应用物理学是一个广泛的研究领域，位于物理学与科学和工程学的许多其他领域的交汇处。因此，加州理工学院的应用物理学选修课是一个高度跨学科的课程，旨在对学生进行广泛的物理和工程领域的高级培训。此外，我们的目标是培养毕业生一生使用这些知识的能力，以便在当前知识的边缘实现技术和科学突破。要获得应用物理学博士学位，学生必须证明自己具有形成和发展知识的能力。执行原始的科学研究计划。在此过程中，期望一名博士候选人能够在所选的专业领域上加深了解，开发出可以评估自己专业领域以外的问题的工具，从而为自己的物理科学发展出严谨和强
Applied Physics is a broad field of study that lies at the intersection of physics and many other fields of science and engineering. The applied physics option at Caltech is accordingly a highly multidisciplinary program that is designed to train students in a broad spectrum of physics and engineering fields at an advanced level. Moreover, it is our goal to cultivate abilities in our graduates to apply this knowledge throughout their lives so as to make technological and scientific breakthroughs at the edge of current knowledge.To receive the doctoral degree in Applied Physics students must demonstrate the ability to formulate and execute an original program of scientific study. As part of this, a doctoral candidate is expected to develop a deep understanding in a chosen field of specialization, to develop tools with which to assess problems outside one's field of specialization, to develop rigor and strength in the physical sciences for self-education beyond formal training, and to develop skills to become a productive member of the community of scholars. All students wishing to enter the program must complete a series of preparatory courses, followed by an oral candidacy exam in which the student describes their proposed topic of research and is examined on their knowledge of course subject matter. Upon passing the candidacy examination, students work towards completion of a thesis in consultation with their research adviser. The doctoral degree is awarded upon approval of a written thesis by a faculty committee, and successful defense of the thesis in a final oral examination. There is no separate master's program in applied physics.