Minors and Concentrations

Minors

Concentrations

Minors

As per the document "Standards for Minors, Concentrations and Certificate Programs within the College of Engineering," students should have had:

  • Five three-credit courses from one of the lists below to qualify for the respective minor;
  • At most one of these five can satisfy a requirement in the student's major; and,
  • At least three of the course must be from other than the student's major department.

The lists consist of courses that are currently being taught, although there exists the possibility of additions, modifications and amalgamations in the future. Some of the courses listed may not be offered every year, and some may have pre-requisites which must be respected (listed alongside in brackets). The minors are contemplated for engineering majors only.

 
Biological and Biomedical Engineering

The core knowledge and understanding that is intended to comprise the bioengineering minor is as follows: Students will learn to use the tools of engineering analysis with fundamentals of the engineering and life sciences to enliven the understanding of living organisms, medical treatments and biochemical pathways and to provide quantitative predictions and insight towards the design of medical and biological devices and processes.

The course work required comprises six classes, two of which may satisfy a requirement in the student's major, as follows:

  • Two courses beyond the introductory level of biology, to ensure strong proficiency in Biology.

    One must be BIOS 30341, Cell Biology, or its equivalent. Other courses may be selected from the following:

    • BIOS 20230, Genetics
    • BIOS 30344, Physiology
    • BIOS 30342, Developmental Biology

    Or another advanced course approved by the program director Students must attain prerequisites for Cell Biology either from AP credit, completion of CHEM 10122 or by taking BIOS 20201 and 20202.

  • Students need to see specific use of engineering sciences in biological systems. Thus, a core introductory bioengineering course (CBE 30385) will be required. Primary topics will include:
    • Use of engineering analysis to describe biological systems starting with mass and energy balances;
    • Basic mechanics applied to biological systems (conservation of momentum), applications to joints and locomotion, and cell deformation (and response);
    • Charge conservaton and application to engineering systems (synapses, etc.); and
    • Chemical aspects of biological response (e.g., from forces) with applications to biological materials.
  • Elective sequence of three engineering courses in one of several concentration areas.
    • Biomaterials
      • CBE 40483, Biomolecular Engineering
      • AME 50571, Biomaterials
      • CBE 40483, CBE Biomolecular Engineering, or other CBE courses
    • Biomechanics
      • AME 50571, Biomaterials
      • AME 60671, Orthopedic Biomechanics
      • AME 60672, Cell Mechanics
    • Biotransport/Microdevices
      • CBE 60581, Biotransport
      • AME 60675, Biofluid Mechanics
      • CBE xxxxx, Engineering Aspects of Physiology
    • Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials
      • AME 77108, Tissue Engineering
      • CBE 40483, Biomolecular Engineering
      • AME 50571, Biomaterials
    • Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering
      • CBE 40483, Biomolecular Engineering
      • CBE xxxxx, Engineering and Systems Biology

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Computational Engineering

The Computational Engineering Minor will provide the students with a solid grounding in the application of computational methods to various engineering problems such as fluid mechanics, structural analysis, elasticity, optimization, etc. With a fundamental understanding of the problems being solved and the numerical methods used to determine solutions, students are prepared to properly interpret the results, recognize the limitations of the methods employed, etc.

The following courses may be taken in order to fullfil the requirements for the Computational Engineering Minor:

  • AME 20214 - Introduction to Engineering Computing*
  • AME 40510 - Introduction to Numerical Methods**
  • AME 50532 - Computational Fluid Dynamics [AME 30331]
  • AME 50541 - Finite Element Methods for Structural Analysis [AME 20241]
  • AME 60614 - Numerical Methods
  • CBE 20258 - Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering** [CBE 20255]
  • CBE 40439 - Simulation and Optimization
  • CBE 40576 - Applied Optimization for Process Operations
  • CE 30125 - Computational Methods**
  • CE 40230 - Engineering Programming*
  • CE 40120 - Numerical Methods in Engineering [MATH 30650]
  • CSE 20232 - C/C++ Programming [EG 10111 or EG 10112, AND MATH 10550]
  • CSE 40113 - Design/Analysis of Algorithms [CSE 30331, CSE 20232]
  • CSE 40166 - Computer Graphics
  • CSE 40171 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  • CSE 40239 - Simulation and Modeling [MATH 30530]
  • CSE 40431 - Programming Languages
  • EE 60551 - Mathematical Programming
  • MATH 20210 - Computer Prog and Problem Solving [MATH 20580]
  • MATH 30390 - Introduction to Numerical Methods** [MATH 20210 or CSE 20232]
  • MATH 40390 - Numerical Analysis [MATH 30650]
  • MATH 50510 - Computer Programming/ Problem Solving
  • MATH 50590 - Foundations of Computational Mathematics
  • PHYS 20421 - Scientific Programming [PHYS 10310, MATH 20580]
  • PHYS 30405 - Numerical Methods2 [PHYS 20421, MATH 20750, PHYS 20290]

*Only one of these courses will be counted.
**Only one of these courses will be counted.

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Energy Engineering

Energy is clearly of pressing national and international concern, the fact of which is evidenced by recognition by Notre Dame in the creation of the Energy Center. The factual details of the nature of the technological energy needs facing society and the manner in which academia, and Notre Dame in particular, are addressing them were the focus of a recent article in the Signatures Magazine and include the following subjects:

  • Blackouts, the stability of the power grid and other reliability issues in energy distribution;
  • Energy efficiency and policy;
  • The politics of power;
  • Sources of energy and the related environmental concerns;
  • Carbon dioxide capture and storage;
  • Nuclear energy and the associated difficulties;
  • Clean coal technology, and;
  • Biofuels;

The Energy Sciences Minor parallels the institutional commitment reflected in the creation of the Energy Center at the undergraduate level by providing undergraduates with the educational background necessary to confront this important technological issue of the current time.

The following courses may be taken in order to fullfil the requirements for the Energy Sciences Minor:

  • AME 20231 - Thermodynamics*
  • AME 40401 - Energy Technology and Policy
  • AME 40431 - Gas Turbines and Propulsion [AME 30331]
  • AME 50531 - Intermediate Thermodynamics [AME 20231]
  • AME 50532 - Computational Fluid Dynamics [AME 30331]
  • AME 50535 - Energy Systems [AME 30331, AME 30334
  • AME 53631 - Molecular Thermodynamics [not in catalog]
  • AME 60634 - Intermediate Heat Transfer [AME 30334]
  • AME 60636 - Fundamentals of Combustion [AME 30334]
  • AME 60638 - Gas Turbine Components [AME 40431]
  • CBE 20256 - Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics*
  • CBE 40435 - Electrochemical Energy and Storage
  • CBE 40498 - Energy and Climate
  • CBE 60911 - Fuel Cells Science and Technology
  • EE 30372 - Electric Machinery and Power Systems [EE 20234, PHYS 10320]
  • EE 47010 - Alternative Energy Devices and Materials [PHYS 20330]
  • EE 47007 - Electric and Hybrid Vehicles [EE 20234, PHYS 10320]
  • EE 47008 - Electrical Energy Extraction
  • PHYS 30461 - Thermal Physics [PHYS 20454]

*Only one of these courses will be counted.

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Concentrations

Though students are not required to choose or to complete a concentration, the Department offers several concentration which can be used for specializations. For it to qualify as a concentration, at least three courses indicated in the list below must be taken. Students should make sure that they have the necessary prerequisites that may not be part of the concentration. In the last semester before graduation, students should complete a change of major form available from the Administrative Assistant. If a concentration is properly completed, the student will receive formal, written recognition as part of graduation; and the concentration will be included on the student's final transcript.

The following are the courses included in each concentration. AEs cannot opt for the Aerospace concentration. Courses that are required in a program (marked below with* for AE and ** for ME) cannot be used as part of a concentration for that program.

Aerospace*
Bioengineering
  • BIOS 30341 - Cellular Biology
  • BIOS 31341 - Cell Biology Laboratory
  • BIOS 34333, Vertebrate Physiology
  • BIOS 40411 - Biostatistics
  • BIOS 40417 - Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy
  • CBE 481 - Biomedical Engineering Transport Phenomena
  • CBE 40482 - Biomaterials Engineering
  • CBE 484 - Bioprocess Engineering
  • PHYS 40371 - Medical Physics
  • AME 50571 - Structural Aspects of Biomaterials
  • AME 60671 - Orthopaedic Biomechanics
  • AME 60672 - Cell Mechanics
  • AME 60673 - Human Body Kinematics
Design and Manufacturing
Solid Mechanics
  • AME 30341 - Aerospace Structures*
  • AME 50541 - Finite Element methods for Structural Analysis
  • AME 60624 - Continuum Mechanics
  • AME 60641 - Advanced Mechanics of Solids
  • AME 60645 - Advanced Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • AME 60646 - Failure of Materials
Thermal and Fluid Sciences
Materials
  • AME 50542 - Engineering Analysis of Manufacturing Processes
  • AME 60645 - Advanced Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • AME 60646 - Failure of Materials
  • CBE 30361 - Science of Engineering Materials**
  • CBE 30362 - Laboratory Techniques in Materials Science
  • CBE 40461 - Structure of Solids
  • CBE 60556 - Polymer Engineering
  • CHEM 30324 - Physical Chemistry for Engineers
Control and Mechanical Systems
Computational Engineering
  • AME 50532 - Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • AME 50541 - Finite Element methods for Structural Analysis
  • AME 60614 - Numerical Methods CE
  • AME 40120 - Numerical Methods in Engineering
  • CSE 20232 - Advanced Programming
  • MATH 20210 - Computer Programming and Problem Solving
  • MATH 30390 - Introduction to Numerical Methods

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