Program Information

At the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine, sits an exciting field that exists to vastly improve the quality of life.  This is biomedical engineering (BME), and WPI is at the forefront of research that is leading to many breakthroughs and developments. You will be introduced to a range of topics within BME from biomaterials and tissue engineering to biomechanics and beyond. You will design and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems using theoretical and hands-on approaches and learn how biomedical engineers can and should be actively involved in promoting social justice in BME and medicine. We will discuss the importance of recognizing and addressing bias, fostering inclusion, and implementing equitable practices when developing solutions to unmet clinical needs for overall improved patient care.

Civil engineering is one of the oldest and most diverse engineering disciplines focused on designing and constructing the infrastructure that supports daily life. Civil engineers coordinate projects, manage people, and are essential for improving the quality of life in society and protecting the environment. You will learn about the sustainable design and construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, buildings, water and waste-water treatment plants among others. Complete projects involving engineering team dynamics and communication, analysis and design of structures, and computer analysis to understand how human activities affect the quality of the environment.

Bring your question and find an answer through powerful software applications such as MATLAB and Mathcad.

In this journey, you will gain experience with programming and learn how to approach and solve a problem using scientific software. You will explore together engineering and scientific concepts while learning about signal and image processing, geometry of nature and fractals, complex systems and self-organization, cellular automata (Game of Life), networks and six degrees of separation. No previous programming experience needed.

In this self-paced program, you will explore the world of programming as it is used in internet applications and object-oriented languages, including Javascript. You will also explore graphical and distributed programming environments, while having the chance to incorporate your work as part of effective multimedia interfaces. Have a special programming interest? Professors and teaching assistants want to lead discussions and activity designed to align with your individual interests. No previous programming experience needed.

The human mind is capable of an incredible amount of learning, and the field of learning science can help us answer important questions about how to maximize our own learning! You will uncover the latest science about how memory works, effective study habits for long term retention, and how to set yourself up for creative breakthroughs. You will learn about these various topics through activities, exercises, and group discussion. After completing this program, students will be better equipped to optimize their learning and problem-solving in future college courses, their future careers, and in their everyday lives. 

Cyberattacks, from individuals to government agencies - the threat is real! In a world that is increasingly dependent on computer systems, the need for cybersecurity professionals is growing exponentially. Learn from WPI professors through hands-on experiences with topics such as Web-App security, network security, forensics, system security, cryptography, and privacy.

Move beyond pie chart and bar graphs to tell a story with your data. Join us to explore the ever-growing world of data science! You will learn about data collection, statistical analysis, and data visualization techniques using the state-of-the-art software tool, Tableau. We will work through some hands-on practical exercises to gain technical knowledge, as well as to learn presentation skills, in a storytelling manner, to deliver significant findings.

From the smartphone in your pocket to the international space station, electrical engineering is the foundation that powers all technology. You will explore electrical quantities (charge, current, voltage, etc...), electrical components, and how to build a circuit on a breadboard. We will also use simulations to learn about electrical lab equipment such as power supplies, multi-meters, function generators, and oscilloscopes to test circuits. You will apply your knowledge to design projects to solve real-world problems. Topics include audio amplification, biomedical applications, solar tracker, digital logic and programmable micro-controllers, and much more.

You will explore various engineering disciplines, such as architectural engineering, chemical engineering, fire protection engineering, mathematical engineering, and mechanical engineering. This experience emphasizes the role of engineers as creative problem solvers, making a difference in society.

• Architectural Engineering: The science and engineering behind buildings' construction, operation, and maintenance are essential to our safety, health, and comfort. In this design studio, we learn about these fundamentals while designing a small structure.
• Chemical Engineering: This course provides an intensive, hands-on introduction to the broad and vital discipline of chemical engineering including conventional and developing chemical technologies. Students will be immersed into our three-story pilot scale laboratory and trained to safely and collaboratively operate industrial fluid flow equipment, separators, and reactors.
• Fire Protection Engineering: Are you curious about the science of fire? This course will introduce students to the field of fire protection engineering and the principles of fire behavior. 
• Mathematical Engineering: Ever wonder if math is useful in the real world? Wonder no more; math is everywhere. This course introduces the applications of mathematics in engineering. Students will learn about mathematical modeling of aircraft, cars, and rockets, and will construct these models using software tools and numerical methods. Examples of the powerful analytical and predictive capabilities of these models will be demonstrated.
• Mechanical Engineering:  This broad discipline includes many areas of interest: energy production and transfer, mechanical design, materials science, biomechanics, and fluid flow, among others. You will explore the extent of mechanical engineering through a mixture of fundamental concepts and experimentation. This program emphasis will be on energy transfer, starting from human power to an understanding of steam power to today's ensemble of conventional and alternative energy sources.

Explore the interdisciplinary world of game development. In this program, you will combine technology with art to create an interactive experience. Assume the role of programmer or artist, and work on a team to bring a game to life. You will develop your own story, environment, characters and sound effects. Throughout the program, you break down their ideas into simple rules, write algorithms, use powerful scripting languages, and play/test games.

Everything is made of materials! This program dives into four types of materials (polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites) using lots of hands-on activities (many involving food)! Oreo cookies are a composite! Taffy is a polymer! We look at how the atoms that make up a material affect their hardness, ductility, strength, and more. Each day you will uncover a new materials science topic with at least one edible activity to illustrate the concept.

Mathematics is the foundation of most technological innovations. Join us to learn how a mix of classical mathematics and modern technology can be used to solve current problems and open up new areas. You will use this background to examine encryption of numbers on the Internet via the RSA algorithm, and analysis of human voice patterns and musical instruments through Fourier methods. Specific problems of current information technology that these address include the need for secure transmission of data over the Internet, and storage and use of music in digital format (WAV vs. MP3 files, for example). You will also learn how matrix methods explain the popular Google search algorithm.

The brain is our most complex organ and directs our physiology and behavior. Neuroscience research on how the brain works is crucial to advancements in a range of topics, including psychiatry (depression, anxiety), cognition, social behavior, neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s, epilepsy), as well as the effects of covid on the brain. You will learn about the basic structure and function of the brain and how researchers study the brains of various animals. We will explore the processes crucial to how the brain works and what happens to these processes in both health and various disease states. Expert speakers will present how they use state of the art molecular genetic, data analytics, biochemical, and neuroimaging techniques to investigate the brain and its impact on our daily lives. You will leave with a valuable introduction to the mysteries of the brain which may provide a launch pad for an eventual career in neuroscience.

Time travel, black holes, quantum realm- What do these things have in common? Physics! They are all principles of modern physics! Investigate selected fields and applications of modern physics - such as interplanetary travel, atomic spectroscopy, quantum phenomena, and black holes. This program incorporates the combination of lectures, audio-visual presentations, technical hands-on activities (simulations), and virtual visits to research facilities and national labs. Will your knowledge take you to the next dimension?

If you could be a comic book hero or villain, who would that be? Join us as we study the world of the healthy and unhealthy mind through the lens of the DSM-V, Jungian archetypes and comic book heroes and villains. We will also explore the impact that COVID-19 has wrought on people, and maybe even you. You will compose a short paper about your ‘internal comic book hero or villain’ as well as work with a team of fellow students to develop a brief presentation on what you have learned in the class. You will leave with a compendium of knowledge and a deeper sense-of-self.

Discover the interdisciplinary nature of robotic design and operations. Using principles of mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as computer science, you will learn about force, torque, and stress analysis, material properties, power requirements, micro controllers, sensor operations, C-language programming, pneumatics. Apply this background knowledge to solve a number of challenging robotics problems. You will brainstorm, design, build, and test your individual Arduino-based robots. At the end of the program, you will demonstrate your successful robot by completing the selected challenges.

**There is an additional fee of $150 for the robot kit to be mailed to students.