Minors

Minor in Engineering Mechanics

The ESM department offers an Engineering Mechanics minor to undergraduates who wish to supplement their engineering backgrounds with extensive study in mechanics. The high-tech industry has a significant need for individuals with a sound background in engineering mechanics. Industries such as aerospace, automotive, power, structures, and appliance regularly hire graduates who are competent in engineering mechanics.

Engineering mechanics is the engineering science that deals with the effects of forces and torques on particles, rigid bodies, or deformable media. Mechanics is typically subdivided into statics, dynamics, and mechanics of deformable bodies.

Statics considers the algebra of vectors, equilibrium, equivalency of force/torque systems, and the concept of the freebody diagram. Special topics include friction, machines, and trusses.

Dynamics treats the motion resulting from unequilibrated force/torque systems through the study of acceleration, velocity, and displacement. An important special topic is simple harmonic motion, caused by a restoring force that is linearly dependent on displacement—this topic is the foundation of vibrations. Newton’s laws and energy principles form the basis of dynamics.

Mechanics of Deformable Materials covers the internal distribution of force per unit area (stress), local normalized deformation (strain), and material response (strain, strain rate) to stress and temperature. Failure criteria are introduced, as is design.

Program Requirements

Complete at least 18 credits in engineering mechanics courses
Take a minimum of 6 credits at the 400 level
Achieve a grade of “C” or better in each E MCH course counted towards the 18-credit minimum

Engineering Mechanics Courses

The following list of courses is provided to assist students in selecting courses to satisfy the Engineering Mechanics minor requirements.

Statics:

E MCH 210 (Statics and Strength of Materials)
E MCH 210H (Equilibrium Mechanics, Honors)
E MCH 211 (Statics)

Dynamics:

E MCH 212 (Dynamics)
E MCH 212H (Mechanics of Motion)
E MCH 409 (Advanced Mechanics)
E MCH 412 (Experimental Methods in Vibrations)
E MCH 454 (Analysis and Design in Vibration Engineering)

Mechanics of Deformable Materials:

E MCH 210 (Statics and Strength of Materials)
E MCH 210H (Equilibrium Mechanics, Honors)
E MCH 213 (Strength of Materials)
E MCH 315 (Mechanical Response of Engineering Materials)
E MCH 316 (Experimental Determination of Mechanical Response of Materials)
E MCH 400 (Advanced Strength of Materials and Design)
E MCH 402 (Applied and Experimental Stress Analysis)
E MCH 403 (Strength Design in Materials and Structures)
E MCH 408 (Elasticity and Engineering Applications)
E MCH 416H (Failure and Failure Analysis of Solids)
E MCH 440 (Nondestructive Evaluation of Flaws--NDE)
E MCH 446 (Mechanics of Viscoelastic Materials)
E MCH 471 (Engineering Composite Materials)
E MCH 473/Aersp 473 (Composite Processing)

Numerical Methods/Computer Applications:

E MCH 407 (Computer Methods in Engineering Design)
E MCH 461/ME 461 (Applied Finite Element Analysis)

Admission Requirements

Applicants wishing to enroll in the Engineering Mechanics minor should have completed a background course in mathematics (MATH 250 or 251) and physics (PHYS 211)
Present an acceptable schedule for completion of requirements
Have a 2.50 grade-point average at the time of application

Application Procedure

To apply for the Engineering Mechanics minor, students must apply through LionPATH.

For more information about the Engineering Mechanics minor, please contact:

Mark W. Horn, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Minor Coordinator
The Pennsylvania State University
212 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building
814-865-0332
mhorn@engr.psu.edu or undergraduateofficer@email.psu.edu

Minor in Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is already impacting a broad spectrum of human endeavors, from medicine and catalysis to textiles and quantum computing. Nanotechnology is inherently interdisciplinary and bridges across physics, biology, materials science, and chemistry. It is a general purpose, enabling technology.

The Nanotechnology minor is designed to help prepare students from a broad range of disciplines for careers or graduate study in fields involving nanotechnology. The minor builds upon the strengths of Penn State's faculty, expertise, academic programs, and nanofabrication facilities, including its class 1 and class 10 cleanrooms. The curriculum provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in nanoscale simulation, design, syntheses, characterization, properties, processing, manufacturing, and applications.

In addition to preparing students for career opportunities in a diverse variety of fields such as microelectronics, information storage, optoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and medicine, the minor also prepares undergraduate students for exciting research opportunities and multidisciplinary nanotechnology-based advanced degree programs in graduate schools around the world. Interested third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in engineering; the chemical, physical, and the biological sciences; medicine; life and agricultural sciences are encouraged to enroll.

Students in the minor are encouraged to develop this interdisciplinary approach to science and engineering and to choose the required 18 credits of the minor accordingly. Students must take two prescribed courses (6 credits) in nanoscience fundamentals, and then select four additional courses (12 credits) from a growing list of interdisciplinary courses.

Program Requirements

Complete at least 18 credits in approved nanotechnology courses
Take E SC 312 and E SC 313
Take a minimum of 6 credits at the 400 level
Achieve a grade of "C" or better in each course counted toward the 18-credit minimum