Goals and Objectives of the Course:
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of Engineering and the study of Engineering. An objective will be to integrate computer usage, teamwork, problem solving, and verbal/written language into a design project within the course in such a way that these skills become the foundation of a successful engineering career. An early understanding of these skills will assist students throughout their undergraduate experience and beyond.

Multimedia Text (All texts are required):
[PH] Horton, Marcia, ed. Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving, Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey, 2000.

[PMT] Smith, Karl A., Selected chapters from Project Management and Teamwork. McGraw-Hill Primis, Boston, MA, 2000. Compact Disc:

[CD] Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving, McGraw-Hill Primis, Boston, MA, 2000. Newspaper:

[NYT] New York Times, Themes of the Times: Engineering

Course Organization:
E 497F is a weekly fifty-minute interactive course in a computer-equipped classroom. The course is paired with a section of E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments. E 497L is a bi-weekly 1 hour, 50 minute large session that compliments the weekly E 497F. The large session alternates weeks with E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments.

Course Philosophy:
This class is designed to convey the basic skills that each student will need to become a successful engineering student, and eventually, a successful engineer. Because you will be the engineering work force of the future, we, the instructors, have a stake in educating you to become the best possible engineers, since it is also our profession.

    "I believe that we have only just begun the process of discovering and inventing the new organizational forms that will inhabit the twenty-first century. To be responsible inventors and discoverers, though, we need the courage to let go of the old world, to relinquish most of what we have cherished, to abandon our interpretations about what does work and doesn't work. As Einstein is often quoted as saying: No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew."
    - Margaret J. Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science: Learning about Organizations from the Orderly Universe.

We, the instructors, resolve to:
Treat all students as a stakeholder in their own success and that of the class. · Respect cultural diversity, mixed abilities and other differences at all times. · Convey adequate and timely information to the students about evaluation of their work. · Support each student in a process of continual improvement that supports his or her achievement.

We expect you as a student to resolve to:
Take pride and ownership in the class and display a desire to learn. · Take responsibility for your own learning. · Respect cultural diversity, mixed abilities and other differences at all times. · Be a team player. · Conduct yourself as a professional, exhibiting: honesty, punctuality, and courtesy to your colleagues.

Class Attendance:
Full participation in lectures (E497F) and large sessions (E497L) is expected of all students. In accordance with NC State University policy instructors in 100- and 200-level courses must keep a record of attendance throughout the semester. Instructors may use reasonable academic penalties commensurate with the importance of the work missed because of unexcused absences. Attendance for the lectures is mandatory. One unexcused absence will be permitted. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a five-percentage point deduction from the final course grade. Please see the University Attendance Policy for NC State University attendance regulations including a description of excused absences.

Large Session (E 497L):
The large session scheduled to accompany this course will introduce you to faculty, staff, and professionals within the College of Engineering, the University, and the industrial community. Attendance at all large sessions are required. Students who miss a large session for any University-excused reason will be permitted to make up the session. Unexcused absences will result in a ten-percentage point deduction from the final course grade. We have selected highly qualified undergraduate engineering students, Student Engineering Leaders (SELs), to serve as facilitators for these large sessions, as well as assisting the instructors throughout all aspects of the course.

Design Project:
A design project with content from various engineering disciplines will be completed throughout the semester and presented at the Freshman Engineering Design Day to be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2000 at the Talley Student Center. A list of these projects will be presented in class and on the E 497 F web page.

Departmental Information Sessions:
Each department in the College of Engineering will host information sessions during the weeks of September 11 and September 18. Specific times and locations will be announced and available on the E 497 F web page. Attendance at the Information Session will be in lieu of attending the large session scheduled during those weeks.

Grading:
This course will follow NC State University Policy on grading. See the University Grading Policy for a complete description. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Design Project 40%
Homework / Classwork 60%

A+ >96
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F <60

Recommended Extracurricular Activities:

  • Union Activities Board Minority Career Fair Thursday, October 5, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Reynolds Coliseum Sponsored by minority groups at NC State, this career fair is open to all students.
  • Centennial Campus Career Fair Thursday, October 19, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Centennial Campus Meet the employers who work on Centennial Campus. Free transportation from DH Hill Library and Talley Student Center.
  • Leadership Development Series Fall and Spring semesters The College of Engineering is a College Member of the Leadership Development Series, and all students, faculty and staff are allowed to attend LDS workshops free of charge. View a list of the workshops, and sign up at www.fis.ncsu.edu/slc.

University Policies

All NC State University Policies can be found at www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_policies/index.html

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