California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

California InstituteTechnology

Concerning Caltech

Caltech is a globally recognized science and engineering organization that brings together brilliant minds and cutting-edge resources to tackle critical societal issues and basic scientific inquiries.

The Institute oversees NASA’s JPL, which sends probes to investigate solar system planets and measure changes on Earth. In addition, Caltech cofounded and comanages LIGO and owns and runs extensive research facilities, including the Seismological Laboratory and a global network of astronomical observatories, including the Palomar and W. M. Keck Observatories. California InstituteTechnology

Caltech is a privately funded, autonomous university with a 124-acre campus in Pasadena, California.

The Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biochemistry and a 2018 Nobel Laureate

Arnold, Frances

The more complex the problem, the more significant it is and the better it is. That has consistently motivated me to strive for excellence and accomplish feats others cannot.”

The Weekly Caltech

Find out about Caltech’s most recent news, events, and research, as well as the people pushing the limits of discovery.

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Caltech is a globally recognized science and engineering institute combining some of the most creative tools and brains to tackle critical societal issues and fundamental scientific concerns. With research interests ranging from quantum science and engineering to bioinformatics and the nature of life itself, from human behavior and economics to energy and sustainability, Caltech’s remarkable faculty and students are deepening our understanding of the cosmos and creating future technologies.

Despite its tiny size, Caltech values ambition and performance. Caltech’s teachers and alums have won 46 Nobel Prizes for their accomplishments, which have garnered national and international prominence. The Institute owns and operates large-scale research facilities like the Seismological Laboratory and a global network of astronomical observatories, including the Palomar and W. M. Keck Observatories; cofounded and co-manages LIGO, which made its first gravitational wave observation in 2016; and manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA.

With more than 300 professorial faculty members providing a demanding curriculum, access to various learning opportunities, and practical research to roughly 1,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students, the Institute Caltech is a privately funded, autonomous university with a 124-acre campus in Pasadena, California.

The mission

The California Institute of Technology aims to increase human knowledge and advance society by combining research and teaching. In a uniquely collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, we explore the most difficult foundational issues in science and technology while preparing exceptional students to contribute creatively to society.

The past

Founded in Pasadena, California, as Throop University in 1891, the California Institute of Technology changed its name in 1920.

Academics

The Dean of Undergraduate Students Office promotes undergraduate students’ academic and personal development through guidance and assistance. Students are welcome to visit one of the associate deans for any issue, no matter how big or minor. We are available to talk about goals for after Caltech, community issues, personal well-being, or academic challenges. To assist students in overcoming challenges and achieving their objectives, we collaborate closely with faculty and other student affairs professionals. California InstituteTechnology

The Dean’s Office also significantly assists students in adhering to and implementing Caltech’s community standards. To achieve this, we support the Honor System and take responsibility for upholding Institute standards.

Lastly, among other support services, the office provides peer academic coaching, oversees several student-centered awards and funding sources, and assists with New Student Orientation. California InstituteTechnology

The staff includes Professor Jennifer Jahner, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Lesley Nye, the Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students; Kristin Weyman, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students; Maura McDinger, the Director of Conduct and Community Standards; Christopher Barragan, the Student Affairs Case Manager, Beth Larranaga, and Sara Loredo.

Admissions and Assistance

Students from all over the world attend Caltech, bringing various backgrounds, viewpoints, and interests. Their unrestrained curiosity and exceptional math, physics, and engineering abilities are fostered in one of the most demanding academic settings on the planet. California InstituteTechnology

Admissions to Undergraduate Programs

In addition to a few transfer and third-year students, we welcome roughly 235 new first-year students to the Caltech community each year. With fewer than 1,000 undergraduates, each student actively contributes to our tiny community of innovative problem solvers through their extensive STEM potential, distinct backgrounds, and desire to address society’s most important issues. California InstituteTechnology

Caltech students are empowered to produce ground-breaking concepts and inventions through diverse study opportunities, practical research, and academic collaborations.

Study Abroad

Caltech students attend classes worldwide, including Cambridge, London, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Paris, and Melbourne.

Research by Students

The students wholeheartedly embrace Caltech’s thriving research activity. During their stay at Caltech, 90% of undergraduates engage in research, whether on campus, overseas, at JPL, or an off-campus observatory. California InstituteTechnology

Outreach Education

Caltech students frequently interact with students in grades K–12, offering their enthusiasm for and viewpoint on the potential in science, engineering, and technology. California InstituteTechnology

Foreign Academics

Researchers and academics from all over the world call Caltech home. The International Office helps students prepare, adapt, and enjoy life in the US.

Career Guidance

Undergraduate and graduate students interested in applying for jobs, internships, and fellowship programs worldwide receive one-on-one counseling and assistance.