Department of Physics and Engineering (including Earth Science)
The Department of Physics and Engineering’s principal goal is to prepare graduating students to compete successfully for desired professional positions or to be accepted into highly selective graduate programs. This is achieved by challenging our students with a significant and complete education in engineering and the sciences within a close-knit, safe and personal environment, integrated by the rich atmosphere and liberal arts curriculum of the College. Our programs are born of a sense of cooperation between professors and students, and between student peers. In our cooperative environment, we motivate students to become increasingly self-aware, independent thinkers and to develop teamwork and communication skills. While technical and scientific competence is the bedrock of our students’ competitiveness, students also develop distinctive traits of caring and collaboration, which are becoming increasingly important in a world striving for meaning, harmony and peace. The knowledge, skills and character development attained by our students yield a sense of self-assurance founded in professional success and personal fulfillment.
Students majoring in one of the programs offered by the Department commonly go on to graduate school or to careers in engineering, physics, or education.
Majors Offered
The Department of Physics and Engineering offers majors in Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering Management, Physics and Secondary Education in Physics (Physics Education). The Department also has a cooperative 3+2 Engineering Program in which students study for three years at Elizabethtown College and then complete two additional years, normally at the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. In addition, the Department participates in the General Science Education program, described in the Interdisciplinary Programs chapter of this Catalog.
Majors
| Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering (concentrations in Electrical, Mechanical, or Applied Physics) |
- Requirements
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The Engineering major is a practical program designed to lead to a technical career in industry or graduate school in engineering. Our Engineering program is designed to prepare graduates who will (1) develop successful careers relating to the design, development and/or implementation of complex devices and systems within fields integrating electrical, mechanical and modern physics aspects; (2) meet the demands and challenges of the rapidly changing world and the global marketplace, researching and developing novel technologies to solve the problems and address market forces in society; (3) continue to develop their technical and professional skills throughout their careers; (4) display unwavering high ethical standards; and (5) contribute to the needs of and in other ways enhance their local communities and the world at large. Engineering majors are required to take Physics 200, 201, 202 and 302; Mathematics 121, 122, 201, 222 and 321; Engineering 100, 110, 210, 262, 263, 291, 310, 391, 395, 396, 400, 410-410L, 491 and 492; Computer Science 121; Chemistry 105; Earth Science 275; and Philosophy 255 (A, C or D). Engineering majors may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses. Students who successfully complete the requirements for the engineering major will have their Humanities Core requirement waived, and they may take up to 19 credits in up to three semesters at Elizabethtown without paying a credit overload fee.
Engineering majors alsomust select one of the following concentrations and complete the additional courses as noted:
- Mechanical Engineering: Engineering 264, 321, 365 and 463.
- Electrical Engineering: Engineering 220, 315, 351 and 352.
- Applied Physics: Engineering 351 and 463; Physics 353 and 361.
- Mechanical Engineering: Engineering 264, 321, 365 and 463.
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| Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering |
- Requirements
- The Computer Engineering major is offered in conjunction with the Computer Science Department and combines studies of engineering and computer technology, including both hardware and software. Our Computer Engineering program is designed to prepare graduates who will (1) demonstrate a working knowledge of mathematics, physics, electrical engineering and computer science by developing successful careers and/or postgraduate study relating to digital system design, embedded systems, computer architecture, software design and development and/or project management; (2) meet the demands and challenges of the ever-changing computer-related professions by assessing multiple design solutions and finding creative applications of fundamental engineering principles; (3) adopt the scientific method as the cornerstone of their lifelong education and use their broad understanding of human institutions, achievement and values to become leaders in their chosen fields of endeavor; (4) display unwavering high ethical standards; and (5) contribute to the needs of and in other ways enhance their local communities and the world at large by applying problem-solving skills and critical and independent thinking to a broad range of projects that can produce technical innovation aimed at satisfying the future needs of society. Computer Engineering majors are required to take Physics 200, 201, 202 and 302; Computer Science 121, 122 and 221; Engineering 100, 110, 210, 220, 230, 310, 332, 333, 400, 410, 422, 433 and 494; Chemistry 105; Philosophy 255 (A, C or D); and Mathematics 121, 122, 201, 222 and 321. Computer Engineering majors may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses, and they may take up to 19 credits in up to three semesters at Elizabethtown without paying a credit overload fee. Students who successfully complete the requirements for the computer engineering major will have their Humanities Core requirement waived.
| Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Management |
- Requirements
- The Industrial Engineering Management major is offered in cooperation with the Business Department and combines engineering physics with business administration. Our Industrial Engineering Management program is designed to prepare graduates who will (1) develop successful careers relating to the management, design, development and/or implementation of highly efficient complex industry systems; (2) meet the demands and challenges of the rapidly changing world and the global marketplace, researching and developing novel technologies to solve the problems and address market forces in industry; (3) continue to develop their technical and professional skills throughout their careers; (4) display unwavering high ethical standards; and (5) contribute to the needs of and in other ways enhance their local communities and the world at large. Industrial Engineering Management majors are required to take Physics 200 and 201; Engineering 100, 110, 210, 262, 391, 400, 411 and 492; and two of the following:?Engineering 263, 264, 321 or Earth Science 275; Mathematics 121, 122, 201, 222 and 251; Accounting 270; Computer Science 121 and 341; Chemistry 105; Economics 101; either Economics 102 or Business Administration 380; Business Administration 265, 466 and either 330 or 333; either Business Administration 248 or Mathematics 331; English 282; Philosophy 255 (A, C or D); and Psychology 105. Industrial Engineering Management majors may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses. Students who successfully complete the requirements for the Industrial Engineering Management major will have their Humanities Core requirement waived, and they may take up to 19 credits in up to three semesters at Elizabethtown without paying a credit overload fee.
| Cooperative 3+2 Engineering Programs (B.A. + B.S.) |
- Requirements
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Students in the 3+2 Engineering program complete three years at Elizabethtown College and two years at another institution, usually the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. Upon completion of course requirements, the Bachelor of Arts Degree is awarded by Elizabethtown College and the Bachelor of Science Degree by The Pennsylvania State University's College of Engineering. Students in the 3+2 Engineering program who maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (3.50 for aerospace engineering, bioengineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering) at Elizabethtown College are guaranteed admission to the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University.
Students in the 3+2 Engineering program are required to take Physics 200, 201, 202 and 221; Engineering 100, 110, 210 and 262; Mathematics 121, 122, 201, 222 and 321; Chemistry 105; Computer Science 121; Economics 101; English 100 or 150, and 282; and three of the following six courses: Engineering 220, 263, 264 or 321; Physics 302 or 353. Students in the 3+2 Engineering program may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses. Students who successfully complete the Elizabethtown requirements for the 3+2 program will have their Social Sciences Core requirement waived. In addition, they may waive one additional Core course – not to include First-Year Seminar or any of the Core courses also required for the major – and are allowed to take up to 19 credits in up to three of the six semesters they study at Elizabethtown without paying a credit overload fee. Penn State also requires three physical education courses for students entering the 3+2 Engineering program.
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| Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics |
- Requirements
- The Physics major provides baseline preparation either for graduate school or for the technical job market. Our Physics program is designed to prepare graduates who will (1) develop successful careers relating to the study and advancement of our understanding of physics; (2) continue to develop their technical and professional skills throughout their careers; (3) display unwavering high ethical standards; and (4) contribute to the needs of and in other ways enhance their local communities and the world at large. Physics majors are required to take Physics 200, 201, 202, 302, 353, 361, 491 and 492; Mathematics 121, 122, 201, 222 and 321; Chemistry 105 and 113; Computer Science 121; Engineering 210 and 263; and two of the following: Physics 221; Earth Science 275; Engineering 220, 310, 315, 321, 351, 352, 365 or 463. Physics majors may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses.
| Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics Secondary Education |
- Requirements
- A Secondary Education major in Physics is offered in conjunction with the Education Department and leads to Pennsylvania teacher certification at the secondary level. Our Physics Education program is designed to prepare graduates who will (1) develop successful careers teaching secondary physics; (2) maintain their study of current work in theoretical and applied physics and bring that knowledge into their classrooms throughout their careers; (3) continue to develop their pedagogical skills throughout their careers; (4) display unwavering high ethical standards; and (5) contribute to the needs of and in other ways enhance their local communities and the world at large. Required courses for this major are:?Physics 200, 201, 202 and 221; Earth Science 113 or 114; Engineering 210 and 321; Chemistry 105 and 113; Biology 101 and 103; Mathematics 121, 122 and 222; Computer Science 121; and Education 105, 150, 241, 282, 305, 470 and 490. Education certification also requires two English courses (one literature and one writing). The final professional portfolio (Education 490) must include two position papers on the ethical implications of contemporary physics. Physics Education majors may substitute Physics 200 for one of their Natural and Physical Science Core courses.
Minors
Minor in Physics
Honors in the Discipline
