Candid Q&A about WUSTL

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
101

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<p>I’m not an Engineering major, but I looked through the EN school’s website for you. There are indeed classes on graphics, robotics, and AI. There is actually a minor offered in robotics through the Electrical & Systems Engineering department. ([Minor</a> in Robotics](<a href=“http://ese.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/MinorinRobotics.aspx]Minor”>http://ese.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/MinorinRobotics.aspx)). Look at the links below for a range of courses in ESE and Computer Sci/Computer Eng departments. I haven’t found anything on cryptography, but I’m sure some professors have experience in the area or you can do it for independent study credit or senior design.
[CS/CE</a> Complete Course List](<a href=“http://cse.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/complete-course-list.aspx]CS/CE”>http://cse.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/complete-course-list.aspx)
[ESE</a> Complete Course List](<a href=“http://ese.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/complete-course-list.aspx]ESE”>http://ese.wustl.edu/undergraduateprograms/Pages/complete-course-list.aspx)</p>

<p>Each of the EN departments has three or four main research thrusts. The areas you mentioned fall under both ESE or CS/CE. It’s possible to major across both. There are a lot of undergrad-led research projects in these areas, and a seeming abundance of faculty that specializes in graphics and optics.
[Completed</a> Undergraduate Research & Senior Design Projects](<a href=“http://ese.wustl.edu/Research/Pages/CompletedUndergraduateResearchAndSeniorDesignProjects.aspx]Completed”>http://ese.wustl.edu/Research/Pages/CompletedUndergraduateResearchAndSeniorDesignProjects.aspx)
[Research</a> Areas](<a href=“http://cse.wustl.edu/Research/Pages/default.aspx]Research”>http://cse.wustl.edu/Research/Pages/default.aspx)</p>

<p>There are CS majors on this board who can chime in with more specific info but this should get you started. </p>

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Again, I’m not an Engineering major, but for people wanting to take Art Sci classes, I’ve heard that Jen Smith in the Earth and Planetary Science department (who I’ve actually seen on the discovery channel) does demonstrations in her geoarchaeology courses. I would imagine it’s standard procedure for professors in any science field, as well as art and architecture even, to have interactive demonstrations like this every once in a while.</p>

102

<p>Computer Graphics is taught yearly (CSE 452). It’s an excellent course where you build up things, starting with putting paint on a canvas (sort of a mini photoshop), filters, etc. You then progress to drawing 3d shapes out of 2d tesselated triangles. You then implement a camera in order to build a 3d world, and finish the class off learning lighting, etc. I took it last semester…not only did I learn a lot, but the professor is awesome. </p>

<p>There’s two follow up courses to 452. One is advanced computer graphics, and the other involves biology stuff, i.e. manipulating an MRI, etc. </p>

<p>Robots is also taught yearly, theres a first class (CSE 550), and then a follow up advanced class in the spring semester (551 I think?). I haven’t taken it, all I really know is that it’s a rewarding class for most, but the most time consuming CS class offered.</p>

<p>AI is also taught. There are 3 “AI” courses…Introduction to AI, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. All are taught every other year. </p>

<p>Cryptography is the only class that isn’t really taught. There is a computer security class taught every other year which deals with cryptography issues for about 1/3 of the semester, learning different types of keys/etc. </p>

<p>Do note that with the exception of the first graphics class (452), all the other classes are 500 level classes. Most undergrad juniors and seniors in CS end up taking 500 level classes because they’re pretty awesome, but some are difficult because they are graduate level. </p>

<p>As mentioned above, there is a minor in robotics but it’s more of an electrical engineering thing rather than a computer science thing. </p>

<p>As for your other question
“Hi, I checked the course site and am wondering why there are so many special sessions
or independent study in the CS classes vs regular classes.”</p>

<p>Every department has an independent study course for each professor. i.e. a department of 50 professors will have 50 independent sections (well 50 for undergrad, 50 for grad). CS offers 400 and 400E, where one counts towards the major and one doesn’t, as well as 500 (and also one for master’s project and thesis, phd, etc.). There are a lot of independent study sections, but it’s no different to any other department at wash u…it’s just how it’s listed. Most people don’t do independent study in CS though. </p>

<p>If you’re talking about special sections as things like CSE 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D, etc. these are lab sections where you do lab work, work with TA’s, turn in coding assignments, etc. Lab sections are mainly for first year courses (131, 132), but also for some other courses (361, 332, some ce courses). </p>

<p>So summarizing, most classes are offered from the CS department. You have to make sure to check 500 level classes because that’s where the real topic classes come in. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.</p>

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<p>Also to reiterate, CS juniors and seniors generally take some 500 level courses. Some are easier than others…some are generally undergrad difficulty, but are 500 level for some reason or another, even when the exact same course at other places is undergrad level. This is fairly unique to the CS department (and to an extent engineering)…most other 500 level classes are intended for graduates only. For engineering you can register for them as long as you’re a junior or above and meet the prereqs. </p>

<p>This is also why there are so many MS CSE students…a lot (I’d say over 50%) of CSE grads do the BS-MS program in Computer Science as you can count all the 500 level courses you’ve taken as a junior/senior towards the graduate degree, and you also can take 2 less classes overall.</p>

104

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<p>If you’re going into engineering and you only need to get through chem as a requirement, then it may be a good idea. But you don’t want to go straight into orgo, and 1st semester at least is NOTHING like AP, so you’ll still have a lot (of really interesting material) to learn.</p>

105

<p>for all the info and advice. Did any of you get involved in research and study broad while
studying for engineerng? What is the Focus program?</p>

106

<p>for general Chemistry and Bio, are there preferred professors or is it pretty much standard stuff the same for all sections?</p>

107

<p>For chem, next year I believe it’s being done by Frey (who did it this year) and Mabbs (who didn’t). Frey is definitely a good teacher, can’t say for Mabbs, but you can decide after the first few lectures which you prefer. Except for Schaefer, who taught (probably 1 attending student) this year, I’ve only heard good things about chem lecturers.</p>

<p>For bio, you have no options. Ho, Majors, and Haffer will rotate as you change units (with Haffer doing very little teaching), and you just have to hope you like at least one of them. Generally, Ho is great but hugely condescending and his tests are really tricky, Majors is easier but really boring, and Haffer dumbs everything down (which is really nice, but a lot of people get annoyed that they actually bother going to her lecture).</p>