Engineering 21 Course Introduction and Career and Academic and Assignment Overview

Course Introduction and Course Logistics

  • Instructor Role: The instructor is an Engineering faculty member and the Department Chair for the "Idea Building" (Integrated Design Engineering Automation) at Irvine Valley College (IVC). He acts as the point of contact for questions regarding supplemental classes, enrollments, and add codes.
  • Waitlist and Add Codes:     * Add codes are generally not distributed until after the first day of class.     * Students in the top 1010 of the waitlist are considered to be in a fair position to potentially receive a code.     * Codes are typically issued via official IVC or student sign-up emails (e.g., late at night on the first day or over the weekend).     * Expiration: If a code is sent and not used within 44 to 55 days, it is reassigned to the next student on the list.     * The goal is to keep class enrollment between 3434 and 3838 students for grading sanity.
  • Synchronous Online Format:     * The class is fully online and synchronous.     * Every lecture is recorded and posted to Canvas approximately one hour after class concludes.     * Recording files are typically large, approximately 1 GB1\,GB.     * The recording interface includes a full transcript, chat messages with shared links, and an index for subject navigation.
  • Attendance Policy:     * Attendance is tracked via a digital sign-in sheet on Canvas (initials required).     * No-Show Drops: Students who are enrolled but do not sign in to Canvas, do not submit Assignment 11, or do not contact the instructor may be dropped as a "no-show."     * Missing a single class is acceptable as long as assignments are submitted on time, as there are no traditional exams.
  • Communication:     * Office hours for the summer session are by appointment only via a private Zoom room.     * Students are encouraged to ask questions toward the end of the lecture block, typically between 3:40 PM3:40\,PM and 3:45 PM3:45\,PM, as the instructor has another class starting at 4:00 PM4:00\,PM.

Engineering Hardware and Software Recommendations

  • Textbooks: There is no required textbook for this course; all materials are provided via online links and downloads.
  • Laptop Preferences:     * Windows PCs: Highly recommended and dominant in engineering because standard CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.) is designed for Windows, not Mac.     * Cost Range: Entry-level laptops for engineering start around $360\$360. High-end gaming computers over $800\$800 are generally unnecessary unless desired for personal use.
  • Required Software:     * Google Earth Pro: Used specifically in Week 66 (free to install).     * Online Freeware: Most assignments utilize browser-based tools like Onshape and Tinkercad Circuits.

The "Idea Building" and IVC Facilities

  • Location: The IDEA campus is a satellite school of IVC located on Red Hill, near the 5555 Freeway and Irvine Center Drive, distinct from the main campus.
  • Building Focus: Integrated Design, Engineering, and Automation. It is a new facility dedicated to engineering, CAD, prototyping, electronics, and drafting.
  • Equipment: Features a machine shop, electronics labs (oscilloscopes, frequency circuits), and a DMP lab.
  • Collaborations: The facility is shared with Saddleback College (part of the South Orange County Community College District), which houses culinary arts and automotive programs nearby.

Academic Pathways: IVC to University Transfer

  • Transfer Rates: IVC has a high transfer rate to major universities, particularly the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
  • Articulation: IVC offers 1616 fully articulated engineering classes with UCI. Most courses are semester-based, providing more instructional time than the quarter-based system at UCI.
  • Faculty Comparison:     * UCI/Research Schools: Large classes (up to 300300 students), research-focused professors who may be less accessible, and heavy reliance on Graduate Student TAs.     * IVC/Community College: Smaller class sizes (<45<45 students) and dedicated teaching faculty such as Professor Gupta (Math) and Professor Sim (Physics).
  • Cross-Enrollment: Students can sometimes take classes at UCI for the IVC rate ($46\$46 per credit) through specific portals, provided prerequisites are met.
  • The Engineering Academy: Access is restricted to students who applied to UCI as seniors and were waitlisted.

Engineering Disciplines and Careers

  • Discipline Overview:     * Mechanical & Aerospace (MAE): Most broad-based; offers high lateral movement. Specialties include fluids, thermal systems, and engine design.     * Civil Engineering (CE): Focuses on infrastructure and structural analysis. IVC has a strong partnership with Kimley-Horn (the largest civil firm in the US) for internships.     * EE/CS: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. At UCI, this is split between the Samueli School (Hardware/Circuits/EECS) and the School of ICS (Information and Computer Science - software focus).     * Biomedical/Chemical: Large industry presence in Orange County (e.g., Edwards Lifesciences).
  • Technician Pathway: Technicians often earn salaries comparable to engineers (starting $50,000\$50,000 to $60,000\$60,000) because of the high demand for hands-on troubleshooting and building skills.
  • Attrition: Engineering has high attrition rates. The instructor encourages the community college path to explore disciplines before committing to expensive university tuition.

Syllabus and Grading Policy

  • Grading Breakdown:     * Portfolio Assignments (66 total): 45%45\% of the final grade.     * Weekly Worksheets/Jobs: 15%15\%.     * Final Project: 40%40\% (Due the last day of class; mirrors elements of assignments 66, 77, and 88).
  • Late Policy: Late work is penalized at a rate of −4 points-4\,points per day late.
  • Census Date: Estimated for June 11st or 22nd. This is the final deadline to add or drop without penalty.

Portfolio Assignment 1 Guide

  • Task: A 11 to 44 page document (Word or PDF) exploring engineering disciplines and costs.
  • Page 1: Major Branches: List 44 to 55 branches with 11 to 33 sentence descriptions (e.g., Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical). Copying from the web is permitted, but formatting must be consistent.
  • Page 2: Specific Sub-disciplines: List 33 to 44 specific areas of interest (e.g., "Mechanical Automotive Engine Design" rather than just "Mechanical").
  • Page 3: Personal Statement and Cost Analysis:     * Write 33 sentences on field of choice, school of choice (e.g., Cal Poly SLO), and why.     * Calculate raw tuition cost for 44 years (Tuition only).     * Cost Comparisons:         * UCI: Approximately $15,000\$15,000 to $17,000\$17,000 per year.         * Cal States: Approximately $7,000\$7,000 to $9,000\$9,000 per year.
  • Page 4: Flowcharts and Statistics:     * Prerequisite Flowchart: Search for "[School Name] [Major] Engineering Flowchart" and include the image.     * Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Chart: Find the specific chart for "USA Engineers Count, Wage, Growth Rate."         * Historical Data Check: Petroleum ($128,000\$128,000) is high due to senior-heavy data.         * Biomedical (21,00021,000 total jobs) is a smaller, newer field compared to Mechanical (200,000+200,000+ jobs).

Questions & Discussion

  • Attendance: A student asked about confirming their sign-in. The instructor confirmed that as long as initials are on the sheet, they are safe from being dropped.
  • High School Registration: A student noted the difficulty of high schoolers getting into classes due to late enrollment dates. The instructor acknowledged the competitive nature and confirmed the waitlist status for several students.
  • Majors Survey: Students shared their intended majors in the chat, including Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, and Biomedical. The instructor noted that typical distribution is approximately 30%30\% to 40%40\% Mechanical/Aerospace.