Hi all,
I am an incoming freshman into EECS at Cal and I’ve been trying to figure out my schedule for my first semester. So far, this is what I have:
Math 53
Physics 7A
CS 61A
something to satisfy r1b
I’ve noticed that they are offering EE 16A. Would I be better off if I took that instead of physics? Also, which classes should I phase 1? Am I allowed to phase 1 Math53? I took the AP test last year, but since I am sending all the scores together with this year’s AP test, they won’t get my BC score until after phase 1. Lastly, what do you guys recommend for the R&C requirement? I would prefer to have something that is not a huge time drain so I can focus on my technical classes.
One further question: Is it worth it to take the honours version of the math and/or physics courses? I am probably planning to go into the ECE direction.
It looks like neither EE 16A nor 16B lists any physics as a prerequisite. Few EE upper division courses list physics as a prerequisite, though many still list EE 40 (one of the two courses that 16A and 16B replace) used to list Physics 7B as a prerequisite.
In http://guide.berkeley.edu/courses/el_eng/ , only 137A and 143 list Physics 7B as a prerequisite, though several others like 117 would best be taken after completing Physics 7B.
So, purely on catalog prerequisites, EE 16A and 16B would be the more important prerequisite sequence to start to give more scheduling flexibility later. However, you may want to ask the EECS department whether physics would be helpful for EE 16A or 16B, or any of the upper divsion courses that list EE 40 as a prerequisite.
Assuming that you have a 5 on AP calculus BC, you may want to check your knowledge on Math 1A and 1B final exams from https://tbp.berkeley.edu/courses/ . Math 1B contains some introductory differential equations material that you may want to self-study if your high school (or other college) calculus course did not include it.
For R&C courses, go to each department’s web site and see if instructors’ descriptions and reading lists are posted. For example, the English department’s list is at http://english.berkeley.edu/course_semesters/31 . In general, if the readings are more interesting to you, you will find it easier to read them and write about them.
Honors math and physics courses are for those with a strong interest in the subject.
https://math.berkeley.edu/courses/choosing/honors-courses
http://physics.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate-degree/the-major-and-minor-program
For phase 1, pick the classes that you need the most for your major. So I think at least CS and math classes should be in phase 1. These classes are in the prerequisites of a series of classes so it’s best to get them.