This text responds to the pedagogical needs created by the advent of computational mechanics by focusing more upon formulations and fundamental principles and less upon classical solution techniques. Topics covered include: the fundamental principles of continuum mechanics; the theories of beams and plates; static stability theory with three unifying strands connecting them; a direct vector notation; the principle of virtual work (or variational calculus); and a unified approach to numerical computation. Material is presented with an intuitive and geometric approach - rather than the formal, algebraic approach of most texts - allowing students to more easily visualize key concepts.