Can I Pursue Mechanical Engineering Without Junior Physics?

[jactrigga]

hi
recently I've taken a real liking to mechanical engineering (after i found out what sort of work they do) and
i'd really like to follow into that area next year when i go into university. Since I've decided to follows path kind of late,i didn't end up studinyg physics but i am studying a high level of maths.
My question is how much of your junior school physics connected with your degree, and can i survive the 4 yr course if i havnt done physics at junior level?

 

[Hawknc]

Someone specific to your country can answer this more specifically (I'm an Aussie, so probably not much help), but a sound knowledge of physics will help you immensely in engineering. The parts that probably relate best to mechanical engineering are things like kinematics (equations of motion and the like) and the concept of forces (Newton's laws) which are absolutely fundamental to mechanical engineering. Put another way - if you haven't done physics in high school, you'll need to do it in the first year of uni. Doing a high level of maths will certainly help you, though. I'd suggest looking at the course structures at each university you want to attend and seeing how their first year is structured, and whether you can fit an introductory physics subject in there. Also, check the pre-requisites for the courses - at my uni, I needed maths as well as physics or chemistry to get into engineering (with whichever one I didn't do as a compulsory subject in first year so that everyone went into second year on a level playing field).

Cliff notes version: yes with an if, no with a but.

 

[jactrigga]

lol...thats funny I am aussie as well
I changed the question around b/c i assumed this was a US site

 

[Hawknc]

Nice! I had an inclination from the use of logical words such as "maths" and "university", but I didn't want to assume. ;) In that case, I'm fairly certain that you will indeed have to take some sort of introductory physics in first year (usually called Physics A or something). Are you doing any other science subjects as Year 12 components? Chemistry is what most unis want if you don't have physics, so provided you have that then physics won't be much of an issue for getting into the course. Check the VTAC/UAC/QTAC/whatever guide for specific details on pre-reqs though.

Edit: I suppose, perhaps, that this is a discussion better suited for the Academic & Career Guidance forum, but if there's one thing I dislike about forums it's wannabe-mods so I'll leave that decision to the experts.

 

[jactrigga]

The course i was wanting to apply didn't list physics as a must have subject, so i assumed they would start at the begininng (RMIT, Swinburne ). My biggest worry is that the lecturers/teachers are going to assume that i know physics. If they do expect me to know tht then
taking extra units seems pratical - i didnt know u could do tht- thnx..:D

 

[Hawknc]

Hmm, you're right about RMIT actually. I'm at Monash, and their requirements are at least one science subject. They can't expect you to know the content of a subject that isn't a prerequisite, so I'd say you're fine.