Favorite Class WiE Have Taken
As the semester wraps up, a few of us engineering students decided to look back on the classes that have made our time at Purdue memorable so far. From BME’s tissue engineering labs to IE’s manufacturing class to ME’s infamous fluid mechanics, engineers really get to learn about everything. Here are some of our favorite classes we have taken at Purdue
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One of my favorite classes that I have taken at Purdue is the biomedical engineering circuits class. Completing a circuits and electronics course is a core part of the biomedical engineering curriculum, as it is used in all types of medical devices. Having done some work with circuits in the past, I found it super interesting to not just expand on those topics, but to work on real-world applications in the medical field. We did a lot of cool things, but my favorite was the electrocardiogram project (ECG/EKG). We created a circuit that would filter out any signal noise and then actually hooked ourselves up to it to collect real data! Later on, we even used Arduinos to filter the electrical signals using code. Overall, I thought this class was super fun and different!
Throughout the semester, we have learned about topics such as cancer, stem cells, proteins, cell signaling pathways, gene regulation, and more! My professor often shares her own research which makes the material feel even more relevant. I like seeing how the concepts connect directly to real world medical challenges. It has made me more excited about the possibilities within the field.
While most of the class teaches you fundamental biology, it also connects the ideas we learn to engineering applications. We have talked about different medical technologies that engineers use such as electrophoresis, chromatography, fluorescence microscopy, and CRISPR gene editing tools. It has been interesting to see how engineers use these methods to analyze cells, identify proteins, and even manipulate genes.
Outside of class, we’re asked to complete a weekly reflection assignment to guide us through things like deciding what major to pursue, prioritizing extracurriculars, setting goals, and even making vision boards. The seminar also provides four developmental workshops run by the fantastic TAs covering study tips, self-care, and more, which I’ve found to be very helpful.
This class has stood out to me because I’ve found it to be very motivating, and has taught me what I can look forward to as a Purdue Engineer and how to best achieve my goals. It’s also been a great way to make friends and meet some mentors!
Another thing that makes this class stand out is how it’s offered: it counts as a 1-credit course in the summer but becomes a 0-credit course during the rest of the year. Even when taken for 0 credits, it still maintains the same level of rigor and value—perfect for beginners like me who want a strong foundation without the pressure of a full course load. Plus, if you earn a minimum number of points, you receive a certificate of completion, which adds an extra sense of accomplishment and something tangible to show for your work.
IE 332 focuses on modern computing technologies, including cloud computing, databases, data security, and AI. The curriculum is intentionally up-to-date and evolves as technology advances, which makes the material relevant and very applicable. One of the major projects in the course involves designing a database and coding an ERP system interface to interact with it. This project, along with the rest of the course content, has proved to be very valuable during my internships. I felt confident applying what I learned, which allowed me to contribute more meaningfully in my roles.
Overall, it was exciting to see the concepts from the lecture slides show up in the real-world!
Purdue offers a huge mix of classes, and these were the ones that stood out the most to us. Whether they challenged us, surprised us, or simply taught us something memorable, they’ve stuck with us. We hope this gives you a quick look at what some Purdue engineering courses are like and maybe even gives you ideas about what you might want to take one day.
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Natalie Anderson - IE 577: Human Factors in Engineering
My favorite class to date has been Industrial Engineering 577: Human Factors in Engineering, which I took this semester to fulfill a Technical Elective/IE Selective requirement. This course is centered around the physical/ergonomic, psychological, social, and environmental aspects that impact human-machine interaction. Logistically, it counts for three credits, meets three times a week, and includes a mix of exams and labs for the grade breakdown. I really enjoyed the variety of material covered in lectures and later implemented in experimental design, execution, and analysis with other students in the class. In particular, the course components with a psychology (memory, attention, and situational awareness in usability design) and history (time and motion studies following the Industrial Revolution, Air Force Cambridge Research Center in the 1940s/50s) background were a nice change of pace from other engineering courses; probability and statistical components repeated from IE 230/330 were incorporated in lab implementation and subsequent reports. The class also featured numerous guest speakers from various departments and universities covering topics of their expertise. Purdue has maintained its status as a human factors powerhouse over the last century (Lillian Gilbreth, Ernest J. McCormick, Amelia Earhart, and C. B. Sullenberger, to name a few famous associations), and I had a great time learning about the multifaceted considerations in systems design for and used by people.Gabi Layman - BME 207: Bioinstrumentation And Circuit Theory
One of my favorite classes that I have taken at Purdue is the biomedical engineering circuits class. Completing a circuits and electronics course is a core part of the biomedical engineering curriculum, as it is used in all types of medical devices. Having done some work with circuits in the past, I found it super interesting to not just expand on those topics, but to work on real-world applications in the medical field. We did a lot of cool things, but my favorite was the electrocardiogram project (ECG/EKG). We created a circuit that would filter out any signal noise and then actually hooked ourselves up to it to collect real data! Later on, we even used Arduinos to filter the electrical signals using code. Overall, I thought this class was super fun and different!
Grace Fuller - BME 295: Cell Biology for Biomedical Engineers
My favorite class at Purdue so far has been BME 295, or cell biology for BME. I enjoy this course because it gives me a break from all my math-heavy classes and introduces me to the biological side of biomedical engineering. It has introduced me to a wide range of research opportunities and different types of technologies that BMEs use in future careers.Throughout the semester, we have learned about topics such as cancer, stem cells, proteins, cell signaling pathways, gene regulation, and more! My professor often shares her own research which makes the material feel even more relevant. I like seeing how the concepts connect directly to real world medical challenges. It has made me more excited about the possibilities within the field.
While most of the class teaches you fundamental biology, it also connects the ideas we learn to engineering applications. We have talked about different medical technologies that engineers use such as electrophoresis, chromatography, fluorescence microscopy, and CRISPR gene editing tools. It has been interesting to see how engineers use these methods to analyze cells, identify proteins, and even manipulate genes.
Heidi Kennard - SCLA 102: Transformative Texts, Critical Thinking and Communication 2
My favorite class at Purdue so far has been SCLA 102, or Transformative Texts, Critical Thinking And Communication 2: Modern World. Since First-Year Engineering requires an Oral Communication Foundational Outcome course, this class was the perfect way to check that box while also doing something I genuinely enjoy. I’ve always been a big reader and someone who loves writing, so this class felt less like extra work and more like something I’d do in my free time anyway. The books we read touched on some engineering topics, like biomedical engineering and its ethics, which made for great discussions since the majority of the class are engineering majors. It was my only non-engineering or STEM-related class this semester, which meant it used a different part of my brain and forced me to flex some skills that are often sidelined in math or science classes. This course is also important because we had to give a few speeches, which will come in handy when presenting a design, pitching a project, or explaining complex ideas to non-engineers in the future. Working on my analytical skills in class will always be useful, and learning from my peers who all have different life experiences from me pushes me to think more openly and empathetically, which will make me a better engineer in the long run.Sarah Shaughnessy – ENGR 194: Women in Engineering Seminar
My favorite class this semester has been the Women in Engineering Seminar, or ENGR 194. This one credit class meets once a week, and each meeting features a Purdue Engineering alum guest speaker to come share their college experiences, career advice, and overall wisdom with us. It’s really cool to hear from accomplished professionals in different fields who were once in our shoes. My favorite part is that the alumni speakers represent so many of the different engineering majors within Purdue, and all of them took different paths once they got to their careers. We’ve heard from professional engineers, but also from doctors, lawyers, consultants, and more!Outside of class, we’re asked to complete a weekly reflection assignment to guide us through things like deciding what major to pursue, prioritizing extracurriculars, setting goals, and even making vision boards. The seminar also provides four developmental workshops run by the fantastic TAs covering study tips, self-care, and more, which I’ve found to be very helpful.
This class has stood out to me because I’ve found it to be very motivating, and has taught me what I can look forward to as a Purdue Engineer and how to best achieve my goals. It’s also been a great way to make friends and meet some mentors!
Shannon Yip – EBEC: Python Course
My favorite class I’ve taken has been the introductory Python course. Coming in with no coding experience, I really appreciated how the class challenged us with different assignments each week. We started with simple tasks like accepting user inputs, then moved on to working with dictionaries, using nested loops, and even creating parent/child classes. By the end, we were able to build full game programs from scratch. The way the course was structured really taught me how to break problems into smaller, understandable functions, which made coding feel much less intimidating.Another thing that makes this class stand out is how it’s offered: it counts as a 1-credit course in the summer but becomes a 0-credit course during the rest of the year. Even when taken for 0 credits, it still maintains the same level of rigor and value—perfect for beginners like me who want a strong foundation without the pressure of a full course load. Plus, if you earn a minimum number of points, you receive a certificate of completion, which adds an extra sense of accomplishment and something tangible to show for your work.
Sophia Jarc - IE 332: Computing in Industrial Engineering
My favorite class at Purdue so far has been IE 332: Computing in Industrial Engineering, which I took during the first semester of my junior year. Although it was one of the most challenging classes I’ve ever taken, it stands out as my favorite because I truly feel I learned the most in it. Additionally, the course content directly connects to the career I want to pursue.IE 332 focuses on modern computing technologies, including cloud computing, databases, data security, and AI. The curriculum is intentionally up-to-date and evolves as technology advances, which makes the material relevant and very applicable. One of the major projects in the course involves designing a database and coding an ERP system interface to interact with it. This project, along with the rest of the course content, has proved to be very valuable during my internships. I felt confident applying what I learned, which allowed me to contribute more meaningfully in my roles.
Overall, it was exciting to see the concepts from the lecture slides show up in the real-world!
Purdue offers a huge mix of classes, and these were the ones that stood out the most to us. Whether they challenged us, surprised us, or simply taught us something memorable, they’ve stuck with us. We hope this gives you a quick look at what some Purdue engineering courses are like and maybe even gives you ideas about what you might want to take one day.
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