Control and Dynamical Systems Minor (CDS)

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 transcripts and their graduating degree materials.

• Complete CDS 110 or CDS 131 and CDS 232
• Complete nine additional units in CDS courses, chosen from CDS 110, CDS 131, CDS 212, CDS 232, CDS 233, CDS 242, CDS 243, CDS 244, CDS 245.
• Complete a three-term senior thesis approved by the CDS faculty.

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. 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 90 abc.

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 110 may be used in EAS options where this is 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 units needed for Institute graduation requirements.

A typical course sequence would be to take either CDS 110 or CDS 232 in the junior year, followed by the remaining courses 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.