1. Student-Faculty Conference Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences February 14, 2013

2. Overview Undergraduate Survey Changes to Core Curriculum – Geobiology – Geochemistry – Geology – Geophysics – Planetary Science Additional Option Changes

3. Undergraduate Survey 75% response rate Students in general are very satisfied with the GPS Division, including with professors, course quality, laboratory classes, material taught, and research Students who reported taking Ge10 (pizza course) found it worthwhile Overall, students did not have strong feelings about core but did find the course material useful later on

4. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum Current second-year courses, required for all options: – Ma2a (Differential Equations), Ma2b (Probability and Statistics) – Ph2ab/Ph12abc (Waves, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics) New second year courses, with implementation to be decided by the options: – Ma2 (Differential Equations) – Ma3 (Probability and Statistics) – Ph2/12a (Waves) – Ph2/12b (Quantum Mechanics) – Ph2/12c (Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics)

5. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum: Geobiology Students generally in favor of retaining second-year courses Requiring a third term of physics might make third-term sophomore year load too heavy Finalized implementation yet to be decided

6. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum: Geochemistry Students in favor of retaining second-year courses Ma2 and a statistics course (Ma3, potentially ACM/ESE118, Ay117) will be required Ph2/12a will be required Want to require the material from Ph2/12bc, but with flexibility (Ch21a, Ch21c, Me18a, APh17a, Ch25) – Some of these changes are dependent upon how the chemistry department may adjust prerequisites with the institute’s changes in core curriculum

7. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum: Geology Intention is to retain most second-year courses while allowing flexibility Ma2 and one of (Ma3, ACM/ESE118, Ay117) required Ph2/12a and one of (Ph2/12b, Ph2/12c) required

8. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum: Geophysics Intention is to retain most second-year courses while allowing flexibility Ma2 and one of (Ma3, ACM/ESE118) required Ph2/12a and one of (Ph2/12b, Ph2/12c) required

9. Changes to Caltech’s Core Curriculum: Planetary Science Students in favor of keeping second-year courses, while adding flexibility Ma2, Ma3 required Ph2/12a,b and one of (Ph2/12c, Ch21c, Ch25, ME18a, APh17a) required

10. Additional Option Changes Geochemistry – Allow Ge40 (research for credit) as an elective Geophysics – Prerequisites for ME electives have changed – Potentially allow ME35 as an elective/add requirement All Majors – Ge 13

11. Thank you! SFC Committee: Annie Ritch, Paige Logan, Perren Yang, Brian Penserini, Nathan Baskin