Neural Engineering Option

Graphic of brain with specific areas highlighted

The neural engineering option in engineering science and mechanics provides students with fundamental engineering training and advanced technical work at the intersection of engineering and neuroscience. Students will have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of experimental, theoretical, computational, and clinical brain science research, as well as engineering approaches to develop advanced neurotechnology.

This option starts with the fundamental engineering and science courses required to have access to the core neuroscience and engineering coursework. Students will then focus on advanced technological courses related to materials and device development, mechanics, modeling and analysis of brain-related data. Furthermore, this option fosters considerations of the responsible research and innovation of neuroscience and neurotechnology.

The neural engineering option provides students with the skills and background they need to pursue careers in neural engineering in industrial and academic settings, data science, biomedical device research and development, as well as for attending medical school or other professional programs.

Foundational Courses

Students must take 12 credits of foundational courses.

Required:

Choose from:

Alternatives in Fluid Dynamics include: BME 409, AERSP 308, ME 320.

Design Courses

Students must take 3 credits of design courses. 

  • ESC 460M: Multidisciplinary Design Project
  • ESC 460W: Multidisciplinary Design Project
  • EDSGN 260: Summers by Design: An International Engineering Design Experience
  • EDSGN 400: Engineering Systems Design 
  • EDSGN 468: Engineering Design and Analysis with CAD 

General Education Courses 

The following courses are suggested for this track: 

Technical Electives

Students need at least four courses and two of those must be engineering courses.  

See full list of options, allocated with focus on core elements of physiology; materials and chemistry; devices and instrumentation; modeling, mathematics and physics; data analysis and data sciences. 

The choices here are highly customizable, and choices should be discussed with both your engineering science and mechanics adviser and research/thesis mentor.   

Example Elective Choices might be: 

All have the same FE1-3: 

Premed

Electronics Instrumentation and Measurement

Neural Mechanics 

Wearables Implantables & Fabrication 

Neural Data Analysis 

Control and Prosthetics 

Theoretical & Mathematical Approaches 

Full Technical Elective Choices

Physiology

Materials and Chemistry

Mechanics

Devices and Instrumentation 

Modeling, Mathematics, and Physics 

Data Analysis and Science

Other

 

 
 

About

The Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) is an internationally distinguished department that is recognized for its globally competitive excellence in engineering and scientific accomplishments, research, and educational leadership.

Our Engineering Science program is the official undergraduate honors program of the College of Engineering, attracting the University’s brightest engineering students. We also offer graduate degrees in ESM, engineering mechanics, engineering at the nano-scale, and an integrated undergraduate/graduate program.

Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics

212 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-4523