During much of the first two years, you ll follow a pre-major series of engineering, science, and math courses, to provide a firm foundation for your major. Recent student teams have been challenged to design and construct a gravity-powered vehicle that can travel twenty feet, a can crusher, or a sorting mechanism for balls of different size or weight. You ll meet new friends on creative projects like this, while you learn problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills to prepare you for an engineering career. Other hands-on courses, such as one in aerospace engineering, enroll students from freshmen through seniors who are designing and building a working sailplane. Seniors in many majors plan and carry out a capstone design project as part of an interdisciplinary student team.
Many projects have an industry sponsor, who implements the team s solution in the company.
First-Year Engineering Seminars are an exciting way to begin your engineering education at Penn State. These small interactive classes are limited to twenty students and meet once or twice a week for lab projects, demonstrations, tours, or discussions about engineering. Taking a First-Year Seminar is now required for all entering students. The seminars are designed to welcome you to the Penn State community and teach you valuable engineering skills and information. Your bachelor s degree in engineering prepares you to immediately begin working in your chosen field and to begin the process of becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.