Which of these two courses is most useful for engineering?

[mcdowellmg]

I am currently taking pre-reqs to go back to school for engineering, and I just found out that I will need to take an "elective" in order to have enough hours for financial aid this fall.

Here are my two choices, and my desired major is Petroleum Engineering:
1) Introductory course in Java Programming
2) Probability and Statistics for Engineers - Calculus-based introduction to probability and statistics with emphasis on Monte Carlo simulation and graphical display of data on computer workstations. Statistical methods include point and interval estimation of population parameters and curve and surface fitting (regression analysis). The principles of experimental design and statistical process control introduced.


I am not sure if programming is even used in petroleum engineering careers, and I have never taken a Stats course (the only pre-req for that stats course is Calculus II, which I have taken).

Any thoughts?

 

[edgepflow]

Both are useful. I would take the Java first to expand your versitility and later work in the statistics.

 

[mcdowellmg]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if petroleum engineers did program, and also if maybe Java was something I was able to learn on my own (engineering statistics...not so much).