Still possible to do engineering?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of pursuing engineering, specifically chemical engineering, without a background in high school physics. Participants share their experiences and insights regarding the transition into engineering programs and the adequacy of bridging courses offered by universities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about lacking physics knowledge but is confident in their math skills and interest in chemical engineering.
  • Another participant shares their experience of not taking high school physics but successfully pursuing aerospace engineering.
  • It is noted that first-year engineering students typically take a year-long calculus-based physics course that starts from the basics, implying that prior physics knowledge is not a strict requirement.
  • A suggestion is made to prepare by watching specific educational content, indicating that self-study may be beneficial for understanding the material.
  • A participant reflects on their initial struggles with calculus-based physics but ultimately improved their performance after seeking help from their instructor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that it is possible to pursue engineering without prior physics knowledge, although individual experiences and preparedness may vary. There are no definitive conclusions about the best approach for those lacking a physics background.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the existence of bridging courses that cover only the basics, which may not fully prepare students for the demands of engineering courses. The effectiveness of self-study and additional preparation is also discussed, but no consensus is reached on the best methods.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering engineering programs without a strong background in physics, as well as those interested in the experiences of current engineering students regarding their academic transitions.

kr73114
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When I was selecting subjects in year 10 I didn't know what to do and didn't pick physics. But now I want to do engineering but I don't have much physics knowledge. I'm confident I can do well in maths and I'm pretty sure I can get into engineering, but I'm not sure about whether I can handle the physics. Btw, I wanted to do chemical engineering. Also, unis in Australia have bridging courses where you can catch up if you havn't done a particuar subject that you need in uni, but this is very brief and covers just the basics. Without much high school physics, can I still do chemical engineering.
 
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I sure hope so. I didn't take high school physics, and I'm in aerospace engineering.
 
Generally, all first year students get put into the same year-long calculus-based physics course, whether or not they have done physics before. There are no prerequisite in terms of physics for that course; it is meant to start from the very beginning and cover the fundamentals. So I don't think there is a problem if you haven't done physics before.
 
Your question has already been answered well, but as a side note, if you want to prepare extra, I'd recommend watching Walter Lewis on MIT open courseware during your summer. Though, you may need to self-study calculus to understand some of the material.
 
Angry Citizen said:
I sure hope so. I didn't take high school physics, and I'm in aerospace engineering.

how you finding that?
 
Not bad. It was rough at first, since I started physics with calc-based physics. I ranked consistently average for most of the two semesters. Then my instructor and I sat down and talked out why I wasn't doing as well as I'd liked, and I ended up kicking major *** on the second semester's final. I could've done much better than I did, and I wound up with solid B's in both courses.

Time will tell if this was pure dumb luck though.
 

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