University Bulletin
Undergraduate Degree Programs
The COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING is committed to educate students so that they may acquire theoretical knowledge and technical competence in the design, development, and creation of components, systems, and processes to address the needs and problems of our society. The college offers an integrated and professionally oriented curriculum focused on developing engineering graduates who are solidly grounded and technically broad in perspective and capabilities, effective in group operations and communication, innovative, and aware of the world.
Resident education at the baccalaureate level is provided through thirteen majors available at University Park and two majors offered at Penn State campuses. In addition, a number of associate degree programs are offered at campus college locations. All baccalaureate degree programs are of eight semesters' duration except Architectural Engineering, which requires ten semesters to complete. Each degree program provides basic elements of general education consistent with the objectives of the program and institution as well as a professional component to prepare graduates for practice in the discipline. All baccalaureate engineering majors at University Park, with the exception of Bioengineering, Biological Engineering, and Computer Science, are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; telephone 410-347-7700; or www.abet.org (Opens New Window).
In each of the engineering disciplines, as designated by the majors, students acquire knowledge of mathematics and the sciences basic to engineering and computer science, and the ability to solve problems through experimentation and analysis. Students develop and exercise initiative, judgment, and creativity through the professional component and design experiences that are integrated across their baccalaureate study, culminating in a capstone design experience in the senior year. Emphasis is placed on application of the engineering method, the capability for critical thinking, teamwork, and the ability to communicate clearly, both orally and through written composition. The social-humanistic component of the curriculum extends throughout the baccalaureate study in all majors and provides students with knowledge of social and human relationships as well as an appreciation of cultural interests and contemporary issues. It includes elective courses in the arts, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences. Through these courses and their study in the majors, students learn to appreciate values and costs, the context of engineering in society, and the ethical characteristics of engineering practice.
With this knowledge and set of skills, graduates are positioned to enter technical and non-technical careers in the industrial, government and private sectors, and/or to pursue advanced study in a variety of disciplines. Their versatility and ability to learn independently enables graduates to acquire new skills and knowledge as required by their career choices. The college also administers several academic minors that permit students to broaden or supplement their technical training; obtain specialized training in leadership, entrepreneurship or product development; or expand their knowledge of the interrelationship of science and society. The Learning Factory, Center for Engineering Design and Entrepreneurship, and Student Activities Center collectively serve the needs of students by providing facilities for project work, computing, and organizational meetings.
The college provides, in addition to undergraduate education, programs in cooperative education, international study and internships, continuing education, research, and advanced study at the graduate level.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/Departments/
ENGINEERING COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM -- Housed within the Engineering Career Resources office, the Engineering Co-op & Internship Program provides opportunities for students to obtain up to one full year of career-related experience while earning their degree. Students apply theories learned in the classroom to business, government, or industry settings while gaining valuable professional experience, confirming their choice of major, developing technical skills, enhancing communication and job search skills, and receiving compensation that can be used to offset the cost of their education. The program is available to engineering students at all Penn State campus locations. Participants also have access to the Professional Development Program, which arranges professional skills workshops for students on a variety of topics generated from student and employer evaluation feedback.
Students may choose to complete either a co-op or an internship. Co-op experiences are divided into three segments made up of various combinations of fall, spring, and summer sessions (excluding a three-summer option). These work assignments alternate with academic periods in school but are intentionally flexible in order to accommodate different academic course scheduling requirements. All co-op work experiences are paid and career-related, and students have increasing levels of responsibility over the course of multiple assignments with one or more employers. The internship option provides an opportunity for students to gain one semester—or more, if desired—of career-related experience. The work experience can be pursued during any semester, although the summer semester is the most common choice, and can begin an as early as the second semester of students’ first year at Penn State.
For additional information, please go to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/coop
INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMS -- Through its study and work abroad programs and opportunities, the College provides students with a way to develop a global perspective, learn how engineering is practiced in other countries, make international contacts, and improve their potential for career advancement. Students in the college can earn Penn State credits and/or transfer credits for courses completed abroad. The University currently has agreements with numerous institutions in all parts of the world for study exchange programs. In a program offered by the College of the Liberal Arts, qualified students can pursue both an engineering degree and a degree in French, Spanish, or German. In addition to the credit requirements of the selected engineering major, students are required to complete courses in French, Spanish or German language and culture, and to intern and/or study in a French-, Spanish-, or German-speaking country. The College continues to expand the opportunities available for students to gain international exposure and experience, including a recently approved Certificate in International Engineering.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/AboutCOE/ugstudies_ip.aspx
CONCURRENT MAJORS PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING AND LIBERAL ARTS -- This program requires ten semesters of study, both in the College of Engineering and in the College of the Liberal Arts. Upon completion of the program, a B.S. in the selected College of Engineering major will be awarded by the College of Engineering and the B.A. in Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LAS) will be awarded by the College of the Liberal Arts.
To be eligible for the program, a student must be initially enrolled in either the College of Engineering or the College of the Liberal Arts. The student must file an application for entrance with the assistant dean for student services, College of Engineering, by the published deadline during the student's spring semester of the second year and with the associate dean for undergraduate studies, the College of the Liberal Arts. Concurrent major candidates are subject to the same criteria for admission to a participating major in the College of Engineering as all other students.
During the first six semesters, the student completes seventy credits of basic General Education and Bachelor of Arts degree requirements and 30 to 34 credits of basic engineering requirements. In the final four semesters, the student completes 12 LAS credits plus the remaining requirements for the selected College of Engineering major. The additional 24 major credits required for the LAS degree are double counted with credits required for the College of Engineering degree. The average concurrent major graduate completes 166 to 174 credits in order to qualify for both degrees. This program is available with all the majors in the College of Engineering with the exception of the ten-semester Architectural Engineering major.
3-2 PROGRAM WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND ENGINEERING -- In the 3-2 Program, the student completes three academic years of study at one of several cooperating institutions (with which Penn State has signed agreements) and then transfers to Penn State for at least two additional academic years. Upon completion of the program, the student is awarded a degree by the first institution and the B.S. degree by Penn State. The program makes it possible for a student to spend the first three years at an institution near one’s home, thus reducing expenses.
Arrangements for the 3-2 Program for selected majors are in effect with these institutions: Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Elizabethtown College, Elon University, Franklin and Marshall College, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Juniata College, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley College, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, St. Francis College, St. Vincent College, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, SUNY at Geneseo, Towson University, Waynesburg College, and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Inquiries concerning admission should be made at these institutions.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/ProspectiveStudents/Undergraduate/transfer_32.aspx
CONTINUING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION -- The Engineering Continuing and Distance Education, C&DE, office offers a broad range of programs for practicing engineers, other technical professionals and the public. Credit and noncredit programs for individuals or groups are available at the University Park campus and at other Penn State campuses and continuing education centers throughout Pennsylvania. Programs and courses are made available to audiences anywhere in the world through a variety of technologies, including the internet and interactive video. Engineering C&DE interfaces with the University Office for Outreach, providing design, production, and delivery of a growing list of courses. Students may take these courses while they are on Cooperative Education or Internship assignments; thus, allowing them to make academic progress toward their degree requirements while they are working off campus.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/AboutCOE/gstudies_cde.aspx
ENGINEERING DIVERSITY -- The Office of Engineering Diversity is committed to creating and enhancing a welcoming learning environment for all students in the College of Engineering. Through pre-college and bridge programs and coordination of recruitment, retention, networking and other programming, the Office strives to enhance the representation of women and underrepresented students in the undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as in the faculty and administration. The Multicultural Engineering Program and the Women in Engineering Program has evolved over the past 20 years and currently offer 20-25 programs annually that are designed to enhance diversity in the College.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/CurrentStudents/diversityprograms.aspx
WOMEN IN ENGINEERING PROGRAM -- The Women in Engineering Program (WEP) is an academic support unit of the College of Engineering. WEP serves undergraduate and graduate women, faculty and alumnae, and undertakes extensive programming that supports the College mission, vision, and goals. Programming emphasizes active learning, academic achievement, leadership development, and community building. As such, it provides services and information that address its mission to recruit women into engineering, to facilitate the development of women engineers through advocacy and action, and to actively promote an equitable and productive learning and work environment within the College of Engineering. Activities include academic assistance, developmental course work, career development, industry networking, climate enhancement, mentoring, leadership development, scholarship and fellowship support, information dissemination, research into gender and assessment issues in engineering education and an external Advisory Board. WEP also offers an extensive program of K-12 camps and workshops, providing leadership opportunities for current students as it encourages future generations of engineers.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/wep/
MULTICULTURAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMS -- The Multicultural Engineering Program focuses on fostering a sense of community in the college. To enhance recruitment and retention, the program provides services designed to nurture supportive and collaborative relationships among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industrial partners. These services include tutoring, seminars, pre-first-year summer programs, employment workshops and scholarships, with emphasis on proactively seeking out, guiding and preparing students for future success from high school through graduate school. The program promotes academic excellence, industrial and research experience, and personal and professional development.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/mep/About%20MEP/
ENTRANCE TO MAJOR -- In addition to the minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements described by University Policies, the College of Engineering has course requirements for admission to all its majors. To be eligible for consideration for entrance to a major, a student must have completed the following requirements with a minimum grade of C: CHEM 110 GN (or CMPSC 122 for the Computer Science major), MATH 140 GQ, MATH 141 GQ, and PHYS 211 GN. These must be completed by the end of the semester during which the admission to major process is carried out. Because the Engineering Science major is an honors program, admission is limited to students who attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
For additional information refer to: http://www.engr.psu.edu/AdvisingCenter/StudentActions/sa_majentrance.aspx
The Executive Vice President and Provost of the University approves administrative enrollment controls that limit the number of students who may be admitted to some majors in the College of Engineering. In each case, however, academic requirements are established that guarantee a student’s admission to those majors. For information on the majors for which enrollment is currently limited and their academic guarantees of admission, contact the Engineering Advising Center, 208 Hammond Building, University Park, PA 16802 (814-863-1033).
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DAVID N. WORMLEY, Dean
ANTHONY A. ATCHLEY, Associate Dean for Research and Administration
RENATA S. ENGEL, Associate Dean for Academic Programs
JEAN LANDA PYTEL, Assistant Dean for Student Services
AMY L. FREEMAN, Assistant Dean for Engineering Diversity
COLLEGE ORGANIZATION
Acoustics -- ANTHONY A. ATCHLEY, Chair
Aerospace Engineering -- GEORGE A. LESIEUTRE, Head
Architectural Engineering -- CHIMAY J. ANUMBA, Head
Bioengineering -- HERBERT H. LIPOWSKY, Head
Biological Engineering (College of Agricultural Sciences) -- ROY E. YOUNG, Head
Chemical Engineering -- ANDREW L. ZYDNEY, Head
Civil and Environmental Engineering -- PEGGY A. JOHNSON, Head
Computer Science and Engineering -- RAJ ACHARYA, Head
Electrical Engineering -- W. KENNETH JENKINS, Head
Engineering Science and Mechanics -- JUDITH A. TODD, Head
Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs, School of -- SVEN BILÉN, Interim Head
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering -- PAUL M. GRIFFIN, Head
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering --KAREN A. THOLE, Head
Science, Technology, and Society -- GREG EGHIGIAN, Director
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM SUPPORT
Continuing and Distance Education -- TERRY J. REED, Director
Engineering Advising Center -- JEAN LANDA PYTEL, Assistant Dean
Engineering Assessment and Instructional Support -- SARAH E. ZAPPE, Director
Engineering Cooperative Education Program -- RICK D. McCLINTIC, Director
Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education -- THOMAS A. LITZINGER, Director
Office of Engineering Diversity -- AMY L. FREEMAN, Assistant Dean