<p>When a class has X units, does that mean that the class has X hours per week? If not, if I'm taking 16 units, how many hours will class be per week?</p>
<p>Also, do most electrical engineers take 4 courses a quarter? Is taking 5 courses a quarter (three technical, two nontechnical) a bad idea?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>You can't count on units being indicative of hours spent in class.</p>
<p>Oh, I was glancing through the schedule of classes, and a 4-unit class meet twice a week for about an hour and a half each day; a 5-unit class meet twice a week for a total of SEVEN hours...</p>
<p>Why would anyone want to enroll in classes like the latter?</p>
<p>...because they have to?</p>
<p>The number of units, although not represented in all schools, is meant to mean how many course hours spent in the classroom (lecture, recitation, lab).</p>
<p>UCLA doesn't follow this widely used "definition". </p>
<p>
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5-unit class meet twice a week for a total of SEVEN hours...
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</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, do most electrical engineers take 4 courses a quarter? Is taking 5 courses a quarter (three technical, two nontechnical) a bad idea?
[/quote]
Yes, 4 is the average that I've heard. 5 - 7 have been done. My advice is that don't do 5-7 unless you have an uncanny ability to manage time and/or have good work ethics. Also, if you have a bf/gf, then there is a slim chance you would survive with more than 5 classes.
Units don't mean anything. Especially in engineering. It seems like people make a big deal out of it, especially when using it as a standard of how tough or difficult the workload is.</p>
<p>Yeah, you take the classes because you have to. Labs will kick your ass, as far as units go. Worth 3 units, but feels like 10.</p>
<p>Two classes which come to mind are MAE 157 (8 hours lab per week, 4 units) and Physics 4BL (3 hours lab per week, 2 units, 12-15 hours/wk outside study for me).</p>
<p>Then there was the Disney class that was 5 units and probably hardly any work (ask liyana about it).</p>