Engineering Science Undergraduate Options

Gloved hands hold a sensor

The engineering science undergraduate options are designed to allow for a concentration in an engineering discipline that cannot be easily pursued in other undergraduate degree programs at Penn State, and they reflect cutting-edge fields in engineering. All options require three credits of engineering design that are chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser. In addition, each option allows the pursuit of 12 credits of foundational elective coursework and 12 credits of technical elective coursework within the option. Those 24 credits and the six credits of the senior capstone provide 30 credits of concentration within each option.

Experimental Mechanics and Materials

The experimental mechanics and materials option explores science and engineering aspects of diverse classes of engineering including polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites with a focus on experimental mechanics and materials behavior. 

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Materials and Design in Manufacturing

The materials and design in manufacturing option allows students to focus their elective courses on the design and manufacturing of structural materials, including polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites.

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Micro-nano and Nano-structured Devices for Biological and Biomedical Applications

The micro- and nano-structured devices for biological and biomedical applications option focuses on the science, design, and manufacturing of and biological and/or biomedical systems and devices using specialized electronic, optical, and polymeric materials.

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Neural Engineering

The neural engineering option in engineering science and mechanics provides students with fundamental engineering training and advanced technical work at the intersection of engineering and neuroscience.

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Semiconductor and Quantum Materials Devices

The semiconductor and quantum materials devices option focuses on the science, design, and manufacturing of electronic and quantum devices using conventional and modern semiconducting, insulating, and conducting materials.

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Signals, Systems, and Sensing

The signals, systems, and sensing option is designed to provide the students with the fundamentals of signal processing, sensors, system identification, and related state-of-the-art applications.

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Theoretical and Computational Mechanics

The theoretical and computational mechanics option provides students with the foundational knowledge needed to construct rigorous physics-based and data-driven models for a wide range of natural and engineered systems.

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Acoustics

The acoustics option provides students with the foundational knowledge to construct rigorous physics-based models for a wide range of natural and engineered acoustical and vibrational systems.

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Self-designed 

The self-designed option in engineering science is for students whose interests do not align well with one of the other available options. Working with their academic adviser, students who pursue this option will design a program of study that includes classes and a capstone project that allows them to achieve their goals.

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About

The Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) is an internationally distinguished department that is recognized for its globally competitive excellence in engineering and scientific accomplishments, research, and educational leadership.

Our Engineering Science program is the official undergraduate honors program of the College of Engineering, attracting the University’s brightest engineering students. We also offer graduate degrees in ESM, engineering mechanics, engineering at the nano-scale, and an integrated undergraduate/graduate program.

Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics

212 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-4523