Section 3: Course Descriptions

Course Categories

For purposes of planning programs of study, courses at WPI are divided into two categories.

Category I (Cat. I)

These courses cover core material of interest to large numbers of students. Category I courses are offered at least once a year.

Category II (Cat. II)

Category II courses are usually offered every other year.

Background

Suggested

The material from this course would be helpful to the student, but it is not assumed background.

Catalog and Schedule on the WWW

The catalog and course schedule can be found on the world wide web.

Course Numbering

Each course at WPI is designated by a two-letter prefix identifying the subject area followed by a four digit number. The first digit is coded as follows:

Courses for which first-year students will receive priority in registration. Upper class students may register on a space-available basis.
Basic level courses.
Advanced level undergraduate courses for which no graduate credit is given. (This restriction may be waived at the discretion of the degree department.)
Advanced level undergraduate courses for which graduate credit may also be given.
Graduate courses.
The last three digits may be used by the departments to indicate subject areas. Many graduate courses are also available to undergraduates.

Course Credit

Unless otherwise indicated, WPI courses usually carry credit of 1/3 unit. This level of activity suggests at least 17 hours of work per week, including class and laboratory time. The usual workload per term is 1 unit.

Courses Qualifying for Engineering Distribution Areas

Mathematics
All Courses designated “MA.”
Advanced placement established by AP exam or through passing WPI advanced courses (see page 196) also qualify.

Basic Science
All courses designated “PH,” “CH,” “BB,” and GE 2341.

Engineering Science/Design
The following courses may be applied to the “Engineering Science and Design” distribution requirement for each respective engineering major:

BME: All courses designated “BME” (except BME 3110) and CE, CHE, ECE, RBE, and ME courses at the 2000- level or above.
CE: All courses designated “CE”. Also ES 2503 and ES 3004.
CHE: All courses designated “CHE.” Also ES 3002, ES 3003, ES 3004, and other courses approved by the Chemical Engineering Department. See the department web site, and consult with your academic advisor for details.
ECE: All courses designated “ECE” (except ECE 3601) and ES 3011 may be included in the six-unit ECE area distribution requirement.

RBE: All courses designated “RBE”.
ME: All courses designated “ME”.
IE: OIE courses including OIE 2500, OIE 3401, OIE 3405, OIE 3420, OIE 3450, OIE 3460, OIE 3501, OIE 4410, and OIE 4460.

In addition, engineering majors selecting “Engineering Science/ Design” courses from outside their major may choose appropriate activities from any of the following:

All courses designated ES, ECE, CHE, ME, RBE.

All OIE courses listed above (for ME majors only).

All courses designated as CE except CE 3022.

All courses designated as CS except CS 1101, CS 1102, and CS 3043. (Only RBE majors may select CS 1101 or CS 1102 to satisfy the Engineering Science and Design Distribution Requirement.

(Electrical and Computer Engineering majors are restricted to these courses at the 2000-level or higher.)

All ABET engineering programs require six units of Engineering Science and Design.

All graduate-level courses may be counted in the appropriate categories.

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Last modified: February 05, 2009 18:28:47