Post Your Summer/Fall 2012 Class Schedules

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the summer and fall class schedules of various participants, covering a range of subjects in mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science. The scope includes personal experiences, course selections, and academic planning for upcoming semesters.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares their summer and fall courses, expressing excitement about spacecraft dynamics and concerns about mechanics of solids.
  • Another participant outlines their graduate school plans, including courses in statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics.
  • A high school freshman lists their summer and sophomore year courses, seeking suggestions for additional summer activities.
  • Several participants mention taking calculus, physics, and chemistry courses, with varying levels of enthusiasm and apprehension about the difficulty.
  • Some participants discuss their plans for advanced topics such as differential equations, linear algebra, and quantum mechanics.
  • One participant notes the challenge of fitting multiple classes into a short summer semester and questions the structure of academic calendars in different regions.
  • Another participant mentions an internship or independent study as part of their summer plans, indicating a focus on practical experience.
  • Several participants express excitement about their upcoming courses, particularly in advanced mathematics and physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share their individual schedules without reaching a consensus on any specific topic. There are multiple competing views regarding course difficulty and the structure of academic semesters, indicating a lack of resolution on these points.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the appropriateness of certain courses for their academic progression, and there are mentions of varying educational systems affecting course load and scheduling.

Who May Find This Useful

Students planning their academic schedules, educators interested in course offerings, and individuals curious about the variety of subjects studied in STEM fields may find this discussion relevant.

  • #61
Fall 2012
Modern Physics w/lab
E&M
Optics w/lab
still undecided between Mathematical Physics and Organic Chem I

Taking a well deserved break this summer.
 
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  • #62
Hobin said:
Huh. Maybe we just work harder around here, I don't know. :wink:

Well, I don't where the other guy goes to school, but most people usually take around 5 classes a semester.
 
  • #63
Hobin said:
Huh. Maybe we just work harder around here, I don't know. :wink:

I don't really agree with the philosophy about it.

I find it hard to see how the you can attain an in-depth knowledge with that kind of workload.

Robert1986 said:
Well, I don't where the other guy goes to school, but most people usually take around 5 classes a semester.

This isn't to attack anyone, but to show that it really just depends on your goals and how much free-time and sanity you ultimately want left.

5 classes a semester for math/physics majors is usually 18-20 credits. One thing comes to mind, is the person aiming for an in-depth understanding of the material or just wants to get a degree and/or a grade. I guess it all comes down to the individual. There is also a difference between taking 18-20 credits of classes and taking 18-20 credits of math/physics classes. I simply don't understand why someone would want to take 18-20 credits of math/physics classes unless they have a good foundation on the subjects and choose to get a degree as quickly as possible to enter the workforce.

But a really big part of it comes from the foundation. For example I can't imagine the workload some people go through simply because I only started paying attention to physics and math recently. I'm only now just starting to find new concepts in calculus very easy to pick up. So a portion of it has to do with history.

To me the most important thing is to enjoy college life and studying while attaining a non-superficial understanding of the material--not to get through college and classes as quickly as humanely possible. If I have extra time, I can simply devote it to other study outside the curriculum.
 
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  • #64
battousai said:
what is covered in graduate linear algebra? I've taken the undergrad linear algebra sequence, which goes all the way to jordan canonical form. my school doesn't offer a graduate sequence, which made me wonder.

You know I am not entirely sure. I took the undergraduate course and it covered linear transformations, vector spaces, etc. I know that the book we are using is Linear Algebra by Hoffman. I looked at the book and it seems to be more or less the same as the one I used for undergrad linalg, except slightly more detail.
 
  • #65
Due to a transition between programs I will be studying quite a bit this fall (complementary courses). During the summer I will prepare for the fall...

Fall 2012:

Linear Algebra (shorter complentary course from LA I)
Calculus (shorter complementary course from Calculus I, II and III)
Thermodynamics, Basics Course
Complex Analysis
Mathematical Methods for Physicists (will continue after Christmas)
Mechanics, Statics (shorter complementary course from Mechanics I)
Mechanics II
Differential Equations and Transforms
Classical Physics (will continue after Christmas)
 
  • #66
Summer:
Calculus 3
Statics
Analytical Methods in Engineering
Dynamics

Fall:
Diff eq or physics 2
Aerodynamics
Strength of materials
Materials lab
Fundamentals of thermo
 
  • #67
Summer:
research in partial differential equations

Fall:
Geometry of curves and surfaces (intro diff geom)
linear algebra (graduate)
film analysis
Spanish for high beginners (maybe French instead)
History and culture of native north americans
 
  • #68
summer: I'll be doing research in applied algebraic topology. don't know if I'm going to take an official class (I do want to go through the MITx circuits class though, that looks fun).

fall:
randomized algorithms
machine learning
differential topology
algebra
algebraic topology or measure theory, idk yet. I want to take another AT course but my adviser tells me I shouldn't focus on one specific area of math so early, so I might take measure theory.
will probably audit a quantum field theory class for a while, until I don't have time anymore
 
  • #69
I'm a high school student, so my schedule's not nearly as interesting, but meh.

Summer (at the community college)
Chemistry I
Chemistry II
Differential Equations
Probably some self-studying out of Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds and Lang's Linear Algebra

Fall
AP World History
AP Government
AP Environmental Science
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Economics
AP Latin
AP Physics B
(at the community college)
Either Organic Chemistry or Multivariable Calculus
Introductory Biochemistry
 
  • #70
Voivode said:
I'm a high school student, so my schedule's not nearly as interesting, but meh.

Summer (at the community college)
Chemistry I
Chemistry II
Differential Equations
Probably some self-studying out of Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds and Lang's Linear Algebra

Fall
AP World History
AP Government
AP Environmental Science
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Economics
AP Latin
AP Physics B
(at the community college)
Either Organic Chemistry or Multivariable Calculus
Introductory Biochemistry

You'll have a really difficult time getting through any of Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds if you're planning to take multivariable calculus in the fall.
 
  • #71
the_kid said:
You'll have a really difficult time getting through any of Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds if you're planning to take multivariable calculus in the fall.

Not really, if he's gone through an analysis textbook already, and know enough linear algebra.
 
  • #72
I am starting a master's in math this fall. My schedule is a bit weird because I was almost a math major in undergrad, but I didn't take analysis or discrete math or algebra. The grad school I got into is letting me make up some transitional coursework at the beginning of my program.

Summer:

No schedule, but I need to study a lot. Primarily calculus and linear algebra, but it might be good to look ahead to analysis or discrete math sorts of things. If anyone can suggest some good transitional texts, I'd appreciate it!

Fall:

Advanced Calc I
Algebra I
Programming in C++
 
  • #73
Fall 2012:

Linear Analysis II
Dynamics
Materials Engineering
Mechanics of Materials
Physics III (E&M)
 
  • #74
Fall 2012:
Electrodynamics 2 (Electromagnetic waves and relativity)
Analytical mechanics
Quantum mechanics 1
Philosophy of Science and ethics for physicsts

Rather excited about analytical mechanics and quantum mechanics!
 
  • #75
SUMMER:

Laplace/Fourier Series/PDE's (Cal. 5?)
Mechanics of Materials
Technical Writing for ENGR

FALL:

Numerical Methods
Manufacturing Process
Modelling, Simulation and Control Systems
Probability and Statistics for ENGR
Thermodynamics 2
 
  • #76
thrill3rnit3 said:
Not really, if he's gone through an analysis textbook already, and know enough linear algebra.

What would you say would be enough linear algebra?
 
  • #77
Summer 2012:

American History since 1865
-and probably-
Intro to Business

Fall 2012:

American Government
Introductory Microeconomics
Business Calculus (unfortunately, since I was really hoping for Calculus 1 =( )
Novel Workshop

I was also aiming for Physical Geology, but there were two problems with that:
1.) The special services counselor told me that 5 courses would be too much, and
2.) It isn't going to be offered this fall semester.
Does anyone know the difference between General Geology and Physical Geology? I was aiming for Physical Geology because it sounds more appealing.
 
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  • #78
Voivode said:
What would you say would be enough linear algebra?
Operator-theory based linear algebra on the level of Axler (usually a second course in linear algebra) is more than sufficient from my experience. You could probably get away with a single semester intro linear algebra course, though.
 
  • #79
Fall 2012

World History
Intro to Analysis I
Methods of Analytical Physics
Mechanics I
Intro to Math Statistics I
 
  • #80
Going to be a HS senior

AP English Lit
AP Chemistry
Anatomy & Physiology
French 4
Multivariable Calculus (Fall) and ODEs (Spring)
Intermediate Microeconomics (Fall) and Intermediate Macroeconomics (Spring) (these are 300 level classes at my local university)
 
  • #81
- Macro Economics, 3 cr, E
- Micro Economics, 3 cr, E
- Calculus III, 5 cr, I
- Differential Eqautions 3 cr, A


-_-
 
  • #82
Summer
Calculus I

Fall
Calculus II
Honors Linear Algebra
C++ Programming
Advanced Composition (writing)
Maybe Russian or Physics I

I'm planning a light load for the upcoming Fall/Spring since I have taken all of the classes I need in order to transfer except for a couple of math classes... instead of taking classes I don't need, I'm going to tutor, volunteer, and focus on self-studying.
 
  • #83
Summer: Standard funfilled research

Fall: (Junior Physics Major)
Group Theory (Graduate, Essentially Lie Algebra and Representation Theory with an eye towards HEP)
Quantum Mechanics I (Graduate)
Theory of Galaxy Formation (Graduate)
Theoretical Fluid Dynamics
Complex Analysis or Algebraic Topology
Some fun filled history-type course
 
  • #84
n1person said:
Summer: Standard funfilled research

Fall: (Junior Physics Major)
Group Theory (Graduate, Essentially Lie Algebra and Representation Theory with an eye towards HEP)
Quantum Mechanics I (Graduate)
Theory of Galaxy Formation (Graduate)
Theoretical Fluid Dynamics
Complex Analysis or Algebraic Topology
Some fun filled history-type course

Nice schedule, best of luck. :smile:
 
  • #85
Intro to Computer Science II (java) 3cr.
Calculus II 4 cr.
Physics I 4 cr.
Anthropology 3 cr.
Marching Band 1 cr.
 
  • #86
Analysis I
Algebra I
Advanced Linear Algebra
TA
 
  • #87
Fall: (college freshman)

Mechanics
General and Inorganic Chemistry
Theoretical Linear Algebra and Calculus
Freshman Writing Seminar
Orchestra (maybe)
 
  • #88
n1person said:
Summer: Standard funfilled research

Fall: (Junior Physics Major)
Group Theory (Graduate, Essentially Lie Algebra and Representation Theory with an eye towards HEP)
Quantum Mechanics I (Graduate)
Theory of Galaxy Formation (Graduate)
Theoretical Fluid Dynamics
Complex Analysis or Algebraic Topology
Some fun filled history-type course

inspiring
 
  • #89
Summer:

Intermediate Financial Accounting 2 (LOL)
Elementary Differential Equations (easy enough)
Chemistry I with lab (piece of cake)
Discrete Math (literally the hardest class I have ever taken and it will probably be my first C in college as a senior)

Fall:
Physics I (Classical mechanics)
Linear Algebra 2
Complex Variables
Spanish culture
Computer Science I (Java, etc.)
 
  • #90
Fall 2012:

Group Theory
Advanced Calculus I
Knot Theory
Cryptography
History of Popular Music, Post-World War II
 

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