<p>Hey guys,
I'm going back to UCLA for a master's in Mech. Eng. this fall, and we are given the choice of taking 4 upper division engineering courses.
Can anyone recommend me any relatively easy upper division engineering courses? (100-series). I'm not sure if we can take classes outside of Mechanical Engineering, but from what I understand, I think as long as the class is in the 100-series, it qualifies as one of our classes.
Thanks,
-Michael</p>
<p>It doesn't matter whether the course is easy or not - you still get the Masters exam when taking exams.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think you should try the math series 182BCD, acoustics, nuclear, and finite element.</p>
<p>It depends on the instructor, whether to grade differently between the grads and undergrad students. Some will grade you against your peers. For example, this quarters Acoustics class, the grading is separted between ungrads and grads. In finite element, numerical methods and vibrations, everyone was graded the same.</p>
<p>BTW the easiest one that a grad student can take is MAE 169 Vibrations with Prof. Li.</p>
<p>I don't know why they don't make vibrations and FEM part of the undergraduate curriculum.</p>
<p>They have it at most other schools. Instead, they should lump 182A and 33B together as one class.</p>
<p>BTW zero, do you know who is teaching 162M next quarter?</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendations, any other classes?
I've already taken 169, nuclear, and finite element during my undergrad. Acoustics sounds fun though, I'll look into that.</p>
<p>Vibrations was replaced with 107, and some material was moved into 171. FEM 168 is just a skill to have in your toolbox. The class is mostly mathematics and not computer programming, which is a common misconception. You'll learn how to use various FEM software in the industry, but probably won't understand how the software computes stuff without taking a course in FEM.</p>
<p>169 is the only easy one i can think of. It seems you have taken a lot of electives, so I guess you graduated before 05. That's back when they made you take alot of electives. Your selections of 100 series classes in the ME dept might be small. This is probably why I hear that alot of grad students taking weird upper divisions courses that have nothing to do with their focus area.</p>
<p>About 162M the senior design course, they don't offer it in the FALL.</p>