Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM)

Engineering Science and Mechanics programs at universitites typically provide a multi- and interdisciplinary education. They focus on teaching the fundamentals that lie at the intersection of engineering and science. While there are a few engineering science, engineering mechanics, theoretical and applied mechanics, and engineering physics programs, two in the United states at (Virginia Tech) and (Penn State) combine the best characteristics of most of these programs. Besides enrolling students at the BS, MS and PhD levels, these departments also conduct very valuable and high impact research.

As an example, at (Virginia Tech) the (Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics) provides a strong foundation for the discovery, development, transfer, and implementation of new knowledge in the areas of mechanics of materials and material systems, fluid mechanics, dynamics and vibration, biomechanics, and computational methods. It is committed to providing an environment for strong undergraduate and graduate education that emphasizes fundamental understanding rather than specialization, high-quality teaching, innovation, frontier-level research, and service to the professional mechanics community. The (Virginia Tech) B.S. degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Further information about ESM, one of the few departments of its kind in the US, can be found at www.esm.vt.edu. The department has a distinguished history. A recent review by a blue-ribbon panel concluded that ESM has a “longstanding record of excellence as a key element of the College of Engineering with national visibility”. The department has twenty-seven faculty members who support roughly 80 doctoral students and have research expenditures of above $6M. More information about Virginia Tech is available on the web at www.vt.edu, about the College at www.eng.vt.edu, and about the town of Blacksburg at www.blacksburg.va.us.