PHEN Courses
GE Designates a course that fulfills all or part of a Core Curriculum requirement; see the Core Curriculum Program section of the catalog for more information.
PHEN 1000 Conceptual Physics (2 sh) GE
This course is intended to be an introductory algebra-based course in physical science. The course will cover selected topics in physics and applied physics, which may include: introduction to astronomy, introduction to geology, introduction to meteorology, or amusement park physics. In each case, emphasis will be placed on the role of technology in society, with emphasis on the environment, as well as physics as a human endeavor. Lab is included in this course. Basic competency in algebra is assumed.
PHEN 1020 Light (2 sh) GE
This course is intended to be an introductory course in physical science with minimum mathematics. The course will cover selected topics in optics and light including the principles of production and propagation of light waves with particular emphasis on design and analysis of optical equipment.
Geometrical and physical optics, lasers, and their applications will also be covered. Lab is included in this course. Registration based on designated score on the Math Placement Exam or permission of instructor.
PHEN 1030 Energy (2 sh) GE
This course is intended to be an introductory course in physical science with minimum mathematics. The course will cover selected topics dealing with various forms of energy including the concepts of atomic, nuclear and electrical energy; work; power; and conservation of energy, heat, and entropy.
Emphasis will be placed on energy and the environment, energy resources, alternative forms of energy production, pollution, and the economics of energy use. Lab is included in this course. Registration based on designated score on the Math Placement Exam or permission of instructor.
PHEN 1050 Physics of Sports (2 sh) GE
This course is intended to be an introductory, algebra-based course in physical science. The course will cover selected topics in physics and their applications to a wide variety of sports.
Data acquisition using interactive video techniques will be used widely. Lab is included in this course. Basic competency in algebra is assumed.
PHEN 1060 Astronomy (2 sh) GE
This course is intended to be an introductory, algebra-based course in physical science. The course will cover selected topics in astronomy including historical background, the earth-moon system, the solar system, stars and their evolution, environment and groupings of stars, galaxies, and the frontiers of astronomy. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisite: MATH 1010 or higher.
PHEN 1110 College Physics I (4 sh) GE
This course is a trig-based introductory course in physics for health science majors. The course will cover kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, gravitation, conservation of energy and momentum, systems in equilibria, rotations, and properties of matter and fluids. Lab is included in this course. Knowledge of trigonometry or permission of instructor is required to register for this course.
PHEN 1120 College Physics II (4 sh)
This course is the second semester of a trigonometry-based introductory course in physics for health science majors.
The course will cover thermodynamics, electric fields and potentials, DC circuits, magnetic fields and forces, AC circuits, geometrical optics, physical optics, quantum theory, atomic theory, and nuclear physics. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisite: PHYS 1110 or PHEN 1110.
PHEN 1210 Introduction to Physics I (4 sh) GE
This course is the first semester of a calculus-based introductory physics course for engineering and science majors.
Topics to be covered include kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum, rotational motion, gravitation, equilibria, properties of materials, fluids, wave motion, sound, and simple harmonic oscillations. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving skills as well as conceptual understanding of the material. Lab is included in this course. Basic knowledge of trigonometry is assumed. Prerequisite: MATH 1510
PHEN 1220 Introduction to Physics II (4 sh)
This course is the second semester of a calculus-based introductory physics course for engineering and science majors. Topics to be covered include thermodynamics, electrical fields and forces, electric potential, DC circuits, magnetic fields and forces, AC circuits, geometrical and physical optics, quantum theory, atomic theory and structure, and nuclear structure, decay, and reactions. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving skills as well as conceptual understanding of the mate- rial. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisite: PHEN 1210. Co-requisite: MATH 1520.
PHEN 1330 Mechanical Comprehension (2 sh)
This course is an introduction to a variety of practical, real- world tools used in physics and engineering to solve problems and complete projects. This course includes an introduction to (1) sketching and visual representation for mechanical and product design, (b) the function of common mechanisms, (3) fabrication methods and prototyping and production, and (d) technical drawing and computer-aided modeling
PHEN 1340 Design Thinking (2 sh)
This course is an introduction to the engineering design process. Come learn by doing, diving into communities to get to know stakeholders and identifying what can be improved. Iterate solutions while balancing constraints and leveraging opportunity. Bring a project through a typical design cycle (e.g., needs identification, concept development, prototyping, testing, iteration). Prerequisite: PHEN 1330.
PHEN 1410 Engineering Ethics (2 sh) GE
Moral values permeate all aspects of technological development. Ethics and excellence go together. This course is an introduction to ethics in the context of the engineering profession. The course will include a discussion of current accepted moral frameworks and ethical theories; the study of decision, policies and values involved in engineering practice; and the responsibilities and rights endorsed by the engineering community. Through a critical reading of the Engineering Code of Ethics, traditional textbooks and the consideration of case studies in engineering the class will explore moral challenges faced by engineers in today’s society.
PHEN 1510 Computational Tools for Engineering (2 sh)
This course is an introduction to computational tools in engineering. This course uses spreadsheets (Excel) and an interpreted language (Matlab or Python) to complete typical tasks in engineering. Topics include graphing and visualization of data; spreadsheet development (e.g., formulas, data validation, conditional formatting); introduction to basic programming (variables, branching, looping, functions) to solve numerical problems. Prerequisite: Trigonometry or pre-calculus.
PHEN 1901 STEM Scholars Experience (0 sh)
STEM Scholars Experience is the course experience for the NSF S-STEM cohort. The course will immerse students in industry as a learning cohort guided closely by faculty to expand job pathways for students into STEM fields. It is expected to foster strong connections with industry through twice-a-month faculty-guided excursions to companies or on-campus visits from them that will be leveraged for internships, undergraduate research opportunities, class project reviews, job skills development, and student industry familiarization.
PHEN 2120 Engineering Statics (4 sh)
This course is the study of forces on objects that must remain stationary. Topics include: Review of vector arithmetic, particles and rigid bodies in equilibrium, distributed forces, centroids and center of gravity, structures, internal forces and moments, moments of inertia. Prerequisites: C or higher grade in PHEN 1210 and MATH 1510. Co-requisite: MATH 1520.
PHEN 2130 Introduction to Materials Science (4 sh)
This course introduces the science and engineering of materials such as metals, ceramics and glasses, polymers and composites. Topics include: crystals, defects, non-crystalline structures, phase diagrams, kinetics, processing, degradation, and failure of materials. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisites: C or higher grade in PHEN 1210 and 1220.
PHEN 2510 Electronics for Scientists (4 sh)
This course offers a theoretical and practical introduction to DC and AC circuits. Topics covered include: analysis of linear circuits, circuit laws and theorems, DC responses of circuits; operational amplifies characteristics and applications, sinusoidal steady-state analysis and phasors, and sinusoidal steady-state power calculations. Emphasis will be placed on both the mathematical methods as well as the “rules of thumb” used in everyday laboratory settings. Prerequisites: C or higher grade in PHEN 1210 and PHEN 1220.
PHEN 2520 Electronics Lab (2 sh)
This course is the lab to accompany PHEN 2510. Students will gain practical experience in building electronic circuits and using electrical measuring devices with an eye toward laboratory application. Co-requisite: PHEN 2510 (required).
PHEN 2530 Instrumental Lab (2 sh)
This course offers a practical introduction to filters, diodes, power supplies, transistors, operational amplifiers, and logic gates. This class includes both theoretical and laboratory applications. Additional topics may include control systems, multichannel analysis, discriminators, detection systems, and fast digital electronics. Prerequisite: PHEN 2510 and PHEN 2520.
PHEN 3120 Mechanics of Materials (4 sh)
This class will include determination of stresses, deflections, and stability of deformable bodies. Topics covered include statically indeterminate problems in axially loaded bars; normal shear stress in symmetrically loaded beams; normal and shear stress in unsymmetrically loaded beams; deflections in beams and statically indeterminate beam problems; structural analysis using energy methods; stability of columns and allowable loads. Prerequisite: C or higher grade in PHEN 2120.
PHEN 3130 Engineering Thermodynamics (4 sh)
The fundamental mass and energy conservation laws and entropy balances are developed and applied to closed and open systems. The concepts of heat and work transfer between thermodynamic systems and their surroundings are discussed. The thermodynamic properties of common working substances are studied. These concepts are applied to the analysis of energy conversion systems with examples to include thermal power plants and refrigeration systems. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisite: C or higher in PHEN 1210 and PHEN 1220.
PHEN 3170 Systems (4 sh)
We live in a connected world. From the components of your phone to national resource flows to teams of exerts, systems enable our everyday lives. Learn how to model engineering systems by considering input flows, system components, outputs, feedback and system control strategies. These principles are applied to a varying scale of systems, reinforcing their broad application. Prerequisite: C or higher grade PHEN 1220, 2 PHEN 510.
PHEN 3310 Dynamics (4 sh)
This course is the study of objects in motion. Topics include particle kinematics and kinetics; work, energy, momentum and impulse applied to systems of particle and rigid bodies. Prerequisite: C or higher grade in PHEN 2120 and MATH 1520.
PHEN 3610 Transport Phenomena (4 sh)
How are heat, mass and momentum transported? This course addresses these transport phenomena by cover topics in fluid dynamics such as kinematics, conservation laws, dynamic similarity, and laminar flow solutions. Topics in heat and mass transfer cover internal and external convection, free convection, boiling and condensation, and the analogy between heat and mass transport. Analytical and computational modeling of these processes are simultaneously used. Lab is included in this course. Prerequisite: PHEN 3310, PHEN 3130, and MATH 2030.
PHEN 4010 Fourth-Year Seminar (2 sh)
This course is intended to help students begin to make the transition from student to professional. The course will have three main goals: 1) to help students examine their goals as they enter graduate school or the private sector; 2) to help students prepare for the departmental comprehensive exam; and 3) to begin to familiarize students with the literature in their field of study.
PHEN 4910 Independent Study in Engineering (1-4 sh)
This course is intended as an opportunity for students to study a topic in engineering not included in the regular curriculum. Instructors consent required.
PHEN 4930 Directed Research (2 or 4 sh) GE
Students will work under the direction of a faculty mentor on a novel research project. Permission of the faculty mentor is required prior to enrollment in this course. This course may be repeated, though the department may limit the number of credit hours this course counts towards the major. Please see the departmental degree requirements for details.
PHEN 4970 Internship (1-4 sh)
Please refer to internship section of the catalog for requirements and guidelines
PHEN 4990 Engineering Capstone Project
The Engineering Capstone is the culmination of a student’s undergraduate engineering program. Working in a team, students gain hands-on experience solving real-world applications. Capstone projects progress through a typical engineering decision cycle, from user needs identification through testing of a functional prototype. When available, industry partnerships are encouraged. Prerequisites: Senior standing, PHEN 3120, PHEN 3310.