Engineering Physics
Department: Physics
This Program of Emphasis includes three options: 1) 3-2 engineering (two degrees) in cooperation with one of our four affiliated engineering schools; 2) 4-year, engineering-oriented Juniata College degree; and 3) 4-year Juniata College degree designed for secondary school teacher preparation. The first two options are structured to allow a student to aim toward engineering school either by participating in our 3-2 engineering programs or by completing a four-year program at Juniata. Option 2 would further provide a technical background for a person who wishes to seek general employment in a technical industrial situation which does not require specific engineering training. Option 3 provides appropriate background for teaching high school physics, and is intended to be completed in conjunction with the Education Department's certification requirements (see below). The mathematics sequence in these three options offers the necessary problem-solving techniques and discipline required for the upper-level physics courses at Juniata and the upper-level engineering courses at an engineering school. The first two years of physics consists of a broad introduction to the field, providing basic knowledge and initial analytical skill development. Substantial laboratory work is included in these options to insure contact with concrete phenomena.
Option 1, the 3-2 option is structured to prepare a student to go to engineering school in our 3-2 program. The physics, mathematics, chemistry and computer science consists of a broad introduction to the field, providing basic knowledge and initial analytical skill development for the engineering profession. Generally, this POE option is designed to meet the entrance requirements of the engineering schools with which we are affiliated. Since these requirements vary somewhat from school to school, advice from the Engineering Advisor is essential in the planning process. The following program is designed to help the student meet the requirements for Penn State. If students meet these requirements, we find that they also are prepared for our other affiliated engineering schools, (Washington University, Columbia University , and Clarkson University ). Advice from the engineering advisor will help fine tune each student's POE. The student must also not forget that a grade point average of 3.0 is generally needed for continuation at our cooperating engineering schools, although Washington University requires a 3.25 average in science/math classes. Many of Penn State's engineering programs also have "Enrollment control" which mean they have increased the minimum GPA to 3.5 for entrance into those programs whether you are a 3-2 transfer student, or a regular Penn State student. At present time, the following Penn State departments are under enrollment control: Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. None of our other 3-2 cooperating universities have enrollment controls in place, and so a GPA of 3.0 or higher is acceptable for all of their programs. (Penn State also has a few programs, including Agricultural and Biological Engineering and majors in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, that only require at grade point average of 2.75).
Students who wish to obtain a further education in pure physics should fulfill the requirements of the normal physics program of emphasis rather than this one. A 3-2 engineering student who decides to extend Juniata's education to four years, but who intends to goto an engineering school for either a BS or a graduate degree in engineering, may find this program to be useful.
Please note that this POE is not designed for those interested in Chemical Engineering. Please speak both with the Engineering Advisor in the physics department and with a chemistry advisor if you are interested in Chemical Engineering.
Course Requirements for Options 1 and 2:
Note: Every POE must include at least two CW/CS courses, with at least one course at the 300 level.
Required mathematics courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA 130 | Calculus I | 4 | N | QM | |
| MA 160 | Linear Algebra | 3 | N | QM | |
| MA 230 | Calculus II | 4 | MA 130 | N | QM |
| MA 235 | Calculus III | 4 | MA 230 | N | QM |
| MA 335 | Differential Equations | 4 | MA 130 and MA 230 and MA 235 or MA 233 | N | QM |
Required computer science courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS 110 | Computer Science I | 4 | Recommended programming experience or IT 110 or MA 103, but not necessary | N | |
| CS 200
or CS 254 |
FORTRAN Programming C++ Programming |
2 |
CS 110 & sophomore standing and permission, required for both courses |
N N |
Required chemistry courses - One year of College Level Chemistry with Lab
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CH 114 & CH 115 or |
Intro Physical Inorganic I & II, with Lab |
8 | 1 year high school chemistry or permission | N | QS |
| CH 121 & CH 122 | Concepts I & II, with and Organic Chemistry Lab I & II | 8 | N | QS |
Required physics courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 189 | Physics Seminar I | 1 | |||
| PC 202 | Introductory Physics I | 3 | Co-req: MA 130 & PC 206 | N | QM |
| PC 203 | Introductory Physics II | 3 | MA 130 & PC 202; Co-req: PC 207 | N | QM |
| PC 206 | Physics Lab I | 1 | Co-req: PC 202 | N | |
| PC 207 | Physics Lab II | 1 | Co-req: PC 203 | N | |
| PC 289 | Physics Seminar II | 1 | PC 189 | ||
| PC 300 | Modern Physics | 4 | MA 230 & PC 203; Co-req: MA 235 | N | CW |
| PC 320 | Engineering Mechanics I: Statics | 3 | PC 202 | N | |
| PC 321 | Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics | 3 | PC 320 | N | |
| PC 389 | Physics Seminar III* | 1 | PC 289 | ||
| PC 489 | Physics Seminar IV* | 1 | PC 389 |
*In case of course conflicts or study abroad, consult with your physics advisor
Additional courses for Option 1, the 3-2 engineering option
The following may be taken for specific kinds of engineering:
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 209 | Electronics | 3 | |||
| PC 307 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 | PC 300 & MA 235 | N | CW, QS |
| PC 330 | Nuclear Physics (for aerospace, nuclear, or electrical engineering) | 3 | PC 300 | N | CW |
| GL 100 | Introduction to Geology (for mining, petroleum & natural gas engineering) | 3 | N | ||
| GL 202 | Historical Geology | 3 | GL 100; coreq GL 203 | N | |
| GL 203 | Historical Geology Lab | 1 | GL 101; coreq GL 202 | N | |
| CH 106 | Organic Chemistry Concepts II | 3 | CH 105, minimum grade C | N | |
| CH 122 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 1 | CH 121: corequistie CH 106 | N | QS |
| CH 240 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 | CH 105 or permission | N | |
| CH 305 | Physical Chemistry (for chemical engineering. That is, take 2 full years of chemistry) | 3 | PC 203 & MA 230 | N |
In addition, students should add to the POE a course in speech, a course in technical writing, and a course in economics.
Total credit hours for Option 1, the 3-2 engineering option should not exceed 63 credits.
Additonal courses for Option 2, the four-year Engineering Physics opton
PC 307, Advanced Lab (pre-reqs: PC 300 & MA 235) and at least one of the following must be taken:
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 209 | Electronics | 3 | N | ||
| CH 305 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 | MA 230 & PC 203 | N | |
| PC 330 | Nuclear Physics | 3 | PC 300 | N | CW |
| PC 340 | Mathematical Methods in Physics | 3 | PC 203 & MA 230 | N | |
| PC 350 | Thermodynamics | 3 | PC 300 & MA 235 | N | |
| PC 491 | Electricity & Magnetism | 4 | PC 203; cor-requisite PC 340 | N | |
| PC 430 | Optics | 3 | MA 330 or PC 340 & PC 300 | N |
Total credit hours for Option 2, the 4 year Engineering Physics option = 62 or 63
Course Requirements for Options 3:
Note: Every POE must include at least two CW/CS courses, with at least one course at the 300 level.
Required physics courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 189 | Physics Seminar I | 1 | |||
| PC 202 | Introductory Physics I | 3 | Co-req: MA 130 & PC 206 | N | QM |
| PC 203 | Introductory Physics II | 3 | MA 130 & PC 202; Co-req: PC 207 | N | QM |
| PC 206 | Physics Lab I | 1 | Co-req: PC 202 | N | |
| PC 207 | Physics Lab II | 1 | Co-req: PC 203 | N | |
| PC 209 | Electronics | 3 | N | ||
| PC 289 | Physics Seminar II | 1 | PC 189 | ||
| PC 300 | Modern Physics | 4 | MA 230 & PC 203; Co-req: MA 235 | N | CW |
| PC 320 | Engineering Mechanics I: Statics | 3 | PC 202 | N | |
| PC 321 | Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics | 3 | PC 320 | N | |
| PC 389 | Physics Seminar III* | 1 | PC 289 | ||
| PC 489 | Physics Seminar IV* | 1 | PC 389 |
*In case of course conflicts or study abroad, consult with your physics advisor
Total credits hours = 26
Required mathematics courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA 130 | Calculus I | 4 | N | QM | |
| MA 230 | Calculus II | 4 | MA 130 | N | QM |
| MA 235 | Calculus III | 4 | MA 230 | N | QM |
Total credit hours = 12
Elective physics/mathematics courses
At least two of the following courses must be taken:
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 307 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 3 | PC 300 & MA 235 | N | CW, QS |
| PC 330 | Nuclear Physics (for aerospace, nuclear, or electrical engineering) | 3 | PC 300 | N | CW |
| PC 340 | Mathematical Methods in Physics | 3 | PC 203 & MA 230 | N | |
| PC 350 | Thermodynamics | 3 | PC 300 & MA 235 | N | |
| PC 430 | Optics | 3 | MA 330 or PC 340 & PC 300 | N | |
| PC 491 | Electricity & Magnetism | 4 | PC 203; cor-requisite PC 340 | N | |
| MA 335 | Differential Equations | 4 | MA 130 and MA 230 and MA 235 or MA 233 | N | QM |
Total credit hours = 6 to 8
Required chemistry courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH 114 | Intro. Physical Inorganic Chemistry I | 4 |
|
QS | |
| CH 115 | Intro. Physical Inorganic Chemistry II | 4 | CH 114 |
|
QS |
Total credit hours = 8
Total credit hours for Option 3, the secondary education option = 52-54 (Note: a student with this POE must also take the Education Department courses indicated below in order to pursue certification as a high school physics teacher).
Required education courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | Prerequisites | Dist. | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED 110 | Foundations of Education | 3 | Coreq ED 111 |
|
|
| ED 111* | Foundations of Education Field Experience | 1 | Coreq ED 110 |
|
|
| ED 130 | Adolescent Development | 3 | S | ||
| ED 201 | Education Technology | 3 | ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121 or ED 130 | S | |
| ED 240 | Introduction to Students with Exceptionalities | 3 | ED 110 & ED 111 and ED 120 & ED 121 or ED 130 | S | |
| ED 341* | Adaptations for Students with Exceptionalities | 4 | ED 110 & ED 111 & ED 240 | S | CW |
| ED 420* | Secondary Methods | 4 | ED 341, junior or senior standing, Coreq. ED 421 | S | CW |
| ED 421 | Secondary Math/Science Methods | 1 | ED 341: coreq. ED 420 | ||
| ED 450** | Student Teaching | 14 | ED 420, senior standing & permission, coreq. ED 451 | S | |
| ED 451** | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 | Coreq. ED 450 | S |
Total credit hours = 37
*There are field experiences in these courses. Students should take only one of these courses per semester. Allow a two-hour block of time for scheduled field experience twice a week.
**ED 450 & ED 451 (Student Teaching and Seminar) may be taken only in the FALL semester of the senior year. Secondary Foreign Language Education majors take ED 450 & ED 451 in the SPRING semester. ED 450 requires students' full-time participation and no other courses may be taken during this semester. Students must have reliable transportation.
NOTE: It is imperative that students work closely with their advisors to meet all current certification requirements. All students are required to take six credits of English composition (or equivalent) and literature (or the equivalent) and two college level mathematics courses (or the equivalent) prior to being admitted to a certification program. See Section I of the Education Department Student Handbook for explanation of all certification requirements.
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