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Pennsylvania State University Courses
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
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Established in 1961, the Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering has been recognized consistently as one of the top aerospace departments in the US. It is estimated that one in 25 holders of Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Aerospace engineers in the US graduated from Penn State. It's graduate and undergraduate courses are ranked 15th nationally by U.S. News and World Report.
The department offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Aerospace Engineering. The master’s level programs offered by the department are a two-year Master of Science (M.S.) in Aerospace Engineering (thesis-based program) and a one-year non-thesis program which leads to a Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) in Aerospace Engineering.
The M.S program is ideal if you want to delve deeper into a specific area of research by enrolling into a Ph.D. program after the completion of the M.S. The M. Eng. on the other hand suits students who want to pursue a career in aerospace related fields.
Area of Expertise:
Aircraft Icing
Signal Processing/Optics
Rotorcraft Engineering
Aeroacoustics
Multifunctional Structures and Nanomaterials
Architectural Acoustics
Vibrations
Medical Ultrasonics
Psychoacoustics, and Speech
Space Propulsion and Plasmas
Structural Dynamics and Adaptive Structures
Flight Control and Software
Experimental and Computational Aerodynamics
Intelligent and Autonomous Systems and UAVs
Hydroacoustics/Wave Propagation
Human-Machine Interface
Aerospace Vehicle Systems Engineering
Software Engineering
Thermoacoustics
Noise Control
Turbomachinery Propulsion and Heat Transfer
Computational Acoustics
Astrodynamics
Wind Energy
Electroacoustic Transducers
Structural Acoustics/Vibro-Acoustics
Physical
Physiological
Basic Underwater Acoustics
List of Labs: Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence
The Penn State Architectural Engineering Department offers the oldest and continually accredited architectural engineering program in the US. The department offers a 5-year program leading to a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree (B.A.E). There are four options available in this program as specializations which are as follows - Construction, Lighting/Electrical, Mechanical and Structural. The department also offers an integrated Bachelor and Master of Architecture and integrated Bachelor and Master of Science in Architecture programs.
There are three master’s level programs offered by the department - MS in Architecture, Master of Architecture and MS in Architecture and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment (HDNRE).
MS in Architecture is research based and the major areas of focus are
a) Culture, Society, Space
b) Design Computing
c) Material Matters
d) Sustainability.
The professional masters/Master of Architecture covers principles, techniques, histories, theories, and technologies.
The course has a thesis option wherein a thesis needs to be submitted in the last semester. MS in Architecture + HDNRE degree caters to topics such as global climate change; sustainable energy, food, and fiber supplies; threats to biodiversity; water pollution and availability; genetic modification; and sustainable design. In addition, one can go for a doctoral program, that is, Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering after the completion of the Masters. The Ph.D. program in Architectural Engineering has the following areas as its key research interests - building construction, building illumination systems, building structural systems. The department boasts of having around 9 research laboratories and facilities.
Areas of Expertise:
Building Illumination and Electrical Systems
Building Structures
Building Mechanical and Energy Systems
Building Construction
Information Technology in Design and Construction
List of Labs:
Mid-Atlantic Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partner Center
Computer Integrated Construction Research Program
Indoor Environment Center
Partnership for Achieving Construction Excellence
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers Majors in Biotechnology.
The course offers two options – General (GEN) and Clinical Laboratory Science (specifically for students who want to work as Clinical Laboratory Scientists). The Huck Institute of Life Sciences at Penn State in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers a Master Degree in Biotechnology. There is also an option of pursuing the integrated B.S./M.S. in Biotechnology.
Areas of Expertise:
Particulate Mechanics
Neural, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Engineering
Regenerative Functional Tissue Engineering
Stem Cells and Biomanufacturing
Water and Soil Resource Engineering and Management
Biologically-Based Energy
Products and Materials
Bioproduct Business and Marketing
Biomedical Imaging
Biomaterials and Nanomedicine in Drug Delivery;
Multi-Scale Biomechanics
Nanocellulosics
Medical Devices
Mechanobiology
Computational Biology, System
Network Modeling and Large Data Analysis
Sustainable Livestock Systems
Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering
Agricultural Safety and Health
Agricultural Mechanization/Automation for Specialty Crops and Biomass
MEMS
Lab on a Chip and Nanotechnology
Synthetic Biology
Established in 1948, the Penn State Department of Chemical Engineering is ranked in the 19th and 23rd slots for their undergraduate and graduate programs respectively. The department offers a BS in Chemical Engineering. The John R. and Jeanette Dachille McWhirter Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering is a one-year non- thesis program leading to M.S. in Chemical engineering.
This program helps students to explore areas of Thermodynamics, Transport, Reaction Kinetics, and so on. The department also offers a Ph.D. program where one can specialize in diverse fields such as nanotechnology, fuel and energy production, and bimolecular energy, to name just a few.
Some of the research areas include Biotechnology and synthetic biology, Materials, and nanotechnology and energy and environment.
Areas of Expertise:
Energy and Environment
Materials Synthesis and Characterization
Membranes and Separation Technology
Catalysis and Chemical Kinetics
Polymers and Advanced Materials
Computational Chemistry and Molecular Simulation
Bioprocessing and Cellular Engineering
Bimolecular and Metabolic Engineering
Fluid Mechanics and Tribology
List of Labs: Electrochemical Engine Center
Established in the year 1881, the Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is recognized as one of the top engineering departments at Penn State. In 2018, all the programs offered by the department were ranked in the top 20 in the US News and World Report rankings. In fact, its graduate program in Civil Engineering is ranked No 17, while its undergraduate program is ranked even higher at 14.
For civil engineering, the undergraduate department offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and its courses include environmental, geotechnical and materials, structural, transportation and water resources engineering. The two-year Graduate Degree includes a Master of Science (M.S.) in Civil Engineering and Master of Engineering (M.Eng). The department also offers a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering.
For Environmental Engineering, the department offers an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Engineering (M.Eng) in Environmental Engineering which can be completed in a year. The school also offers a doctoral program, that is, a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering. There are no undergraduate offerings in Environmental Engineering in this department. The graduate programs in Environmental Engineering rank 17.
Areas of Expertise:
Geotechnical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Materials Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
Energy Science and Engineering
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering & Subsurface
Mining Engineering and Industrial Health and Safety
Energy Systems Engineering & Energy Economics
List of Labs:
Protective Technology Center
Pennsylvania Housing Research Center
Engineering Energy & Environmental Institute
Larson Transportation Institute
Hydrogen Energy Center
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science was created in the year 2015. The undergraduate department in Computer Engineering is ranked 23 nationwide, while the Graduate Department is at 21. The department offers a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Science. In terms of graduate courses, the department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Computer Science and Engineering as well as M.Eng. in Computer Science and Engineering. The latter is achieved after an intensive year of study.
Most students after a graduate degree go on for a Ph.D. program in Computer Science and Engineering. Exceptional students who have completed their B.S. can also apply for this program. Research areas in this department include Biomedical Devices and Systems, Computer Architecture and Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. In addition to the courses in Computer Science as described above, this department offers a 4-year B.S. program in Electrical engineering. The Electrical Engineering Department has two courses in its graduate program leading to the M.S degree.
The first is a regular two-year M.S. in Electrical Engineering program. The second is a one-year program leading to the M.S. degree in electrical engineering which can be completed in one year by taking more courses during the fall and spring semesters and one course in the summer. The research areas under the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering program include Biomedical Devices and Systems, Electronics Materials and Devices, and Integrated Circuits and Systems.
Areas of Expertise:
Design for Human Variability
Innovation Management
Design Innovation
Engineering Design Pedagogy
Design Automation and Optimization
Design Theory and Methodology
Data-Driven Design
Design for Additive Manufacturing
Engineering Leadership Development;Design Decision-Making
Systems Design
Design for the Developing World
Simulation-Based Design Under Uncertainty
Product-Service Systems Design
Design Cognitio
Quantum Computing
Operating Systems and Programming Languages
Mobile Computing; Signal and Imaging Processing
Optical and Photonic Materials and Devices
Power Systems
Remote Sensing and Space Systems
Bioinformatics
Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems
Communications
Electromagnetics
Algorithms
Networking and Distributed Systems
Computer Vision
Control Systems
Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems
Information Theory
Data Science
Electronic Materials and Devices\
Security
List of Labs:
Communications and Space Sciences Laboratory
Computational Electromagnetics and Antennas Research Lab
Photonics for Communication, Sensing, and Illumination Center
International Center for Actuators and Transducers
Center for Machine Learning and Applications
Institute of Networking and Security Research
The Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State University was established in 1908, and it boasts of being the first industrial engineering department in the world. Not surprisingly, its undergraduate program is ranked no. 9 nationwide, while the graduate program is at no. 7. This most sought-after department offers an undergraduate program leading to a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. The graduate school offers a regular two-year program leading to an M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering (thesis and non-thesis M.S. options). Further, this school offers a dual degree of M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and a one-year Master's Degrees in Additive Manufacturing and Design. The Ph.D. program in Industrial Engineering offers the following areas as specializations - human factors and ergonomics, operations research, manufacturing, operations, services, and analytics.
Areas of Expertise:
Manufacturing Process Modeling
Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Control
Power Grids and Energy Modeling
Human Factors and Ergonomics
Human-Centered Design
Healthcare Systems Engineering
Operations Research and Data Analytics
Six Sigma
Additive Manufacturing
Service Systems Engineering
Supply Chain Engineering
List of Labs:
Center for Service Enterprise Engineering
Center for Health Organization Transformation
The Penn State Department of Material Sciences and Engineering is Ranked no. 12 and no. 11 for its graduate and undergraduate programs respectively in the US by US News. One of the premier research facilities in the nation, the Millennium Science Complex (MSC), is a 275,600 square-foot science building housing one of the university's top research organizations—the Materials Research Institute.
The department offers a B.S. in Material Science and Engineering. The master’s program, that is, M.S. in Material Science and Engineering is of two types - a two-year thesis-based program and an accelerated M.S. degree program which can be completed in one calendar year. The doctoral program called Penn State’s Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering (iMatSE) gives students the opportunity to be mentored one-on-one by the professors. Also, it allows the research student to pursue core coursework taught by the department as well as electives offered by other departments.
Areas of Expertise:
Ferroelectrics; 2D Materials
Polymers
Computational Materials Science
Glass Science and Engineering
Chemistry of Materials
Biomaterials; Electrochemistry
Materials for Energy
Metals
Physics of Materials
Semiconductors
Optical Materials
Composites
Ceramics
Nanomaterials
Additive Manufacturing
Materials for Sustainability
Analysis and Characterization of Materials
Piezoelectric Materials
List of Labs: Center for Dielectrics and PiezoElectrics; Materials Research Institute; Center for Computational Materials Design
Mechanical Engineering offered by the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering continues to be one of the most popular programs at Penn State. In 2018, US News & World Report ranked Penn State's Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program 17th in the country. In 2019, the graduate program was ranked 14th. The department offers a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and also a dual B.S. degree in mechanical and biomedical engineering.
The Graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering include a two-year M.S. in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. Battery and Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Center and Energy Nanostructure Lab are few of the renowned research centers this department harbors.
Areas of Expertise:
Advanced Manufacturing
Emerging Manufacturing Processes for Materials
Tissues and Devices
Controls and Optimization
Energy Storage and Energy Systems
Dynamic Systems, Acoustics and Vibrations
Mechatronics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Smart Materials
Multi-Scale Computations
Turbomachinery
Biomechanics
Nanoscience and Engineering
Nature Inspired Engineering
Design and Optimization
Energy Infrastructure, Storage and Devices
Brain Science and Neural Engineering
Multiscale and Multiphysics Modeling
Multiphysics Modeling/Computational Analysis
Optoelectronics, Photonics and Lasers
Combustion and Propulsion
Advanced Materials and Devices
Thermal management
Applied Mechanics and Biomechanics
Two-Phase Flows; Structural and Human Health Monitoring
List of Labs:
High-Pressure Combustion Laboratory
Center for Combustion, Power, and Propulsion
Turbine Heat Transfer and Aerodynamics Group
Battery and Energy Storage Technology Center
The Eberly College of Science at Penn State offers a plethora of courses in pure sciences.
The College has courses offers degrees at undergraduate and graduate levels in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and also a pre-medical program. Most of these programs are offered by the majority of colleges of Penn State spread across the state, though the main campus remains the most popular.
List of Labs:
Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization
Center for Neural Engineering
Radiation Science
Engineering Center