Instructor: Dr. James Nelson

Phone: 257-2842 (Home: 255-3258 -- please do not call after 9:30 P.M)

e-mail: jdn@coes.latech.edu

Web Page: www.latech.edu/~jdn

Office: BH 217

Office Hours: 8:00-9:00 & 1:00-2:00 Daily (These are official office hours. You are encouraged to come by any time you need to see me. If I am not there, please make an appointment with my secretary.)

Class Time: 2:00 – 3:50 MW

Building: PAVB 213

Textbooks: Eide, A.R., R.D. Jenison, L.H. Mashaw, and L.L. Northrop. 2002. Engineering Fundamentals and Problem-Solving, 4^th ed., McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Gottfried, Byron. 2003. Spreadsheet Tools for Engineers Using Excel. McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Pritchard, Philip J. 1999. Mathcad: A Tool for Engineering Problem Solving. McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Eisenberg, Anne. 1998. A Beginner's Guide to Technical Communication. McGraw-Hill.

 

As indicated in the Louisiana Tech University Bulletin, "Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege, and all students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to do so may jeopardize a student’s scholastic standing and may lead to suspension from the college or university."

Also, "When a freshman or sophomore student receives excessive unexcused absences (ten percent of the total classes) in any class, the instructor may recommend to the students’ academic dean that the student be dropped from the rolls of that class and given an appropriate grade. The student is responsible for making arrangements satisfactory to the instructor regarding absences. A student shall submit excuses for class absences to the appropriate instructor within three class days following the student's return to his/her respective class. If a student has been absent to allow participation in a University sponsored or approved activity, an official excuse (documenting a request for an excused absence) may be provided by the sponsoring Department/Division."

The College of Engineering and Science has chosen to strictly apply this University requirement. Any student who has more than three unexcused absences in an integrated engineering curriculum course (ENGR, MATH, CHEM, PHYS) will be removed from the rolls of that class and given a grade of ‘F’. Make-up exams are not generally available except upon prior arrangement with the instructor. Pop quizzes may not be made up.

Grading: A=90+, B=80-89.9, C=70-79.9, etc.

Professional Meeting Attendance 5%

Course Objective:

The goal of Engineering 120 is to acquaint the student with the basic concepts that form the foundation of engineering. Students will be introduced to the different professions and skills in engineering practice. The course will also serve to integrate skills developed in math, chemistry, and university seminar and to further clarify the importance of these skills for solving engineering problems. Students will develop their own skills in problem-solving, working in teams, using the computer for problem-solving (spreadsheets), and communication. The course will employ a variety of learning strategies including cooperative learning (teamwork), critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and oral/written communication.

Instructor Goals:

To know and impact each student in a way that helps prepare them for professional and personal success

To make the class interesting and stimulating

To be expressive of the material and responsive to students

General Suggestions

1. Please speak out freely with questions or constructive comments in an orderly manner.

2. Study your notes carefully between each class period. Come to class prepared.

3. Academic misconduct will be severely penalized.

4. Help your group and let your group help you.

5. For individual assignments, you may, and are encouraged to, discuss homework assignments with fellow students in an effort to outline a logical engineering approach but the actual write-up and supporting logic and calculations must be your own.

                    6. Please first discuss any grievances with me.

Homework Policy

1. All homework is to be done as a team. Each member of the team must contribute to the solution of each problem. Do not divide problems among your team members. The responsibility for actually writing (or typing) the homework assignment and turning it in will be rotated among team members.

2. Homework is to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due.

3. Late homework will not be accepted.

4. Homework papers must follow appropriate engineering format (to be discussed in class).

5. Points may be deducted for lack of neatness or shoddy appearance. Maximum credit will be awarded for homework that is neatly done and easily readable, and for solutions that are logically obtained and clearly marked.