Bioengineering

The undergraduate option in bioengineering, previously administered by the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, provides a foundation for graduate studies in the application of engineering principles to the design, analysis, construction, and manipulation of biological systems, and in the discovery and application of new engineering principles inspired by the properties of biological systems.

Instruction in the undergraduate program is offered in the form of participation in the ongoing research programs of the division, as well as in formal course work. Course work emphasizes the more general and fundamental properties of living organisms, and areas of current research interest, rather than the traditional distinct fields within the life sciences.

The division encourages undergraduate participation in its research program and believes that research participation should be a part of each student's program of study. Students may elect to prepare an undergraduate thesis (Bi 90). Research opportunities may be arranged with individual faculty members, or guidance may be obtained from a student's individual faculty adviser in the division or from the biology undergraduate student adviser.

Flexibility to accommodate varied individual scientific interests, within the broad scope of biology and biological engineering, is achieved through the provision of elective courses, arrangements for individual research (Bi 22), and tutorial instruction (Bi 23). In addition, arrangements may be made to take courses at neighboring institutions in fields of biology that are not represented in our curriculum.

1. BE 1; either BE 150 or BE 159; BE/APh 161; ChE/BE 163; BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 a.
2. Experimental methods: Bi 1 x; BE/EE/MedE 189 a; ChE 130.
3. Biology, chemistry and physics: two terms out of three from Ph 2 abc; Bi 8; Bi 9; Ch 25; Ch 41 a; Bi/Ch 110. One advanced biology course selected from Bi/Ch 111, Bi/Ch 113, Bi 114, Bi 117, Bi 122, Bi 145 ab, Bi/CNS/NB 150, BE 150. Students may pass out of Bi 8 and Bi 9 via placement exams administered by the Biology Option.
4. Mathematical and computational methods: ACM 95 abc; CDS 110 a or ChE 105; Ma 2, Ma 3; 9 units selected from CS 1, CS 2, CS 3.
5. 36 units of BE electives (selected from the elective lists below or approved by the student's academic adviser).
6. Communication: E 10; E 11.
7. Courses satisfying option requirements must be taken for grades (except when courses are only available P/F) and passed with a grade of C– or higher. Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units.

Requirements

• Common Application or the Coalition Application with Caltech Questions - Caltech does not have a preference between the Common Application or the Coalition Application. We advise that you use the best platform for your application process.
  • Note: Caltech is also a QuestBridge Partner. Students may apply for Caltech through the QuestBridge College Match Program.
• $75 application fee or fee waiver (Common App waiver, Coalition Application waiver, or Caltech-specific waiver)
• SAT with Optional Essay or ACT with Writing (official scores from testing agency)
• SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2 (official scores from testing agency)
• 1 SAT science subject test: biology (ecological), biology (molecular), chemistry, or physics (official scores from testing agency)
• 1 math or science teacher evaluation
• 1 humanities or social sciences teacher evaluation
• Secondary School Report
• Academic transcripts
• TOEFL scores - Required of all international citizens unless 1) your native language is English; or 2) you have had school instruction for two or more years in English. The two years of school instruction must be completed prior to the application deadline). We do not accept the IELTS or any other substitute for the TOEFL requirement.
• International Financial Aid Statement of Intent - When an international citizen applies for freshman admission, the application prompts questions to confirm his/her understanding of our financial aid policy and thus confirm his/her financial aid intent towards Caltech. Caltech is need-sensitive for international citizens because the total amount of financial aid funds is limited for these students, and we remain committed to meeting the demonstrated need of all admitted students.

Scholarships

• Need-based scholarships 
• Caltech Scholarships