Engineering 101

Introduction to Engineering

10:20 - 11:10 T Hardman 106

Instructor: William C. McCarthy

 

Course Description

The development of engineering and an introduction to engineering education and practice.

Prerequisites: None

 

Course Objectives

The course will introduce students to each of the engineering disciplines within the College of Engineering. The students will gain an appreciation of what each of the engineering fields is about including specific practices associated with each field. Through team projects that emphasize camaraderie, logical thinking and simple engineering design, the students are exposed early to engineering methodologies. The course will instill into the students the concepts of ethics and professionalism, the need for involvement in professional organizations, and career planning critical to their growth on the way to being future engineers.

 

Required Course Materials

 Course Notebook: You are required to keep a notebook for this class that will be turned in on April 28 for final grading. This notebook is to be used exclusively for the Engineering 101 class and will contain write‑ups on the assignments detailed below. The notebook will consist of a half‑inch three ring binder (may be purchased at the bookstore) with tabbed and labeled dividers separating each assignment. Make sure that you have the course name and section number, your name, social security number, and E‑mail address prominently written in a title page. All written assignments are to be done using some word processing software (WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, etc.), double spaced, with a Times 10 or 12 point font size. Make sure that you do a spell check before you print up the assignment.

 

                                                                Course Topics

There will be 8 individual assignments:                                                   Due Date

            1. Email to Dr. McCarthy                                                         Feb. 1

            2. Resume                                                                               Feb. 1

            3. Report on a Significant Person In Engineering                       March 21

            4. Report on a Significant Development In Engineering              March 21

            5. Report on Project #1                                                           April 4

            6. Ethics Report                                                                       April 28

            7. Journal Entries                                                                     April 28

            8. Report on Project #2                                                           April 28

 

The course notebook will contain all assignments, word processed, with corrections.

This will include a print‑out of your E‑mail to Dr. McCarthy. The notebook is due by

5:00 PM on April 28' in EC I room 127.

 

There will be two team projects (details to be provided): 1. Design and construct a wind generator capable of running a small electric motor. 2. Design and construct a solar oven to cook a hot dog. Active collaboration with your team partners toward the successful completion of the projects is mandatory. Failure to do so on either project will result in a 10% reduction in your final grade.

Class Listings:

 

Class Number                 Date                                                              Topic

1                                    Jan. 18                                  Introduction/NM‑AMP

2                                                Jan. 25                                  Campus Police

3                                    Feb. 1                          Corporate Speaker

4                                                                       Feb. 8    Team Formation/Team Project# 1: There She Blows!

5                                               Feb. 15                                 Student Organizations

6                                    Feb. 22                                 Civil/Geological/Surveying Engineering

7                                    Feb. 29                        Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

8                                               March 7                       Industrial/Chemical Engineering

9                                    March 14                     To be Determined

10                                  March 21                             Completion of Project #1:

11                                  April 4                         Team Project #2: What's Cooking under the sun?

12                                   April 11                Advising/Visit your Department

13                                   April 18                            Ethics: General Jerry Laws (retired) ‑ Character Counts

15                                               April 25                                Ethics

14                                   May 2                       Completion of Project #2: The Great Solar Oven Cook‑off.

                                                        I provide soft drinks, chips, hot dogs and accouterments;

                                                       you provide the solar oven. You eat what you cook or go

                                                       hungry.

16                                   May 9                           To be Determined

 

Professional Component

The Engineering 101 class will expose freshmen to differing types of engineering allowing them to rationally select which engineering discipline to pursue based on their interests. The class will help prepare students to think like engineers and understand the expectations required of them to be effective engineers. Upon the successful completion of the course, the students should be able to advance confidently into their future engineering course work. On a more tangible level, the students will have crafted a professional resume which may be immediately useful in securing Coop jobs or summer employment and serve as a template for future modifications that reflect one's accomplishments.

 

Program Objectives

The Engineering 101 class is structured to be the first step in the process of educating engineers who will competently approach a competitive world with confidence, professionalism, and a commitment to the betterment of the condition of their fellow human beings.

 

Prepared by: William C. McCarthy         Date: 1/18/00

 

Class Assignments

 

E‑mail to Dr. McCarthy: You are to obtain an NMSU E‑mail address then E‑mail Dr. McCarthy and provide him with the following information (as a minimum):

 

•Your selected engineering discipline (if known).

•Name and address (home or school) of the most influential teacher in your life.

•Name and address of any person that encouraged you to attend NMSU.

•A brief statement on why you selected engineering as a career choice and what you hope

      to do and where you want to go after graduation.

 

Note: this is a great opportunity to ask questions, express an opinion, or simply tell me a little bit about yourself. Make a print‑out of the E‑mail message to place in the notebook.

 

Resume: A good resume (effective) can be incredibly hard to write. Potential employers will judge you, in large measure, on how well your resume is put together and so it is important to start now and build. The common things to include on a resume are: name, address, telephone number, E‑mail address, major, career objectives, skills, honors and awards, extracurricular activities, experience (work or otherwise), and references. Remember that the best resumes are brief and to the point, yet contain all the essentials. Layouts are very important and so on this assignment you will not be restricted to a particular font size or spacing requirements.

 

Ethics Report: Ethics are critical in any field of engineering. Write a two‑page report on an ethical case history or case study dealing with some facet of engineering. Don't just give the facts, but give your thoughts and opinions. How would you have dealt with the situation? Give your reference (book, journal article, web address, etc.). The paper may not exceed two pages.

 

Journal Entries: When guests are asked to speak to the class, you are to prepare a one‑page summary on what was presented and place it in your notebook. You may want to place any handouts in your notebooks along with the summary page.

 

Significant Person Report: Go to the library and/or use the web to search out a person who has had a significant impact in your chosen engineering field. This person may be an engineer or, if not, someone who has had an impact on engineering in a major way. Prepare a minimum onepage and maximum two‑page report on this person. Who is he/she and what were his/her achievements. If you haven't decided on a specific engineering discipline for your own career then choose to report on someone in any engineering field. Reference your materials.

 

Significant Development Report: Go to the library and/or use the web to search out a significant development in your chosen engineering field. Prepare a minimum one‑page and maximum two‑page report on this development to answer the following questions.

 

• What was the development and how did it impact on your engineering field?

• Who were the engineers who contributed to the development?

•When did it occur?

 

If you haven't decided on a specific engineering discipline for your own career then choose to report on any significant engineering development. Reference your materials.

Projects: The projects are to be a team effort. Prepare an attendance log and when you meet to create and construct the project device, have each team member sign in. The log is to be turned in to Dr. McCarthy on April 28. A minimum one‑page report detailing your work on the project is to be prepared for submission in the notebook.

Class Information

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Each class missed without a valid reason will result in a 5% reduction in your final grade.

Grading:

E‑Mail                                                                                       5%

Resume                                                                                    12%

Ethics Report                                                                          12%

Journal Entries                                                                        17%

Significant Person                                                                  10%

Significant Development                                                       10%

Project #1                                                                                 17%

Project #2                                                                                 17%

 

 

 

Students with Disabilities:

 

If you have, or believe you have, a disability and would benefit from any accommodation(s), you may wish to self identify. You can do so by registering with the Office for Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), located at Garcia Annex (telephone: 646‑6840, TTY: 646‑1918). Appropriate accommodations may then be provided for you.

 

If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or which may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/or Jane Spinti, SSD Coordinator. If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, call Ms. Elva Telles, EEO/ADA & Employee Relations Director at 646‑3333. All medical information will be treated confidentially.