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Engineering Minors

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Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural and biological engineering is the development and application of engineering principles to agriculture productions, food processing, and the conservation of land and water resources. The program includes courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering sciences that are common to all engineering disciplines. In addition, the program includes specialized training in the biological and agricultural sciences.

Go to the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department website for more information.

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Bioengineering

Bioengineering (or biomedical engineering) is the application of engineering science and engineering practice to the needs of modern medicine, and to research problems in the biological sciences. The minor is available to students in any undergraduate programs, but is particularly suitable to engineering students seeking careers in health-related professions.

Go to the Bioengineering Department website for more information.

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Engineering Entrepreneurship

Engineering entrepreneurship (E-SHIP) is based in the College of Engineering but has cross-university focus, with most students in either engineering, business, or information sciences and technology (IST). The 18-credit minor uses problem-based learning, where the faculty member is a project facilitator and learning guide. Cross-skill training is a key feature in the minor: engineering and IST students take a business basics course, and business students take an introduction to engineering processes course. All E-SHIP core courses (12 credits) have team-based projects in product (or process) concept development, market research, prototyping, and business planning.

Go to the Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor website for more information.

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Engineering Leadership Development

The engineering leadership development minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for engineering students who wish to supplement their major field of study with knowledge of leadership concepts, principles, practices, and techniques. The minor was developed as a result of strong industry, recruiter, and alumni support for training, educating, and developing engineers who are not only technically competent but also interpersonally aware and capable of leading teams. The minor provides students with the opportunity to develop essential non-technical professional skills necessary to become leader-engineers in today’s global society.

Go to the Engineering Leadership Development Minor website for more information.

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Engineering Mechanics

Engineering mechanics is the engineering science that deals with the effects of forces and torques on particles, rigid bodies, or deformable media. Mechanics is typically subdivided into statics, dynamics, and mechanics of deformable bodies.

Go to the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department website for more information.

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Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers are concerned with the protection of human populations from the effects of adverse environmental factors, the protection of environments from the potentially deleterious effects of human activities, and the improvement of environmental quality for public health and well-being. The minor provides students in engineering, science, and other majors with comprehensive knowledge of environmental issues and the skills necessary to formulate and solve problems associated with environmental pollution.

Go to the Environmental Engineering Minor website for more information.

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Nanotechnology

Nanoscale science and engineering is inherently interdisciplinary and bridges across engineering, materials science, physics, biology, and chemistry. The nanotechnology minor is designed to help prepare students from diverse disciplines for careers in a broad range of industries innovating with nanotechnology. The minor builds on the singular strengths of Penn State's nanofabrication facilities and provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in simulation, design, modeling, synthesis, characterization, properties, processing, manufacturing, and applications at the nanoscale.

Go to the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department website for more information.

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Product Realization

This interdisciplinary minor is designed for any engineering student who is interested in state-of-the-art practice in integrated product/process design and manufacturing. The program culminates with a one- or two-semester project involving the design and manufacture of a new product.

Go to the Product Realization Minor website for more information.

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Six Sigma

The Six Sigma minor is designed for any student who is interested in the Six Sigma statistical methodology. Six Sigma is a structured, quantitative approach to improving the quality and cost of products and processes. It provides a framework for quality improvement and innovation that builds upon statistical tools to achieve results.

Go to the Six Sigma Minor website for more information.

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