The program’s goal is to close the gap between engineering and medicine. Our Medical Engineering research and education leverage Caltech's strengths in engineering, applied science, and other fundamental fields, to apply emerging technological advances to medicine, and to create innovative diagnostic, monitoring, and therapeutic systems.

The Cherng Department of Medical Engineering offers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy but does not accept students for Master-only program. A master’s degree may be awarded to a student along the way toward a PhD degree. The Option requirements for the MS degree are the same as those for the PhD degree except that the MS degree does not require research units, qualifying exam, candidacy exam, and thesis defense. In general, the degree is not conferred before the end of the first year of residence.