In order to continue receiving financial aid at Caltech, graduate students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their degree. The Master of Science degree requires at least one academic year of residence at the Institute and 135 units of graduate work with a grade-point average of at least 1.9. The engineer's degree must consist of advanced studies and research in the field appropriate to the degree desired. The work for the degree consists of research and the preparation of a thesis describing it, and of systematic studies of an advanced character, primarily in science or engineering. The requirements for each degree include special regulations established by each option and detailed in the Institute catalog for the year of initial registration.
Many options require a C grade or better in particular courses or groups of courses.
36 units per term. Approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies is required before dropping any course that brings a student below 36 units. All graduate students are expected to complete 108 units each academic year. The treatment of incomplete grades and withdrawals is specified on page 40. Satisfactory academic progress is judged by the options against these regulations, and revocation of permission to register may be recommended by the option to the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to or in response to the student's petition for admission to candidacy.