computer programming before engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Marquette University
1

<p>To all you engineering majors or those going into engineering next year, how much, if any, computer experience do you have?</p>

<p>My son only took a computer literacy course back in eighth grade, and that's it.</p>

<p>I'm desperately trying to find a programming course for him to take this summer, but we're 47th in the country in tech education/jobs, so no luck.</p>

<p>I'm thinking about getting him a computer programming book to study himself this summer, but don't know if I should go with just a general one, or go specific, like Java, or one of the Cs, or BASIC, or what.</p>

<p>I'm fearful that when he gets to Marquette, he'll be so far behind in the computer knowledge, that it's going to hurt him in just the intro courses. He does want to major in Biomedical Engineering, and probably minor in Computer Engineering, and go the Biocomputing route.</p>

<p>Next year, he'll be taking Calculus, Biology II, and Physics, as far as tech courses, so that's as far as he'll get. The only computer courses offered were in HTML and EXCEL, and we didn't have room for them anyway. </p>

<p>Any advice on books to read, tutorials to take, or even some comfort that he'll be okay when he gets there?</p>

<p>I think as a last resort, I might have to send him to one of those IDTech camps, but really would rather go a cheaper route. Also, he has to do 100 hours of service this summer to graduate, so self study might be the way to go.</p>

<p>BTW, he is really gifted with computers. Gets it from his daddy, who is a systems analyst, so might get a little help with the self studying. But dad won't be up in Milwaukee when he goes to college.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help you can give.</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://www.marquette.edu/cur_students/documents/ugb_engineering.pdf[/url]”>http://www.marquette.edu/cur_students/documents/ugb_engineering.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This has the classes he’ll be taking his first year. I know from my roommate’s experience that the COEN 51 class he’d be taking his second semester is Java-oriented. Other than that, I’m not sure. They don’t seem to be expecting previous knowledge, but I imagine the content will be moving quickly. You said your son is good with computers, so as long as he keeps up on everything, he should be able to learn as he goes.</p>

3

<p>To Engineering Majors, have any of you AP’d out of Calc I?</p>

<p>Our friend at Auburn who is MechE AP’d out of Calc I and said it was a huge auditorium class with 300 kids and mostly theory.</p>

<p>We’d rather son not AP out of math/science classes, since he’ll be a BME major, but are wondering if the Calc I class is a big auditorium class at Marquette.</p>

<p>Also, what about Chemistry and Biology and Physics, first year, are those big classes as well? </p>

<p>Auburn is 23K, and Marquette is probably half the size, so I know the two are not comparable in size, but since Marquette has such a great engineering program, I was wondering if that’s a full major where there’s too many kids for the intro classes to have small classes. Do you think it’s worth joining the honors program to get first dibs on scheduling and smaller classes, or are the smaller classes only in core courses, not courses for your major (bio, chem, calc, physics)?</p>

<p>Thanks for any insight.</p>

4

<p>Found a course in C++ offered at the local university, two nights a week, which son may be eligible to take as a high school student. Do you think that would be beneficial as a biomedical engineering major? I have heard Java is used, so would C be a waste of time?</p>

<p>Of course, I believe that no knowledge is wasted, and my husband, who is a systems analyst, can attest to the value of knowing multiple languages. Heck, he got a job during the oil crunch because he knew Cobalt, thanks to the Y2K scare.</p>

<p>Still waiting on job and service project scheduling to decide if son can fit the class in, but I’m applying for it anyway. Just will be out the app fee at this point.</p>

<p>We have learned a hard lesson this semester so far about not having backup plans. Job and service project fell through, and now scrambling to get summer plans together.</p>

<p>Excited about taking the great courses offered at Marquette for engineering majors!</p>

5

<p>Son was accepted into an enrichment program at the local Jesuit college, Loyola, so will be unable to take computer programming C++ this summer. </p>

<p>I checked out UWisconsin Milwaukee course selection, and it seems they do offer C++ programming. If this course is not offered at Marquette, son may want to pick that up while up there. </p>

<p>Is the UWisMil campus very far from Marquette? Is it possible to take public transport there?</p>

<p>I’ll check the Marquette courses to see if C++ is offered, but in case it isn’t, this may be an option.</p>

<p>Not really concerned about receiving credit, just saw some job postings in cities of interest that asked for experience with that language.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help, and looking forward to applying in a couple of months!</p>

<p>And a question about Carpenter.</p>

<p>Are there communal bathrooms on the engineering floor? Would prefer a communal over private bath.</p>

<p>Thanks for any help!</p>

6

<p>UWM is on the East side of Milwaukee (northeast of downtown) near the lake. Years ago when I was a student you could get there via bus with one or two transfers, not sure how things are today but I would imagine that it can still be done since UWM is located on one of the major streets on the east side of town. </p>

<p>Carpenter was an old hotel prior to being converted into a dorm; all rooms have private baths as a result.</p>

<p>[Carpenter</a> Tower | Residence Halls | Marquette University](<a href=“Residence Halls // Office of Residence Life // Marquette University”>Residence Halls // Office of Residence Life // Marquette University)</p>