Engineering physics

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search


Engineering physics, or engineering science, refers to the study of the combined disciplines of natural science (particularly physics and mathematics) and engineering in order to develop an enhanced understanding of the interrelationship between them. By focussing on the scientific method as a rigorous basis, it seeks ways to apply and develop new solutions in engineering. Engineering physics or engineering science degrees are respected academic degrees awarded in many countries. It can be taught at the undergraduate level and is often designed as an honors program at some universities due to the rigorous nature of the academic curriculum which covers a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines.[1][2][3][4]

Overview

Unlike traditional engineering disciplines, engineering science/physics is not necessarily confined to a particular branch of science or physics. Instead, engineering science/physics is meant to provide a more thorough grounding in applied physics for a selected specialty such as optics, quantum physics, materials science, applied mechanics, nanotechnology, microfabrication, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biophysics, control theory, aerodynamics, energy, solid-state physics, etc. It is the discipline devoted to creating and optimizing engineering solutions through enhanced understanding and integrated application of mathematical, scientific, statistical, and engineering principles. The discipline is also meant for cross-functionality and bridges the gap between theoretical science and practical engineering with emphasis in research and development, design, and analysis.

It is notable that in many languages the term for "engineering physics" would be directly translated into English as "technical physics". In some countries, both what would be translated as "engineering physics" and what would be translated as "technical physics" are disciplines leading to academic degrees, with the former specializes in nuclear power research, and the latter closer to engineering physics.[5] In some institutions, engineering (or applied) physics major is a discipline or specialization within the scope of engineering science, or applied science.[6][7][8]

In many universities, engineering science programs may be offered at the levels of B.Tech, B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Usually, a core of basic and advanced courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology forms the foundation of the curriculum, while typical elective areas may include fluid dynamics, quantum physics, economics, plasma physics, relativity, solid mechanics, operations research, quantitative finance, information technology and engineering, dynamical systems, bioengineering, environmental engineering, computational engineering, engineering mathematics and statistics, solid-state devices, materials science, electromagnetism, nanoscience, nanotechnology, energy, and optics. While typical undergraduate engineering programs generally focus on the application of established methods to the design and analysis of engineering solutions, undergraduate program in engineering science focuses on the creation and use of more advanced experimental or computational techniques where standard approaches are inadequate (i.e., development of engineering solutions to contemporary problems in the physical and life sciences by applying fundamental principles).

Some examples of universities that offer engineering physics or engineering science programs include: University of Oxford,[9]Bauman Moscow State Technical University,[10] Queen's University,[11] Brown University,[12] MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,[13] Stanford University,[14] Cornell University,[15] Tulane University,[16] Murray State University,[17] Wheeling Jesuit University,[18] University of The Pacific,[19] Polytechnique Montreal,[20] Virginia Tech,[21] University of British Columbia,[22] University of Toronto,[23] Telkom University,[24] EAFIT University,[25] Surya University,[26] Simon Fraser University,[27] McMaster University,[28] Pennsylvania State University,[29] and the University of Colorado.[30]

Areas of specialization

Professional Societies and Organizations

See also

Notes and references

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
  7. Engineering Physics, Division of Engineering Science, University of Toronto
  8. Engineering Science and Mechanics program at Virginia Tech
  9. [1]
  10. [2]
  11. [3]
  12. [4]
  13. [5]
  14. [6]
  15. School of Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University
  16. Tulane Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
  17. Murray State University's Institute of Engineering - Engineering Physics Program
  18. Department of Engineering
  19. [7]
  20. Engineering Physics Program at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
  21. Engineering Science and Mechanics Program at Virginia Tech
  22. Engineering Physics Program at the University of British Columbia
  23. Engineering Science Honors Program at the University of Toronto
  24. [8]
  25. Engineering Physics Program at the EAFIT University
  26. [9]
  27. Engineering Physics Honors Program at the Simon Fraser University
  28. Engineering Physics at McMaster University
  29. Engineering Science Honors Program at Pennsylvania State University
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Program of Engineering physics, Laval University, Quebec

External links

ja:基礎工学#『基礎的な工学』としての基礎工学