哲学选修课为学生提供了广泛的哲学教育，旨在补充加州理工学院的科学课程。希望哲学专业的学生学习哲学史上的一些主要人物和动作，并学习当代哲学的辩论。哲学选修课程还旨在为学生提供关于他们在科学课程中学习的材料的新观点，并使他们能够将技术技能和科学学习带入哲学中的传统问题中。哲学课程将帮助学生获得基本工具哲学分析的能力：阅读和解释哲学文本的能力，辨别哲学论据的优缺点的能力，发展合理辩护的哲学立场的能力以及预期对自己观点的异议的能力。此外，哲学选项将训练学生在写作和口语方面清晰，简洁地表达自己。这些批判性的思维和沟
The philosophy option provides students with a broad education in philosophy that is designed to complement the scientific curriculum at Caltech. Students who pursue the philosophy option will be expected to learn about some of the major figures and movements in the history of philosophy, as well as to gain familiarity with contemporary philosophical debates. The philosophy option also aims to provide students with new perspectives on the material they learn in their science courses, and to enable them to bring their technical skills and scientific learning to traditional problems in philosophy.<br><br>The philosophy curriculum will help students to acquire the basic tools of philosophical analysis: the ability to read and interpret philosophical texts, the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of philosophical arguments, the ability to develop well-reasoned defenses of philosophical positions, and the ability to anticipate objections to one's own views. In addition, the philosophy option will train students to express themselves clearly and concisely in both writing and speaking. Students can also choose to minor in Philosophy.