Program Overview

Graduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering

The program in Mechanical Engineering at Caltech is small, highly selective, and research-oriented. Admission is preferentially granted to applicants who ultimately intend to pursue the Ph.D. degree.

Aims and Scope of the 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.

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.

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.

• Graduate mechanical engineering core (54 units): These units should provide a solid base for the student's engineering interest.
• Mathematics, engineering, and research electives (54 units): Courses may be taken in Ae, AM, ACM, ME, MedE, MS, EE, ESE, APh, CDS, CS, ChE, and CNS.
• 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.
• Graduate Engineering Seminar, AM/CE/ME 150 abc (3 units)

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Description and Requirements

The Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering is focused on research. Study and research programs for the Ph.D. degree are individually planned to fit the interests and background of the student.

• ME Core Subjects (54 units): Coursework in core mechanical engineering subjects selected from the courses below.
  • Thermal-fluid sciences: Ae/APh/CE/ME 101 abc, APh/MS 105 abc, APh/Ph 115, APh/Ph/Ae 116, Ae/ME 118, ME 119, Ae/ME 120, Ph 127 ab, ME/CE 163, ChE/Ch 164, ChE/Ch 165.
  • Mechanics of solids, structures, and materials: Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc, Ae/APh 104 abc, AM/CE 151, Ae/Ge/ME 160 ab, ME/CE 163, Ae/CE 165 ab, ME/CE/Ge 174, Ae/AM/MS/ME 213, Ae/AM/CE/ME 214, Ae 220, Ae/CE 221, ME/MS/AM 221, Ae/AM/ME 223, AM/CE/ME 252, ME/Ge/Ae 266 ab.
  • Robotics, Controls and Dynamics: CDS 112, ME/CS/EE 129, CDS 131, ME/CS/EE 133 ab, ME/CS/EE 134, CDS 141, CMS/CS/CNS/EE/IDS 155, ME/CS/EE 169, CDS 231, CDS 232, CDS 233, ME/CDS/EE 234 ab, ME/CDS 235 ab.
• Electives or Minor (54 units): Additional engineering or science courses with course number 101 or above.
• Advanced mathematics or applied mathematics (27 units): Chosen in consultation with adviser from the following list: ACM 101 or higher, CDS 232, Ma 108 or higher, Ph 129.
• Graduate engineering seminar (6 units): Pass six terms of AM/CE/ME 150abc, within the twelve terms, 3 years, in residence at Caltech.
• Research (54 units): Successfully complete at least 54 units of research and demonstrate satisfactory research progress.

Admission to Candidacy

To be recommended for candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering, the student must, in addition to meeting the general Institute requirements, do the following:

• Obtain the agreement of a professorial faculty member to serve as his or her academic and research adviser before the end of the third term of graduate residence at Caltech.
• Pass both subject and research components of the oral candidacy examination before the end of the eighth term of graduate academic residence at Caltech.

Registration Beyond the Fifth Year of Graduate Residence

The annual approval of the Ph.D. dissertation supervision committee is necessary for registration beyond the twentieth academic term of graduate residence at Caltech.

Thesis and Final Examination

The thesis examination will be given after the thesis has been formally completed. This examination will be a defense of the doctoral thesis and a test of the candidate's knowledge in the specialized field of research.

Subject Minor

A student majoring in another branch of engineering or another division of the Institute may, with the approval of the faculty in mechanical engineering and the faculty in his or her major field, elect mechanical engineering as a subject minor. The program of courses must differ markedly from the major subject of study or research, and must consist of at least 54 units of advanced courses (101 or above) approved by the faculty in mechanical and civil engineering.