Introductory course to mechanics of solid elastic continua. Basics of vector and tensor algebra and calculus; kinematics of deformation, stress analysis, constitutive equations, finite elasticity; linear elasticity; virtual work; the Ritz approximation. In addition to the classical Hookean elasticity, finite deformation theory is presented to describe mechanical behavior of biological soft tissues and cells. Illustrative examples from tissue and cell biomechanics. Design elements will be included in problems and examples.