About
Computing + Mathematical Sciences
CMS is an academic department of the Engineering and Applied Science division, located in the spectacular
Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology
on the campus of the California Institute of Technology---a world-renowned private university widely acknowledged to be among the best universities in the world despite its notably smaller size compared to peer institutions. Our department holds, at its core, over twenty faculty members, fifteen staff members, and about seventy graduate and eighty undergraduate students.
Consistently ranked among the top programs in the US, our department is active in many areas of Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Communication & Networks, and Control & Systems, and is engaged in a broad range of interdisciplinary initiatives: our research projects frequently involve connections with other disciplines such as Applied Physics, Bioengineering, Biology, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geology and Planetary Sciences, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.
Relentless Focus on Foundations
Our department is structured and functions quite differently from many other computing-related departments for it shares Caltech’s special characteristics: small size (around twenty core faculty members), broad interdisciplinary reach (from quantum computation to social information systems), and an overall emphasis on scientific foundations.
Common to all CMS members is a drive to develop the fundamental underpinnings of computing and mathematical sciences. We aim to produce foundational advances which promise high, long-term impact on science, engineering, and society. Caltech CMS members investigate topics ranging from the design of biological systems, to quantum computing, stochastic computing, geometric mechanics, and computational aspects of economic markets and social networks.
Unabashed Interdisciplinarity in Research
Discipline boundaries are almost nonexistent in CMS, offering opportunities for unusual interactions and insights. In fact, we firmly believe that solving complex engineering problems will increasingly require contributions of people from many disciplines. Consequently, our faculty regularly collaborate with (and co-advise students from) Economics, Electrical Engineering, Math, and Control & Dynamical Systems, making CMS an important participant in many interdisciplinary initiatives such as CACR, JPL, the Caltech PSAAP effort, and all the IST centers.
Custom-Fitted Education
The CMS coursework and research experience are designed to provide basic foundations and to foster the development of logical, analytical, and computational thinking for students who seek careers in the forefront of computing, be it in computing systems, theory of computer science, and/or mathematical computing. Our program concentrates on both the practical and theoretical aspects of computing sciences such as numerical computing, dynamical systems, algorithms, complexity, coding theory, and graph theory. While sometimes collaborating on large projects, each student is treated as an important individual, with unique goals and drives. They are encouraged to tailor their programs of courses and research to fit their specific needs. Moreover, the collegial atmosphere of our Computing + Mathematical Sciences department at Caltech facilitates close working relationships among faculty and students, and encourages novel research topics.
- Graduate studies in Applied + Computational Mathematics, Computer Science, Computing + Mathematical Sciences and Control + Dynamical Systems are full-time programs. Students are admitted only with a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Students join a research group and often participate in research from the very beginning, so it is important that applicants have a defined area of interest before applying. The program requires a minimum of three academic years of residence.
- Undergraduate students are offered majors in Applied + Computational Mathematics and Computer Science as well as a minor in Control + Dynamical Systems. They are encouraged to actively participate in research as well. Many of our undergraduate students have papers in conferences or journals by the time they graduate. The opportunity for close collaboration with faculty and graduate students on research, the flexibility of developing your own research and course structure makes Caltech an ideal environment for motivated undergraduates.
Comittment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences is dedicated to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a community that values and celebrates differences among our members and we strive to create an equitable and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. We value working in an environment that is diverse in terms of identity (this includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, neurotypicality status, socioeconomic status, culture and family background, religion, political party affiliation, immigration status, nontraditional students, parental status, and first-generation students) and also in terms of perspectives and ideas. We strive to ensure that all members of the community, regardless of identity, are equitably empowered to achieve academic and research success.
We view a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a fundamental part of our mission as an academic department. This commitment is important to all aspects of our work in the computing and mathematical sciences. Our diversity makes us better educators and more effective at identifying and solving problems. An equitable and inclusive community allows our students, staff, and faculty to achieve their fullest potential. Every member of the CMS community is here because of their potential to contribute meaningfully to the most challenging and fundamental problems in the computing and mathematical sciences, and it is the mission of the department to create an environment where all community members can reach that goal.
