Penn State and the University of Maryland are offering 3D printing degrees including hands-on approaches to learning about the technology.

Feel like you’re not learning enough about 3D printing from tinkering and reading All3DP? Well now there’s an additional (though expensive) way to gain an in-depth understanding of the technology.

Both Penn State and the University of Maryland are rolling out degrees in additive manufacturing. Until now, 3D printing has been confined to college labs and is usually only taught as part of an engineering degree.

However, times are a-changing, and as 3D printing continues to develop, students require more detailed knowledge of the technology. To address the issue, the University of Maryland is now offering a program called the Professional Master of Engineering in Additive Manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Penn State is offering both onsite and online courses. Students can take part in either the onsite Master of Science in Additive Manufacturing (MSAMD), or its online counterpart, the Master of Engineering in Additive Manufacturing (MEngAMD).

Both courses will be rolled out in fall this year. The university explains:

“The MSAMD and MEngAMD programs will provide unique, hands-on experiences in all aspects of the additive-manufacturing process. All students enrolled in the program, whether resident at University Park campus or online, will be required to spend time on site…”

3D Printing Goes to School

Penn State has a lot to offer students, from thinking critically about 3D printing to accessing a state of the art additive manufacturing laboratory. The laboratory is also known as the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D).

That’s where students will be learning how to apply problem solving and creativity to additive manufacturing. In doing so, they’ll work with a wide range of materials, from polymers to metals.

Prefer the University of Maryland? Core modules there will include engineering design methods, engineering decision making, engineering optimization, and additive manufacturing.

There are also many electives to choose from, including composite materials; manufacturing with polymers; and manufacturing for aerospace, energy, and water applications. Visit their website for more details.

All of this appears to be a step in the right direction for 3D printing, but only time will tell whether the courses themselves are worth the price of US student debt.

Source: Fabbaloo