Mechanical Engineering
Why Study Mechanical Engineering?
At Caltech, students in our ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering (ME) degree program wonder how they can help robots navigate complex environments, how spacecraft can withstand reentry, or how clean energy systems scale to power cities, and we give them the tools to build the solutions. By mastering fluid, solid, thermal, and mechanical system design—and acquiring skills in expansive critical and ethical thinking—our mechanical engineering majors develop solutions to society's most crucial technical challenges, from sustainable infrastructure to breakthrough medical devices.
Why Mechanical Engineering at Caltech?
At Caltech, theory meets practice from day one, with real-world training in civil and mechanical engineering that uniquely prepares engineers to impact across industries, even law and government. Get full-time access to heavy machinery to complete your projects in our machine shop. This hands-on philosophy extends beyond classroom projects to the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), where you can tackle open research questions in cutting-edge laboratories.
What sets our program apart is the freedom to explore. Want to combine mechanical engineering with computing and process engineering? Interested in both robotics and sustainable energy? Tackle the problems you're passionate to solve by taking high-level courses in math, physics, engineering design, and other fields. To better prepare for the complexity of real-world engineering challenges, enhance the mechanical engineering foundation with in-depth course tracks in materials, robotics, controls, mechatronics, or thermodynamics.
What You'll Learn
Dive deep into principles that govern physical systems while developing practical skills to implement ideas. Starting with Caltech's rigorous core curriculum, you'll review a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines and learn how to better write about and present your findings. Then, after the fundamentals of mechanics, mechanical design and statistics, and machine shop manufacturing, you'll learn how to solve real-world problems in advanced track courses, thinking about how to create solutions like nanosensors for environmental data or control systems for electric vehicles.
Through design competitions, research projects, and a capstone experience, the mechanical engineering major emphasizes both technical mastery and the broader context of engineering solutions, preparing you to lead innovation across industries.
View the Caltech catalog for degree requirements and curriculum information.
Who You'll Learn From
At Caltech, breakthrough research happens daily. Our over 20 faculty members and additional experts in the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Division lead initiatives in microfluidics, sustainable energy, robotics, and beyond—and they involve undergraduates in their work early. Small class sizes foster direct mentorship, while Caltech's collaborative culture connects mechanical engineering majors with experts across disciplines, from environmental scientists to project and business management experts.
During Caltech In A Day, I sat in on two classes. One of them was a mechanics class that I'm actually taking now. The professors that day both had such a passion for mechanical engineering. It was really fun to see how their brains work, and I was sitting thinking, this is how my brain works too.
Career Possibilities
With computer and mechanical engineering knowledge and skills from social science, business, physics, and other courses, our graduates shape the future of technology across diverse sectors, from Silicon Valley to D.C. to today's evolving energy sector, where demand is skyrocketing for sustainable, affordable, and ethical energy solutions. Graduates leverage internship and research experience in industry and attend graduate school at top universities in related fields, including business and law. In addition, students excel in roles such as:
- Aerospace engineers
- Automation engineers
- Energy systems designers
- Entrepreneurs
- Medical device pioneers
- Project managers
- Robotics developers
- Space systems engineers
- Technical strategy consultants
Curriculum Components and Prerequisites
Strong mathematical and physical science preparation sets ME students up for success, but curiosity, ethical values, and creative problem-solving matter most. The mechanical engineering major begins after completion of the first-year core curriculum, and students are expected to maintain a certain GPA to continue. Curriculum components include:
- Foundation in technical communication, mathematical methods, and computing
- Core mechanical engineering principles, including Mechanical Prototyping with access to the Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop
- Advanced specialization tracks
- Capstone design projects
Pursue a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering at Caltech
Ready to push the boundaries of what's possible? At Caltech, join a community of innovators who combine deep technical expertise with creative, critical thinking to address global challenges. Here, mechanical engineering isn't just about understanding how things work—it's about how they could work better.