Taking on Freshmen Year Classes

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Taking your first college class may seem overwhelming and even scary; but I am here to give you a sneak peek into what your freshmen year classes may look like. Since you come into Purdue as an undeclared engineering major, your first semester classes are going to be a lot about figuring out what major is right for you. So here is a little bit about the main classes you’ll take as a freshmen:
LT Megan during her first week of classes freshmen year

Engineering 131

Unless you are in EPICS or the honors college, this will be the first engineering class all Purdue Engineers take. This class operates with a flipped classroom approach, meaning you watch lectures and take notes outside of class, so that class time can be spent working in teams. From the start of the semester, you will be placed in a 4-person engineering team, whom you will sit with and complete the majority of your projects with. These projects vary from excel based to hands-on, all following the multi-step engineering design process. For example, my freshmen year in ENGR131, I worked in a team to solve a campus-wide problem using only recycled/upcycled materials within a limited time frame. Having real world problems to solve, this class is meant to challenge you and show you how applicable engineering can be. But besides just engineering, this class helps you to build a resume and develop an elevator pitch, all in preparation for career fairs and finding the perfect internship/co-op.

Chemistry/Physics

Chemistry and physics are the two-core science classes required for first year engineering students. Typically, students split them up and take one each semester. The format of both classes is fairly similar with a larger lecture setting 3 times a week and then a classroom size lab and recitation once a week. Recitation for each class is where you work through problems in groups and review material covered in lecture. A cool thing about each class is the use of I-Clickers in lecture. I-Clickers look like remote controls for a TV and include four buttons with the letters A-D. During class, professors will ask questions and each student can respond with the I-Clicker to stay engaged and test themselves on what they just learned. As a whole, unless you test out with AP credit prepare for engaging and challenging classes within chemistry and physics.

Math

No matter what level math class you start in at Purdue, you can guarantee taking one math class each semester your freshmen year. Somewhat similar to the layout of chemistry, all math classes have three lectures a week and one recitation in a smaller classroom setting. During these recitations, you will learn how to solve problems with a different approach from that learned in lecture and have the chance to test your knowledge with a weekly quiz. 

English/Communications

 Although not directly engineering related, all freshmen engineers are required to take a semester of English and a semester of communications. The English class takes place in a small classroom setting and includes group discussion, a research paper, and various other projects. Typically, this is one of the less challenging freshmen year classes, but still offers a lot of learnings for growing engineers. In a similar sense, communications class takes place in a small classroom environment and includes individual and team presentations. Again, although the curriculum is not as challenging as some of the core math and science classes, it still teaches students key presentation skills which come into play later within the workplace. 
Even though the transition to college can be scary, Purdue’s classes are engaging and created to help you succeed as an engineer. Plus, Purdue offers a plethora of support and help resources to ensure that you can make it through your freshmen year with a bit of hard work and persistence! 

 If you have any questions about the classes discussed above or what a freshmen year semester typically looks like, reach out to us at purdue.welink@gmail.com, we are here to help!

 Boiler Up!

 -Megan Tandarich
WE Link Leadership Team
Stay Connected with Purdue WIEP!
Twitter: @PurdueWIEP
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Email: purdue.welink@gmail.com
Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com


Purdue Women in Engineering

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