Like all graduate programs at Caltech, the program in Mechanical Engineering is small, highly selective, and research oriented. Admission is preferentially granted to applicants who ultimately intend to pursue the Ph.D. degree. Ph.D. graduates in Mechanical Engineering have gone on to successful careers both in industry and in academia. Among recent graduates, approximately 30% entered tenure-track academic positions upon graduation, 50% went into industry, and 20% entered postdoctoral research programs. Some of our recent Graduates currently hold tenure-track or tenured faculty positions at MIT, Princeton, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, U. Texas (Austin), U. Michigan, U. Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, and other universities worldwide. Graduates who choose an industrial career find employment both in large firms (primarily in the aerospace, energy, and semiconductor industries) and with small high-technology startup companies. Virtually all graduate students in Mechanical Engineering receive financial support for the duration of their studies, which fully pays tuition and provides a stipend for living expenses. This support may take the form of a fellowship, a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, or a combination of these options. Aims and Scope of the Graduate Program

Mechanical Engineering (ME) research and study are offered through the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (MCE). The degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science (M.S.) are offered. The M.S. degree is normally only awarded to students who expect to pursue the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering and who do not already have an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering. In general, students who intend to work full-time toward the Ph.D. degree as a final degree objective are admitted to the mechanical engineering graduate program. The aim of the graduate program in mechanical engineering at Caltech is to prepare students for research and professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technology. The program combines individual depth of experience and competence in a particular chosen major specialty, with a strong background in the basic and engineering sciences. It strives to develop professional independence, creativity, leadership, and the capacity for continuing professional and intellectual growth. Preparation for the Graduate Program


Students who have not specialized in mechanical engineering as undergraduates, as well as those who have, may be admitted for graduate study. As preparation for advanced study and research, entering graduate students are expected to have a thorough background in undergraduate mathematics, physics, and engineering. An outstanding four-year undergraduate program in mathematics and sciences may provide a suitable background as well. The qualifications of each applicant will be considered individually, and, after being enrolled, the student will arrange his or her program in consultation with a member of the faculty. Caltech requires the verbal, quantitative, and analytical components of the Graduate Records Examination (GREs). Chemistry also requires applicants take either the Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry Subject Exam as part of the application. There are no minimum score requirements for GREs. The Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing components of the General Graduate Record Examination are required by all graduate options, and advanced GRE Subject scores are required or strongly recommended by several options. There are no minimum score requirements for admission. Testing schedules and information on the GRE may be obtained at www.gre.org. Caltech's institution code is 4034. A subject code is not required since all scores are delivered to the Graduate Studies Office. For a list of the departments requiring or strongly recommending the subject exam, please refer to Required Tests. Test scores are only one aspect of the application package. Students coming from non-English speaking countries are required to take an English proficiency exam. However, students who have studied in the U.S. for 2 or more years, or who obtained a degree from a school whose primary instruction is in English are exempt from this requirement. Caltech does not have a minimum GPA requirement. However, most successful applicants have a US GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and/or are in the top 5 to 10% of their class. GPA's should only be reported for those schools attended in the United States. International GPA's or rankings do not need to be converted to the standard US grade point average. More information on the TOEFL, TSE, TWE, and IELTS tests are available at the Office of Graduate Studies Checklist. Applicants whose first or native language is not English are required to take a test of English proficiency as part of the application procedure. Caltech recognizes scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) (www.toefl.org), Pearson's Test of English Academic (PTE) (www.pearsonvue.com/pte), and from the Cambridge Examinations and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (www.ielts.org). Applicants should arrange for the results of these tests to be sent to Caltech's Graduate Studies Office. Caltech's institution code is 4034

• Applicants who have studied in the US for two or more years
• Applicants with a degree from a school whose primary instruction is in English Please note that regardless of whether or not the English proficiency exams are exempt during the admissions process, all non-native English speakers will be screened prior to enrollment and may be required to take additional English as a Second Language (ESL) training. Master’s Degree Description and Requirements

The degree of Master of Science in mechanical engineering is only awarded to students who do not already have an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering. The degree will be awarded upon request by students who have fulfilled the requirements. Only in exceptional cases is there admission to the M.S. program as the final degree objective. A minimum of 138 units of courses numbered 100 or above, that meet the required master’s program listed below, must be passed with a grade of at least C for completion of the master’s degree in mechanical engineering. All units must be taken for grades, except for courses offered only on a pass/fail basis. The M.S. degree in mechanical engineering is typically completed within the first two years of residency at Caltech. Each student’s program must be approved by the advisor and option representative in mechanical and civil engineering before registering for the course

• Graduate mechanical engineering core (54 units). These units should provide a solid base for the student’s engineering interest. The courses should be selected from the core subjects list Areas 1-3 of the mechanical engineering Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Description and Requirements section

• Mathematics, engineering, and research electives (54 units). Students who have not taken the equivalent of ACM 100 abc are required to take ACM 100 abc for 36 units. Courses may be taken in Ae, AM, ACM, ME, MS, EE, ESE, APh, CDS, CS, ChE, and CNS. Students are encouraged to take research units, ME 300, up to a maximum of 27


• Free electives (27 units). These units may be selected from any course with a number of 100 or greater, except that research units may not be included. The Admissions Committees will take several components of the application into consideration including letters of recommendation, grades in college particularly those in chemistry, biochemistry, and related subjects, any research experience including resulting publications or presentations, GRE scores, and the statement of purpose. All documents related to the application must be submitted to the Graduate office on or before the December 15th deadline. Three letters of recommendation are required. The online application currently accepts three letters maximum, so keep in mind that it's important to submit three strong letters from individuals most familiar with you. Letters should be requested from those individuals who know you best and can attest to your academic capabilities or training. While faculty members and research supervisors can provide the strongest academic recommendations, we recognize that some applicants may also have work experience that relates to their abilities and training. Keep in mind that those individuals writing recommendation letters should be able to address the following information:
• How well the applicant is known and in what capacity
• If the applicant has the intellectual capability, experimental ability, fundamental training, creativity, and motivation to be successful as a student at Caltech
• Whether the applicant would be encouraged to do doctoral research under the recommender's supervision
• If English is not the native language, how well does the applicant read, write, and converse in English?
• How does the applicant compare to any previous students who have come to Caltech for their graduate work? Individuals unable to submit materials electronically may fax, mail or email materials to: Be sure that the applicant's name is clearly indicated on any supporting documents not uploaded with the application. To apply for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (MCE), you must submit an application, available through the Graduate Admissions Office. In a typical year, between 250 and 300 applications for graduate study in MCE are received, and 25-30 offers of admission are made. Admissions decisions are made by the faculty, and are determined both by the research opportunities in the applicant's area of interest, and the competitiveness of the applicant's grades, class standing, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. The degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science are offered. The program emphasizes Ph.D. level study and research. We do not have a Masters of Science only program. Only in exceptional cases is there admission to the Master of Science program as the final degree objective. As preparation for advanced study and research, entering graduate students are expected to have a thorough background in undergraduate mathematics, physics, and engineering. An outstanding four-year undergraduate program in mathematics and sciences may provide a suitable background as well. The qualifications of each applicant will be considered individually, and, after being enrolled, the student will arrange his or her program in consultation with a member of the faculty. Application deadline

December 15, of each year for all degree programs in MCE For further information about graduate study in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, please contact:


Like all graduate programs at Caltech, the program in Mechanical Engineering is small, highly selective, and research oriented. Admission is preferentially granted to applicants who ultimately intend to pursue the Ph.D. degree. Ph.D. graduates in Mechanical Engineering have gone on to successful careers both in industry and in academia. Among recent graduates, approximately 30% entered tenure-track academic positions upon graduation, 50% went into industry, and 20% entered postdoctoral research programs. Some of our recent Graduates currently hold tenure-track or tenured faculty positions at MIT, Princeton, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, U. Texas (Austin), U. Michigan, U. Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, and other universities worldwide. Graduates who choose an industrial career find employment both in large firms (primarily in the aerospace, energy, and semiconductor industries) and with small high-technology startup companies. Virtually all graduate students in Mechanical Engineering receive financial support for the duration of their studies, which fully pays tuition and provides a stipend for living expenses. This support may take the form of a fellowship, a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, or a combination of these options. Aims and Scope of the Graduate Program

Mechanical Engineering (ME) research and study are offered through the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (MCE). The degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science (M.S.) are offered. The M.S. degree is normally only awarded to students who expect to pursue the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering and who do not already have an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering. In general, students who intend to work full-time toward the Ph.D. degree as a final degree objective are admitted to the mechanical engineering graduate program. The aim of the graduate program in mechanical engineering at Caltech is to prepare students for research and professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing interdisciplinary technology. The program combines individual depth of experience and competence in a particular chosen major specialty, with a strong background in the basic and engineering sciences. It strives to develop professional independence, creativity, leadership, and the capacity for continuing professional and intellectual growth. Preparation for the Graduate Program

Students who have not specialized in mechanical engineering as undergraduates, as well as those who have, may be admitted for graduate study. As preparation for advanced study and research, entering graduate students are expected to have a thorough background in undergraduate mathematics, physics, and engineering. An outstanding four-year undergraduate program in mathematics and sciences may provide a suitable background as well. The qualifications of each applicant will be considered individually, and, after being enrolled, the student will arrange his or her program in consultation with a member of the faculty. Caltech requires the verbal, quantitative, and analytical components of the Graduate Records Examination (GREs). Chemistry also requires applicants take either the Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry Subject Exam as part of the application. There are no minimum score requirements for GREs. The Verbal, Quantitative, and Writing components of the General Graduate Record Examination are required by all graduate options, and advanced GRE Subject scores are required or strongly recommended by several options. There are no minimum score requirements for admission. Testing schedules and information on the GRE may be obtained at www.gre.org. Caltech's institution code is 4034. A subject code is not required since all scores are delivered to the Graduate Studies Office. For a list of the departments requiring or strongly recommending the subject exam, please refer to Required Tests. Test scores are only one aspect of the application package. Students coming from non-English speaking countries are required to take an English proficiency exam. However, students who have studied in the U.S. for 2 or more years, or who obtained a degree from a school whose primary instruction is in English are exempt from this requirement. Caltech does not have a minimum GPA requirement. However, most successful applicants have a US GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and/or are in the top 5 to 10% of their class. GPA's should only be reported for those schools attended in the United States. International GPA's or rankings do not need to be converted to the standard US grade point average. More information on the TOEFL, TSE, TWE, and IELTS tests are available at the Office of Graduate Studies Checklist. Applicants whose first or native language is not English are required to take a test of English proficiency as part of the application procedure. Caltech recognizes scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) (www.toefl.org), Pearson's Test of English Academic (PTE) (www.pearsonvue.com/pte), and from the Cambridge Examinations and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (www.ielts.org). Applicants should arrange for the results of these tests to be sent to Caltech's Graduate Studies Office. Caltech's institution code is 4034

• Applicants who have studied in the US for two or more years
• Applicants with a degree from a school whose primary instruction is in English Please note that regardless of whether or not the English proficiency exams are exempt during the admissions process, all non-native English speakers will be screened prior to enrollment and may be required to take additional English as a Second Language (ESL) training. Master’s Degree Description and Requirements

The degree of Master of Science in mechanical engineering is only awarded to students who do not already have an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering. The degree will be awarded upon request by students who have fulfilled the requirements. Only in exceptional cases is there admission to the M.S. program as the final degree objective. A minimum of 138 units of courses numbered 100 or above, that meet the required master’s program listed below, must be passed with a grade of at least C for completion of the master’s degree in mechanical engineering. All units must be taken for grades, except for courses offered only on a pass/fail basis. The M.S. degree in mechanical engineering is typically completed within the first two years of residency at Caltech. Each student’s program must be approved by the advisor and option representative in mechanical and civil engineering before registering for the course

• Graduate mechanical engineering core (54 units). These units should provide a solid base for the student’s engineering interest. The courses should be selected from the core subjects list Areas 1-3 of the mechanical engineering Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Description and Requirements section

• Mathematics, engineering, and research electives (54 units). Students who have not taken the equivalent of ACM 100 abc are required to take ACM 100 abc for 36 units. Courses may be taken in Ae, AM, ACM, ME, MS, EE, ESE, APh, CDS, CS, ChE, and CNS. Students are encouraged to take research units, ME 300, up to a maximum of 27


• Free electives (27 units). These units may be selected from any course with a number of 100 or greater, except that research units may not be included. The Admissions Committees will take several components of the application into consideration including letters of recommendation, grades in college particularly those in chemistry, biochemistry, and related subjects, any research experience including resulting publications or presentations, GRE scores, and the statement of purpose. All documents related to the application must be submitted to the Graduate office on or before the December 15th deadline. Three letters of recommendation are required. The online application currently accepts three letters maximum, so keep in mind that it's important to submit three strong letters from individuals most familiar with you. Letters should be requested from those individuals who know you best and can attest to your academic capabilities or training. While faculty members and research supervisors can provide the strongest academic recommendations, we recognize that some applicants may also have work experience that relates to their abilities and training. Keep in mind that those individuals writing recommendation letters should be able to address the following information:
• How well the applicant is known and in what capacity
• If the applicant has the intellectual capability, experimental ability, fundamental training, creativity, and motivation to be successful as a student at Caltech
• Whether the applicant would be encouraged to do doctoral research under the recommender's supervision
• If English is not the native language, how well does the applicant read, write, and converse in English?
• How does the applicant compare to any previous students who have come to Caltech for their graduate work? Individuals unable to submit materials electronically may fax, mail or email materials to: Be sure that the applicant's name is clearly indicated on any supporting documents not uploaded with the application. To apply for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (MCE), you must submit an application, available through the Graduate Admissions Office. In a typical year, between 250 and 300 applications for graduate study in MCE are received, and 25-30 offers of admission are made. Admissions decisions are made by the faculty, and are determined both by the research opportunities in the applicant's area of interest, and the competitiveness of the applicant's grades, class standing, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. The degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science are offered. The program emphasizes Ph.D. level study and research. We do not have a Masters of Science only program. Only in exceptional cases is there admission to the Master of Science program as the final degree objective. As preparation for advanced study and research, entering graduate students are expected to have a thorough background in undergraduate mathematics, physics, and engineering. An outstanding four-year undergraduate program in mathematics and sciences may provide a suitable background as well. The qualifications of each applicant will be considered individually, and, after being enrolled, the student will arrange his or her program in consultation with a member of the faculty. Application deadline

December 15, of each year for all degree programs in MCE For further information about graduate study in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, please contact: