M2 Acoustic Engineering

The Master 2 in Acoustic Engineering trains specialists in acoustic and elastic waves, covering a wide frequency range including infrasound,  audible acoustics, and ultrasound. Positioned at the interface between wave physics, engineering, and industrial and medical applications, this programme is particularly intended for students with a background in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or Geophysics, who wish to acquire both fundamental and applied skills.

The first semester is built around a solid core curriculum in general acoustics (15 ECTS), including wave propagation in fluids, signal processing, numerical methods, and machine learning.

  • Architectural Acoustics (AcAr). This track focuses on the control of sound environments, environmental and architectural acoustics, and the mitigation of noise and vibration nuisances. Applications include residential buildings, workplaces, concert halls, and urban spaces. Career opportunities are mainly in architectural or environmental acoustics consulting firms.

  • Physical Acoustics (AcPhy). This track offers an in-depth and general approach to acoustic and elastic waves, from infrasound to ultrasound. Applications include medical acoustics (imaging and therapies), underwater acoustics, seismics and geophysics, imaging, source identification, and medium characterization. This pathway is particularly suited for doctoral studies and careers in research and R&D.

  • Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). This track focuses on the use of ultrasonic waves for the inspection of materials and structures, defect detection, and system integrity assessment. Major application fields include energy, aeronautics, aerospace, civil engineering, and transportation. Career opportunities include specialized engineering positions and applied research.

The second semester is entirely dedicated to a final internship (minimum 20 weeks), carried out in a company or a research laboratory, in France or abroad. It provides strong professional immersion and often leads to a first job position or a PhD.

The programme relies on a highly qualified teaching team composed of researchers and faculty members from Sorbonne University and Université Paris Cité, research engineers from public research institutions such as CEA DAM, CEA LIST, and ONERA, as well as engineers from consulting firms specializing in architectural acoustics, ensuring a strong link between research, innovation, and industrial applications.

Published on 19/01/2038

M2 Acoustic Engineering

Detailed schedule for the M2 Acoustic Engineering program

The core curriculum of the Master 2 in Acoustic Engineering provides the scientific and methodological foundations required for all careers in acoustics and vibrations. It offers a cross-disciplinary education in acoustic wave physics, covering a wide frequency range. It therefore constitutes a solid basis for the three specializations.

This core curriculum enables students to acquire a global understanding of acoustic phenomena, to develop a quantitative, physics-based approach to problem solving, and to master the tools needed to address both industrial applications and research-oriented challenges.

Core curriculum course units:

  • Fluid Acoustics (6 ECTS)

  • Signal Processing and Numerical Methods (6 ECTS)

  • Machine Learning for Mechanics (taught in English) (3 ECTS)

  • Second-semester internship of at least 20 weeks (27 ECTS)

  • English: TOEIC or Workplace English (3 ECTS)

The Architectural Acoustics specialization trains engineers capable of analyzing, designing, and improving the sound and vibration environments of rooms, buildings, and urban spaces. Students acquire skills in acoustic measurements, modelling, simulation, and acoustic expertise.

Applications: residential and office building acoustics, concert halls and auditoriums, public buildings, soundscape and urban acoustics, reduction of noise and vibration nuisances.
Activity sectors: building and public works, urban planning, environment, acoustic consulting firms and engineering offices.
Career opportunities: architectural acoustics engineer or consultant, environmental acoustics engineer, noise and vibration studies engineer.

Specialization course units:

  • Building, Room and Environmental Acoustics (6 ECTS)

  • Architectural Acoustics Project (3 ECTS)

  • Applications in Acoustics: Aeroacoustics, Psychoacoustics and Sound Insulation (6 ECTS)

The Physical Acoustics specialization offers an in-depth and general approach to the physics of acoustic and elastic waves, from infrasound to ultrasound. It emphasizes modelling, numerical simulations, experimental techniques. This track is particularly suited for students aiming at research or advanced R&D careers.

Applications: medical acoustics (ultrasonic imaging and therapies), underwater acoustics, seismics and geophysics, imaging and characterization of materials and natural media, radiation from infrasound sources (meteorites, lightning, etc.), audible sources (loudspeakers, voice, etc.), and ultrasonic sources (piezoelectric transducers, lasers, etc.).
Activity sectors: academic research, industrial R&D, defense, energy, healthcare, environment, geophysics and Earth sciences.
Career opportunities: PhD studies, R&D engineer, researcher, advanced acoustics engineer.

Specialization course units:

  • Acoustics in Solids and Experimental Methods in Ultrasound (6 ECTS)

  • Nonlinear Acoustics and Aeroacoustics (3 ECTS)

  • Applications in Acoustics (6 ECTS), at least four units to be chosen among:

    • Waves in Complex Media (2 units)

    • Monitoring of Infrasound Events, in collaboration with CEA DAM (2 units)

    • Medical Acoustics: Therapy and Diagnostics (1 unit)

    • Non-Destructive Testing of Materials and Structures, in collaboration with CEA LIST and ONERA (2 units)

    • Sound Insulation and Vibroacoustics (1 unit)

    • Psychoacoustics (2 units)

The Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) specialization trains engineers specialized in the inspection and integrity assessment of materials and structures using ultrasonic waves. It combines wave physics, instrumentation, signal processing, and industrial inspection methods, with a strong focus on practical applications.

Applications: defect detection (cracks, inclusions, porosity), structural health monitoring, quality control, predictive maintenance.
Activity sectors: energy (nuclear, renewable energy), aeronautics and aerospace, transportation, civil engineering, manufacturing industry.
Career opportunities: NDT engineer, quality control engineer, maintenance and inspection engineer, R&D engineer in materials inspection, PhD studies.

Specialization course units:

  • Acoustics in Solids and Experimental Methods in Ultrasound (6 ECTS)

  • Non-Destructive Testing of Materials and Structures, course conducted in collaboration with CEA LIST and ONERA (6 ECTS)

  • Mechanical Behavior of Solid Materials (3 ECTS)