work MSC #240, Caltech
Pasadena, CA 91126-0240
United States

Transcript Document

The primary document is the unofficial transcript generated by Caltech's computerized system (as a PDF file). This document reflects my state as of the end of my third year, and also contains the courses I am taking during the upcoming first term of my fourth year.

Course descriptions can be found by browsing the Caltech catalog.

Summary

Aside from boring requirements and basic mathematical literacy, my coursework roughly falls into three areas: abstract mathematics, physics, and computability/mathematical foundations. I am on track to recieve both an undergraduate Bachelors of Science in mathematics, and a graduate Masters of Science in physics, by the end of my four-year stay at Caltech.

With regards to math, I am fluent in undergraduate-level analysis, topology, and geometry, as well as graduate-level abstract algebra. Although my transcript above does not show it due to limitations in the online scheduling system, I am considering taking (or at least auditing, if time does not permit the former) year-long courses in algebraic topology and algebraic geometry during the upcoming year. Such mathematical training stems from my strong belief that knowing the more rigorous and abstract mathematical formulations of physical theories is key to truly understanding them.

Until recently, the physics curriculum has been relatively constrained, but the classes last year were much more substantive. I took the usual college-physics–level courses in classical and quantum mechanics, a class on the applications of algebraic techniques and noncommutative geometry to quantum field theory and the standard model, and also John Schwarz's supersymmetry class. And next year looks to be even better, with year-long courses in quantum field theory and general relativity, plus some one-term courses in topological field theory and conformal field theory. Also of note are some courses that explore the frontiers in physics, such as the seminar class Ph 10 during my first year or Ph 199 (“Major Open Questions in Physics”) my second year.

Finally, my work in computability and mathematical foundations is certainly helpful for any work in quantum information or computability theory, or other more general explorations of the logical/axiomatic structure underlying physics. In addition, it has served to give me a smattering of exposure to some discrete math, with emphasis on combinatorics, graph theory, and Ramsey theory. Mostly, however, it is a fun side-interest with the added benefit that I can debate intelligently about Gödelizing physical law à la Hawking.