PRINCE GEORGE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Welcome to Introductory Engineering!
EGR 101 – Introductory Engineering
Spring 2006
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Scott D. Johnson, Associate Professor, Physical Sciences and Engineering
OFFICE: CH-310C
PHONE NUMBERS: 301-386-7536
EMAIL ADDRESS: sdjohnson@pgcc.edu
To facilitate e-mail communication with me, please include the following code: NM231 along with the course designation (EGR 101) in the subject of any e-mails to me during the spring 2006 semester.
WEB PAGE: http://academic.pgcc.edu/~sjohnson
OFFICE HOURS: W 4-5pm, TTh 1:00-3:00pm, by appointment all other times
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces the student to the theory and practice of engineering.
The course has four main parts. Each part will cover important aspects
of engineering giving the student a full picture of the career they
are about to embark upon. The first part will help the student understand
what an engineer is and what type of work they would be expected to perform
in society. The second part will deal with higher level engineering concepts. This will
be developed in an application area such as a research laboratory giving
students exposure to professional practices common in all engineering
disciplines. A number of professional papers will be reviewed leading
to a creation of a hypothetical laboratory emphasizing the interaction
common to all engineering disciplines.
The third part will cover fundamental aspects of engineering including
drawing, modeling, problem solving, design, and laboratory experimentation.
Basic computer skills will be developed using MATLAB,
Fortran, C, or similar high level computer language.
Finally a team project will constitute the fourth part. The
teams will be expected to develop a product using a number of
engineering and software skills.
Team work along with communication skills (oral, written, and graphical)
are exercised throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES:
MAT 241 Complete or concurrent
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of the course a student will be able to
Describe and apply the engineering design process to a simple design problem.
Demonstrate the ability to contribute to a team based design activity, including presentation of design review briefings, developing a simple project budget, measuring progress against the budget, and presenting design project results.
Describe and apply fundamental engineering concepts to a simple problem.
Use a CAD software (Keycreator, AutoCad, MicroStation, or similar product) to construct either a plane layout drawing or a three dimensional wire frame model of a physical object.
Sketch a system design of a laboratory showing sufficient details for presentation.
Read and interpret orthographic views of a three dimensional object.
TEXTBOOK:
Engineering Your Future: An Introduction to Engineering 4th Edition. Oakes, William, Leone, Les, and Gunn, Craig. Great Lakes Press (2004).
OTHER REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
Handouts on material not covered in the required textbook to be distributed in class throughout the semester.
OUTSIDE CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
As with any class an amount of time at least equivalent to two times the credit hours is expected to be performed for homework and labs. Please allot sufficient time for homework.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Evaluation of student performance is to be based on:
Unannounced quizzes and homework will account for approximately 25% of the semester grade. Homework consists of essays that are to be written in standard English format and problem sets.
A comprehensive in-class test on the fundamentals of engineering will account for approximately 25% of the semester grade.
A four to five page essay describing the virtual laboratory we will build in class will account for approximately 25% of the semester grade. This essay is to be an original work that roughly follows along with the class lecture, but is to be wholly original and not just a re-write of the class notes.
A major laboratory design project that is to account for approximately 25% of the semester grade. This project will require an appropriate laboratory book to be handed in along with a small report summarizing the results.
HOW ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED
Homework is due at the start of class (or before) except for in-class projects.
Laboratory work is to be submitted in appropriate binders follow any standard laboratory format (this will be reviewed in class).
Make-up homework, quizzes, and/or tests are up to the discretion of the teacher (excused absences only). No makeup will be possible for laboratory work, sufficient time should be available to recover if an absence is necessary.
COURSE OUTLINE
New topics are to be covered each week and include but are not limited to the following subjects. This outline is subject to change.
Week 1
Week 2 Historical case studies in Engineering
Week 3 Expectations in a laboratory setting
Week 4 Case study in engineering: What it takes to build a laboratory
Week 5 Case study in engineering: What it takes to build a laboratory
Week 6 Case study in engineering: What it takes to build a laboratory
Fundamentals of Engineering
Week 7 Units and a mathematics review
Week 8 Statics, dynamics, and optics
Week 9 Thermodynamics and materials
Week 10 Electrical circuits and computer science
Week 11 Introduction to MATLAB
Week 12 Project: Discussion and lab
Week 13 Project: Discussion and lab
Week 14 Project: Discussion and lab
Week 15 Project: Discussion and lab (Final Laboratory DUE)
Reading.assignments are as follows: For class it is expected that an article of sufficient engineering strength be read.
Quizzes will all be unannounced so be prepared.
Tests will be announced a week before and will depend on our progress in the classroom.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
Food and drink in limited quantities (snacks, not meals) are permitted in restricted areas (not near electronics) and will be revoked if proper cleanliness is found wanting.
Cell phones must be in vibrate mode and are only to be answered for emergencies (step outside please).
Common courtesy is to apply at all times.
IMPORTANT DATES
Last day to apply for spring graduation Wednesday, February 15
Presidents' Day - College Closed, No Class Monday, February 20
Last day to change from "audit" to "credit" or "credit" to "audit" Friday, March 3
Spring Break - College Closed, No Classes Mon.-Sun., April 10-16
Last day to withdraw from full-semester classes Friday, April 21
Final Exam Tuesday May 9
LAB INFORMATION
Lab is in class CH-307 during class and after class during open hour lab periods