Degree Tracking and Degree Completion

Ph.D. Degree

A requirement of all PhD programs at Caltech is that the student must prepare, submit, and successfully defend in an oral examination a written dissertation, known in the vernacular as a "thesis".  Caltech theses have a common format and there are regulations regarding the contents, submission, proofreading, and final disposition.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations, following the correct format, meeting deadlines, working with their advisor and dissertation committee to schedule the examination, providing timely copies of the thesis, and making requested revisions.  Each thesis must be submitted to the Graduate Office for proofreading a minimum of two weeks before the scheduled defense.  In order to complete the PhD degree requirements, the student must not only pass the oral thesis defense but also submit a final, approved version of the thesis as well as the necessary forms listed below and checkout procedures.  Official certification of degree completion will not be provided until all the steps have been completed.  

The Caltech Library has a comprehensive website section on thesis topics:

  • Electronic repository (ETD) of Caltech-authored theses
  • LaTeX2e style files
  • Word templates
  • FAQ
  • UMI
  • Printing and binding
  • Copyright considerations
  • Publication
  • Timeline

  • Regulations

Required forms and instructions

M.S. Degree 

  • Instructions
  • Candidacy form (to be completed no later than Add Day of Spring)

Required for all students exiting campus