<p>Thanks, ahsanxr. You finally gave a definite answer to my original question. My linear algebra class in high school gives me credit for elementary linear algebra at UVA, and it should end up transferring. I am definitely taking 2 maths first semester, one being calculus and I’m unsure about the other. I considered retaking Elementary LA because while my class was great in teaching me how to solve the problems mathematically, it was terrible in terms of visuals (this is a class about vector space and we’ve looked at probably 4 diagrams, and those were VERY brief.) While I believe I am proficient in calculus, I don’t even dream about being so in linear algebra. Sure, I can find eigenvalues or an eigenbasis or apply the Gram-Schmidt process, but I can’t say I actually understand it. Is advanced linear algebra meant to be taken after elementary, or will it basically cover the same topics except in much greater detail? It seems more like a second year class after you full grasp basic LA, so I may go with something like survey of algebra, etc.</p>
<p>advanced is a grad level class. Definitely wait until at least 2nd year to take that. ELA at UVa is proof based. If you didn’t prove the theorems that would be why you don’t understand it. You’ll probably be bored in ELA, though… I waited until my 3rd year to take ELA because my Diff Eq class was half diffeq, half linear, so I didn’t have patience for it like you. It was easy but still interesting because I picked a good professor (my advisor). Survey is a fantastic class and I took it my first semester.</p>
<p>“Sure, I can find eigenvalues or an eigenbasis or apply the Gram-Schmidt process, but I can’t say I actually understand it.”</p>
<p>I went into ELA thinking the exact same thing. I learned how to do computations in Linear Algebra while in high school but wasn’t really confident about my understanding of the material, so I took ELA. Turned out ELA was a repeat of the way I learned LA in high school, that is it mostly teaches you how to compute things (row reduction, determinants, gram-schmidt, eigenvalues etc). I’m gonna have to disagree with hazelorb because ELA is NOT proof-based (not with most professors at least). Sure the professor might go through the proofs of the theorems in class but the actual tests and homeworks are largely about computing things with maybe a couple of easy proofs.</p>
<p>“Is advanced linear algebra meant to be taken after elementary, or will it basically cover the same topics except in much greater detail?”</p>
<p>I would say its more along the lines of the latter. It covers everything from scratch but it does so at a pace which assumes you’re familiar with the concepts. It does a lot of topics which you won’t see in ELA as well. To get an idea about what the class will be like take a look at this link (note that this fall they have a different professor though):</p>
<p>[Math</a> 5651. Advanced Linear Algebra.](<a href=“http://people.virginia.edu/~mve2x/5651_Fall2011/]Math”>http://people.virginia.edu/~mve2x/5651_Fall2011/)</p>
<p>FERMAT -JR Class:</p>
<p>FERMAT : What can you tell me about UVA Engineering? Does it have ranking
in engineering circles? How are job prospects?</p>
<p>Do you know anything about Systems Engineering Dept?</p>
<p>The blogs do not talk about UVA engineering - are students too busy w/ homework?</p>
<p>Anyone out there pls give comment - THX</p>
<p>yianni12</p>