<p>I am an incoming freshman and i want to switch to EECS now, so far i've signed up for math 1b and chem 1a, can i just sign up for eecs classes now or do i have to sign up for mech classes this semester and change 2nd semester? I think there is only a difference of 1 class between mech and eecs.</p>
<p>Yea definitely start with EECS stuff if you're certain about switching. They can't make you take MechE classes even if you're in MechE. So you can go for Math, Chem, and a CS course.</p>
<p>as is true with all engineering majors, you must take at least two classes that are go towards fulfilling requirements for your major, regardless of whether or not you want to switch out. this is to safeguard in the case that you take all EECS classes, apply to the major, and don't get accepted...and then get screwed because you didn't take any ME classes.</p>
<p>however, since you're a freshman, it shouldn't be a problem because math/physics/chem are all prerequisites for both EECS and ME (as well as all engineering), so there shouldn't be a problem. I'd suggest taking CS61a or CS3 in addition to the math and science (physics/chem) class, and you should be fine. talk to your academic affairs advisor in mclaughlin and he/she'll be able to fill you in on when you can apply to change to eecs, which I don't think you'll be able to do until after a year or more, or at least that is what is most advisable.</p>
<p>Also, for engineering, there seem to be "two levels" of engineering classes: those for EECS, and those for other engineering classes. For example, Engineering 77 (which is Engineering 7 now), is the computer programming for non-EECS, while EECS has to take the CS61 series, but if you're not EECS, you can also fulfill the E7 requirement with CS61A or CS61B (I think that might depend on your major). Same with EE40/100. What I'm trying to say is that there are EECS pre-reqs that you can take that will also fulfill MechE requirements, it's just that MechEs usually don't take them, because they have an easier route.</p>
<p>I'd highly recommend E77 in your case. I took E77 my first semester as an Undeclared Engineering major who was looking at MechE. After I loved that class, I decided to pursue EECS more and was able to substitute E77 for CS61A (and CS3, if you were going to take that) since I 'transferred' into EECS and took it my first semester. I knew nothing about programming before E77, and the class was taught assuming no one had programmed before. Other than it being awesome (though I haven't taken CS3 or CS61A so I cant really comment on that), it's a required class for all (or most) of the other engineering majors, and can be used towards an EECS degree as well. On top of that, cs3 and cs61a are in a language called 'Scheme', which I guess is just used to teach those classes and has no real use outside of that (no other classes that I'm aware of use it). E77s Matlab, on the other hand, is used for a lot of engineering stuff, including EE20 labs, and has its uses (though not required) in tons of other classes as well (EE40, CS150, etc).</p>
<p>I need to revise my argument a bit. I previously thought that E77 (which is now E7) cannot be used as a prerequisite for EECS, since EECS requires CS61A/B/C, but a closer look at the EECS page on the online catalog says if you are transferring from another engineering department, E77 can be used instead of CS61A (so I assume, E7 can likewise be taken instead of CS61A). On the other hand, I assumed that CS61A can be taken instead of E77 for MechE, since that's how some other engineering departments do it, but the unorganized MechE website didn't say anything about it. I'm fairly certain you can use CS61A as E7 for MechE, but talk to your adviser about it. I'll email someone about it in the meantime. Still, I recommend that you sign up for CS61A instead of E7 because if you want to do EECS, you should really do the 61-series, and the 61-series is a lot more telling of what EECS is like, so you may find out that it's not for you after all. It is pretty harsh though and many people in it already know a bit of programming.</p>
<p>I thought they were moving toward a common first year in CoE?</p>
<p>Oh wait I just read the bottom of that article. I guess EECS is excluded from the common first year. But since the article states that in January 2007 CoE officials were "still working out how CFY students will transfer to EECS their second year and how junior transfers will fulfill the E 10 and E 7 requirements," it looks like they'll try to accommodate students who want to switch.</p>
<p>They would probably let you take E7 and E10 as CS61A for EECS, but I think that if the OP is serious about wanting to switch to EECS, to just take the 61-series, since it's specifically designed for EECS (and CS), and s/he can get a better idea of what EECS is like. There is a possibility that MechE won't accept CS61A which seems ridiculous to me but that's why I suggested for the OP to ask an adviser about it. Getting back on topic, there are actually quite a few classes that don't overlap, so the OP should sign up for the overlap classes like Math, Chem 1A, etc.</p>
<p>thanks for the help, i was also wondering if cs61 was a class that requires me to know anything in advance, because i dont know anything about engineering at this point, so far during phase I of telebears ive signed up for physics 7a and math 1b,</p>
<p>CS61A I think requires <em>some</em> programming experience, and they suggest taking CS3 first if you have none. I still stand by my belief that your best bet is to take E77, which requires no prior programming experience. It is in a better language that you will definitely use regardless if you're EECS or MEng, it satisfies requirements whether you're in EECS or MEng, and I thoroughly enjoyed the class as a whole. The best part is that it leaves your options open: if you don't transfer into EECS, you'll have completed a class you needed to anyways. If you do, you can go straight into CS61b and CS61c and skip the whole CS3 / CS61a stuff.</p>
<p>I think if the OP is pretty sure about doing EECS, then he should do CS61A. Not only do I believe that CS61A is important, but also all the CS professors stress how important it is for later CS work. Sure, Matlab may be more useful in the real world than Scheme, but you don't take 61A just to learn a language. CS61A is all about programming methodology. Scheme is merely the platform that they use. There's a reason why people who AP'ed out of 61B or who took the community college equivalent are still required to take 61A. </p>
<p>And about E77 / E7, I'm not doubting that it's a good course, but I think it largely depends on who's teaching. I know quite a few people who loathed it. Who'd ya take it with and when?</p>
<p>Sengupta used to teach it...I don't know if they're going to get someone new for E7. Sengupta's actually not bad, but E77 wasn't structured that well because 1. there's a lot of tedious busywork in assignments and 2. there's a lot of math 54 material which most students in the class haven't taken.</p>
<p>At calso the counselor said to email her if we wanted to make any changes to our classes. I emailed her today but i got a reply that she is on vacation till August 14th. Do I really have to email my counselor before i can sign up for different classes. I was also wondering how much experience or what i should know before going into cs61a. I dont think skipping cs61a for e77 is a good idea because cs61a seems so important.</p>
<p>Nah, just go on telebears between 7pm and 12 am and you should be able to make changes to your classes. Since you probably haven't had phase II yet, you can only have a maximum of 10 units, so if you want to add a class that will put you over, you gotta drop one first. And be careful because if you drop a class that's full and you want back in, you'll have to get on a waiting list.</p>
<p>As for CS61A, I don't think there are any prerequisites although some people take CS3. As such, they will probably start from scratch, but just go a lot faster than those with no programming experience are used to. I probably wouldn't recommend taking it first semester with no prior programming experience (if you want to do well).</p>
<p>im scared that if i take cs3 first, i will be 1 semester behind because 2nd semester all the other eecs majors will be taking cs61b</p>
<p>Nah. There is no specific time or order in which you take these classes. Some people take CS61A in the fall, some in the spring. I know one guy who's taking it right now, during the summer. Some skip CS61A, while others take CS61C and CS61B first. As long as you finish CS61A/B/C by the end of your sophomore year, you're fine.</p>
<p>Okay, I emailed someone who works in engineering and asked if CS61A can be used to fulfill the E7 requirement for MechEs and just got a response. His reply says "MechE usually does not accept this substitution as Matlab is used in MechE upper division courses." With this new info, it may be a better idea to take E7. Worst case scenario, you take CS61A, find out you don't want to do EECS or don't get in, and take E7. It's not a huge deal. You can also sign up for both and see what they are like. You're given until the 5th week to drop classes.</p>
<p>I think that i am just going to go ahead and sign up for cs61a, because i dont wanna be behind a semester, can i sign up for E7 just in case? Also could u guys tell me some of the things i should try to learn in the remainder of the summer for cs61a, or recommend some books i can buy from amazon or something to study</p>
<p>I also want to know how hard cs61a would be if i have no cs experience going into it</p>