Choosing engineering courses

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I'm thinking of applying for "CS 1114: Introduction to Computer Programming Using MATLAB and Robotics". However the description says it is an honours level course so I'm not sure about taking it as I have no prior programming experience (although I'm planning to study a little JAVA over the summer). My question is: will it be too difficult a course for me considering that I have no experience and that it is an honours level course? I would have taken the normal intro to MATLAB course but programming robots is something I've always wanted to learn to do (but not at the risk of biting off more than I can chew).</p>

<p>For the ENGRI course, I'm thinking of going for something related to nanotechnology; is there a difference between "ENGRI 1200: Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanoengineering" and "ENGRI 1110: Nanotechnology"? Also, can we take more than one ENGRI course? "ENGRI 1270: Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Engineering" sounds like it could come in handy sometime in the future.</p>

2

<p>CS114 could be a little difficult. I don't have experience with it but one of my friends who took CS100 Honors said it was exceedingly difficult. Many people going taking these Intro to CS courses have already done programming previously.</p>

3

<p>I've heard one of the nano intros is really good (I believe it had a lab?) and the other is ok, but I don't remember which.</p>

<p>As for CS, I don't know what kind of student you are. I took regular Java with no programming experience and actually kind of struggled. I also didn't practice enough, since I was fairly focused on my other classes. I seriously thought I was in danger of failing, but towards the end I started "seeing" better and still pulled off a B. </p>

<p>But that's just my experience. I know of other people who'd also never programmed but were much better at it than I was. But unless you think you're a natural at programming, I might stay away from the honors courses.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for helping out. I guess I'll start with the Honours CS course and then drop it in favour of an easier course during the Add/Drop period if I find it to be too difficult. Can I do that?</p>

<p>Myarmin, does one of the nano intros not include labwork? Is there any way I can find out which is the really good intro? I would really be grateful if you could find out or tell me how to find out myself.</p>

<p>Also can I take more than 1 ENGRI course? Is it worth it?</p>

5

<p>Add period is very short.</p>

<p>Drop period is very long.</p>

6

<p>Take Computing in the Arts - it will be a sweet introduction to engineering course which combines music and computers and its taught by Graeme Bailey, probably one of the most respected people in Computer Science. He is really smart and really helpful.</p>

7

<p>Bailey is a crazy guy. Really cool. Nutzo though. In a good way.</p>

8

<p>Hmm... I don't thnk CS1114 is offered next year:
Pre-Registration</a> for Fall 2001</p>

9

<p>I am just curious. I am a CS major, so is it worth taking "Computing in the Arts"? I am not that much into music and stuff.</p>

10

<p>There's plenty of other interesting CS courses out there (IMO) that you shouldn't waste your time on a course you probably won't like as much.</p>

11

<p>Towerpumpkin, I just checked that page and it does seem like CS 1114 is not being offered next year which is surprising to say the least because the engineering freshman information form clearly states that we have the option of taking that course in the spring semester. </p>

<p>Anyway, the music and computing course seems interesting but does anyone know if freshman engineers are allowed to take it? According to the information form, we can only choose between CS 1110, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1130, 1132 and 2110.</p>

12

<p>I agree, I'm interested in the music and computing course.</p>

13

<p>To answer a few questions: ENGRI courses are (generally) exclusively for freshman, so not only will you be allowed to take that course, you should take it. :) You can certainly take more than one, but if you are taking them after Freshman year, you may need permission from the professor. But keep in mind you'll have a fair amount of requirements to take care of. As long as you schedule carefully though, you should be fine.</p>

<p>When they say you need to take either CS 100 or an ENGRI, that's pretty much just a suggestion for the first semester. You'll need to take both at some point, and I know at least one person who took care of both in the first semester to free up space later on. It's not a bad recommendation, since you'll want to settle into the college workload, but perhaps try sitting in on a lecture for each class during the first week to see if its worth a shot to do both. You can always drop a few weeks into the semester if it's too much. Don't feel like you're locked into whatever schedule your adviser creates.</p>

<p>As for which CS courses to take: the Computing in the Arts class and the other CS classes satisfy two different requirements. First of all, you need an intro CS course, generally 3 credits. Most people take CS 1110 (Java) or 1112 (Matlab). There are the honors versions of these courses, CS 1113 (Java) and 1114 (Matlab), as you all noticed. But I think these courses are sort of being phased out or offered less frequently. For people with more programming experience, CS 2110 is a second-level course in Java, and I think that's the route they want you to take.</p>

<p>You mentioned 1130/1132 as other choices - as far as I know, you will need to take one of those 1 credit courses depending on which course you get intro CS credit for. If you take or place out of CS 1110, you take CS 1132, a 1-credit autotutorial course, to learn Matlab. Likewise, if you take CS 1112, you take CS 1130 to learn Java. These are not full courses, and they're meant to complete your basic CS knowledge in whatever language you haven't studied before.</p>

<p>Finally, you need to satisfy your ENGRI requirement. This is separate from the CS requirement. Typically, these are 3 credit courses that cover a lot of basic information in some engineering field. You can really take whatever you feel most interested in here. Bailey is extremely humorous, and if you think you'd enjoy the course, whether or not you love CS, I bet you'll find it entertaining and hopefully informative.</p>

<p>All of these requirements may change / may only apply to CS majors, but I'm pretty sure most of this is true for all Engineers. The best way to be sure is to check the latest Engineering handbook, which you'll probably get during orientation. They haven't yet released a version that's up to date with the 4 digit course numbers.</p>

14

<p>So those (me) who don't know anything about programming, but still want to major in CS should keep away from CS? I mean like I am starting from intro while others are taking honors or some more in-depth courses, and that I cannot keep up with them, eventually getting sick of them? LOL</p>

<p>But I am seriously afraid. What do you think current students?</p>

15

<p>Intro to Nanoscience has a lab and Nanotech doesn't. The labs were pretty cool, but the lectures were really dull although most people really liked the professor (guess it just didn't click with me as a first semester lecture based course). </p>

<p>I know friends who took two Engri classes. Although you only have to take one, if you feel the second Engri course would help you better narrow down your major, then you can take another one...</p>

16

<p>Taking two ENGRI classes is a terrible idea. They're freshman intro classes for a reason. You can jerk around for a semester, get a decent grade without doing anything and maybe learn a thing or two in the process, taking a second is just a waste of time and money, doesn't count for credit and your not gonna learn anything useful.</p>

<p>CS100 is easily the most unique class I've ever come across. Never before have I seen a class where so many kids ace the class doing nothing and just as many do poorly after trying hard (not that many people fail, and if you do you probably deserved it and never went for help). If you get it, then CS is awesome. The classes have fun projects and the tests are generally pretty easy (this goes for all CS classes I've taken, which goes up to the 300's and I'm not even a CS major).</p>

17

<p>Graeme Bailey is a legend :) </p>

<p>He's a great professor and cares about his students. Mind you, his tests are ridiculous, but I'm sure you guys can deal with them. You're Cornell students after all.</p>

18

<p>reading through all these really makes me desperate to go there ASAP. LOL</p>

19

<p>Thanks a lot for the advice people. I'm a bit confused about the CS courses though; are CS 100 and for example, CS 1110 seperate courses or are all the intro CS courses like CS 1110, 1112, etc. variants of a CS 100 course (thus CS 100 basically stands for intro CS course)?</p>

20

<p>One more thing: can we accept credit for courses during orientation? We have to mention whether we want to accept credit for school courses in the information form that we have to fill out by June 30th. I'm still not sure if I want to accept credit for some courses but I'll have a better idea during orientation.</p>