Majors
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) is a traditional engineering degree that prepares students for careers in professional engineering, computer science or digital media design. The first type of engineering degree to be offered at Penn, BSE degrees require 40 or 41 course units and are designed to be completed in four years.
The top-ranked Department of Bioengineering at Penn Engineering offers a fully-accredited degree program that brings together the creation of new knowledge and understanding of biological systems through engineering analysis and experimentation, with the application of engineering design and practice principles to solve problems in medicine and the biological sciences. Both the BSE and the BAS programs in Bioengineering are identical for the first two years, and students may easily change from one program to the other as their career plans become clearer.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Catherine Lawrence
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The great flexibility and power offered by a degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Penn Engineering ensures that every student receives thorough training in fundamental concepts of permanent relevance and the physical, biotechnological, and chemical principles underlying the engineering profession.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Meghan Godfrey
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The enormous computational capabilities of modern computer technology offer the potential to create new applications and value that can be turned into concrete artifacts and services that improve our lives and create wealth.
Computer Engineering is the discipline that designs and engineers computer systems from digital circuits, through compilers and runtime systems, to networking and world-wide distributed systems. As an engineering discipline, the computer engineer must appreciate the physical aspects of computations (energy, delay, area, reliability, costs) and be able to expertly navigate the multidimensional trade-off space associated with implementing computations.
A degree in computer science provides students with an in-depth education in the conceptual foundations of computer science and in complex software and hardware systems. It allows them to explore the connections between computer science and a variety of other disciplines in engineering and outside. Combined with a strong education in mathematics, sciences, and the liberal arts it prepares students to be leaders in computer science practice, applications to other disciplines, and research.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Jackie Caliman
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The Digital Media Design (DMD) program at Penn Engineering, in collaboration with the University's Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Design, was created to educate a new generation of people to work in computer graphics; people who, through a combined education in both disciplines, could collaborate effectively with technologists and artists. In addition, through their communications courses, DMD students delve into what the audience of these future collaborations might perceive and the resulting impact upon society,science practice, applications to other disciplines, and research.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Amy Calhoun
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The Electrical Engineering major at Penn Engineering ranges across telephony, mobile and satellite communications, fiber optics, electrical power and machinery, instrumentation, computer systems, satellite systems, microelectronics, robotics, graphics, automatic control, and telecommunications. The program is a flexible, broad-based major that provides a rigorous grounding in the analytical and experimental foundations of electrical engineering while allowing a student substantial flexibility in crafting an individualized program reflecting his or her interests and career goals.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Denice Gorte
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The Materials Science and Engineering program reflects the recent explosive growth of interest in the nano and bio sectors of engineering science and technology. The rapid progress of modern technology continues to be driven by advances in our understanding of the science of the materials which underpin these technologies. An education at Penn Engineering in the field of materials science will provide the foundation for a leadership role in a career pathway in any of the many areas of current technology.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Vicky Lee
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The program in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics is a broad-based education that will allow you to adapt to changes in technology in our rapidly changing society. At the same time, the curriculum offers the flexibility for you to specialize in one or more areas in mechanical engineering (for example, energy engineering, mechanical design, fluid mechanics, or structure mechanics) or even such cross disciplinary areas such as robotics, biomechanics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), or mechanics of materials.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Olivia Brubaker
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This program prepares students to shape the technologies that underpin Internet-based search and electronic commerce, financial networks, social networks, and even such exchanges as the power grid. Graduates of this program will be prepared to engineer networks that work for both end-users and investors. Other graduates may become the policy-makers who are urgently needed to regulate these networks for the protection of commercial property and societal good.
The Systems Science and Engineering (SSE) program specializes in those aspects of engineering that pertain to effectiveness of whole systems. In contrast to other engineering specialties which are grounded in certain aspects of science, system engineering is grounded primarily in mathematics and methodology. The core curriculum focuses on mathematical modeling and simulation, rather than on particular physical sciences. To assure that designs are responsive to real needs, students learn how to model, simulate, optimize, integrate and evaluate systems.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Denice Gorte
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Bachelor of Applied Science
The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) is a degree option that offers students breadth and allows them to combine a technology-based degree with considerable course work in the liberal arts, communications, or fine arts. This degree is designed primarily for students whose interests are not oriented toward a professional engineering career. It is a popular degree option for those preparing for careers in medicine, business, and law. The BAS degree requires a minimum of 40 course units.
The Bachelor of Applied Science degree offers students breadth and flexibility and allows them to combine a technology-based degree with considerable course work in the liberal arts, communications, business or fine arts. It is designed primarily for students whose interests are not oriented toward a professional engineering career. It is a popular degree option for those preparing for careers in medicine, business, and law. Many students who are pursuing dual degree programs opt for this degree. The BSE and the BAS programs in bioengineering are identical for the first two years, and students may easily change from one program to the other as their career plans become clearer.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Catherine Lawrence
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Cognitive science is a science of mental information processing that requires collaborative research in several disciplines. In the cognitive science program at Penn Engineering, the opportunity exists for studying a diversity of subjects which satisfy personal desires, developing a broad foundation for adapting to new societal demands, and maintaining flexibility for moving into new areas of interest if a change in personal career direction develops.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Jackie Caliman
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A BAS in Computational Biology requires that students augment a basic computer science curriculum with courses in biology, chemistry, genetics and statistics. This program has a year-long capstone course in computational biology that is co-taught by faculty in computer science, biology and genetics.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Jackie Caliman
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A degree in computer science provides students with an in-depth education in the conceptual foundations of computer science and in complex software and hardware systems. It allows them to explore the connections between computer science and a variety of other disciplines in engineering and outside. A BAS in computer science combines knowledge of technology with an understanding of human and social values, and is designed for students who do not plan to work as professional engineers, and want a customized education which combines the liberal arts and technology in a manner unique to their career goals.
Undergraduate Coordinator: Jackie Caliman
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1. Must possess a minimum of 3.3 cumulative GPA to apply;
2. Must complete requirements of the first two years of a BSE or named BAS program curriculum, specifically, the first two years of the Math, Science, and Engineering requirements.
3. Must have a Faculty Mentor (Advisor) in SEAS as sponsor of application, indicating his/her willingness to serve as Advisor for the student's work in an Individualized major;
4. Must complete an "Application for the Individualized Major" which will be reviewed by the Petition for Action Committee. The Petition must be signed by the sponsoring Faculty Advisor as well as that faculty member's Undergraduate Chair.
5. The earliest time to apply is spring of sophomore year, for junior year entry.
Career Goal Statement:
Every student in an individualized BAS degree program must write a one-page narrative that describes his or her career goals and the role that the engineering component of the plan will play in preparation for that career. This narrative must be submitted with the application for the Individualized Major. The career goal statement should be accompanied by a BAS CPG which has been approved and signed by the academic advisor. The course plan may be amended at any time by submitting a revised CPG.
Additional Options
Dual Degrees and Special Programs: You may combine your BAS or BSE degree with a second degree in one of Penn's other undergraduate schools. A Dual Degree is not to be confused with a "dual major" (see below) where a student earns two degrees within Penn Engineering. Learn more.
Dual Majors within Penn Engineering: A student who is interested in two engineering majors may be permitted to expand his/her program in order to earn a degree in both majors. In such cases, the student must satisfy the degree requirements for both BSE curricula. (BAS students are not permitted to dual major within engineering.) To achieve dual engineering major status, a student must prepare Course Planning Guides at Penn InTouch for the two curricula showing how the requirements for each will be satisfied. Learn more.
Second Major in the College of Arts and Sciences: Some SEAS students may wish to consider a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences as an alternative to a dual degree. All College majors are open to engineering students (both BSE and BAS) as a second major. It is important to note that this program results in a single degree (from SEAS) with two majors, one in SEAS and one in SAS. Students interested in pursuing a second major in the College should contact directly the Department that offers the major.