111
Effective Communication Strategies for Engineers and Scientists
6 units (3-0-3)  | third term

This graduate course is designed to increase students' effectiveness in communicating complex technical information to diverse audiences and to deepen their understanding of key tools and techniques. Students will explore scientific storytelling through multiple genres, including oral presentations, written articles, and visual narratives. In-class workshops will provide students with the opportunity to revise their work and consider feedback from others. Each student will complete the class with a portfolio of projects highlighting various aspects of their communication skills. (Registration by application only, and EAS graduate students are given priority.)

Instructor: Gold
APh/Ph 112
Stochastic Resonance Phenomena and the Essential Role of Noise
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ph 12 abc, ACM 95/100 ab and Ph 106 abc, equivalent background, or instructor's permission.

Noise is often regarded as a nuisance. In experimental systems, it diminishes signal to noise ratio and obfuscates patterns and weak signals. In theoretical systems, it requires modelling by stochastic differential equations, whose solutions can be analytically intractable except for the simplest of Gaussian processes. Research on classical and quantum systems has revealed, however, that noise is essential when boosting hidden signatures by the phenomenon known as stochastic resonance. Many different methods proposed for inducing stochastic resonance are now revolutionizing measurement and modeling in fields as wide ranging as nonlinear optics and photonics, quantum communication, SQUID devices, neurophysiology, hydrodynamics, climate research and finance. This course, designed to appeal to theorists and experimentalists alike, is conducted in survey and seminar style. Review of the current literature will be complimented by lectures and readings focused on statistical physics and stochastic processes.

Instructor: Troian
ChE/BE/MedE 112
Creativity and Technological Innovation with Microfluidic 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 contributions and creativity. AI tools will be introduced to aid students in generating and evaluating ideas. 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 Phenomena). Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss enrollment.
Instructor: Ismagilov
Ec/ACM/CS 112
Bayesian Statistics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: Ma 3, ACM/EE/IDS 116 or equivalent.

This course provides 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
EE 112
Introduction to Signal Processing from Data
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: EE 111 or equivalent. Math 3 recommended.

Fundamentals of digital signal processing, extracting information from data by linear filtering, recursive and non-recursive filters, structural and flow graph representations for filters, data-adaptive filtering, multirate 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.

Instructor: Vaidyanathan
ChE/Ch/MS 113
Squishy Engineering: Using Soft Materials to Solve Hard Problems
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ChE 63ab or equivalent, ChE 103ab or equivalent, and ChE 101 or equivalent; or instructor's permission.
The milk we drink in the morning (a colloidal dispersion), the gel we put into our hair (a polymer network), and the plaque that we try to scrub off our teeth (a biofilm)are all familiar examples of soft materials. Such materials also hold great promise in helping to solve engineering challenges like drug delivery, water remediation, and sustainable agriculture, as well as the development of new coatings, displays, formulations, food, and biomaterials. This class will cover fundamental aspects of the science of soft materials, presented within the context of these challenges. We will also have guest speakers describe new applications of soft materials.
Instructor: Datta
EE 113
Feedback and Control Circuits
9 units (3-3-3)  | second term
Prerequisites: EE 45 (may be taken concurrently) 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, including 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. Given in alternate years; not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: George
APh 114 abc
Solid-State Physics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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 solids, lattice vibrations, electronic states in solids, transport phenomena, semiconductors, superconductivity, magnetism, ferroelectricity, defects, and optical phenomena in solids.

Instructors: Nadj-Perge, Schwab
EE/MedE 114 ab
Analog Circuit Design
12 units (4-0-8)  | second, 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 transistors, low-frequency behavior of single-stage and multistage amplifiers, current sources, active loads, differential amplifiers, operational amplifiers, 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 capacitor circuits, data conversion circuits (A/D and D/A), continuous-time Gm.C filters, phase locked loops, oscillators, and modulators.

Instructor: Hajimiri
Ae 115 ab
Spacecraft Navigation
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: CDS 110 a.

This course will survey all aspects of modern 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 discussed. Not offered 2024-25.

CS 115
Functional Programming
9 units (3-4-2)  | third term
Prerequisites: CS 1 and CS 4.

This course is a both a theoretical and practical introduction to functional programming, a paradigm which allows programmers to work at an extremely high level of abstraction while simultaneously avoiding large classes of bugs that plague more conventional imperative and object-oriented languages. The course will introduce 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, proving 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
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 phenomena and devices in the micro-/nano-scales. We will discuss basic properties of light, imaging, aberrations, eyes, detectors, lasers, micro-optical components and systems, scalar diffraction theory, interference/interferometers, holography, dielectric/plasmonic waveguides, and various Raman techniques. Topics may vary. Not offered 2024-25.

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, ceramics, electronic materials, composites, and polymers. The relationships between chemical bonding, crystal structure, defects, thermodynamics, phase equilibria, microstructure, and properties are described.

Instructor: Staff
ACM/EE/IDS 116
Introduction to Probability Models
9 units (3-1-5)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 3 or EE 55, 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 development 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 necessary 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, correlation, joint and marginal distributions, independence, moment generating 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
CS 116
Reasoning about Program Correctness
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
MS/ME/MedE 116
Mechanical Behavior of Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

Introduction to the mechanical behavior of solids, emphasizing 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 crystalline solids. Nanomaterials: properties, fabrication, and mechanics. Architected solids: fabrication, deformation, failure, and energy absorption. 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
CMS/ACM 117
Probability Theory and Computational Mathematics
12 units (3-0-9)  | first term
Prerequisites: ACM 104 and ACM 116; or instructor's permission.
This course offers a rigorous introduction to probability theory with applications to computational mathematics. Emphasis is placed on nonasymptotic properties of probability models, rather than classical limit theorems. Topics include measure theory, integration, product measures, probability spaces, random variables and expectation, moments, Lp spaces, orthogonality, independence, concentration inequalities, distances between probability measures, the Berry-Esseen theorem, conditional expectation, and conditioning for Gaussian families.
Instructor: Tropp
Ma/CS 117 abc
Computability Theory
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ma 5 or equivalent, or instructor's permission.

Various approaches to computability theory, e.g., Turing machines, 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 incompleteness theorems. Decidable problems, from number theory, algebra, combinatorics, and logic. Complexity of decision procedures. Inherently complex problems of exponential and superexponential difficulty. Feasible (polynomial time) computations. Polynomial deterministic vs. nondeterministic algorithms, NP-complete problems and the P = NP question. Part c not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Ervin
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 technologies 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 technologies.

Instructor: Blanquart
ACM 118
Stochastic Processes and Regression
12 units (3-0-9)  | second term
Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107 or equivalent, ACM 116 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 approximation, signal processing and learning will also be covered through their connections with Gaussian process regression.
Instructor: Owhadi
Ae/ME 118
Classical Thermodynamics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc, or equivalent.

Fundamentals of Classical Thermodynamics. Basic laws of thermodynamics, work and heat, entropy and available work, and thermal systems. Equations of state, compressibility functions, and the Law of Corresponding States. Thermodynamic potentials, phase equilibrium, phase transitions, and thermodynamic properties of solids, liquids, and gases. Examples will be drawn from fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, energy systems, and thermal-science applications.

Instructor: Minnich
CS 118
Automata-Theoretic Software Analysis
9 units (3-3-3)  | second term

An introduction to the use of automata theory in the formal analysis of both concurrent and sequentially executing software systems. The course covers the use of logic model checking with linear temporal logic and interactive techniques for property-based static source code analysis. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
Ph/APh/EE 118 c
Physics of Measurement: Moonbounce and Beyond - Microwave Scattering for Communications and Metrology
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ph 118a, and a course in microwave physics and engineering (e.g., Ph 118b, EE 153, or equivalent), or permission from the instructor.
In 1944, the possibility of bouncing radio waves off the moon was first discovered inadvertently. Since then, radio wave echoes have been recorded from other planets, asteroids, tropospheric disturbances, and airplanes aloft. Microwave scattering provides a rich platform enabling exploration of long-range microwave communications, remote sensing, and interesting astrophysical measurements. This class will cover the physics of microwave propagation and scattering, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite trajectories and communications, moonbounce, and the principles of ultrasensitive instrumentation - for both transmitting and receiving - enabling remote sensing with microwaves. One formal lecture per week will cover the fundamentals. The second weekly class meeting will be an extended hands-on workshop - starting mid-afternoon and going on into the evening - to assemble all aspects of a high-power microwave scattering system operating at 23cm. Students will set up tracking software for satellites and planetary objects, assemble an ultrasensitive software-defined radio (SDR) system, implement 1kW microwave power amplification at 23cm, and explore antenna and feed horn theory and practice. Also implemented will be powerful weak signal communications methods pioneered by Prof. Joe Taylor (Physics, Princeton) enabling ultraweak signal extraction through GPS synchronization of remote sources and receivers. We will employ Caltech's fantastic resource for this project - a 6-meter diameter microwave dish atop Moore Laboratory. Prospective students are encouraged to obtain an FCC Technician license (or higher) prior to spring term to permit their operation of the system. For information see: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~w6ue/
Instructor: Roukes
Ph/APh/EE/BE 118 ab
Physics of Measurement
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: Ph 127, APh 105, or equivalent, or permission from instructor.

This course explores the fundamental underpinnings of experimental measurements from the perspectives of information, noise, coupling, responsivity, and backaction. Its overarching goal is to enable students to develop intuition about a diversity of real measurement systems and the means to critically evaluate them. This involves developing a standard framework for estimating the ultimate and practical limits to information that can be extracted from a real measurement system. Topics will include the fundamental nature of information and signals, physical signal transduction and responsivity, the physical origin of noise processes, modulation, frequency conversion, synchronous detection, signal-sampling techniques, digitization, signal transforms, spectral analyses, and correlation methods. The first term will cover the essential underpinnings, while second-term topics will vary year-by-year according to interest. Among possible Ph 118 b topics are: high frequency, microwave, and fast time-domain measurements; biological interfaces and biosensing; the physics of functional brain imaging; and quantum measurement. Part b not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Roukes
APh 119
Nanofabrication Techniques
6 units (1-4-1)  | third term
Prerequisites: students are encouraged to take APh/EE 9 or APh/EE 109 ahead of this class, but these are not required.

This laboratory/lecture course will enable students to become proficient in micro- and nanofabrication and get trained on most of the instruments in Caltech’s Kavli Nanoscience Institute cleanroom. Students will learn the capabilities and limitations of nanofabrication equipment, followed by training on these nanofabrication instruments in the KNI cleanroom facility.

Instructor: Scherer
EE/CS 119 abc
Advanced Digital Systems Design
9 units (3-3-3) first, second term; 9 units (1-8-0) third term  | first, second, third terms
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 practical aspects of ASIC design, such as timing, testing, and fault grading. Topics include synchronous design, state machine design, arithmetic circuit design, application-specific parallel computer design, design for testability, CPLDs, FPGAs, VHDL, standard cells, timing analysis, fault vectors, and fault grading. Students are expected to design and implement both systems discussed in the class as well as self-proposed systems using a variety of technologies and tools. Given in alternate years;offered 2024-25.

Instructor: George
ME 119
Heat and Mass Transfer
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc, ACM 95/100 (may be taken concurrently).

Transport properties, conservation equations, conduction heat transfer, convective heat and mass transport in laminar and turbulent flows, phase change processes, thermal radiation.

Instructor: Hunt
CS/Ph 120
Quantum Cryptography
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 b, Ph 2 b or Ph 12 b, CS 21, CS 38 or equivalent recommended (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 basis for quantum cryptography, such as entanglement and quantifying 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 quantum cryptography as well as other cryptographic tasks and protocols, such as bit commitment or position-based cryptography. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
EE/APh 120
Physical Optics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Intermediate-level familiarity with Fourier transforms and linear systems analysis. Basic understanding of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory (EE/APh 40 and EE 44, or equivalent).
The goal aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to optical phenomena, with a focus on the central role played by wave propagation. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, we begin by reviewing geometrical optics before transitioning to the scalar theory of optical waves. Using linear system analysis and Fourier transforms, we study a range of topics, including diffraction, optical beams, resonators, and imaging systems. In the second part of the course, we explore the concepts of coherence and polarization and apply them to the study of a broader range of phenomena and systems where a full electromagnetic field description is necessary. This includes topics such as photonic crystals, meta-surfaces, and nonlinear optical processes.
Instructor: Mirhosseini
ME/Ae 120
Combustion Fundamentals
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ME 11 abc or equivalent, ACM 95/100 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently).
The course will cover chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, combustion 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, combustion-generated pollutants, and numerical simulations of reacting flows.
Instructor: Blanquart
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 practices 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 communicating 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Ae 121 abc
Space Propulsion
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Open to all graduate students and to seniors with instructor's permission.

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
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). The course introduces the basics of database schema design and covers 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, writing 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
EE 121
Great Ideas in Data Science
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: linear algebra and probability at the level of EE 55 or of ACM 104 + ACM 116.

Data science is a broad discipline that encompasses statistics, signal processing, machine learning, information theory, inverse problems, games, networks, and much else. This course provides a survey of some of the big ideas in these areas that have had significant conceptual and practical impact. not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Chandrasekaran
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 experiments in their specialty. As the situation permits, students are given a choice in selecting experiments. Not offered 2024-25.

CMS/ACM/EE 122
Mathematical Optimization
12 units (4-0-8)  | first term
Prerequisites: ACM 11 and ACM 104, or instructor's permission.
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 engineering disciplines.
Instructor: Chandrasekaran
MS/APh 122
Diffraction, Imaging, and Structure
9 units (0-4-5)  | second term
Prerequisites: MS 132, may be taken concurrently.

Experimental methods in transmission electron microscopy of inorganic materials including diffraction, spectroscopy, conventional imaging, high resolution imaging and sample preparation. Weekly laboratory exercises to complement material in MS 132. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
EE/APh 123
Advanced Lasers and Photonics Laboratory
9 units (1-3-5)  | first term

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.

Instructor: Marandi
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 projects, implementing major components of an instructional operating system. 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Pinkston
EE/MedE 124
Mixed-mode Integrated Circuits
9 units (3-0-6)  | first 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 Circuit Design with FPGAs and VHDL
9 units (3-6-0)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE/CS 10 or equivalent.

Study of programmable logic devices (FPGAs). Detailed study of the VHDL language, accompanied by tutorials of popular synthesis and simulation tools. Review of combinational circuits (both logic and arithmetic), followed by VHDL code for combinational circuits and corresponding FPGA-implemented designs. Review of sequential circuits, followed by VHDL code for sequential circuits and corresponding FPGA-implemented designs. Review of finite state machines, followed by VHDL code for state machines and corresponding FPGA-implemented designs. Final project. The course includes a wide selection of real-world projects, implemented and tested using FPGA boards. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
MS 125
Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy
9 units (1-6-2)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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. Not offered 2024-25.

EE/Ma/CS 126 ab
Information Theory
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ma 3.

This class treats Shannon's mathematical theory of communication and the tools used to derive and understand it. The class is organized around fundamental questions and their solutions, leading to central results such as Shannon's source coding, channel coding, and rate-distortion theorems. Quantities that arise en route to these solutions include entropy, relative entropy, and mutual information for discrete and continuous random variables. The course explores the calculation of fundamental communication limits like entropy rate, capacity, and rate-distortion functions under a variety of source and communication channel models (e.g., memoryless, Markov, ergodic, and Gaussian). The course begins with a foundational discussion of the simplest communication scenarios and then expands to include topics like universal source coding, the role of side information in source coding and communications, and the generalization of earlier results to network systems. Network information theory topics include multiuser data compression and communication over multiple access channels, broadcast channels, and multiterminal networks. Philosophical and practical implications of the theory are also explored. 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. Part b not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Effros
IDS/Ec/PS 126
Applied Data Analysis
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 3/103 or ACM/EE/IDS 116, Ec 122 or IDS/ACM/CS 157 or Ma 112 a.

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 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
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 2024-25.

EE/Ma/CS/IDS 127
Error-Correcting Codes
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE 55 or equivalent.

This course develops from first principles the theory and practical implementation of the most important techniques for combating errors in digital transmission and storage systems. Topics include highly symmetric linear codes, such as Hamming, Reed-Muller, and Polar codes; algebraic block codes, such as Reed-Solomon and BCH codes, including a self-contained introduction to the theory of finite fields; and low-density parity-check codes. Students will become acquainted with encoding and decoding algorithms, design principles and performance evaluation of codes. not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Kostina
CS 128
Interactive Theorem Proving
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CS 4 or instructor's permission.

This course introduces students to the modern practice of interactive tactic-based theorem proving using the Coq theorem prover. Topics will be drawn from logic, programming languages and the theory of computation. Topics will include: proof by induction, lists, higher-order functions, polymorphism, dependently-typed functional programming, constructive logic, the Curry-Howard correspondence, modeling imperative programs, and other topics if time permits. Students will be graded partially on attendance and will be expected to participate in proving theorems in class.

Instructor: Vanier
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, advanced 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 2024-25.

ME/CS/EE 129
Experimental Robotics
9 units (1-7-1)  | third term
Prerequisites: some experience with (i) Python programming (CS1, CS2, or equivalent), (ii) Hardware, Sensors, and Signal Processing (EE/ME7, ME8, EE1, or similar), and/or (iii) Robotic Devices (ME13, ME72, or related), as evidenced to the instructor. Not recommended for first-year students.
This course covers the foundations of experimental realization on robotic systems. This includes software infrastructure to operate physical hardware, integrate various sensor modalities, and create robust autonomous behaviors. Using the Python programming language, assignments will explore techniques from simple polling to interrupt driven and multi-threaded architectures, ultimately utilizing the Robotic Operating System (ROS). Developments will be integrated on mobile robotic systems and demonstrated in the context of class projects.
Instructor: Niemeyer
APh/EE 130
Electromagnetic Theory for Photonic Devices
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
This course introduces the theoretical formalism required to model passive and nonlinear photonic devices. Topics include: propagation of electromagnetic fields in isotropic and anisotropic media, polarization states and their representations, optical rays, optical beams, guided waves in dielectric slabs and fibers, optical resonators, introduction to nonlinear optics, second harmonic generation, quasi-phase matching, electro-optic effects.
Instructor: Faraon
CS 130
Software Engineering
9 units (3-3-3)  | second term
Prerequisites: CS 2 and CS 3 (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 research 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 CS 1 level, and Git at a CS 2/CS 3 level, before taking the course.

Instructor: Pinkston
SEC 130
Science Activation: Bringing Science to Society
6 units (3-0-3)  | second term

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 understanding 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 communication norms with practical experience in communicating and developing relationships with elected officials and their staffs. Not offered 2024-25.

APh/EE 131
Light Interaction with Atomic Systems-Lasers
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: APh/EE 130.

Light-matter interaction, spontaneous and induced transitions in atoms and semiconductors. Absorption, amplification, and dispersion of light in atomic media. Principles of laser oscillation, generic types of lasers including semiconductor lasers, mode-locked lasers. Frequency combs in lasers. The spectral properties and coherence of laser light. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Vahala
CDS 131
Linear Systems Theory
12 units (3-0-9)  | second term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 b, Ma 2, ACM/IDS 104 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently).

Basic system concepts; state-space and I/O representation. Properties of linear systems, including stability, performance, robustness. Reachability, observability, minimality, state and output-feedback. Brief introduction to optimal control and control of networked and nonlinear systems. Motivating case studies from tech, biology, neuroscience, and medical systems.

Instructor: Doyle
CS 131
Programming Languages
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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 essential 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
MS 131
Structure and Bonding in Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: graduate standing or introductory quantum mechanics.

Electronic states in atoms and molecules. Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Crystal structure, including databases and visualization. Reciprocal space and Brillouin zone. Band theory using tight binding and plane waves. Introduction to density functional theory. Bonding and electronic structure in metals, semiconductors, ionic crystals, and complex oxides. Symmetry in materials: point groups, space groups, and time-reversal symmetry. Physical properties of crystals and their tensor representation. Introduction to correlated and topological quantum materials.

Instructor: Bernardi
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 characterization 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 2024-25.

CS 132
Web Development
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: CS 1 or equivalent.

Covers full-stack web development with HTML5, CSS, client-side JS (ES6) and server-side JS (Node.js/Express) for web API development. Concepts including separation of concerns, the client-server relationship, user experience, accessibility, and security will also be emphasized throughout the course. Assignments will alternate between formal and semi-structured student-driven projects, providing students various opportunities to apply material to their individual interests. No prior web development background is required, though students who have prior experience may still benefit from learning best practices and HTML5/ES6 standards.

Instructor: Hovik
MS 132
Diffraction and Structure
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: 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 introduction to space-time correlation functions.

Instructor: Fultz
ME/CS/EE 133 ab
Robotics
9 units (3-2-4)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 129, or Python programming experience, evidenced to instructor.

The course develops the core concepts of robotics. The first quarter focuses on classical robotic manipulation, including 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 transitions to planning, navigation, and perception. Topics include configuration space, sample-based planners, A* and D* algorithms, to achieve collision-free motions. Course work transitions from homework and programming assignments to more open-ended team-based projects.

Instructor: Niemeyer
MS 133
Kinetic Processes in Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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: Greer, Kornfield
ME/CS/EE 134
Robotic Systems
9 units (1-7-1)  | second term
Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 133 a, or with permission 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 robotic arms (5 to 7 degrees of freedom) to writing all necessary software (utilizing the Robotics Operating system, ROS). Teams are required to implement and customize general concepts for their selected tasks. Working systems will autonomously operate and demonstrate their capabilities during final presentations.

Instructor: Niemeyer
EE/CS/EST 135
Power System Analysis
9 units (3-3-3)  | first term
Prerequisites: EE 44, Ma 2, or equivalent.

We are at the beginning of a historic transformation to decarbonize our energy system. This course introduces the basics of power systems analysis: 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, unbalanced power flow analysis and optimization,swing dynamics and stability.

Instructor: Low
EE/Ma/CS/IDS 136
Information Theory and Applications
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE 55 or equivalent.

This class introduces information measures such as entropy, information divergence, mutual information, information density, and establishes the fundamental importance of those measures in data compression, statistical inference, and error control. The course does not require a prior exposure to information theory; it is complementary to EE 126a.

Instructor: Kostina
CS 137
Real-World Algorithm Implementation
12 units (0-3-9)  | third term
Prerequisites: CS 24.

This course introduces algorithms in the context of their usage in the real world. The course covers compression, semi-numerical algorithms, RSA cryptography, parsing, and string matching. 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. Students will choose to implement projects based on depth in an area or breadth to cover all the topics. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Blank
Ph/APh 137 abc
Atoms and Photons
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent, or instructor's permission.

This course will provide an introduction to the interaction of atomic systems with photons. Each term can be taken independent of each other. The main emphasis is on laying the foundation for understanding current research that utilizes cold atoms and quantized light fields. First term: resonance phenomena, atomic structure, and the semi-classical interaction of atoms 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, entanglement, master equations, quantum jump formalism. Applications to cavity QED, optical lattices, and Rydberg arrays. Part b and part c not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Hutzler
APh/Ph 138 ab
Quantum Hardware and Techniques
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term, a and b offered in alternating years
Prerequisites: Ph 125 abc or Ph 127 ab or Ph 137 ab 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 modules covering various topics including solid state quantum bits, topological quantum matter, trapped atoms and ions, applications of near-term quantum computers, superconducting qubits. Topics will alternate from year to year.

Instructors: Faraon, Nadj-Perge
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.

Instructors: Mahadev, Ralph
CMS/CS/IDS 139
Analysis and Design of Algorithms
12 units (3-0-9)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 2, Ma 3, Ma/CS 6 a, CS 21, CS 38/138, and ACM/EE/IDS 116 or CMS/ACM/EE 122 or equivalent.

This course develops core principles for the analysis and design of algorithms. Basic material includes mathematical techniques for analyzing performance in terms of resources, such as time, space, and randomness. The course introduces the major paradigms for algorithm design, including greedy methods, divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming, linear and semidefinite programming, randomized algorithms, and online learning. Not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Staff
Ma/ACM/IDS 140 abc
Probability
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: For 140 a, Ma 108 b is strongly recommended.

This course begins with an overview of measure theory, followed by topics that include random walks, the strong law of large numbers, the central limit theorem, martingales, Markov chains, characteristic functions, Poisson processes, and Brownian motion. Towards the end, some further topics may be covered, such as stochastic calculus, stochastic differential equations, Gaussian processes, random graphs, Markov chain mixing, random matrix theory, and interacting particle systems.

Instructors: Tamuz, El-Maazouz, Zhang
APh/MS 141
Introduction to Computational Methods for Science and Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: graduate standing or instructor's permission.
A broad introduction to scientific computing using Python. Introduction to Python and its packages Numpy, SciPy, and Matplotlib. Numerical precision and sources of error. Root-finding and optimization. Numerical differentiation and integration. Introduction to numerical methods for linear systems and eigenvalue problems. Numerical methods for ordinary differential equations. Finite-difference methods for partial differential equations. Discrete Fourier transform. Introduction to data-driven and machine learning methods, including deep learning using Keras and Tensorflow. Introduction to quantum computing using Qiskit and IBM-Q. Students develop numerical calculations in the homework and in midterm and final projects.
Instructor: Bernardi
CS 141
Hack Society: Projects from the Public Sector
9 units (0-0-9)  | third term
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 opportunity for the development of innovative solutions to problems faced by society. Students will develop technology-based projects that address 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Ralph
Ma/ACM 142 ab
Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 108; Ma 109 is desirable.

The mathematical theory of ordinary and partial differential equations, including a discussion of elliptic regularity, maximal principles, solubility of equations. The method of characteristics. Part b not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Looi
MS 142
Application of Diffraction Techniques in Materials Science
9 units (2-3-4)  | second term
Prerequisites: Instructor's permission.

Applications of X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to the structural characterization of materials. Emphasis is on the analysis of polycrystalline 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 refinement, and determination of structural features from small angle scattering. 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 2024-25.

CS/EE/IDS 143
Networks: Algorithms & Architecture
12 units (3-4-5)  | first 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. CS/EE/IDS 143 and CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144 study how they work and the "big" ideas behind our networked lives. In this course, the questions explored include: Why is an hourglass architecture crucial for the design of the Internet? Why doesn't the Internet collapse under congestion? How are cloud services so scalable? How do algorithms for wireless and wired networks differ? 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/Ec/EE 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. CS/EE/IDS 143 and CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144 study how they work and the "big" ideas behind our networked lives. In this course, the questions explored include: What do networks actually look like (and why do they all look the same)?; How do search engines work?; Why do epidemics and memes spread the way they do?; How does web advertising 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: Mazumdar
CS/EE 145
Projects in Networking
9 units (0-0-9)  | third term
Prerequisites: Either CMS/CS/EE/IDS 144 or CS/IDS 142 in the preceding term, or instructor permission.

Students are expected to execute a substantial 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)  | second 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.

Instructor: Low
ME/CE/Ge/ESE 146
Computational Methods for Flow in Porous Media
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: ME 11 abc, ME 12 abc, ACM 95/100, ACM 106 ab (may be taken concurrently).
This course covers physical, mathematical, and simulation aspects of single and two-phase flow and transport through porous media. Conservation equations for multiphase, multicomponent flow. Modeling of fluid mechanical instabilities such as viscous fingering and density-driven convection. Coupling fluid flow with chemical reactions and heat transfer. Numerical methods for elliptic equations: finite volume methods, two-point flux approximations. Numerical methods for hyperbolic equations: high-order explicit methods, implicit method. Applications in hydrology, geological CO2 sequestration, and induced seismicity, among others, will be demonstrated.
Instructor: Fu
EE/CS 147
Digital Ventures Design
9 units (3-3-3)  | first term

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, business 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 culminates in a public presentation and a final report. Every year the course and projects focus on a particular emerging technology theme. Not offered 2024-25.

EE/CNS/CS 148
Advanced Topics in Vision: Large Language and Vision Models
12 units (3-0-9)  | third term
Prerequisites: CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155, undergraduate calculus, linear algebra, statistics, computer programming, machine learning. Experience programming in Python, Numpy and PyTorch.
The class will focus on large language models (LLMs) and language-and-vision models, as well as on generative methods for artificial intelligence (AI). Topics include deep neural networks,transformers, large language models, generative adversarial networks, diffusion models, and applications of such architectures and methods to image analysis, image synthesis, and text-to-image translation.
Instructors: Perona, Gkioxari
CS/Ec 149
Algorithmic Economics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

This course will equip students to engage with active research at the intersection of social and information sciences, including: algorithmic game theory and mechanism design; auctions; matching markets; and learning in games.

Instructor: Niemeyer
EE/APh 149
Frontiers of Nonlinear Photonics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

This course overviews recent advances in photonics with emphasis 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 2024-25.

Ae 150 abc
Aerospace Engineering Seminar
1 unit  | first, second, third terms

Speakers from campus and outside research and manufacturing organizations discuss current problems and advances in aerospace engineering. Graded pass/fail.

Instructor: Austin
AM/CE/ME 150 abc
Graduate Engineering Seminar
1 unit  | each term

Students attend a graduate seminar 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
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.

CS/IDS 150 ab
Probability and Algorithms
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, 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 probabilistic 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, advanced 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 given in alternate years.

Instructor: Schulman
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
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 level suitable for advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Topics are chosen according to the interests of students and faculty. Visiting faculty may present portions of the course.

Instructor: Staff
AM/CE 151
Dynamics and Vibration
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

Equilibrium 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 concepts, 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 discrete and continuous systems, frequency domain solutions to dynamical systems, stability criteria for dynamical systems, and introduction to nonlinear systems and random vibration theory.

Instructor: Asimaki
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 according to the computational resources (such as time, space, randomness, or parallelism) required for their solution. The course examines 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
EE 151
Electromagnetic Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE 45.

Foundations of circuit theory-electric fields, magnetic fields, transmission lines, and Maxwell's equations, with engineering applications.

Instructor: Yang
APh/Ph/MS 152
Fundamentals of Fluid Flow in Small Scale Systems
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent.

Research efforts in many areas of applied science and engineering are increasingly focused on microsystems involving active or passive fluid flow confined to 1D, 2D or 3D platforms. Intrinsically large ratios of surface to volume can incur unusual surface forces and boundary effects essential to operation of microdevices for applications such as optofluidics, bioengineering, green energy harvesting and nanofilm lithography. This course offers a concise treatment of the fundamentals of fluidic behavior in small scale systems. Examples will be drawn from pulsatile, oscillatory and capillary flows, active and passive spreading of liquid dots and films, thermocapillary and electrowetting systems, and instabilities leading to self-sustaining patterns. Students must have working knowledge of vector calculus, ODEs, basic PDEs, and complex variables. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Troian
CS 152
Introduction to Cryptography
12 units (3-0-9)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 b, 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 one-way functions, collision-resistant hash functions and digital signatures. The second part of the course covers selected topics such as interactive protocols and zero knowledge, the learning with errors problem and homomorphic encryption, and quantum cryptography: quantum money, quantum key distribution. The course is mostly theoretical and requires mathematical maturity. There will be a small programming component.

Instructor: Mahadev
EE 152
High Frequency Systems Laboratory
12 units (2-3-7)  | first term
Prerequisites: EE 45 or equivalent. EE 153 recommended.

The student will develop a strong, working knowledge of high-frequency 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 introduce 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, communications, radar, or one within their own field of research.

Instructor: Russell
APh/Ph/Ae/MS 153
Fundamentals of Energy and Mass Transport in Small Scale Systems
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab or equivalent.

The design of instrumentation for cooling, sensing or measurement in microsystems requires special knowledge of the evolution and propagation of thermal and concentration gradients in confined geometries, which ultimately control the degree of maximum energy and mass exchange. A significant challenge facing the microelectronics industry, for example, is mitigation of hot spots in densely packed high power chips for artificial intelligence to prevent thermal runaway. This course offers a concise treatment of the fundamentals of mass and energy transport by examining steady and unsteady diffusive and convective processes in small confined systems. Contrasts with macroscale behavior caused by the effects of small scale confinement and reduced dimensionality will be examined. Sample problems will be drawn from systems in applied physics, material science, electrical and bioengineering. Students must have working knowledge of vector calculus, ODEs, basic PDEs, and complex variables. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Troian
CS/IDS 153
Current Topics in Theoretical Computer Science
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: CS 21 and CS 38, or instructor's permission.

May be repeated for credit, with permission of the instructor. Students in this course will study an area of current interest in theoretical 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.

Instructor: Umans
EE 153
Microwave Circuits and Antennas
12 units (3-2-7)  | second term
Prerequisites: EE 45.

High-speed circuits for wireless communications, radar and broadcasting. Lectures on the theory of transmission lines, characteristic impedance, maximum power transfer, impedance matching, signal-flow graphs, power dividers, coupled lines, even and odd mode analyses, couplers, filters, noise, amplifiers, oscillators, mixers and antennas. Labs on the design, fabrication and measurement of microwave circuits such as microstrip filters, power dividers, directional couplers, low-noise amplifiers and oscillators. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software package: Microwave Office.

Instructor: Antsos
ACM/IDS 154
Inverse Problems and Data Assimilation
9 units (3-0-6)  | second 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.

Instructor: Carlson
EE 154 ab
Practical Electronics for Space Applications
9 units (2-3-4)  | second, third terms

Part a: Subsystem Design: Students will be exposed to design for subsystem electronics in the space environment, 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 prototype subsystems on a high-altitude balloon flight. Focus on qualification for the flight environment appropriate to a TRL 4-5 effort. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Klesh
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 mining approaches. We will also discuss recent research developments.
Instructor: Yue
APh 156 abc
Plasma Physics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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 the magnetohydrodynamic model of plasma as an electrically conducting fluid subject to combined magnetic and hydrodynamic forces. This infrastructure will be used to examine waves, transport processes, equilibrium, stability, and topological self-organization. Examples relevant to plasmas in both laboratory (fusion, industrial) and space (magneto-sphere, solar) will be discussed.

Instructor: Bellan
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
EE/Ae 157 ab
Introduction to the Physics of Remote Sensing
9 units (3-0-6)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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 regions 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 interpretation. Examples of applications and instrumentation in geology, planetology, oceanography, astronomy, and atmospheric research. Part a offered spring term; Part b not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Rosen
Ge/EE/ESE 157 c
Remote Sensing for Environmental and Geological 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, classification, and multi-temporal studies. This course does not require but is complementary to EE 157 ab with emphasis on applications for geological 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Ehlmann
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 extracting 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 fundamental ideas, concepts, and methods of statistical inference; and 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-, permutation, and likelihood ratio tests, multiple testing, scatterplots, simple linear regression, ordinary least squares, interval estimation, prediction, graphical residual analysis.

Instructor: Zuev
EE/APh 158
Quantum Electrical Circuits
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: advanced-level familiarity with Maxwell's electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics (EE 151 and Ph 125 abc, or equivalent).
The course focuses on superconducting electrical systems for quantum computing. Contents begin by reviewing required concepts in microwave engineering, quantum optics, and superconductivity and then proceed with deriving quantum mechanical descriptions of superconducting linear circuits, Josephson qubits, and parametric amplifiers. The second part of the course provides an overview of integrated nano-mechanical, piezo-electric, and electro-optic systems and their applications in transducing quantum electrical signals from superconducting qubits.
Instructor: Mirhosseini
IDS/ACM/CS 158
Fundamentals of Statistical Learning
9 units (3-3-3)  | second term
Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, 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 interdisciplinary field at the intersection of applied mathematics, statistical inference, and machine learning. 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 implemented), 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 linear algebra, probability, and statistics. The course is a natural continuation of IDS/ACM/CS 157 and it can be viewed as a statistical analog of CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155. Topics covered include elements of statistical decision theory, regression and classification problems, nearest-neighbor methods, curse of dimensionality, linear regression, model selection, cross-validation, subset selection, shrinkage methods, ridge regression, LASSO, logistic regression, linear and quadratic discriminant analysis, support-vector machines, tree-based methods, bagging, and random forests. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Zuev
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 applications. 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 diffraction image formation coherence; interferometry for the measurement of optical surfaces astronomy; optical metrology wavefront sensing control (A/O); segmented and sparse aperture telescopes; and design topics in coronagraphy, Fourier transform spectrometers, grating spectrometers, and large aperture telescopes. Space optics issues discussed will be segmented sparse aperture telescopes, radiation damage to glass, thermal and UV contamination. Not offered 2024-25.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 159
Advanced Topics in Machine Learning
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: CS 155; strong background in 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.

Instructor: Yue
Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab
Continuum Mechanics of Fluids and Solids
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms.

Elements of Cartesian tensors. Configurations 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) stress. Thermodynamics of bodies. Internal energy, heat flux, heat supply. Laws of thermodynamics, notions of entropy, absolute temperature. 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 b not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Lapusta
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-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 effects, formulation of a nonlinear 2-D beam element, uniform and nonuniform 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 interaction), and seismic design requirements for reinforced concrete structures. Not offered 2024-25.

EE/CS/IDS 160
Fundamentals of Information Transmission and Storage
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: EE 55 or equivalent.

Basics of information theory: entropy, 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
BE/Bi/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 differential equations and statistical and quantum mechanics, or instructor's written permission..

Physical models applied to the analysis of biological structures ranging from individual proteins and DNA to entire cells. Typical topics include the force response of proteins and DNA, models of molecular motors, DNA packing in viruses and eukaryotes, mechanics of membranes, and membrane proteins and cell motility.

Instructor: Bois
EE/CS 161
Big Data Networks
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Linear Algebra ACM/IDS 104 and Introduction to Probability Models 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 mathematical underpinnings, state-of-the-art solutions, and challenges ahead will be covered. Not offered 2024-25.

MS/ME 161
Imperfections in Crystals
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: graduate standing or MS 115.

The relation of lattice defects to the physical and mechanical properties of crystalline solids. Introduction to point imperfections and their relationships to transport properties in metallic, covalent, and ionic crystals. Kroeger-Vink notation. Introduction 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 materials science aspects of role of defects in electrical, morphological, optical, and mechanical properties of solids. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Greer
CS/IDS 162
Data, Algorithms and Society
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CS 38 and CS 155 or 156 a.

This course examines 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 implementations 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 CS/IDS 162 or VC 72.

Instructors: Mushkin, Ralph
MS/APh 162
Electronic Structure of Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: APh 114a (or equivalent solid-state physics), or MS131 strongly recommended.
A course examining the structure-symmetry related properties of crystalline matter. The course will develop an in-depth understanding of electronic dispersions based on the atomic constituents of the structure and explore how matter couples to external stimuli such as light, magnetic fields, pressure, and strain, based on the underlying symmetry of the lattice. Modern materials, such as oxides and two-dimensional materials, will be used to illustrate how these properties are explored in a research setting.
Instructor: Falson
CS 163
Projects in Machine Learning
9 units (0-1-8)  | first
Prerequisites: CS 155 or equivalent.

This is a project-based course for students looking to gain practical experience in machine learning. Students are expected to be proficient in basic machine learning. Students will work in groups. Each group will be provided a project topic to work on along with domain expert advisors.

Instructor: Bouman
EE 163
Communication Theory
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: 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 ratio and error probability in digital baseband and carrier communication systems; linear and adaptive equalization; maximum likelihood sequence estimation; multipath channels; parameter estimation; hypothesis testing; optical communication systems. Capacity measures; multiple antenna and multiple carrier communication systems; wireless networks; different generations of wireless systems. Not offered 2024-25.

CS 164
Compilers
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: CS 4 or instructor's permission. CS 24 and CS 131 are strongly recommended but not required. Limit 20 students.

This course covers the construction of compilers: programs which convert program source code to machine code which is directly executable on modern hardware. The course takes a bottom-up approach: a series of compilers will be built, all of which generate assembly code for x86 processors, with each compiler adding features. The final compiler will compile a full-fledged high-level programming language to assembly language. Topics covered include register allocation, conditionals, loops and dataflow analysis, garbage collection, lexical scoping, and type checking. This course is programming intensive. All compilers will be written in the OCaml programming language.

Instructor: Vanier
EE 164
Stochastic and Adaptive Signal Processing
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: ACM/EE/IDS 116 or equivalent.

Fundamentals of linear estimation theory are studied, with applications to stochastic and adaptive signal processing. Topics include deterministic and 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Hassibi
Ae/CE 165 ab
Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures
9 units (2-2-5)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc or equivalent and/or instructor's permission.
Introduction and fabrication technology, elastic deformation of composites, 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 failure 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
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 2024-25.

CS/CNS/EE/IDS 165
Foundations of Machine Learning and Statistical Inference
12 units (3-3-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/EE 122, ACM/EE/IDS 116, CS 156 a, ACM/CS/IDS 157 or instructor'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, representation 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 testing. 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
CS/EE/IDS 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 graphics, 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 physical 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 (High Dynamic Range) imaging pipeline, implementing Poisson image editing, refocusing a light-field image, and making your own lensless "scotch-tape" camera. Not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Bouman
MS/ME 166
Fracture of Brittle Solids
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: graduate standing or MS 115 and MS 116.

The mechanical response of brittle materials (ceramics, glasses and some network polymers) will be treated using classical elasticity, energy criteria, and fracture mechanics. The influence of environment and microstructure on mechanical behavior will be explored. Transformation toughened systems, large-grain crack-bridging systems, nanostructured ceramics, porous ceramics, anomalous glasses, and the role of residual stresses will be highlighted. Strength, flaw statistics and reliability will be discussed.

Instructor: Faber
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 compression 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, transform coding; codes for constrained storage systems. Given in alternate years; not offered 2024-25.

MedE/EE/BE 168 abc
Biomedical Optics: Principles and Imaging
9 units (4-0-5) each  | second term, part a offered 2024-25, part b offered 2025-26, part c offered 2026-27.
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 Monte 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 technologies. 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. Topics include photoacoustic tomography, ultrasound-modulated optical tomography, optical time reversal (wavefront shaping/engineering), and ultrafast imaging. MedE/EE/BE 168 bc not offered 2024-25. Part a offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Wang
ME/CS/EE 169
Mobile Robots
9 units (1-7-1)  | third term
Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 133 b, or with permission of instructor.

Mobile robots need to perceive their environment and localize themselves with respect to maps thereof. They further require planners to move along collision-free paths. This course builds up mobile robots in team-based projects. Teams will write all necessary software from low-level hardware I/O to high level algorithms, using the robotic operating system (ROS). The final systems will autonomously maneuver to reach their goals or track various objectives.

Instructor: Niemeyer
ACM/EE/IDS 170
Mathematics of Signal Processing
12 units (3-0-9)  | third term
Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, CMS/ACM/EE 122, and ACM/EE/IDS 116; or instructor's permission.

This course covers classical 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 on sparse modeling. Throughout the course, a computational viewpoint will be emphasized. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Hassibi
CS/CNS 171
Computer Graphics Laboratory
12 units (3-6-3)  | first term
Prerequisites: Extensive programming experience and proficiency in linear algebra, starting with CS 2 and Ma 1 b.

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 of scientific visualization. Students will be required to perform significant implementations.

Instructor: Barr
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 correlated dynamics in space and time. Dynamical structure factors of solids and liquids. Measurements of energy and momentum of dispersive excitations in crystals using neutrons, x-rays, and electrons. Topics in inelastic scattering of high-energy electrons and x-rays, such as core spectroscopy with high-energy electrons, resonant and non-resonant x-ray spectroscopies. Free electron laser methodology and ultrafast pump-probe measurements. The final project will be a proposal for an experiment.
Instructor: Fultz
CS/IDS 172
Distributed Computing
9 units (3-2-4)  | first term
Prerequisites: 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.

Instructor: Chandy
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 computer 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 improvements to the basic methods. May be repeated for credit with instructor's permission. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Barr
ME/CE/Ge 174
Mechanics of Rocks
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ae/Ge/ME 160 a.

Basic principles of deformation, strength, and stressing of rocks. Elastic behavior, plasticity, viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, creep, damage, friction, failure mechanisms, shear localization, and interaction of deformation processes with fluids. Engineering and geological applications. Not offered 2024-25.

EE/CS/MedE 175
Advanced Topics in Digital Design with FPGAs and VHDL
9 units (3-6-0)  | third term
Prerequisites: EE/CS/MedE 125 or equivalent.

Quick review of the VHDL language and RTL concepts. Dealing with sophisticated, multi-dimensional data types in VHDL. Dealing with multiple time domains. Transfer of control versus data between clock domains. Clock division and multiplication. Using PLLs. Dealing with global versus local and synchronous versus asynchronous resets. How to measure maximum speed in FPGAs (for both registered and unregistered circuits). The (often) hard task of time closure. The subtleties of the time behavior in state machines (a major source of errors in large, complex designs). Introduction to simulation. Construction of VHDL testbenches for automated testing. Dealing with files in simulation. All designs are physically implemented using FPGA boards. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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, parameterization, 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 computer graphics research and prepare them for their own research. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CS/ACM 177 ab
Discrete Differential Geometry: Theory and Applications
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 dimensional algebraic and computational topology, Morse theory, Noether's theorem, Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition, structure preserving time integration, connections and their curvatures on complex line bundles. Applications include elastica and rods, surface parameterization, conformal surface deformations, computation of geodesics, tangent vector field design, connections, discrete thin shells, fluids, electromagnetism, and elasticity. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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 include: sources of numerical error, stability, convergence, ill-conditioning, and efficiency. Algorithms covered include solution of linear systems (direct and iterative methods), orthogonalization, SVD, interpolation and approximation, numerical integration, solution of ODEs and PDEs, transform methods (Fourier, Wavelet), and low rank approximation such as multipole expansions. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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 programming.

Instructor: Barr
ESE/ME/EST/Ec/ChE/EE 179
Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation
3 units (3-0-0)  | second term

Climate change has already begun to impact life on the planet, and will continue in the coming decades. This class will explore particular causes and impacts of climate change, technologies to mitigate or adapt to those impacts, and the economic and social costs associated with them - particular focus will be paid to distributional issues, environmental and racial justice and equity intersections. The course will consist of 3-4 topical modules, each focused on a specific impact or sector (e.g. the electricity or transportation sector, climate impacts of food and agriculture, increasing fires and floods). Each module will contain lectures/content on the associated climate science background, engineering/technological developments to combat the issue, and an exploration of the economics and the inequities that exacerbate the situation, followed by group discussion and synthesis of the different perspectives.

Instructors: Wennberg, Staff
ACM/IDS 180 ab
Multiscale Modeling
12 units (3-0-9)  | first, third terms
Prerequisites: CMS 107, CMS 117 or explicit email permission from instructor.

Part a: Multiscale methodology for partial differential equations (PDEs) and for stochastic differential equations (SDEs). Basic theory of underlying PDEs; basic theory of Gaussian processes; basic theory of SDEs; multiscale expansions. Part b: Transition from quantum to continuum modeling of materials. Schrodinger equation and semi-classical limit; molecular dynamics and kinetic theory; kinetic theory, Boltzmann equation and continuum mechanics. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CE 180
Experimental Methods in Earthquake Engineering
9 units (1-5-3)  | first term
Prerequisites: AM/CE 151 abc or equivalent.

Laboratory 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 dynamic tests of structures, including generation of forces and measurement of structural response. Not offered 2024-25.

CS 180
Master’s Thesis Research
Units (total of 45) are determined in accordance with work accomplished 
Instructor: Staff
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 present trends towards building devices and structures on the nanometer scale. Technology and instrumentation for nanofabrication as well as future trends will be described. Examples of applications of nanotechnology in the electronics, communications, data storage, sensing and biotechnology will be analyzed. Students will understand the underlying physics and technology, as well as limitations of miniaturization.

Instructor: Scherer
APh/EE 183
Physics of Semiconductors and Semiconductor Devices
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 optoelectronic devices. Topics include energy band theory, carrier generation and recombination mechanisms, quasi-Fermi levels, carrier drift and diffusion transport, quantum transport.

Instructor: Nadj-Perge
Bi/BE/CS 183
Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Bi 8, CS 2, Ma 3; or BE/Bi 103 a; or instructor's permission.

Biology is becoming an increasingly data-intensive science. Many of the data challenges in the biological 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 sequence 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: Guttman, Thomson
EE/MedE 185
Micro/Nano Technology for Semiconductor and Medical Device
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: APh/EE 9 or instructor's permission.
Micro/nano technology is indispensable for making advanced semiconductor devices. This course is designed to cover the state-of-the-art micro/nanotechnologies for the fabrication of VLSI/ULSI including BJT, CMOS, and BiCMOS. This course will emphasize fundamental science and technology used in modern semiconductor devices. Topics of technology will include cleaning, chemical etching, oxidation, diffusion, plasma etching, reactive ion etching (RIE), focused ion-beam (FIB) etching, thin-film deposition, metallization, advanced photolithography, etc.
Instructor: Tai
CNS/Bi/EE/CS/NB 186
Vision: From Computational Theory to Neuronal Mechanisms
12 units (4-4-4)  | Second term

Lecture, laboratory, and project course aimed at understanding visual information processing, 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 hardware (i.e., neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the mammalian visual system). The course will focus on early vision processes, in particular 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. Given in alternate years; not offered 2024-25.

Instructors: Meister, Perona, Shimojo
CNS/Bi/Ph/CS/NB 187
Neural Computation
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: introductory neuroscience (Bi 150 or equivalent); mathematical methods (Bi 195 or equivalent); scientific programming.

This course aims at a quantitative understanding of how the nervous system computes. The goal is to link phenomena across scales from membrane proteins to cells, circuits, brain systems, and behavior. We will learn how to formulate these connections in terms of mathematical models, how to test these models experimentally, and how to interpret experimental data quantitatively. The concepts will be developed with motivation from some of the fascinating phenomena of animal behavior, such as: aerobatic control of insect flight, precise localization of sounds, sensing of single photons, reliable navigation and homing, rapid decision-making during escape, one-shot learning, and large-capacity recognition memory. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Meister
EE/MedE 187
MEMS/NEMS Technologies for Biomedical Devices
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: APh/EE 9 or instructor's permission.
MEMS/NEMS technologies are useful to make advanced devices for such as electronics, optics, sensors, actuators and medicine. This course will emphasize the sciences and fundamentals of selected MEMS/NEMS technologies which enable micro 3D biomedical devices. For example, covered technologies include 3D wet isotropic/anisotropic chemical etching, bulk and surface micromachining (e.g., EDP, KOH and DRIE etching), wafer bonding, micro/nano molding and other advanced packaging techniques. This course covers many MEMS/NEMS devices but will emphasize their biomedical applications such as pressure sensors, microfluidics, accelerometers/gyros, lab-on-chips, micro total-analysis system, neuromodulation devices, biomedical implants, etc.
Instructor: Tai
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 imaging, 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 absorption 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Shapiro
EE 188
Computer Architecture
9 units (3-3-3)  | third
Prerequisites: EE/CS 119a or EE/CS/MedE 125 or equivalent.

The course focuses on the design and implementation of modern CPUs and microcontrollers. The topics covered in addition to basic CPU architecture include caching and cache controllers, memory management and virtual memory, pipelining CPU operations, VLIW CPUs, branch prediction, and hardware multi-threading. The emphasis is on the practical aspects of CPU design such as timing, testing, and power use. There is significant laboratory work in which the students are expected to design and implement the systems discussed in the class.

Instructor: George
BE/EE/MedE 189 ab
Design and Construction of Biodevices
189 a, 12 units (3-6-3) offered both first and third terms. 189 b, 9 units (0-9-0) offered only third term  | first, third terms
Prerequisites: BE/EE/MedE 189 a must be taken before BE/EE/MedE 189 b.

Students will learn to use an Arduino microcontroller to interface sensing and actuation hardware with the computer. Students will learn and practice engineering design principles through a set of projects. In part a, students will design and implement biosensing systems; examples include 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 permission for enrollment. Enrollment is limited based on laboratory capacity.

Instructors: Murray,Yang
ACM 190
Reading and Independent Study
Units by arrangement 

Graded pass/fail only.

Instructor: Staff
APh/EE 190 abc
Quantum Electronics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 or equivalent.

Generation, manipulations, propagation, and applications of coherent radiation. The basic theory of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with resonant atomic transitions. Laser oscillation, important laser media, Gaussian beam modes, the electro-optic effect, nonlinear-optics theory, second harmonic generation, parametric oscillation, stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering. Other topics include light modulation, diffraction of light by sound, integrated optics, phase conjugate optics, and quantum noise theory. Part c not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Vahala
CDS 190
Independent Work in Control and Dynamical Systems
Units to be arranged  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: CDS 110.

Research project in control and dynamical systems, supervised by a CDS faculty member.

Instructor: Staff
BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab
Biomolecular Computation
9 units (3-0-6) a; (2-4-3) b  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: None. Recommended: BE/ChE 163, CS 21, or equivalent.

This course investigates computation by molecular systems, emphasizing models of computation 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 discuss biological example systems such as signal transduction, genetic regulatory networks, and the cytoskeleton; physical limits of computation, 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
BE/CS 196 ab
Design and Construction of Programmable Molecular Systems
a is 12 units (2-4-6) ; b is 9 units (2-4-3)  | a is second term; b is third 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 laboratory. In part a, students will design and construct DNA circuits and self-assembled DNA nanostructures, as well as quantitatively analyze the designs and the experimental data. Students will learn laboratory techniques including fluorescence spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy and will use software tools and program in Mathematica. Part b is an open-ended design and build project requiring instructor's permission for enrollment. Limited enrollment.

Instructor: Qian
IDS 197
Undergraduate Reading in the Information and Data Sciences
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 sciences 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 registering.

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 Sciences
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 representative. 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
MedE 199
Special Topics in Medical Engineering
Units to be arranged  | 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
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.

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 written report is required for each term of work.

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 registering. Graded pass/fail.

CE 200
Advanced Work in Civil Engineering
6 or more units as 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 written report is required for each term.

ME 200
Advanced Work in Mechanical Engineering
 

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 written report is required for each term of work.

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.

ACM 201
Partial Differential Equations
12 units (4-0-8)  | first term
Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab, ACM/IDS 101 ab, ACM 11 or equivalent.

This course offers an introduction to the theory of Partial Differential 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 equations, gradient flows, transport equations, integral equations, Helmholtz 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, dispersion 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
Ae 201 ab
Advanced Fluid Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second terms
Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101abc, or equivalent; Ae/ME 118, or equivalent; ACM/IDS 101 (may be taken concurrently).
Extensions on the foundations of the mechanics of fluids. Basic concepts will be emphasized; transition from incompressible and potential flow to weakly compressible flow; acoustics and sound generation; transonic flow; fully compressible flow; flow past bodies and shock waves; small-Mach number expansion; Navier-Stokes shock structure; elements of the kinetic theory of gases; Lagrangian form of equations of motion; velocity-gradient tensor and vorticity; vortex dynamics; exact solutions; incompressible potential flow; free-streamline flows; scalar mixing.
Instructors: Dimotakis, Pullin
AM 201
Advanced Topics in Applied Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

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

Instructor: Andrade
CE 201
Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

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

Instructor: Andrade
ME 201
Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term

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

Instructor: Andrade
MedE 201
Introduction to Medical Devices
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

This course provides a broad coverage on the frontiers of medical diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and devices based on multidisciplinary engineering principles. Topics include FDA regulations, in vitro diagnostics, biosensors, electrograms, medical imaging technologies, medical implants, nanomedicine, cardiovascular engineering & technology, medical electronics, wireless communications through the skin and tissue, and medical robotics. Overall, the course will cover the scientific fundamentals of biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, and materials specific to medical applications. However, both the lectures and assignments will also emphasize the design aspects of the topics as well as up-to-date literature study.

Instructor: Gao
SEC 201
Advancing Inclusion in College Teaching
1 unit (1-0-0)  | second term

In this weekly, discussion-based course, participants will explore concrete practices to advance inclusion and anti-racism as college-level STEM instructors, and discuss how they might implement these steps in their own teaching practice both at Caltech and beyond. Topics for discussion include establishing an inclusive learning environment, designing equity into syllabi and student assessments, and building anti-racist curricular materials, with additional topics to be guided by participant interests. This course aims to bring together an active community of teaching and learning practitioners for ongoing work and dialogue. There is a cap of 12 students for this course.

Instructor: Imamura
MedE 202
Sensors in Medicine
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term

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 biosensing devices will be covered. We will also discuss the development of emerging electronic-skin, wearable and soft electronics toward personalized health monitoring. Participants in the course will develop proposals for novel sensing technologies to address the current medical needs.

Instructor: Gao
ACM/IDS 204
Topics in Linear Algebra and Convexity
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: CMS 107a and CMS/ACM 122; or instructor's permission.

The content of this course varies from year to year among advanced subjects in linear algebra, convex analysis, and related fields. Specific topics for the class include matrix analysis, operator theory, convex geometry, or convex algebraic geometry. Lectures and homework will require the ability to understand and produce mathematical proofs. Offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Tropp
Ae 204 ab
Technical Fluid Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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. Not offered 2024-25.

MedE/EE 204
Principles and Designs of Medical Neuromodulation Devices
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: Instructor's permission.

This is a course for senior undergraduates and graduate students. This course provides a review for advanced medical neuromodulation devices based on multidisciplinary engineering principles. Emphasis will be on implantable neuromodulation devices for both neural recording and stimulation such as EKG, EEG, EMG, pacemakers, DBS, etc. Sub-topics include biomaterials, biocompatibility, medical electronics, and FDA regulation on medical devices. The course will focus on engineering fundamentals specific for neural applications. Lectures and assignments will emphasize the design aspects of various devices as well as up-to-date literature study. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Tai
Ae 205 ab
Advanced Space Project
9 units (2-4-3)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ae 105 abc.

This is an advanced course on the design and implementation of space projects and it is currently focused on the flight project Autonomous Assembly of a Reconfigurable Space Telescope (AAReST). The objective is to be ready for launch and operation in 2015. Each student will be responsible for a specific activity, chosen 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 2024-25.

MedE 205
New Frontiers in Medical Technologies
6 units (2-0-4)  | third term
Prerequisites: None but knowledge of semiconductor physics 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 developed 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 imaging, imaging spectrometry, sensors, robotics, and navigation. Graded pass/fail. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
ACM 206
Topics in Computational Mathematics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ACM 106 ab; linear algebra at the level of ACM 104 or ACM 107; probability theory at the level of ACM 116 or ACM 117; some programming experience.

This course provides an introduction to Monte Carlo methods with applications in Bayesian computing and rare event sampling. Topics include Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), Gibbs samplers, Langevin samplers, MCMC for infinite-dimensional problems, convergence of MCMC, parallel tempering, umbrella sampling, forward flux sampling, and sequential Monte Carlo. Emphasis is placed both on rigorous mathematical development and on practical coding experience. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Tropp
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.

Instructor: Gharib
ACM 210
Numerical Methods for PDEs
9 units (3-0-6)  | third terms
Prerequisites: 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 condition, 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 theorem, boundary condition analysis, group velocity and GKS normal mode analysis; ii) conservation laws: weak solutions, entropy conditions, Riemann problems, shocks, contacts, rarefactions, discrete conservation, 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 multiphase 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CDS 212
Optimal Control and Estimation
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: CDS 110 (or equivalent) and CDS 131.

Advanced topics in optimization-based design of control, optimal control, and estimation/filtering. Optimal control theory using calculus of variations, Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, Pontryagin's maximum principle, and optimal control applications including reinforcement learning and model predictive control. Kalman filtering, Bayesian filtering, and nonlinear filtering methods for autonomous systems.

Instructor: Chung
ACM/IDS 213
Topics in Optimization
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: ACM/IDS 104, CMS/ACM/EE 122.

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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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 (concurrently) or equivalent and instructor's permission.

Analytical and experimental 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. Discussion 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 nontraditional 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 discussions of failure by adiabatic shear localization. Not offered 2024-25

Ae/AM/CE/ME 214
Computational Solid Mechanics
9 units (3-5-1)  | second term
Prerequisites: ACM 100 ab or equivalent; CE/AM/Ae 108 ab or equivalent or instructor's permission; Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc or instructor's permission.

This course focuses on the analysis of elastic thin shell structures in the large deformation regime. Problems of interest include softening behavior, bifurcations, loss of stability and localization. Introduction to the use of numerical methods in the solution of solid mechanics and multiscale mechanics problems. Variational principles. Finite element and isogeometric formulations for thin shells. Time integration, initial boundary value problems. Error estimation. Accuracy, stability and convergence. Iterative solution methods. Adaptive strategies. Not offered 2024-25.

Ae/AM/ME 215
Dynamic Behavior of Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | second 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 2024-25

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/equilibrium 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 Probability
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CMS 107a and CMS/ACM 117; or instructor's permission.

Topic varies by year. 2023-24: Random matrix theory. This class introduces some fundamental random matrix models with applications in computational mathematics, statistics, signal processing, algorithms, and other areas. The focus is on finite-dimensional examples and comparisons with ideal models. Specific topics may include the independent sum model, matrix concentration inequalities, geometric random matrix theory, classical ensembles and their limiting spectral properties, universality laws, and free probability. Lectures and homework will require the ability to understand and produce mathematical proofs. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Tropp
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 2024-25

Ph/CS 219 abc
Quantum Computation
9 units (3-0-6)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ph 125 ab or equivalent.

The theory of quantum information and quantum computation. Overview of classical information theory, compression of quantum information, transmission of quantum information through noisy channels, quantum error-correcting codes, quantum cryptography and teleportation. Overview of classical complexity theory, quantum complexity, efficient quantum algorithms, fault-tolerant quantum computation, physical implementations of quantum computation.

Instructors: Kitaev, Preskill
Ae 220
Theory of Structures
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term
Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc.

Fundamentals of buckling and stability, total potential energy and equilibrium approaches; snap-through and bifurcation instabilities; eigenvalues and eigenvectors of stiffness matrix; Rayleigh-Ritz estimates of buckling loads; buckling of rods; imperfection sensitivity; elastic-plastic buckling; buckling of plates and shells. Selected topics: localization and wrinkling of membranes and solids; stability landscapes for shells and other topics. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Pellegrino
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 tessellations, 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 for adaptive trusses and manipulators. Not offered 2024-25

ME/MS/AM 221
Effective properties of heterogenous and meta-materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 or equivalent.

Heterogenous materials. Notion of effective properties. Homogenization theory and applications to linear conductivity, elasticity and viscoelasticity. Effective properties in non-linear setting and instabilities. Wave propagation and meta-materials. Bandgaps.

Instructor: Bhattacharya
Ae/AM/ME 223
Plasticity
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: 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 topics may include soils, creep and rate-sensitive effects in metals, the thermodynamics of plastic deformation, and experimental methods in plasticity. Not offered 2024-25

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 topology in many-body systems. Ph/APh 223 a covers second quantization, Hartree-Fock theory of the electron gas, Mott insulators and quantum magnetism, spin liquids, bosonization, and the integer and fractional quantum Hall effect. Ph/APh 223 b continues with superfluidity and superconductivity; topics include the Bose-Hubbard model, Ginzburg-Landau theory, BCS theory, tunneling signatures of superconductivity, Josephson junctions, superconducting qubits, and topological superconductivity.

Instructor: Alicea
ME/MS/Ae/AM 224
Multifunctional Materials
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: MS 115 or equivalent, Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc or APh 105 abc (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: multifunctional structures. Not offered 2024-25.

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. Not offered 2024-25

CDS 231
Robust Control Theory
9 units (3-2-4)  | third term
Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107, CMS/ACM/EE 122, and CDS 131 (or equivalents).

Scalable analysis and synthesis of robust control systems. Motivation throughout from case studies in tech, neuro, bio, med, and socioeconomic networks. Co-design of sparse and limited (delayed, localized, quantized, saturating, noisy) sensing, communications, computing, and actuation using System Level Synthesis (SLS). Layering, localization, and distributed control. Computational scalability exploiting sparsity and structure. Uncertainty, including noise, disturbances, parametric uncertainty, unmodeled dynamics, and structured uncertainty (LTI/LTV). Tradeoffs, robustness versus efficiency, conservation laws and hard limits in time and frequency domain. Advanced topics, depending on class interest, can include interplay between automation, optimization, control, modeling and system identification, and machine learning, and nonlinear dynamics and sum of squares, global stability, regions of attraction.

Instructor: Doyle
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 ab or equivalent; ACM 104.

Development and analysis of algorithms used in the solution of fluid mechanics problems. Numerical 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: Bae, Meiron
CDS 232
Nonlinear Dynamics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107 and CDS 231.

This course studies nonlinear dynamical systems beginning from first principles. Topics include: 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
Ae 233
Hydrodynamic Stability
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: ACM 95/100 ab, ACM 104 or equivalent and Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc.
Laminar-stability theory as a guide to laminar-turbulent transition. Rayleigh equation, instability criteria, 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. Non-normality of the linearized Navier-Stokes operator, and transient growth. Weakly nonlinear stability theory and phenomenological theories of turbulence.
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 topics that build upon these core results will be discussed including: stability of periodic orbits, controller synthesis through virtual constraints, safety-critical controllers, and the role of physical constraints and actuator limits. The control of robotic systems will be used as a motivating example.

Instructor: Ames
Ae 234 ab
Hypersonic Aerodynamics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc or equivalent, AM 125 abc, or instructor's permission.

An advanced course dealing with aerodynamic problems of flight at hyper-sonic speeds. Topics are selected from hypersonic small-disturbance theory, blunt-body theory, boundary layers and shock waves in real gases, heat and mass transfer, testing facilities and experiment. Not offered 2024-25

Instructor: Austin
ME/CDS/EE 234 ab
Advanced Robotics: Planning
9 units (3-3-3)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 133 b, or equivalent. ME/CS/EE 133 a preferred.

Advanced topics in robotic motion planning and navigation, including inertial navigation, simultaneous localization and mapping, Markov Decision Processes, Stochastic Receding Horizon Control, Risk-Aware planning, robotic coverage planning, and multi-robot coordination. Course work will consist of homework, programming projects, and labs. Given in alternate years.

Instructor: Burdick
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 2024-25.

ME/CDS 235 ab
Advanced Robotics: Kinematics
9 units (3-3-3)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: ME/CS/EE 133 a, or equivalent.

Advanced topics in robot kinematics and robotic mechanisms. Topics include a Lie Algebraic viewpoint on kinematics and robot dynamics, a review of robotic mechanisms, and a detailed development of robotic grasping and manipulation. Given in alternate years. Not offered 2024-25.

Ae 237 ab
Nonsteady Gasdynamics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, ACM100ab or ACM101ab, or instructor's permission.
Part a: dynamics of shock waves, expansion waves, and related discontinuities in gases. Adiabatic phase-transformation waves. Interaction 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 reaction 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.
Instructor: Austin
Ae 239 ab
Turbulence
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101abc, or equivalent; ACM 95/100ab. Recommended: ACM/IDS 101 (may be taken concurrently); Ae233.

Reynolds number, transition from steady to unsteady, chaotic, and turbulent flow. Reynolds-averaged equations. Statistical description of turbulence. Physical and spectral models. Homogeneous isotropic turbulence, intermediate and small scales. Large-scale structure, and turbulent free and wall-bounded shear flows. Turbulent mixing. Part b not offered in 2024-25.

Instructor: Dimotakis
Ae 240
Special Topics in Fluid Mechanics
Units to be arranged  | first, second, third terms

Topics and subject matter descriptions change each year depending upon staff and student interest.

Ae 241
Special Topics in Experimental Fluid and Solid Mechanics
Units to be arranged  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: Ae/APh 104 or equivalent or instructor's permission.

Subject matter changes depending upon staff and student interest. Not offered 2024-25.

Ae/BE 242
Biological Flows: Propulsion
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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, 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 2024-25

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 continuous 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 Lyapunov functions. Applications to mechanical systems undergoing impacts will be considered, with a special emphasis on bipedal robotic walking. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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. Given in alternate years. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
MedE/BE/Ae 243
Physiological Mechanics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third 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. Biological pumps. Low and High Reynolds number locomotion.

Instructor: Staff
CDS 244
System Identification
4 units (2-0-2)  | third term
Prerequisites: CDS 231 and CDS 232.

Mathematical treatment of system identification 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. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CDS 245
Data-driven Control
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: CDS 131 and CDS 232.

Mathematical treatment of data-driven machine learning methods for controlling robotic and dynamical systems with various uncertainties. Gradient and least-squares estimators and variants for dynamical systems for system identification and residual learning. Adaptive control methods for online adaptation and combination with deep learning. Learning-based control certificates such as neural Lyapunov functions and neural contraction metrics.

Instructor: Chung
CMS/Ec/IDS 248
Topics in Learning and Games
9 units (3-0-6)  | first term

This course is an advanced topics course intended for graduate students with a background in optimization, linear systems theory, probability and statistics, and an interest in learning, game theory, and decision making more broadly. We will cover the basics of game theory including equilibrium notions and efficiency, learning algorithms for equilibrium seeking, and discuss connections to optimization, machine learning, and decision theory. While there will be some initial overview of game theory, the focus of the course will be on modern topics in learning as applied to games in both cooperative and non-cooperative settings. We will also discuss games of partial information and stochastic games as well as hierarchical decision-making problems (e.g., incentive and information design). Not offered 2024-25.

Ge/Bi/ESE/CE 249
Stable Isotopes: Ecological and Environmental Applications
9 units (3-3-3)  | first term
An introduction to various stable isotopes systems and their extensive applications in ecological, evolutionary, and environmental research. Topics covered include uses of stable isotopes in plant and animal ecology, hydrological systems, reconstruction of past climates, cultural development, and forensics. The class includes lectures and occasional lab sessions.
Instructor: Tejada
Ae 250
Reading and Independent Study
Units to be arranged  | first, second, third terms

Graded pass/fail only.

APh 250
Advanced Topics in Applied Physics
Units and term to be arranged 

Content will vary from year to year; topics are chosen according to interests of students and staff. Visiting faculty may present portions of this course.

Instructor: Staff
Ae/CDS/ME 251 ab
Closed Loop Flow Control
9 units (3-0-6 a, 1-6-1 b)  | second, third term
Prerequisites: ACM 100 abc, Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc 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 2024-25

AM/CE/ME 252
Linear and Nonlinear Waves in Structured Media
9 units (2-1-6)  | third 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 materials 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 experimental component, to test wave phenomena in structured media. Not offered 2024-25.

ACM 256
Special Topics in Applied Mathematics
9 units (3-0-6)  | second term
Prerequisites: Familiarity with analysis and probability, e.g. ACM 105 and ACM 116 is desired.

Measure transport is a rich mathematical topic at the intersection of analysis, probability and optimization. The core idea behind this theory is to rearrange the mass of a reference measure to match a target measure. In particular, optimal transport seeks a rearrangement that transports mass with minimal cost. The theory of optimal transport dates back to Monge in 1781, with significant advancements by Kantorovich in 1942 and later in the '90s, e.g. by Brenier. In recent years, measure transport has become an indispensable tool for representing probability distributions and for defining measures of similarity between distributions. These methods enjoy applications in image retrieval, signal and image representation, inverse problems, cancer detection, texture and color modelling, shape and image registration, and machine learning, to name a few. This class will introduce the foundations of measure transport, present its connections and applications in various fields, and lastly explore modern computational methods for finding discrete and continuous transport maps, e.g. Sinkhorn's algorithm and normalizing flows.

Instructor: Hoffmann
APh/MS 256
Computational Solid State Physics and Materials Science
9 units (3-3-3)  | third term
Prerequisites: Ph 125 or equivalent and APh 114 ab 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, ferroelectricity 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Bernardi
ACM 257
Special Topics in Financial Mathematics
9 units (3-0-6)  | third term
Prerequisites: 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 introductions to random walks, Brownian motion, quadratic variation, and Ito-calculus. Connections to PDEs will be made by Feynman-Kac theorems. 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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)  | second term
Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc (concurrently) or equivalent 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 fracture, 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. Not offered 2024-25

ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab
Fracture and Frictional Faulting
9 units (3-0-6)  | second
Prerequisites: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 a or Ae/Ge/ME 160 a or instructor's permission.

Introduction to elastodynamics and waves in solids. Fracture theory, energy concepts, cohesive zone models. Friction laws, nucleation of frictional instabilities, rupture of frictional interfaces. Radiation from moving cracks. Thermal effects during dynamic fracture and faulting. Interaction of faulting with fluids. Applications to engineering phenomena a physics and mechanics of earthquakes.

Instructor: Lapusta
MedE/EE 268
Medical Imaging
9 units (4-0-5)  | second 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). Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Wang
ACM 270
Advanced Topics in Applied and Computational Mathematics
Hours and units by arrangement  | first, second, third terms

Advanced topics in applied and computational mathematics that will vary according to student and instructor interest. May be repeated for credit.

Instructor: Staff
CDS 270
Advanced Topics in Systems and Control
Hours and units by arrangement; third term 

Topics dependent on class interests and instructor. May be repeated for credit. Not offered 2024-25.

CMS 270
Advanced Topics in Computing and Mathematical Sciences
Units by arrangement  | second term

Advanced topics that will vary according to student and instructor interest. May be repeated for credit. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CS 274 abc
Topics in Computer Graphics
9 units (3-3-3)  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: instructor's permission.

Each term will focus on some topic in computer graphics, such as geometric modeling, 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 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
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.

Instructor: Staff
CS 282 abc
Reading in Computer Science
6 units or more by arrangement  | first, second, third terms

Instructor's permission required.

Instructor: Staff
CS 286 abc
Seminar in Computer Science
3, 6, or 9 units, at the instructor's discretion 

Instructor's permission required. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CS 287
Center for the Mathematics of Information Seminar
3, 6, or 9 units, at the instructor's discretion  | first, second, third terms

Instructor's permission required. Not offered 2024-25.

Instructor: Staff
CMS 290 abc
Computing and Mathematical Sciences Colloquium
1 unit  | first, second, third terms
Prerequisites: 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, computation, 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: Hoffmann
EE 291
Advanced Work in Electrical Engineering
Units to be arranged 

Special problems relating to electrical engineering. Primarily for graduate students; students should consult with their advisers.

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. Graded pass/fail.

ACM 300
Research in Applied and Computational Mathematics
Units by arrangement 
Instructor: Staff
AM 300
Research in Applied Mechanics
Hours and units by arrangement 

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

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 their research leads directly toward a 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.

CDS 300 abc
Research in Control and Dynamical Systems
Hours and units by arrangement 

Research in the field of control and dynamical systems. By arrangement with members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed in research.

Instructor: Staff
CE 300
Research in Civil Engineering
Hours and units by arrangement 

Research in the field of civil engineering. By arrangements with members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed in research.

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.

Instructor: Staff
ME 300
Research in Mechanical Engineering
Hours and units by arrangement 

Research in the field of mechanical engineering. By arrangement with members of the faculty, properly qualified graduate students are directed in research.