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What is school like for a person that is actively pursuing an engineering degree?

How many classes per day does an engineering student attend and how many days a week? Also, how many hours of homework on average per day is there? #engineering #engineer #college-student

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Peter’s Answer

Allison:


The pursuit of an engineering degree is serious business. The prerequisite courses tend to be somewhat difficult and require serious attention. If you want to graduate in 4 years, you can expect to carry a 4-class workload with at least 16 hours of class per week (more if a lab course in involved). Expect to attend college each day, Monday through Friday. Sometimes,with luck, you may be able to schedule things so that you only attend classes 4 days a week. The general rule, particularly with a rigorous field such as engineering, is to devote one hour of study for each hour of class time. So that would total about 32 hours per week.


If this sounds like work, that is correct. But once you get a job after graduation your full-time work will be just as demanding, so get used to it. But here's the thing. If you are truly interested in a career in engineering I can assure you that the challenge of learning new things and the inherent problem-solving required by engineering will be a satisfying and fulfilling pursuit.


Good lick, Pete Sturtevant, PE

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Caroline’s Answer

Depending on where you go, the rigor of your classes may very but a degree in engineering will be challenging no matter where you go. You can choose between cramming for 2 days before a test or study and work 10-15 hours per class each week to be ready when you get to the exam. One thing I would HIGHLY suggest is getting to know your professors, some teach multiple classes over time and Lots of questions can be argued for more points!

Caroline recommends the following next steps:

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Alana’s Answer

Four to five classes in science, math and engineering are typical per semester. Probably 5 hours of class a day and 8 hours of homework or more per day. It's hard work but definitely worth it! I graduated in 2005.
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Chet’s Answer

It depends on the school as well as your aptitude. The first two years are filled with math, physics, computer science. Throw in some writing seminars, some introduction to engineering classes. I would say 4 hours of class per day, plus 3-4 hours of lab per week. Then 2-4 hours of homework, 1-2 hours of 'study' (reading, study groups).

After the first two years my experience got much more serious. The class load was the same, but the learning was much denser. If you don't remember the basics from the first two years, expect more time to re-learn material, or learn it if the curriculum changed, you changed schools/majors, etc. There is more time with group work (projects, labs). So still 4 hours of class, but lab time could go up significantly (double), depending on your engineering major. Homework would be 4-5 hours a day, study would be 1-3 hours.

From my experience, grad school was even more of a load. I would be in the lab most of the day, and classes were a welcome break. I had days where I was up early and home late (9-10pm or later). Once I had to visit the bursar's office (college administration) during the middle of the day. I was amazed at how many people were at my school! It was my fifth year there, but I had completely forgotten, as I was never hanging out on campus during the day. Strange but true.
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