Astrophysics Option

http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~george/option/

Current Option Representative: S. George Djorgovski
Rm. 221 Robinson Lab, ph. x-4415, email:

Previous: Tony Readhead; see his website

Option Secretary: Gita Patel, 211 Robinson

(Note for non-Caltech people who stumbled here: "Option" is a Caltech lingo for an academic department, which is a subset of a Division; Option Rep is roughly a Chief Academic Officer, whereas the Executive Officer is really the Department Chair.)

Option Rep serves as the academic advisor for graduate students on their first year, and 2nd year until they sign up with a thesis advisor; deals with all academic/student matters other than the thesis advising and research, and generally minds the academic store. Any Ay students are welcome any time to come and talk to me, especially if you have a problem.

• Caltech Catalog is the rule book. Specifically, here are the sections about Astrophysics at Caltech * Undergraduate program * Graduate program * Ay classes offered this year * and this term
• As a student at Caltech you are expected to follow the honor code . Please be familiar with it, and ask questions if you are unsure about any related matter.
• Status of the current Ay graduate students and their departmental listing
• Graduating Seniors: here is the policy on the Hawaii observing trips.
• Prospective students: start here and here and contact the current Graduate Admissions Chair as listed here * Or did you really want to apply to the Physics graduate program? (Students from both Options can and do research in astronomy and cosmology.)
• Notes for the incoming students * And some more * Orientation * Physics placement exam and other events
• Instructions for the 1st yr students
• Ay 12X Grading Policy
• Faculty Research Seminars
• Instructions for the 2nd yr students
• Masters' degree requirements
• About the Candidacy Exam including sample questions and (probably) will-ask questions * An excellent list of "orders of magnitude" questions from D. Weinberg & A. Gould, c/o M. Kamionkowski * Fall 2008 exam * students' reports from 2007 * Take a look again at the Ay12x class webpages
• Instructions for the 3rd yr students
• Caltech Astrophysics PhD's
• Academic Calendar
• Grad Office website