What classes are you taking for Fall 2009?

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The discussion revolves around students sharing their fall 2009 class schedules and seeking advice on managing their course loads and academic challenges. Participants discuss various subjects including mathematics, physics, and engineering, with many expressing concerns about the intensity of their schedules. Key points include inquiries about the appropriateness of course selections, particularly the balance of rigorous subjects like Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism, and the importance of writing skills in scientific fields. Several students emphasize the need for effective time management and the potential benefits of supplemental resources for challenging courses. The conversation also touches on the perceived value of English classes within STEM education, with mixed opinions on their relevance and quality. Overall, the thread highlights the common anxieties of students facing demanding academic environments while seeking support and strategies for success.
  • #31
lubuntu said:
Intro to Sky and Solar System? what a bizarre name for a class!

The structure is even more bizarre...It's a prerequisite for an astronomy minor, but the class looks like a general student, math-free course. I'm guessing they just didn't have enough courses to warrant a minor and lumped these onto the program?
 
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  • #32
General Physics 2
Calculus 3
Microeconomics (stupid gen ed requirement)
Speech communication (another stupid gen ed)

Last semester at junior college, I get to transfer to a university in the spring semester. Luckily, when I transfer, practically all of my gen ed requirements will be over with.
 
  • #33
advanced lab <- last physics class ever! so happy
advanced calc 1 - baby rudin
intro to abstract alg - hungerford
dis differential geometry - ?
spanish 3 - ?
 
  • #34
Grad student now, so I only need to take one class, as well as research. Probably going to be radiation processes and gas dynamics (astrophysics). Might take QFT as well.
 
  • #35
- Mechanics of Solids
- Thermodynamics
- Systems Analysis
- Engineering Experimentation + Lab
- Intro to Pro Engineer
- Some G.E.'s
- Circuits Lab
 
  • #36
I'm a physics major and will be a sophomore
Class Schedule:

1, Honors Real Analysis -- I think it should be elementary analysis course, still don't know what text we are going to use
2, Mechanics and Relativity 2 -- We'll use Thoronton and Marion
3, E&M1 -- Griffths
4, QM1 -- Griffths again and probably supplemented by Shankar
5, intro to CS-- Java


My question:
is it too much? I originally didn't register for EM, but my advisor told me I can't appreaciate QM fully without understanding EM. He suggest me take EM instead of QM
but I simply cannot wait to take QM, I want it so much
So my schedule may be a little bit weird though.. -_-
 
  • #37
Are you guys are on the semester system? Five classes seem a bit too much for me...
Anyway here is my fall schedule,

1. Intro to X-ray diffraction and materials characterization
2. XRD Lab
3. Intro to Solid State Physics
4. Thermodynamics of Materials
 
  • #38
jin8 said:
I'm a physics major and will be a sophomore
Class Schedule:

1, Honors Real Analysis -- I think it should be elementary analysis course, still don't know what text we are going to use
2, Mechanics and Relativity 2 -- We'll use Thoronton and Marion
3, E&M1 -- Griffths
4, QM1 -- Griffths again and probably supplemented by Shankar
5, intro to CS-- Java


My question:
is it too much? I originally didn't register for EM, but my advisor told me I can't appreaciate QM fully without understanding EM. He suggest me take EM instead of QM
but I simply cannot wait to take QM, I want it so much
So my schedule may be a little bit weird though.. -_-

doesn't make sense at all. you can't truly appreciate qm without having a rigorous classical mechanics course - that is true.
 
  • #39
ice109 said:
doesn't make sense at all. you can't truly appreciate qm without having a rigorous classical mechanics course - that is true.

I took a quantum mechanics course that used the Griffiths book, and I have never taken an electrodynamics course. There was no problem with the quantum mechanics course, so I don't see how you can't simply state that as truth. It's just an introduction so when you see quantum mechanics again you can pick up on the things you might have missed out not knowing some electrodynamics. Taking electrodynamics while taking quantum mechanics might give you an advantage since you'll be getting both point of views at the same time.
 
  • #40
My Fall 09 Schedule. I am entering Junior Aerospace Engineering with concentration on propulsion, minors in Math and CAD/CAM (Design)

1) Advanced Math for Engineers - Kreyzig
2) Structures 1 - ?
3) Electrical Engineering 1 -?
4) Electrical Engineering Lab
5) Thermodynamics
6) Aerodynamics 1
7) Experimental Aerodynamics
8) Experimental Aerodynamics Lab

Ahh yes: My question is what is the load of doing 2 labs like? Seems as if this semester will be a tad hectic but I will manage somehow. I will also be a grader and will possibly co-host a radio show.
 
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  • #41
Courses (1st yr grad student)
Quantum Mechanics - Book: Arno Bohm's book on QM
Quantum Field Theory - Book: Bjorken and Drell V 1 and 2 (not sure why not Peskin...)
Graduate Research
 
  • #42
jin8 said:
My question: is it too much? I originally didn't register for EM, but my advisor told me I can't appreaciate QM fully without understanding EM. He suggest me take EM instead of QM but I simply cannot wait to take QM, I want it so much. So my schedule may be a little bit weird though.. -_-
I don't know you; a genius can take 10 classes, for a dumb person two classes are too much. I'd say that it's doable, I always take 5 or 6 classes while 4 is 'normal'. Just spend your time wisely, and don't get behind.
n!kofeyn said:
I took a quantum mechanics course that used the Griffiths book, and I have never taken an electrodynamics course. There was no problem with the quantum mechanics course, so I don't see how you can't simply state that as truth.
Reread his statement: he replaced EM by CM (classical mechanics), so he agrees with you about the EM part.:cool:
 
  • #43
Landau said:
I don't know you; a genius can take 10 classes, for a dumb person two classes are too much. I'd say that it's doable, I always take 5 or 6 classes while 4 is 'normal'. Just spend your time wisely, and don't get behind.
Reread his statement: he replaced EM by CM (classical mechanics), so he agrees with you about the EM part.:cool:

Yea, you're right. I read "doesn't make sense at all" to mean it doesn't make sense to take EM and QM at the same time. My fault. Although, I also took my quantum class without having a course in classical mechanics (besides the first year sequence in physics), and it still went fine. I probably missed some analogies, but for a book like Griffiths, which is problem oriented, I don't think it's as big a deal early on.
 
  • #44
Advanced Calculus (ie, intro analysis) don't know which book
Physical Chemistry - McQuarrie
EM - Griffiths

I was going to take classical mechanics but for some reason the physics department canceled it.
 
  • #45
naele said:
I was going to take classical mechanics but for some reason the physics department canceled it.
:bugeye: Your physics department canceled classical mechanics?! Seriously? Does your university off any classical mechanics course, run by say the Mathematics School?
 
  • #46
Hootenanny said:
:bugeye: Your physics department canceled classical mechanics?! Seriously? Does your university off any classical mechanics course, run by say the Mathematics School?

Courses usually will get canceled in the US if there aren't enough people enrolled. Although, I don't know if that's the case here. For instance, my undergraduate quantum mechanics class only had me (a math major) and an electrical engineering major in it. Only two students and no physics majors. I think the only reason it was kept was that both of us were graduating and needed it for our minor/double majors.
 
  • #47
n!kofeyn said:
Courses usually will get canceled in the US if there aren't enough people enrolled. Although, I don't know if that's the case here. For instance, my undergraduate quantum mechanics class only had me (a math major) and an electrical engineering major in it. Only two students and no physics majors. I think the only reason it was kept was that both of us were graduating and needed it for our minor/double majors.
I didn't know that colleges cancel courses if there aren't enough students, surely even if one students is enrolled on a course it should still be run. In the past, I have attended a Master level course where I was the only student enrolled, but the university still ran it!

This issue aside, sure Classical Mechanics should be a compulsory course for Physics, Applied Math, Engineering Majors etc.?
 
  • #48
Hootenanny said:
:bugeye: Your physics department canceled classical mechanics?! Seriously? Does your university off any classical mechanics course, run by say the Mathematics School?

Nooooo they just canceled it for the fall term. Probably an instructor snafu, but I don't know. Either way it means i'll be taking it later in the year I guess which is ok. I was hoping to get into the lagrangian/hamiltonian formalism before I take QM but oh well.
 
  • #49
Hootenanny said:
I didn't know that colleges cancel courses if there aren't enough students, surely even if one students is enrolled on a course it should still be run. In the past, I have attended a Master level course where I was the only student enrolled, but the university still ran it!

I agree that they should still be run, but they aren't always. I know that there have been courses canceled due to low enrollment, especially if there is more than one section, although I don't think it happens all that often. A master's course is different I think because that is a course that is expected to have low enrollment.
 
  • #50
1. Quantum Mechanics - Griffiths
2. E & M - Wangsness
3. Linear Algebra - Lay
4. Higher math - Chartrand

This is my senior year and I will be adding my general and subject GRE's (for which I haven't started studying yet) as well as grad school applications.

I was at first worried since my advisor said that I shouldn't take E & M and Quantum together, but it feels good to know that most of you guys are taking it as well.

I have a feeling that I may have some time management issues, so any tips about classes, gre's or applications would be helpfull. However I will be looking into some supplementary books you guys suggested already.

So, good luck everyone.
 
  • #51
jaska22 said:
I have a feeling that I may have some time management issues, so any tips about classes, gre's or applications would be helpfull. However I will be looking into some supplementary books you guys suggested already.

My advice is to get started now for your GRE and graduate applications. You want to let professors know as soon as possible if you want them to write a letter of recommendation, because professors are worst than students about procrastinating. They are also very important for your application. Make sure you have a list of schools to apply to, then slowly break it down through the first half of the semester. Try to get all your apps in before the Christmas break (ideal is probably November), and remember that all schools have different deadlines.

You'll need a general essay on why you want to go to graduate school, which will differ in specifics from school to school. Get started on it now, because you need to let it set to be able to rightfully edit and shape it. Also, the subject GREs are not easy.

All I really remember about my fall semester when applying was well...applying. It is really time consuming if you take it seriously, as you should.
 
  • #52
Thanks for the advice. I will try to start on everything now since my classes don't start until 24 which will give me some time to get ready.

And applying and recomendation letters, I was hoping to get from the profesors that I will be taking now since transfering from community college and not having most professors more than once didn't result in me feeling comfortable to ask them for recomendation letter. Also, I am very quiet and even though I do good in class (A's) I still don't seem to stand out because I don't speak up. So, I will try to change that this semester and maybe ask them for recomendation letters.
 
  • #53
jin8 said:
I'm a physics major and will be a sophomore
Class Schedule:

1, Honors Real Analysis -- I think it should be elementary analysis course, still don't know what text we are going to use
2, Mechanics and Relativity 2 -- We'll use Thoronton and Marion
3, E&M1 -- Griffths
4, QM1 -- Griffths again and probably supplemented by Shankar
5, intro to CS-- Java


My question:
is it too much? I originally didn't register for EM, but my advisor told me I can't appreaciate QM fully without understanding EM. He suggest me take EM instead of QM
but I simply cannot wait to take QM, I want it so much
So my schedule may be a little bit weird though.. -_-

Weird, do you mean first year E&M, the one you take right after taking Mechanics, or do you mean an advanced E&M with more detail? If you've taken the basic E&M I don't think its a problem, but if you haven't taken any E&M at all, well, I think you might just be blinded by the glory of the word quantum. I'd say your adviser is right...I'd replace QM with E&M and take QM next semester.
 
  • #54
I took Griffiths E&M and QM at the same time, and it was alright. I mean, neither class was easy, but both were doable.
 
  • #55
1. Circuit Theory
2. Digital Systems
3. Programming Fundamentals
4. Calculus C
5. Advanced Engineering Math

2nd year EE with a mandatory schedule for the fall and winter terms!
 
  • #56
I'm a high school senior but I'm pretty excited

AP Physics C Mechanics
AP Physics C EM
AP Chemistry
AP Langauge and composition
AP Government
Either Calculus 2 or calculus BC (I did calc AB junior year and i got accepted into georgia tech for calc 2 so I'm deciding whether to do calc 2 or calc BC...)

Question: Am i going to die?
 
  • #57
when did they split the AP physics course into two classes? back when i took it (some 5 years ago) it was just one class.
 
  • #58
I didnt even knw physics C used to be one class. but they also tnking of splitting physics B.
maybe that's what you meant?
 
  • #59
-Circuits 1 with lab - Electric Circuits (8th Edition) James Nilsson
-Signals and Systems - book: Signals and Systems, 2005 Interactive Solutions Edition by Simon Haykin

-Materials in Engineering
-Multivariable Calculus
-Logic Design with lab

Are any books recommended for these classes?

Any advices on how to take on these classes?
 
  • #60
ralilu said:
I'm a high school senior but I'm pretty excited

AP Physics C Mechanics
AP Physics C EM
AP Chemistry
AP Langauge and composition
AP Government
Either Calculus 2 or calculus BC (I did calc AB junior year and i got accepted into georgia tech for calc 2 so I'm deciding whether to do calc 2 or calc BC...)

Question: Am i going to die?

It's not that bad. I'm going to take most of the classes you're taking, the only thing I'm scared about is AP Language, because I'm not as good in English and composition.

About the Calculus, I'd take the college course if I were you. AP Calculus is too watered down, plus the college course is only 1 semester. You can then use the 2nd semester to enroll to an more advance course (Calculus III).
 

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