Academic Program in Engineering

Core Engineering Courses:

• CHEM 101 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry
• CHEM 102 - Principles of Chemistry
• MATH 133 - Calculus I
• MATH 134 - Calculus II
• MATH 231 - Multivariable Calculus
• PHYS 110 - Mechanics and Relativity
• PHYS 111 - Electricity, Magnetism, and Thermodynamics (required for Clean Energy concentration, otherwise recommended but not required)
• CSCI 150 - Introduction to Computer Science (recommended but not required)
• MATH 234 - Differential Equations (recommended but not required)

Major in Environmental Science

Choose a major in:

• Biology
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Environmental Science

Core Engineering Courses:

• CSCI 150 - Introduction to Computer Science
• CSCI 151 - Data Structures
• CHEM 101 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry
• MATH 133 - Calculus I
• MATH 134 - Calculus II
• MATH 231 - Multivariable Calculus
• MATH 232 - Linear Algebra
• MATH 234 - Differential Equations
• MATH 335 - Probability
• PHYS 110 - Mechanics and Relativity
• PHYS 111 - Electricity, Magnetism, and Thermodynamics 

Choose a major:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science*
• Data Science*
• Environmental Science
• Geosciences
• Neuroscience
• Physics

*CS & DS students need some connection to other natural sciences (coursework, participated in research)

Core Engineering Courses:

• CSCI 150 - Introduction to Computer Science
• CSCI 151 - Data Structures
• CHEM 101 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry
• MATH 133 - Calculus I
• MATH 134 - Calculus II
• MATH 231 - Multivariable Calculus
• MATH 232 - Linear Algebra (helpful, but not necessary)
• MATH 234 - Differential Equations
• PHYS 110 - Mechanics and Relativity
• PHYS 111 - Electricity, Magnetism, and Thermodynamics

Core Engineering Courses:

• MATH 133 - Calculus I (required for Physics Major)
• MATH 134 - Calculus II (required for Physics Major)
• MATH 231 - Multivariable Calculus (required for Physics Major)
• MATH 234 - Differential Equations (required for Physics Major)
• CSCI 150 - Introduction to Computer Science

Major in Physics with Materials Concentration:

• Four Full Physics Major Core Courses
  • PHYS 110 - Mechanics and Relativity
  • PHYS 111 - Electricity, Magnetism, and Thermodynamics
  • PHYS 212 - Modern Physics
  • PHYS 310 - Classical Mechanics
• PHYS 418 - Laboratory Physics 
• Two Full General Chemistry Courses
  • CHEM 101 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry 
  • CHEM 102 - Principles of Chemistry 
• PHYS 340 - Physics of Materials 
• PHYS 312 - Quantum Mechanics or CHEM 339 - Quantum Chemistry and Kinetics

Core Engineering Classes:

• PHYS 110 - Mechanics and Relativity
• PHYS 111 - Electricity, Magnetism, and Thermodynamics
• MATH 133 - Calculus I
• MATH 134 - Calculus II
• MATH 231 - Multivariable Calculus
• MATH 234 - Differential Equations
• CSCI 150 - Introduction to Computer Science

Major in Biology 

All MSE students, regardless of track, must complete the following ten (10) required course units, of which six (6) must be Engineering courses:

• 1 ENGR 5215 – Energy and Sustainability: Science, Engineering, and Technology (in first semester of program)
• 1 ENGR 5020 – Engineering Sustainability at Penn (Capstone, 1 credit, or one credit of graduate-level independent study in a research lab at Penn if the project is related to energy and sustainability, or a non-credit opportunity like an internship, in which case the student takes another free elective)
• 3 courses in chosen concentration (Environment & Climate Solutions, Clean Energy Technology, Society & Policy, or Economics & Innovation)
• 3 courses in other categories (one in each)
• 2 free electives (advisor approval required)

10 course units are required for the MSE in Systems Engineering.

• 5 courses in Foundation, with at least one course from each sub-area of Data Science, Systems Modeling and System Design and Optimization
• Within Application Area Electives, 1 course in ESE Electives (any graduate course at the 5000 or 6000 elective), and 2 courses in Technical Electives (any 5000 or 6000 level course in EAS, ENM, ESE, CIS, CIT, IPD, MEAM, or MSE)
• A maximum of two CIT course units are allowed towards the degree
• Choose ESE 9990 (Master’s Thesis) or any 2 graduate-level courses from one approved Application Area (areas: Energy & Environment, EAS Entrepreneurship, Transportation & Logistics, Human Factors/IPD, Robotics, Embedded Systems/Internet of Things, Bio-Engineering/Medicine, Healthcare, Statistics, Revenue Management, Accounting, Finance)

10 course units are required for the MSE in Scientific Computing.

• Note: All Simulations count as Applications; all Applications count as Free Electives (cannot go backward).
• Note: Students cannot use Machine Learning courses or Applications courses to count toward the Simulations requirement.
• 1 ENM 5020 – Numerical Methods and Modeling (part of the Computational Mathematics category)
• 1 CIS 5450 – Big Data Analytics (part of Machine Learning and Data Science category)
• 1 additional course in Computational Mathematics
• 2 additional courses in Machine Learning and Data Science
• 2 courses in Methods and Simulations
• 2 courses in Applications in Natural Sciences 
• 1 free elective (any technical course, advisor approval required)

10 course units are required for the MSE in Materials Science. Students may choose to earn the degree through a non-thesis or a thesis option.

• Non-thesis course-based option: Students successfully complete ten credits of courses at the 5000 or higher level. All ten courses must carry a letter grade (A, B, C, or D).
• Thesis option: Students take seven course credits at the 500 or higher level, earning letter grades, and complete three credits of research with a faculty member by registering for two research credits (MSE 5970 Master's Thesis Research) and one Independent Study (MSE 5990).
• 6 MSE Courses (7 MSE courses are highly recommended)
• 2 Free Electives
• At least 2 SEAS courses relevant to materials science
• At least 2 Free electives (5000 level or higher)

Students may transfer:

• 2 MSE Courses
• 1 SEAS Course

10 credit units are required to obtain the Master of Biotechnology degree. Four core CUs are required for all Biotechnology students. The remaining 6 CUs are made up of the track electives. 6 of the 10 required CUs must be taken within the Schools of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS).

All Tracks

• 3 Biotechnology 
• 1 Laboratory in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Molecular Biology Track

• 3 Advanced Biology Electives
• 2 Research
• 1 Elective

Biopharmaceutical/Engineering Biotechnology Track

• 2 Quantitative Electives
• 3 Advanced Biology Electives
• 1 Free Elective

Oberlin students may transfer:

• 2 Advanced Biological Science Electives
• 1 Math Course