Graduate Acoustics at Brigham Young University

Abstract

Graduate studies in acoustics at Brigham Young University prepare students for jobs in industry, research, and academia by complementing in-depth coursework with publishable research. Graduate‐level coursework provides students with a solid foundation in core acoustics principles and practices. A new acoustical measurements lab course provides a strong foundation in experimental techniques and writing technical memoranda. Labs across the curriculum include calibration, directivity, scattering, absorption, Doppler vibrometry, lumped-element mechanical systems, equivalent circuit modeling, arrays, filters, room acoustics measurements, active noise control, and near-field acoustical holography. Recent thesis and dissertation topics include active noise control, directivity of acoustic sources, room acoustics, radiation and directivity of musical instruments, energy-based acoustics, time reversal, nondestructive evaluation, flow-based acoustics, voice production, aeroacoustics, sound propagation modeling, nonlinear propagation, and high-amplitude noise analyses. Recently, the BYU acoustics program has added two faculty members and increased the number of graduate students, who are expected to develop their communication skills, present their research at professional meetings, and publish in peer-reviewed acoustics journals. Graduate students also often serve as peer mentors to undergraduate students on related projects and may participate in field experiments to gain additional experience.