Thermodynamics Course for EE Students: Should I Complain?

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The discussion centers on concerns regarding the pacing and coverage of a thermodynamics course for electrical engineering students. Due to scheduling issues, the class has had fewer lectures compared to another section, resulting in significant material lag, with only four chapters covered out of ten required. The professor's slow teaching pace and an unexpected absence further exacerbate the situation. Participants debate the relevance of thermodynamics to electrical engineering, noting that it is not a required course at their university, particularly for those focusing on areas like photonics, where quantum and statistical mechanics are more pertinent. Suggestions include self-studying the remaining material and consulting the professor for guidance, as well as weighing the benefits of the easier final exam against the incomplete course content.
kdinser
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Here is the situation, because of how the class is scheduled and the date that classes began, the other thermo class has had 2 more lectures then we have (5 hous of lecture time). We also lost almost another full lecture when the professor lost her voice at the beginning of class. Add to that, she seems to be going very slow in presenting the material. According to the syllabus, we are supposed to cover 10 chapters from our book. We have just started chapter 4 and we only have another month and a few days left of class. At best we are going to get through 6, maybe 7.5 chapters. The other thermo class is currently finishing chapter 6 or starting chapter 7 today.

How important is a thermodynamics course to an electrical engineering student? Should I just forget about it and be thankful that my final will be about 10 times easier then the other classes final, due to the limited amount of material we have covered? I doubt complaining would get me anything other then a chance to retake the class with another instructor, this is not something I have time to do.
 
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thermodynamics is not required for EE at my university. of course it depends on which part of EE you're doing. I'm working towards photonics so quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics are recommended. you can always try to cover rest of the book on your own (and consult professor if you run into any problems, most professor don't mind that).
 
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