UNDERGRADUATE
Bulletin

Swanson School of Engineering

BSE Degree Program Descriptions

ENGINEERING PHYSICS

The engineering physics program is designed for those students who have a strong interest in physics combined with a desire to acquire the skills and perspective of engineering. The program combines study in electrical engineering, materials science, and physics. Students are encouraged to pursue the degree, offered jointly by the Swanson School of Engineering and the University Honors College (UHC), by completing the engineering physics program and satisfying the special degree requirements of the UHC. This includes either completing and defending a thesis or taking a competency examination administered by the honors college. Students who decide not to seek honors college degree candidacy or who do not satisfy the special degree requirements will, upon successful completion of the curricula, be awarded the BSE from the Swanson School of Engineering. Graduates of this program will be well prepared for graduate study in any of its three areas: electrical engineering, materials science, or physics. For more information on the program, contact mseugrad@engr.pitt.edu or see www.engr.pitt.edu/mems/undergraduate/engrph-mems_curriculum.html.

Engineering Physics Undergraduate Curriculum

During the freshman and sophomore years, the student will be given a basic educational foundation in mathematics (calculus, matrix theory) and the fundamental methods and principles of the physical sciences, as well as an introduction to electrical engineering (linear systems, electronics, and computer applications) and materials science. During the junior and senior years, the course work provides a comprehensive knowledge of the branches of physics that are closely related to modern technology. In particular, the student will take physics department courses in optics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. Junior and senior engineering studies will stress such related topics as applications of electricity and magnetism, materials science, signal processing, and applied thermodynamics.

The major objectives of the engineering physics program are

• Provide students with fundamental understanding of physics and the engineering knowledge required to work in a variety of technical positions.
• Provide an undergraduate education that will allow qualified students to enter and be successful in graduate schools in electrical engineering, materials science and engineering or physics.
• Provide a general education in engineering science that will allow alumni to work in a variety of professional positions that benefit from some knowledge of engineering and physics such as management, teaching and law.

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Industrial Engineering (IE) is all about choices. It is the engineering discipline that offers the most wide-ranging array of opportunities in terms of employment, and it is distinguished by its flexibility. While other engineering disciplines tend to apply skills to specific areas, industrial engineers may be found working everywhere from traditional manufacturing companies to airlines, distribution companies to financial institutions, hospitals to consulting companies, high-tech corporations to luxury retailers. Engineers are educated to design and build things, but IEs are educated to design and improve the productivity and quality of integrated systems of people, material, computers, information, equipment, and other resources. IEs draw upon the specialized knowledge and skills in the mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles, methods and modeling tools of engineering analysis to make improvements in business processes. In addition to making significant contributions to corporate profitability, they also make the workplace a more productive and streamlined environment. The Department of Industrial Engineering meets the challenge of the growing complexity of modern industry through an intensive educational program that includes a required international component. Building upon a solid foundation in the basic sciences, engineering, and computers, the curriculum provides the student with a capability for systems analysis and design that crosses traditional disciplinary lines and an awareness of and concern for the demands of today's dynamic social systems.

 

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

The objectives of our undergraduate program are for our graduates to be:

• Successful professionals, who are adaptive to changes in technology and our global society, in their desired career path. This includes industrial engineering based careers, as well as other professional disciplines
• Pursuers of advanced knowledge to facilitate their desired goals
• Active leaders in their profession and/or community

The IE faculty has committed itself to the broad, multidisciplinary approach needed to solve problems in today's organizations. In addition to core courses in industrial engineering, you will be exposed to the humanities and social sciences with a global focus and have the opportunity to select four technical electives. These technical electives may be chosen from specialized and advanced offings of the industrial engineering department. In consultation with your advisor, up to two of these electives may be selected from other programs in the University such as other engineering departments, the sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, or information science.

Recognizing that engineering is an increasingly global profession, the undergraduate program is also committed to providing its graduates with the skill they need to compete on an international basis. Such skills will enable Pitt IE graduates to not only have a distinct employment advantage, but will also provide them with a cross-cultural awareness that will enhance their leadership abilities. This commitment is emphasized through an international requirement for all of our undergraduates for which students are expected to complete an international experience, or, in some cases select an intergrated set of humanities and social sciences courses with a global focus. The final term of our undergraduate program includes a capstone senior design course in which you, working in small teams with other students, will complete a semester long project in a corporate setting. These projects are sponsored by local industry through our Sponsor An Industrial Engineering Team (SAINT) program, jointly supervised by an individual from the company and an IE faculty member.

For more information on the industrial engineering program contact ie@engr.pitt.edu or www.engr.pitt.edu/industrial

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Materials limitations often impede technological and social progress. The materials engineer applies special knowledge of the structure, behavior, and properties of materials to solve these engineering problems. The engineer may be concerned with developing and improving processes for producing metals and alloys or ceramics; developing new alloys or improving existing alloys; and/or achieving better use of alloys and other materials. New materials must be designed for a variety of functions, including structural, esthetic, electrical, or magnetic and operating environments. Materials may come in forms so minute that the work is done under a microscope or in forms so large that special handling cranes are required.

Research efforts in the department involve work on the development of new high-strength steels, corrosion and oxidation, structural and electronic ceramics, smart materials, high-temperature materials, plastic deformation, phase transformations, and strengthening mechanisms. A number of graduate students are engaged in thesis research on these topics, and undergraduates are encouraged to work on related senior projects. For more information on the program, contact mseugrad@engr.pitt.edu or see www.engr.pitt.edu/mems/undergraduate/mse-mems_curriculum.html.

Materials Science and Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

The undergraduate program is designed to give the student a basic understanding of the structure and properties of materials, the principles underlying the processing of materials, and the concepts of engineering design and problem solving. Both theory and practice are emphasized. Laboratory experiences are integrated into the curriculum, and a variety of professional and engineering science electives are available. When desirable, specialized programs can be arranged for the students with well-defined interests and goals. Students are prepared to accept positions in production, research, and management, in both the basic materials and advanced or "high-tech" materials industries. This versatile education is a strong preparation for graduate work in metallurgy and materials and other related fields.

The major objectives of the materials science and engineering program are to

• Prepare students to assume positions of technical leadership in industries that require their specialized knowledge of materials science and engineering.
• Provide students with an education, grounded in the fundamentals, enabling them to succeed in graduate studies and research in materials science and engineering.
• Encourage students to remain committed and engaged in the discipline of materials science and engineering throughout their careers.
• Provide students with a comprehensive education in engineering science that will prepare them to succeed in management positions in industry, or other professional careers (e.g. teaching, law, etc.).

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Mechanical engineering is concerned with both energy use and the design of machines and systems in such sectors as transportation, manufacturing, materials handling, power generation, and environmental control. Mechanical engineers are involved in design, development, research, management, and related activities in these fields. The breadth and diversity of the profession requires an undergraduate curriculum that provides a sound foundation in the basic sciences, computational skills including use of computers, and the fundamentals of engineering and engineering design. This curriculum provides a base for future professional growth and is also an excellent background for those who wish to pursue careers in other professions including management, law, or medicine. For more information on the program, contact pittmems@engr.pitt.edu or see www.engr.pitt.edu/mems/undergraduate/me-mems_curriculum.html.

 

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

In the first two years, the mechanical engineering curriculum concentrates on the fundamentals of sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The last two years provide increased depth in the engineering sciences, including fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and systems analysis and also provide exposure to engineering applications, such as mechanical measurements, manufacturing, mechanical design, and thermal systems. Sufficient technical electives are allowed to permit each student to explore areas of special interest.

Course work in the social sciences and humanities is included for the enhancement of the student’s awareness of the importance of social, political, and economic problems in the practice of engineering. Where appropriate, the upper-level courses introduce consideration of human values, social benefits, and constraints to prepare future practicing engineers to be responsive to such concerns.

The major objectives of the program are to

• Train students in the fundamentals of mechanical engineering analysis, mathematics and sciences, and engineering problem solving;
• Provide students with an education that recognizes the breadth of our profession by using modern instructional methods;
• Develop in students skills critical to the design process, including the ability to formulate problems, to communicate effectively, and to work collaboratively;
• Provide and encourage outside the classroom industrial and research engineering experiences that develop the appreciation for lifelong learning; and
• Provide students with a background in the use of modern engineering tools applicable to problems in mechanical engineering.