Abstract:

For students preparing for a career in acoustical consulting, or for professionals thrust into job duties involving acoustics but without formal training, there is much to be gained by obtaining a broad education in acoustics, vibration, noise control, transducers, and signal processing. For the graduating student or the professional changing jobs, a broad education helps ensure that they will be adequately prepared for whatever they will face. Equipment and computer programs will come and go over time, but the ability to think clearly, solve problems, and understand important fundamental physical phenomena never goes out of style. At the Graduate Program in Acoustics at Penn State, our focus relies on a core curriculum that forms a solid foundation. Residence classes are currently blended (co‐presented) for participation by students at a distance anywhere in the world using ADOBE CONNECT software and Smartboard presentation hardware. Distance students and guest presenters, e.g., practicing consultants, can also link in, making live presentations to everyone in the class. There is no reason why anyone with an internet connection and sufficient math and physics background cannot gain a broad education in acoustics to last a lifetime.