English 202C: Technical Writing

Internet Resource Guide

A collection of online resources for Penn State Industrial
Engineering students

Table of Contents
Front matter
Intended audience..3
Scope............................3
Assumptions............................3
Organization............................4
Tips............................4

Department Websites
Penn State Undergraduate IE Handbook.5
Penn State IME Department Website.6

Homework and project resources

Wolfram Alpha.7
Engineering Village8

Professional Societies
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IEE)..9

Career Resources
Engineering Career Resources and Employer Relations.10

Front Matter
Content
This guide is a collective of the resources available to Penn State Industrial Engineering
students. The contents of this guide include a department website as well as a student
handbook that contain detailed information about the Penn State Industrial Engineering
program and curriculum. There is also a resource for solving homework problems as well
as a powerful search tool for the most comprehensive engineering databases available. The
guide also contains information about a professional society at Penn State. Additionally
there is a career resource website exclusively for University students and graduates.

Intended Audience
This guide is intended for Penn State students studying Industrial engineering at. The
resources in this guide are useful to students of any grade level. There is course and
scheduling information that is useful to first year students, as well as career resources
aimed at upperclassmen or graduating students.

Assumptions
This guide assumes that the reader is a Penn State Industrial Engineering student with a
valid access account. It is also assumed that the reader is familiar with what an Industrial
Engineer does along with basic IE concepts.

Organization
This guide contains six sources. The first is the Undergraduate IE handbook which covers a
variety of topics such as courses and advising. The second is the Penn State IME
department website that contains news and updates, along with scholarship information
and software downloads. The third is the Engineering career resources website that is
helpful for upperclassmen students who are applying for jobs, or younger students seeking
summer internships. Next is the website for Wolfram alpha, a science problem solver that
is useful for most courses in the IE curriculum. The fifth source is a professional society
exclusively for Industrial Engineers. This is very helpful for networking as well as keeping
up with advancements in technologies. The final source is a periodic index that is the most
useful for upperclassmen taking higher level IE courses.

Tips
To open links within this guide, simply hold the control button and click on the URL.
The bullet points at the bottom of every page contain useful information on how to
best use the sources within this guide.

Make sure you have a valid Penn State access account and are logged into the
network.

Be aware that some of these resources require payment to use.

Penn State Undergraduate IE Handbook:

Location: http://www.ime.psu.edu/students/undergraduate/handbook/index.aspx
Description:
This annually updated handbook contains useful information pertinent to an
undergraduate Industrial Engineering major. The contents of the handbook are neatly
sectioned into a table of contents on the right of the screen. It goes over the curriculum and
provides a recommended academic plan for all four years. It also lists approved minors by
the department and suggestions for elective courses. Additionally it contains contact
information for the numerous IE student organizations on campus as well as a guide for
those interested in studying abroad. Overall this is a great reference for IE underclassmen
who wish to learn more about the curriculum and opportunities offered by the program.

Tips

Refer to the recommended academic plan and course prerequisites when scheduling
courses.

Note the courses listed in the C or better rule page as these are necessary for
graduation.

The Penn State Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Webpage

Location: http://www.ie.psu.edu/
Description:
This is the department website for Penn State Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
The homepage contains news and updates regarding ongoing IE research both at Penn
State and worldwide. The webpage is very user friendly and different links are categorized
Historical information about the department and its facilities is available through the
Industry tab. A meeting with an academic advisor can be scheduled through the academics
tab. Through the homepage you are also able to get onto the IME Intranet. The Intranet is a
network where IE students and faculty can reserve rooms and machinery, as well as
complete certification modules to operate equipment in the workshops. Additionally there
is a scholarship page where students can apply for a number of merit based scholarships.
By following the link to the main PSU engineering website, students are able to download
engineering software such as AutoCAD and Solidworks for free on their personal devices.

Tips
The main PSU engineering website can be access by clicking College of Engineering
in the top left corner

The search bar in the top right corner of the screen can be used to search within the
IME website as well as all of Penn States directories.

Read the scholarship page to see if you are eligible to apply.

It is recommended to meet with an academic advisor at least once every semester.

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Engineering Career Resources and Employer Relations (eCareer)

Location: http://www.engr.psu.edu/career/Students/resources/ecareer.aspx
Description:
eCareer is an online job search engine through Penn State where students can apply to coops, internships and full time positions. The employers posting job descriptions are
specifically looking for Penn State Engineering students. The website is free and very easy
to navigate. Users can set up an account using their Penn State access ID and upload a
resume. Once your profile is completed and approved, you are able to browse through and
response to job postings. eCareer also has information about upcoming on-campus
recruiting events and information sessions. This is a great resource for both underclassmen
and graduating students to gain real world experience through internships or full time
employment.

Tips

Make sure to read the section about fraudulent job postings as the eCareer staff may
occasionally miss them during their reviews.

eCareer advises not to include references on your resume, as employers request

them after an interview.

Mark upcoming networking events and information sessions on your calendar.

Look at the suggested templates for resumes and cover letters provided in the
documents section

Wolfram Alpha
Location: http://www.wolframalpha.com/
Description:
Wolfram Alpha can be used to solve nearly any math or physics problem. With Industrial
Engineering concepts relying heavily on calculus, having access to step by step solutions is
a big advantage. Wolfram Alpha is especially helpful for courses such as Math 251 and
Physics 212 which students must pass in order to be admitted into the program.
The software can also be used to graph and analyze multivariable functions. Apart from
text input, users are also able to upload pictures and files to be analyzed. There is also a
mobile app on both Apple and Android platforms allowing you to use the software on the
go. With a negligible cost of $3, Wolfram Alpha is a very useful homework resource that
will help you through your undergraduate years.

Tips
Use the webapps button to search for specific types of problems.
To view step by step solutions, press the orange button right next to the generated
answer.

To see the other uses of Wolfram software, click the explore button. Wolfram can be
used to manage personal finances as well as reformatting images.

Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)

Location: http://www.iienet2.org/
PSU Chapter: http://sites.psu.edu/psuiie/
Description:
The institute of Industrial Engineers is global association of Industrial Engineering
professionals. Members of IIE have access to the Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE)
magazine that publishes articles on recent innovation. It is important for undergraduates to
see how the concepts they learn in their IE courses can be applied to real world problems.
Membership is available for students for a total cost of $52.
There are chapters of IIE in many different Universities including Penn State. The society
holds meetings and social functions as well as training sessions for six sigma certification.
Additionally there are volunteer opportunities available. Getting involved with IIE while at
Penn State will allow you to network and gain insight in the field of Industrial Engineering.
This will benefit you both academically and professionally as well as boost your resume.

Tips
Sign up for the IIE newsletter to stay up to date on IE related news.
Members are able to link their LinkedIn accounts to make connections with
professionals in different fields around the world.

Engineering Village
Location: https://www.engineeringvillage.com/search/quick.url
Description:
Engineering village is a powerful search platform for engineering literature. The platform
searches through twelve of the most comprehensive engineering databases, with patent
information and scientific journals from the last century. There are also three different
search functions, along with advanced options, allowing you to find exactly what you are
looking for.
A number of IE courses at Penn State will require researching scientific journals for
projects. Familiarizing yourself with this platform will be very helpful for your third and
fourth year courses. Engineering Village is free for Penn State students, and users can also
check if a copy of the specific resource is available at the Pattee library.

Tips

Make sure you are logged onto your access account before attempting to search the
databases.

The ask an expert button in the top right corner will direct you to an industry
professional who can answer technical questions.

Read about the 12 different databases by clicking content available in the lower left
side of the homepage. This will help you narrow down your results.

Use the expert and thesaurus search options when appropriate.

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