<p>Numerical Methods - 4 Credits
Intro to Fluid Mechanics - 3 Credits
Dynamics of Machines - 3 Credits
Intro Computer Science - 4 Credits
Engineering Management 1 - 3 Credits
Intro Engineering Probability and Stats - 3 Credits</p>
<p>20 credits total.
I'm pretty sure the computer science, engineering management classes are fairly easy; and Stats is boring but straightforward.</p>
<p>The only thing i'm unsure about is Numerical Methods, Fluids, and Dynamics of Machines. I've heard so many different things about each class that there is no general consensus.</p>
<p>You're pretty much hosed. Do you <em>have</em> to take all those classes? Dynamics is not easy. Fluids is not easy. Numerical Methods is really not easy.</p>
<p>Also, don't underestimate the amount of time your "easy" classes are going to take you. Just because they're intro classes doesn't mean that they won't pound you into the ground and jump on you a few times for good measure.</p>
<p>You can only do max of 19 credits at my school for full time, any more and you pay for them. Honestly man I would drop a class, probably Dynamics or Fluids and stick with 17 credits. Getting one class ahead isn't going to really make things that much better for you down the road and you'll be swamped with work with a 20 credit semester.</p>
<p>I have to take Fluids and Dynamics, because they are only offered during the fall semester. If I was to drop anything it would be Numerical Methods; which would bring me down to 16 credits.</p>
<p>I will talk to my advisors and my professors and see what they advise as well. Thx for the input guys.</p>
<p>Also, I am intrigued by all the responses saying that my schedule would be very very very difficult. I would think that the <em>suggested</em> course for a Junior in ME would be a lot tougher:</p>
<p>Engineering Analysis (Vector analysis, complex variables, Fourier series, matrices, boundary value problems and applications to current engineering problems.) - 3 Credits
Intro to Fluid Mechanics - 3 Credits
Dynamics of Machines - 3 Credits
Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials - 3 Credits
Any Gen Ed Class - 3 Credits.</p>
<p>Total of 15 credits. This is the suggested course given by the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department.</p>
<p>Engineering analysis wouldn't be too bad. It looks like just a basic math-type overview of things-engineers-use. Mechanics of Materials... I'm kind of surprised that's a junior course. I took it as a sophomore. It's pretty fundamental to knowing how stuff is affected by forces, which is a big part of ME. You can take fluids and dynamics at the same time... those would be the two tough ones, though. The gen ed class would be your obligatory semester blowoff.</p>
<p>The problem with your course schedule is that numerical analysis will likely be tough... Check out that 4-credit marker. There's also a 4-credit label for the computing class, meaning that you're going to spend a <em>ton</em> of time doing homework in the lab, more likely than not. Then you're adding those two doozies from the "recommended" schedule, fluids and dynamics. You're substituting the mechanics of materials courses for stat, and stat, while not difficult, per se, is obnoxious. Finally, you don't really have a total blowoff course like basket weaving or anything. Those are some really solid courses there.</p>
<p>I think that the recommended course schedule is quite doable. I think that yours is going to have you in a straightjacket by Thanksgiving. Definitely talk to your advisors, and good luck with whatever y'all decide upon!</p>
<p>I would consider doing the recommended schedule if I were you. Your professors tend to know what the course loads are like for certain classes. Also keep in mind that three credit classes can be as bad as four credit classes and vice versa so don't judge based on that.</p>
<p>The recommended schedule has the average student in mind. If you consider yourself around an average student at your school then stick with it. If you think you are pretty far above average then consider doing a little more..at your risk.</p>
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Also keep in mind that three credit classes can be as bad as four credit classes and vice versa so don't judge based on that.
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<p>True. I had a five-credit course once that really should have been just three credits. But still, if it <em>does</em> require four credits, and it seems like something that should be easy, do more snooping before you assume that it <em>is</em> easy. I've had what I thought were going to be blowoff four-credit classes that ended up being nightmares because I hadn't counted on the prof assigning more work than we could possibly complete. Just be a little wary, a four-credit class may mean that there's more than meets the eye.</p>
<p>Intro computer science= easy, conceptually, sort of. But at some point you have to be able to code which will require knowing stuff that your professor will never even THINK about talking about in class. He will more than likely ramble about encapsulation and classes while drawing cartoons on the wipe board or bombarding you with powerpoint. If a decent book with examples and **** is among the required readings, that's a plus. If you've coded before, that's a plus. If none of the above are true, it has serious potential to be your hardest class. Tread lightly, young nerd.</p>
<p>It'll be alright, especially if youre not doing research on the side.</p>
<p>Reminds me of my junior year:
partial diff eq,
thermo,
mechanical behavior of materials,
circuits theory
dynamics,
measurements and instrumentation.</p>
<p>I got through it by doing homework on the weekends.</p>
<p>
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Also, I am intrigued by all the responses saying that my schedule would be very very very difficult. I would think that the <em>suggested</em> course for a Junior in ME would be a lot tougher:
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</p>
<p>You are right, its hard to really judge whether a schedule is hard without perspective on the "proposed" plan. I remember taking 21 hours for two semesters (I became an engineer late) and survived by plowing through the weekends.</p>
<p>In addition, to asking your prof/advisers I highly recommend talking to your peers about the prof teaching the classes. At this level I expect that there be at least 2 or more prof teaching those classes and choosing the right prof can make all the difference. In all honesty junior year in an engineering program kicks everyone's ass and is the 2nd most common time when engineering students change majors.</p>