Control and Dynamical Systems Undergraduate Minor

Control and Dynamical Systems (CDS) may be pursued as a minor concentration by undergraduates who are taking degrees in science, mathematics, or engineering. The CDS minor is intended to supplement one of Caltech's normal undergraduate degrees and is designed for students who wish to broaden their knowledge beyond their normal major or who may wish to pursue a graduate program involving control or dynamical systems. Students completing the minor requirements below in CDS will have the phrase "minor in Control and Dynamical Systems'' added to their transcript and their graduating degree materials.

CDS Minor Requirements

To receive the CDS minor, undergraduates must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete either CDS 110ab and CDS 140a or CDS 101 and CDS 140ab;
2. Complete a three term senior thesis approved by the CDS faculty or Ae/CDS 125abc.

All CDS courses to be applied to fulfill the CDS minor requirements must be taken for grades and students must obtain a grade of B or higher. Students may substitute CDS 110a for CDS 101 in the above requirements if desired. The senior thesis requirement may be satisfied by completing a three term senior thesis in the student's major option but on CDS subject matter, with the approval of the thesis topic by the CDS option representative, or by taking CDS 90abc.

Courses that are used to satisfy the CDS minor cannot be used to satisfy course requirements in the major options, with the exception that CDS 110a may be used in EAS options where this as part of their requirements (e.g, ChE, EE, ME) and the senior thesis requirement may be used to satisfy requirements for major options that require a senior thesis. Courses taken as part of the CDS minor are counted toward the total 486 unit Institute graduation requirements.

A typical course sequences would be to take either CDS 110ab or CDS 140ab in the junior year, followed by the remaining course and the senior thesis in the senior year. Alternatively, it is possible to take all requirements in the senior year. In addition to the requirements above, CS 1 and CS 2 are highly recommended.