Mechanical Engineering

专业详情

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.

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.

REQUIRED MASTER’S PROGRAM

• 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 ME subjects listed under the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Description and Requirements section.
• 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. 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.
• Graduate Engineering Seminar, AM/CE/ME 150 abc (3 units).