Experimental Mechanics and Materials Option

A pile of small plastic pieces

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. Graduates understand fundamental deformation mechanisms and their interactions with microstructural length scales for developing fabrication-structure-property relationships and tuning performance and multifunctionality.  Required and suggested courses for this option encompass fundamental materials characterization; multi-scale experimental mechanics for characterizing mechanical behavior and properties, structure-property relationships and constitutive modeling. Graduates are prepared for careers in a broad range of industries including energy and the environment, resilient and sustainable infrastructure, commercial and government materials evaluation and testing laboratories, emerging materials development for ongoing revolutions in healthcare and technology sectors, automotive, aerospace. They have the research and academic acumen to excel in cutting-edge graduate studies in diverse materials science, mechanics, and engineering disciplines.  

Some courses on these lists are suitable as technical electives (TE) or foundational electives (FE), but each course can only be used to fulfill one degree requirement, either a FE or TE.

Foundational Electives

A total of 5 foundational electives courses (15 credits), selected from the list below, are required for graduation. Three of those credits must be a design elective chosen from the departmental list of recommended design courses. No more than one 100-level course may be used. Please note the distribution of courses.

Technical Electives

Note that four TEs (12 credits) are required.  It should be noted that the 12 credits of senior technical electives and the three senior project courses, ESC 409H, ESC 410H, and ESC 411H, constitute 18 credits in an engineering area of the student’s choice It is in the student’s best interest to select technical electives that support her or his senior project. Students should work with their project adviser and their academic adviser to plan to take the most appropriate technical electives.  

 
 

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