Areas of Study

Bioengineering
Bioengineers focus on applying the sciences of chemistry and biology, along with the engineering principles of momentum, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, and reactor design, to contribute to the rapidly growing bioscience-based biotechnology industries. They formulate and solve problems pertaining to enzymes, microbial processes, and biotechnologies, and contribute advancements to the medical industry, including devices and processes that improve human health.

Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers develop processes to convert raw materials into useful products such as electronics, biofuels, synthetic fibers, high tech polymer composites, advanced ceramics, medicines, medical devices, and fuels. As a chemical engineer you focus on applying the sciences of chemistry and biology, along with the engineering principles of momentum, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, and reactor design, to improve existing processes and develop new ones, including micro and nanoscale technologies.

Civil Engineering
Civil engineering involves the planning, design, and construction of the infrastructure we use every day—our highways, bridges, buildings, water supply, wastewater treatment plants, and many other facilities. As a civil engineering student, you can choose areas of emphasis that include: structures, transportation, water supply and wastewater treatment, earth structures and foundations, water resource systems, surveying, and construction.

Computer Science
Computers are everywhere, from cell phones to skyscrapers. Computer scientists tell computers how to act and interact. They collaborate with other disciplines to create solutions. At Oregon State, you can build a video game, design graphics, program a robot, teach a computer to drive a car, or even contribute to Open Source software used by people worldwide.

Construction Engineering Management
Construction engineering management involves blending engineering and construction knowledge with sound business practices to efficiently build and manage major engineering projects. You’ll learn how to lead teams that facilitate construction of buildings, highways, bridges, mass-transit systems, and more!

Ecological Engineering
Ecological engineers design sustainable systems using ecological principles that integrate human activities with the natural environment to benefit both. They are involved in the design, construction, and management of ecosystems that have value to humans and the environment. Ecological engineers combine basic and applied science from engineering, ecology, economics, and natural sciences for the restoration and construction of ecosystems. They use ecology as a fundamental design paradigm, emphasizing resiliency, adaptation, and a systems approach to develop solutions to environmental problems.

Electrical & Computer Engineering
Electrical and computer engineers design, build, market, and support electronic products and computer hardware—from networks and electronic devices such as cell phones and wireless sensors, to wind and wave energy systems and the power grid that delivers electricity to our homes. You can focus on computer architecture, microprocessor systems, problem-solving methods for developing electronics, or build new technologies for our everchanging world.

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers work to enhance and protect the quality of our land, water, and air by applying science along with the engineering principles of momentum, heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, and reactor design. Environmental engineers work to promote sustainable development throughout society. The curriculum includes coursework grounded in physics, chemistry, and microbiology related to the design of water supply and wastewater treatment facilities, management of hazardous wastes, control of air pollution, and enhancement of environmental quality and human health.

Industrial engineering
Industrial and manufacturing engineers help organizations in many business sectors accomplish projects better, faster, more safely, and more cost-effectively. Often called “big-picture engineers,” they integrate the project components developed by other engineers (chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc.) into cohesive and user-friendly processes and systems. Applying their expertise in management, statistics, economics, communications, computers, ergonomics, and other areas, they seek to improve system performance and enhance the production and delivery of goods and services.

Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineers are known for their broad scope of expertise. They study the properties of energy, fluids, forces, materials, and motion so they can create products and processes that advance society and improve people’s lives. Their jobs may focus on power generation, robots, nanotechnology devices, environmental problems, internal combustion engines, machine tools, jet and rocket design, artificial limbs, windmills—literally anything that involves energy and motion.

Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering prepares you to utilize the energy of the atom for a variety of applications. Nuclear and thermo-fluid physics are used in the design, operation, and safety of nuclear power systems. Nuclear engineers perform research and develop new reactor designs, advanced computational techniques, nuclear fuel recycling and management strategies, and radioisotope technologies for use in medicine and industry. The curriculum includes research and training using OSU’s 1 Megawatt nuclear reactor.

Affiliated Programs:

Radiation Health Physics
Radiation health physics is an integrated study of the physical aspects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, their biological effects, and the methods used to protect people and their environment from radiation hazards while enabling beneficial uses of radiation and radioactive material. A pre-medicine option in radiation health physics allows you to complete the entrance requirements for most medical schools.

Engineering Physics
Engineering physics provides basic and advanced knowledge in physics and applied mathematics and the techniques for applying this knowledge to engineering problems. The physics curriculum is combined with the main courses of an engineering discipline that you choose.

Forest Engineering
Forest engineers design and implement engineered solutions to complex natural resource problems. They plan forestry operations that are economically viable, technically feasible, safe, and environmentally responsible to meet society’s demand for wood supplies. You’ll have diverse employment options with forestry companies, public agencies, logging and construction operations, engineering and forestry consulting firms, and surveying companies.