Plastics Engineering Technology, B.S.

Program Code: PLTBC_BS

Program Description

This major prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to provide high level engineering technology support to a wide variety of industrial, developmental, commercial, consulting, and sales organizations dealing with the development, manufacture and/or distribution of plastics related products, materials and technologies. The program emphasizes the integration of engineering and scientific principles, practical hands-on experience, application of state-of-the-art computer technologies, and management methods.

Graduates are qualified for positions in product development, part design, tooling design, R&D, processing, plant engineering, production control, technical sales and marketing in the plastics industry, and are provided a path to a wide variety of graduate degrees in engineering, science or business.

The four-year baccalaureate program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. Graduates of the Penn State University associate degree program in  Plastics Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology may complete this degree in five semesters of full-time study.

What is Plastics Engineering Technology?

Plastics engineering technology is a unique undergraduate engineering discipline that studies optimization of the physical processes required to form raw plastics into usable, cost-efficient parts and components. Coursework in the discipline includes computer-aided design, materials properties, tool design and machining, fluid and thermal science, automation, and project management.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You recognize the ubiquity of plastics—they are everywhere!
  • You are a creative problem solver.
  • You are looking for a hands-on engineering discipline.
  • You’d like to learn and conduct research in the country’s largest undergraduate plastics processing lab.
  • You want to be an integral part of a sustainable future.

Entrance to Major

To be eligible for entrance to the Plastics Engineering Technology major, a student must have:

  1. attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average;
  2. completed MATH 81 or MATH 26, and MATH 82 or MATH 22, and MATH 83 or MATH 140, and PHYS 250, and earned a grade of C or better in each of these courses.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Plastics Engineering Technology, a minimum of 134 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 1
Requirements for the Major 106

18 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned.

Requirements for the Major

Each student must earn at least a grade of C in each 300- and 400-level course in the major field.

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
EGT 120Introduction to Graphics and Solid Modeling3
EGT 121Applied Solid Modeling3
MATH 211Intermediate Calculus and Differential Equations with Applications Keystone/General Education Course3
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CHEM 110Chemical Principles I Keystone/General Education Course3
CHEM 111Experimental Chemistry I Keystone/General Education Course1
ENGL 202CEffective Writing: Technical Writing Keystone/General Education Course3
MET 111Mechanics for Technology: Statics3
MET 213Strength and Properties of Materials3
MET 418Finite Element Analysis for Plastics Design3
MGMT 409Project Management for Engineers3
PHYS 250Introductory Physics I Keystone/General Education Course4
PLET 50Computer Applications for Plastics Engineering Technology2
PLET 205Introduction to Plastics3
PLET 206WPlastic Materials and Properties3
PLET 222Introduction to Plastics Processing4
PLET 227Plastics Processing & Statistical Methods4
PLET 232Introduction to Part and Tool Design3
PLET 235Tool Design & Machining2
PLET 304Plastic Material Properties and Applications3
PLET 323Packaging Processes3
PLET 330Advanced Tooling & Rheology4
PLET 345Heat Transfer3
PLET 350Design of Plastic Parts4
PLET 366Fluid and Thermal Sciences3
PLET 464Plastics Failure Analysis3
PLET 481Plastic Product Development3
PLET 494APlastics Projects3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 15 credits from one of the following sequences:15
Sequence A
College Algebra With Analytic Geometry and Applications II Keystone/General Education Course
Technical Mathematics II Keystone/General Education Course
Plane Trigonometry and Applications of Trigonometry Keystone/General Education Course
Technical Mathematics I Keystone/General Education Course
Technical Calculus Keystone/General Education Course
Calculus With Analytic Geometry I Keystone/General Education Course
Calculus with Engineering Technology Applications Keystone/General Education Course
2 credits of GN electives
Sequence B
Calculus With Analytic Geometry I Keystone/General Education Course
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Keystone/General Education Course
2 credits of GN electives
5 credits of general electives
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select a total of 9 credits of technical electives from School-approved list9

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Erie

Brian Young
Associate Professor of Engineering
Burke 213N
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6149
bay101@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Plastics Engineering Technology, B.S. at Erie Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EGT 1203CHEM 110 (GN)*†3
ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)‡†3CHEM 111 (GN)*†1
MATH 41 (GQ)*‡#†4EGT 1213
PLET 50*2MATH 83 (GN)*#†4
PSU 71PHYS 250 (GN)*#†4
General Education Course3PLET 205*3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5 
 17.5 18
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CAS 100 (GWS)‡†3ENGL 202C (GWS)‡†3
ECON 102 (GS)3MATH 211 (GQ)3
MATH 210 (GQ)*3MET 213*3
MET 111*3PLET 206W*13
PLET 222*4PLET 232*3
 PLET 235*2
 16 17
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MGMT 409*3MET 418*3
PLET 304*3PLET 227*4
PLET 330*4PLET 345*3
PLET 366*3PLET 350*4
General Education Course3PLET 494A*1
General Education Course (GN)1General Education Course (GHW)1.5
 17 16.5
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PLET 323*3PLET 494A*2
PLET 464*3Technical Elective (300, 400-level)*3
PLET 494A*3Technical Elective (300, 400-level)*3
Technical Elective (300, 400-level)*3General Education Course3
Advanced Technical Elective*3General Education Course3
 General Education Course3
 15 17
Total Credits 134
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

1

Course will satisfy Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

Program Notes:

Career Paths

Penn State Behrend’s B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology is the only plastics-specific undergraduate degree in the Penn State system and one of only six accredited programs in the United States. Because plastics are everywhere, plastics engineering technologists find employment in any industry sector that interests them. Automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, computer, toy, and consumer products manufacturers frequently recruit Behrend graduates for positions in product development, part design, tooling design, processing, project engineering, production control, technical sales, and research.

Careers

Employers of recent B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology graduates include Apple, General Motors, Graham Packaging, Graco, Microsoft, Nike, Philips Healthcare, Rubbermaid, and Tesla.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE PLASTICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Students who hold a degree in Plastics Engineering Technology pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in plastics engineering, polymer science, materials science, medical plastics, and elastomeric materials. Or, you can use a master’s degree program to learn management skills; Penn State Behrend offers a Master of Manufacturing Management (M.M.M.) degree program for aspiring organizational leaders.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering Technology at Penn State Behrend is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria with no applicable program criteria.

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

Contact

Erie

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
242 Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center
5101 Jordan Road
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6153
engineering@psu.edu

https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-engineering