Engineering Physics
The Department of Physics and Optical Engineering has provided both science and engineering foundation at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology through its physics and optics engineering programs. Physics is the foundation subject to all engineering and through the study in engineering physics we aim at blending a strong physics component with relevant engineering backgrounds that are usually necessary to work in areas such as semiconductor, optical technologies, biomedical applications, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, and polymer and biochemistry. The students will get their traditional undergraduate engineering education that has a broad foundation in mathematics, engineering sciences and technology. This program emphasizes problem solving skills and an understanding of engineering design to address the needs and challenges of the technology age and allow students to take a broad range of engineering careers.
Engineering Physics at Rose-Hulman will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn the foundation concepts of physics and make a concentrated study in micro and nano technology. Engineering physicist will be able to apply both scientific and engineering approaches to a wide variety of problems which otherwise is not possible with any traditional engineering or science degree. Rose-Hulman’s engineering physics graduates will be trained to take up challenging jobs in engineering and development of new technologies or to pursue further studies in engineering or physics.
Mission: To provide a coherent foundation of physics for all majors and a strong foundation of physics, engineering physics and optical engineering for our majors so that all students can acquire education appropriate to their majors. The engineering disciplines of optical engineering and engineering physics enable students to practice in their dynamic and progressive engineering professional careers with responsibility to society.
Vision: To cultivate in the students responsibility, independence, and knowledge that allows them to be fully engaged in all disciplines, to continuously improve the curriculum, and to be engaged in professional development.
EP Program Educational Objectives
- Our graduates will set their career path and advance beyond their entry-level position or progress toward the completion of an advanced degree.
- Our graduates will contribute to society locally, nationally or globally
- Our graduates will collaborate within their organization; and be active in research and development in a relevant area of science and technology.
- Our graduates will continue to develop professionally.
| Outcome A: | Knowledge of the Fundamentals: An understanding of the fundamentals of science and engineering. |
| Outcome B1: | Interpreting Data: Ability to interpret graphical, numerical, and textual data. |
| Outcome B2: | System Level Modeling: Ability to model components and system level engineering problems. |
| Outcome B3: | Experimentation: Ability to design and conduct experiments to understand the relationships between variables in a problem which may or may not have been mathematically modeled before. |
| Outcome C: | Design: Ability to design a product or process to satisfy client's needs subject to constraints. |
| Outcome D: | Team work and Deliverables: Ability to work in teams and understand the effective team dynamics and be able to deliver a product. |
| Outcome E: | Problem Solving: Ability to apply relevant scientific and engineering principles to solve real world engineering problems. |
| Outcome F: | Professional Practice and Ethics: Sound understanding of what a Materials professional is, and an awareness and understanding of professional ethics. |
| Outcome G: | Communication: Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and visual forms. |
| Outcome H: | Contemporary issues, non-technical issues, global awareness: An awareness of contemporary and non-technical issues in engineering profession and the role of professionals in an interdependent global society. |
| Outcome I: | Life Long Learning: A facility for independent learning and continued professional development. |
Courses taken in the respective departments:
| Subjects | #Classes | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Physics (PH) | 10 | 40 |
| Math (MA) | 6 | 27 |
| Chemistry (CHEM) | 2 | 8 |
| CSSE/ME | 1 | 4 |
| EM | 3 | 8 |
| RHIT100 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical Engineering | 2 | 8 |
| Optical Engineering (OE) | 1 | 4 |
| HSSA | 9 | 36 |
| Engineering Physics (EP) | 7 | 26 |
| Engineering Physics Project (EP) | 3 | 12 |
| Electives (SEM, Eng. and Free) | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 50 | 194 |
SUMMARY OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINEERING PHYSICS
- All the courses listed above by the number.
- The program must be approved by the EP advisor.
- A list of the engineering electives is provided.
- SEM (Science, Engineering, Math) electives are courses that need to be taken at the 200 level (CHEM115 is allowed) or above in biology, biomathematics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics or physics.
- A free electives is any course in engineering, science, humanities, military science, or air science.
| Classes by Subjects | Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics Coursework* | 40 |
| Chemistry and Mathematics Coursework** | 35 |
| Humanities, Social Science, and the Arts (Standard requirement) | 36 |
| EM, ME, RHIT100 Courses | 13 |
| Electrical Engineering Courses | 8 |
| Optical Engineering Courses | 4 |
| EP Courses | 26 |
| EP Projects | 12 |
| Engineering Electives | 12 |
| SEM and Free Electives | 8 |
| Total | 194 |
Foundation Physics Classes
| Course | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PH 235 | Many Particle Physics | 4 |
| PH 255 | Modern Physics | 4 |
| PH 316 | Electric & Magnetic Fields | 4 |
| PH 317 | Electromagnetism | 4 |
| PH 327 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
| PH 401 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 4 |
| Total | 24 |
General Foundation Classes
| Course | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PH 111 | Physics I | 4 |
| PH 112 | Physics II | 4 |
| PH 113 | Physics III | 4 |
| MA 111 | Calculus I | 5 |
| MA 112 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MA 113 | Calculus III | 5 |
| MA 211 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| MA 212 | Matrix Algebra and Systems of Differential Equations | 4 |
| MA 223 | Engineering Statistics | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| Total | 47 |
Engineering Sciences Foundation
| Course | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EM 104 | Graphical Communications | 2 |
| EP 180 | Engineering at Nanoscale | 2 |
| EM 121 | Statics I | 4 |
| ECE 203 | DC Circuits | 4 |
| ECE 204 | AC Circuits | 4 |
| EP 280 | Introduction to Nano-engineering | 4 |
| EP 380 | Nanotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Ethics | 4 |
| OE 295 | Photonic Devices and Systems | 4 |
| PH 405 | Semiconductor Materials and Applications | 4 |
| EP 406 | Semiconductor Devices and Fabrication | 4 |
| EP 410 | Introduction to MEMS; Fabrication and Applications | 4 |
| EP 411 | Advance Topics in MEMS | 4 |
| EP 407 | Semiconductor Fabrication % Characterization | 4 |
| Engineering Elective | 12 | |
| ME123 | Computer Programming | 4 |
| Total | 68 |
Design Sequence
| Course | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EM 103 | Introduction to Design | 2 |
| EP 415 | Engineering Physics Projects I | 4 |
| EP 416 | Engineering Physics Projects II | 4 |
| EP 417 | Engineering Physics Projects III | 4 |
| Total | 14 |
Approved Engineering 200-Level Electives (4 credit hours required)
- ECE 205 Circuits and Systems
- ES 201 Conservation and Accounting Principles
- ES 202 Fluid and Thermal Systems
- EM 204 Statics II
- OE 280 Geometric Optics
- EP 290 Directed Study
- EP 490 Directed Study
Approved Engineering Electives
- OE 360 Optical Materials
- OE 393 Fiber Optics
- OE 437 Introduction to Image Processing
- OE 450 Laser Systems and Applications
- OE 495 Optical Metrology
- EP 330 Materials Failure
- EP 450 Nanomedicine
- EP 470 Special Topics in Engineering Physics
- EP 490 Directed Study
- CHE 315 Materials Science and Engineering
- ME 328 Materials Engineering
- ME 417 Advanced materials Engineering
- ME 422 Finite Elements for Engineering Applications
- EM 403 Advanced Mechanics of Materials
- ECE 351 Analog Electronics
- ECE 250 Electronic Device Modeling
Plan of Study
Total credits required: 194
NOTES
*If students miss EP 180 in the freshmen or sophomore year, this requirement must be replaced with a 300 or 400-level EP course of at least 2 credits.
EP course descriptions are listed under the Physics and Optical Engineering Department.