Most engineers need to pick at LEAST 2 electives for first year, I've decided to create a thread so that students will be able to make a more informed decision on what subjects they should pick.
VERY IMPORTANT : I have only done a handful of electives, please help me fill this list.
You can view the elective list here :
Rules
Electives:
1) CEIC1001 (Engineering Chemistry): Provides a pretty interesting insight into chemistry. The Organic Chemistry part of the course is very straight forward in comparison to other courses.
Only about 20-25 people do this course so class sizes are small making for a more enjoyable lectures and tutes.
Labs are pretty interesting and are quite easy to get full marks in.
Difficulty rating : 5/10
2) CHEM1011 (Fundamentals of Chemistry): This course is incredibly condensed, There is a LOT of material to go through. The Organic part is mind numbing, It involves large ammounts of pointless memorisation of equations
Around 30% of this course is HSC chemistry but in greater depth.
However the topics are quite interesting, the Labs are very very easy.
Difficulty Rating : 4/10
3) MATS1101 (Materials and Chemistry): This course is divided into 2 aspects, Chemisty and Materials, If you've completed HSC chemistry you can literally miss the first 9-10 weeks of the Chemistry lectures, It is THAT easy. However the Organic chemistry part is a little harder.
The materials section is a little more difficult but its simply large chunks of memorisation, so if you have the time and patience to memorise a lot then do this course.
There are also two labs, Materials labs and Chemistry labs, The Chemistry labs are quite pointless and very long.
The materials labs on the other hand are easy since you dont actually do anything the demonstrator does everything for you.
There is also group work where you need to choose and evaluate materials that should be used in either a ship hull / propellor / bin axle etc.
Difficulty Rating : 7/10
4) CHEM1021 (Fundamentals of Chemistry 1B) : The course is a continuation of CHEM1011, It is actually quite easy and laid back in comparison, if you went well in CHEM1011 you will no doubt go very well in this course.
Labs are Quite easy (Identical to CEIC1001 Labs).
For the Organic Chemistry part of this course, it is MUCH MUCH easier than CHEM1011, you only need to memorise the mechanisms of the reactions.
Difficulty rating : 4/10
5) PHYS1221 (Physics 1B): I Absolutely love this course, This is mainly due to the fact that i could finally grasp university physics.However it is quite difficult initially.
A Knowledge of Integration and manipulation of equations is essential in this course.
This course Covers Electromagnetism (Like Motors and Generators in High School), Optics and Quantum Physics.
If you've mastered PHYS1121 Labs you will master these labs.
Reference : http://community.boredofstudies.org...197876/ultimate-guide-first-year-physics.html
Difficulty rating : 7.5-8 /10
From What I have gathered from friends:
6) MATH1081 (Discreete Mathematics) : Avoid at all costs
7) MINE1010 (Mineral Resources Engineering) : Interesting course with cool site visits.
8) CEIC1000 (Sustainable Engineering) : Easy course with some site visits and no final exam
This part was written by Forbidden and Omie Jay
9) CVEN1300 (Engineering Mechanics): This course is compulsory for Civil Engineering students and covers topics very similar to the mechanics component of Physics 1A (PHYS1121)
It is split into Statics (65%) and Dynamics (35%)
You will be required to participate in group/team activity to finish assignments involving problem solving.
Difficulty Rating : 7/10
10) CVEN1701 (Sustainability Systems and Principles) : This is a suggested course for students in Environmental Engineering and a waste of time for others.
The first six weeks cover principles in sustainability which is comprised entirely of theory and data which can be incredibly tiresome for those who have a short attention span.
The other six weeks covers some theory and some problem solving on systems in general and covers theory on water systems.
The mathematics required in this course is surprisingly not difficult.
Assessments include three assignments which are 20% each and the rest is made up in the final exam which is open book meaning you can bring in lecture notes and other material.
Difficulty rating : 3/10
11) MMAN1130 - Design for Manufacture
This is a project-based course, like ENGG1000 (majorly group work), but instead of making stuff with balsa wood and plastic, you use proper metal and proper metal cutting tools.
You learn about engineering drawings, manufacturing processes and how it influences the design of your product.
You also get professional (i think?) handtools training from Ultimo TAFE which teaches you about general handtools, then u learn about milling, machining, using the lathe, all so u can make ur final product in your last 3 weeks of semester.
We had to make a pump (half was allocated water, other half hydraulic) which was able to pump water/air from one place to another. So the 5 ppl in the group were each allocated part (base, cover, housing, valve, piston) and everyone's in charge of building their own part.
Safety clothing were needed to do this course (overalls, steel-capped boots, etc), u get a list from uni and gotta go buy it from the tafe, or wherever.
Also you get professional handtools recognition after completing this course, complete with a certificate from tafe.
Difficulty rating: 5/10
Majority of the course marks are given to reports, so as long as theyre fine then you'll pass. Hand drawing might be a bit hard for some people, and your final product doesnt even need to work, mine didnt, i still got 65 and credit for the course. But making the final product depends on how good u are at milling/lathing. Normally measurements are required to be almost exact, and thats where the problems occur..
This part was written by Big Tyma
12) CHEM1031 - Higher Chemistry 1C
This course is basically a continuation of high school chem with that said it does not "redo" high school chem is just used as a reference so dont expect a refresher. The course is split into two parts; quantum mechanics and organic chem. Quantum mechanics is an interesting topic; i loved this part of the course atomic sturctures, electron behaviour all good fun, however on the other hand organic chem is total hell to the extent you'll be like WTF im gonna fail for sure. Note: chem1031 organic chem is not the same as the organic chem covered in chem1011. chem1031 is far more indepth.
Lab Duration - 3 hours (initially you will be over whelmed with the amount of work you have to get done in such a short period of time but eventually you be able to finish....just on time.)
Tutorials - Get into Anna Choy's class.
You'll have to put in a decent amount of time to understand the work.
Difficulty Rating : 8.5/10
13) CHEM1041 - Higher Chemistry 1D
Let me start off by saying that Chem1041 is easier than Chem1031.
Overall its an interesting course enough so that you'll want to study it. The course is spilt into two parts, Thermodynamics/equilibrium and inorganic chem.
One notatable part of the course is the amount of group work you'll do during the labs, which amounts to a hefty portion of your marks so you better get along with your group. Another notatable aspect is that you every once in awhile during labs you'll be given an aim for the experiment and equitment available, when it comes to the method... its blank you'll have to devise your way of deducing a conclusion for the aim, which is really puts your brain cells into gear cause you only have 3 hours to create, complete and repeat (for accuracy) an experiment. Once again you'll be battling the clock, this is where your experience from chem1031 labs kicks in and you should be able to keep cool.
Lab Duration - 3 hours.
Tutorials - Get into Anna Choy's class.
A solid course once again you'll have to put in the hours to get a respectable mark.
Difficulty rating : 7/10
VERY IMPORTANT : I have only done a handful of electives, please help me fill this list.
You can view the elective list here :
Rules
Electives:
1) CEIC1001 (Engineering Chemistry): Provides a pretty interesting insight into chemistry. The Organic Chemistry part of the course is very straight forward in comparison to other courses.
Only about 20-25 people do this course so class sizes are small making for a more enjoyable lectures and tutes.
Labs are pretty interesting and are quite easy to get full marks in.
Difficulty rating : 5/10
2) CHEM1011 (Fundamentals of Chemistry): This course is incredibly condensed, There is a LOT of material to go through. The Organic part is mind numbing, It involves large ammounts of pointless memorisation of equations
Around 30% of this course is HSC chemistry but in greater depth.
However the topics are quite interesting, the Labs are very very easy.
Difficulty Rating : 4/10
3) MATS1101 (Materials and Chemistry): This course is divided into 2 aspects, Chemisty and Materials, If you've completed HSC chemistry you can literally miss the first 9-10 weeks of the Chemistry lectures, It is THAT easy. However the Organic chemistry part is a little harder.
The materials section is a little more difficult but its simply large chunks of memorisation, so if you have the time and patience to memorise a lot then do this course.
There are also two labs, Materials labs and Chemistry labs, The Chemistry labs are quite pointless and very long.
The materials labs on the other hand are easy since you dont actually do anything the demonstrator does everything for you.
There is also group work where you need to choose and evaluate materials that should be used in either a ship hull / propellor / bin axle etc.
Difficulty Rating : 7/10
4) CHEM1021 (Fundamentals of Chemistry 1B) : The course is a continuation of CHEM1011, It is actually quite easy and laid back in comparison, if you went well in CHEM1011 you will no doubt go very well in this course.
Labs are Quite easy (Identical to CEIC1001 Labs).
For the Organic Chemistry part of this course, it is MUCH MUCH easier than CHEM1011, you only need to memorise the mechanisms of the reactions.
Difficulty rating : 4/10
5) PHYS1221 (Physics 1B): I Absolutely love this course, This is mainly due to the fact that i could finally grasp university physics.However it is quite difficult initially.
A Knowledge of Integration and manipulation of equations is essential in this course.
This course Covers Electromagnetism (Like Motors and Generators in High School), Optics and Quantum Physics.
If you've mastered PHYS1121 Labs you will master these labs.
Reference : http://community.boredofstudies.org...197876/ultimate-guide-first-year-physics.html
Difficulty rating : 7.5-8 /10
From What I have gathered from friends:
6) MATH1081 (Discreete Mathematics) : Avoid at all costs
7) MINE1010 (Mineral Resources Engineering) : Interesting course with cool site visits.
8) CEIC1000 (Sustainable Engineering) : Easy course with some site visits and no final exam
This part was written by Forbidden and Omie Jay
9) CVEN1300 (Engineering Mechanics): This course is compulsory for Civil Engineering students and covers topics very similar to the mechanics component of Physics 1A (PHYS1121)
It is split into Statics (65%) and Dynamics (35%)
You will be required to participate in group/team activity to finish assignments involving problem solving.
Difficulty Rating : 7/10
10) CVEN1701 (Sustainability Systems and Principles) : This is a suggested course for students in Environmental Engineering and a waste of time for others.
The first six weeks cover principles in sustainability which is comprised entirely of theory and data which can be incredibly tiresome for those who have a short attention span.
The other six weeks covers some theory and some problem solving on systems in general and covers theory on water systems.
The mathematics required in this course is surprisingly not difficult.
Assessments include three assignments which are 20% each and the rest is made up in the final exam which is open book meaning you can bring in lecture notes and other material.
Difficulty rating : 3/10
11) MMAN1130 - Design for Manufacture
This is a project-based course, like ENGG1000 (majorly group work), but instead of making stuff with balsa wood and plastic, you use proper metal and proper metal cutting tools.
You learn about engineering drawings, manufacturing processes and how it influences the design of your product.
You also get professional (i think?) handtools training from Ultimo TAFE which teaches you about general handtools, then u learn about milling, machining, using the lathe, all so u can make ur final product in your last 3 weeks of semester.
We had to make a pump (half was allocated water, other half hydraulic) which was able to pump water/air from one place to another. So the 5 ppl in the group were each allocated part (base, cover, housing, valve, piston) and everyone's in charge of building their own part.
Safety clothing were needed to do this course (overalls, steel-capped boots, etc), u get a list from uni and gotta go buy it from the tafe, or wherever.
Also you get professional handtools recognition after completing this course, complete with a certificate from tafe.
Difficulty rating: 5/10
Majority of the course marks are given to reports, so as long as theyre fine then you'll pass. Hand drawing might be a bit hard for some people, and your final product doesnt even need to work, mine didnt, i still got 65 and credit for the course. But making the final product depends on how good u are at milling/lathing. Normally measurements are required to be almost exact, and thats where the problems occur..
This part was written by Big Tyma
12) CHEM1031 - Higher Chemistry 1C
This course is basically a continuation of high school chem with that said it does not "redo" high school chem is just used as a reference so dont expect a refresher. The course is split into two parts; quantum mechanics and organic chem. Quantum mechanics is an interesting topic; i loved this part of the course atomic sturctures, electron behaviour all good fun, however on the other hand organic chem is total hell to the extent you'll be like WTF im gonna fail for sure. Note: chem1031 organic chem is not the same as the organic chem covered in chem1011. chem1031 is far more indepth.
Lab Duration - 3 hours (initially you will be over whelmed with the amount of work you have to get done in such a short period of time but eventually you be able to finish....just on time.)
Tutorials - Get into Anna Choy's class.
You'll have to put in a decent amount of time to understand the work.
Difficulty Rating : 8.5/10
13) CHEM1041 - Higher Chemistry 1D
Let me start off by saying that Chem1041 is easier than Chem1031.
Overall its an interesting course enough so that you'll want to study it. The course is spilt into two parts, Thermodynamics/equilibrium and inorganic chem.
One notatable part of the course is the amount of group work you'll do during the labs, which amounts to a hefty portion of your marks so you better get along with your group. Another notatable aspect is that you every once in awhile during labs you'll be given an aim for the experiment and equitment available, when it comes to the method... its blank you'll have to devise your way of deducing a conclusion for the aim, which is really puts your brain cells into gear cause you only have 3 hours to create, complete and repeat (for accuracy) an experiment. Once again you'll be battling the clock, this is where your experience from chem1031 labs kicks in and you should be able to keep cool.
Lab Duration - 3 hours.
Tutorials - Get into Anna Choy's class.
A solid course once again you'll have to put in the hours to get a respectable mark.
Difficulty rating : 7/10
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