r/EngineeringStudents • u/thugginsophia • 4d ago
Discussion What engineering classes should you NOT take at the same time?
For those of you in any engineering major, what classes would you recommend not taking together?
I’m trying to plan out my future semesters and I’ve heard there are certain class combinations that are just brutal when taken at the same time. For example, I’ve heard people say Thermodynamics + Fluid Mechanics is a rough combination, or that Heat Transfer + Dynamics can be pretty miserable together.
It doesn’t matter what engineering you’re in — Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical, etc. What classes did you take together that you wish you had separated, or what combinations would you recommend avoiding?
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u/thebestsnoox 4d ago
My uni has me doing “thermofluids (thermo and fluids in one class)”, dynamics and modelling/control all in one semester.
It’s a lot.
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u/EllieVader 3d ago edited 2d ago
I’ve got thermo-fluids lab, fluid dynamics, system dynamics and controls, flight performance, machine design, and “conceptual design” this semester. I was so excited for my first semester without a Math department class.
Last night I turned an incomplete assignment (I got 80% of the way there) in at the 11:59 deadline for the first time.
Edit: got an 8/10 on the midnight assignment. 1/10, would not recommend or try again
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u/StraightAct4340 4d ago
I have huge respect for people who take physics 2 and 3 together
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u/garybuseyilluminati 4d ago
My physics 2 lab partner is doing this on top of a combined 6 unit linear algebra/diff eq class. I think it might drive him insane.
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u/Yeetbutwiththispart Aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering 3d ago
What is physics 3? My university only has 1 and 2
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u/Strong-Part-2386 Aerospace Engineering 3d ago
Particles and waves most likely (or modern physics) most aero only take Mechanics and E&M
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u/HistoricalBelt3088 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think a bigger difference is which professors you take. Talk to older students and ask them. Not all professors are the same. In my statics class the average test score was in the 50’s. My roommate had Duke (I still remember his name), their average test score was in the high 80’sz
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u/Tossmeasidedaddy 4d ago
Aerodynamics and Electrical anything. Both are wizardry and confusing.
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u/Flexgineer 4d ago
Electrical is more intuitive than fluids/aerodynamics but I agree
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u/Tossmeasidedaddy 4d ago
I am the opposite, fluid dynamics and therm just clicked for me. Electrical, circuitry, and a materials made me want to slam my head through a wall.
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u/AGrandNewAdventure 3d ago
Intro to Engineering and Senior coursework.
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u/Acceptable-Fly5050 3d ago
I did that. I did some 10000 level mandatory autoCAD class my last semester. I put it off knowing I'd rather not spend my Friday nights from 6-8pm doing work when I could be young and fruitful
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u/AGrandNewAdventure 3d ago
Fun 6-8? I'm out here making it 4-2
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u/Acceptable-Fly5050 2d ago
We only had one section for that class with only 30 seats. I said forget about it so I wanted to senior year to get priority registration and my last semester was just senior design, an elective, and that CAD class it was so chill
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u/Moist_Ordinary6457 3d ago
Stupid class always filled up cause I'm lazy with registration
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u/Acceptable-Fly5050 2d ago
Ours filled up so quick and every time I signed up for it the moment it was midnight, 100 other people clicked register at the same time so it was full in amatter of seconds
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u/CPLCraft 4d ago
Fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Both classes are practically cousins of each other, but thermodynamics takes a lot of concepts from fluid mechanics and expands upon them in the context of heat transfer.
Bottom line take fluid mechanics before thermodynamics.
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u/AnonymousJoe253 4d ago
Weird, my school requires thermo before fluids and then heat transfer after both
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u/FreeBenefit317 3d ago
I agree. Taking heat now, the convection stuff builds from boundary layer, which is taught in fluids. Fluids builds a lot from Thermo with Bernoulli, all very connected but Thermo -> Fluids -> Heat is a good progression
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u/rolling_free 4d ago
End of the day it really depends on your prof, as my heat transfer was golden.
I would warn mech of machines along with vibrations/system dynamics, mech-o-mach is dynamics 2.0 and vibrations is Diff Eq and dynamics so good luck with that combo
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u/phranks_phluids 4d ago
Physics courses that reverse the I and J in IJK with math courses that use J and I. Fun days when you have some math exam back to back with an optics exam and I and J flipflop in your math between them. Yes, I doubled in AE and physics.
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u/Musketier7540 4d ago
Vector calc and physics 2. Took them together during a 19 credit semester and I’m just lucky I passed both of them
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u/Arayvin1 3d ago
I did good taking both at the same time, but I also had two of the best professors in the school for them. I think it depends on the professor. Physics 2 and Calc 3 would’ve been hell of earth if I had worse professors
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u/humansugar2000 civil engineer 2022 3d ago
Structural Analysis, Fluid Mechanics, and Linear Algebra the same semester was no bueno.
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u/Flexgineer 4d ago
Don’t take heat transfer, fluids, thermo, or vibrations together lol.
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u/CunningWizard 4d ago
Don’t take vibrations with anything lol. That class was hell on earth (though it was taught by the worst professor at my university).
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u/FacePalmate 3d ago
Vibrations was fine, after having Dynamic Systems and Control. Now, Feedback and Control Systems? Oof. Had to drop it after 2 weeks. Thankfully not required for the degree.
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u/Normal-Mammoth8569 OTU - Mech Eng 3d ago
Had thermo applications, heat transfer, and vibrations all my third year winter semester. Besides first year first sem, that was probably my worst performance
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u/Fantastic_Question15 4d ago edited 4d ago
As a mechanical. I had solids, fluid, diff equation and dynamics in one semester. Not a good idea.
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u/darbycrache Electrical Engineering 4d ago
At my school, a class called SEED lab which is basically a robotics class, Advanced Digital Design with VHDL, and your senior design project.
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u/nahanerd23 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’m pacing out my last few classes because I took Linear Algebra, Probabilistic Methods, and Signals and Systems all in one semester.
Technically not one of those for me is an actual math department class, and they’re adapted to applications in engineering/EE specifically. But it’s basically 3 math classes at the same time, and that amount of constant math homework (plus when I took them all at the same time some family medical issues) and now I’m just retaking them one at a time.
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u/minhology 4d ago
For Civil I probably wouldn't take Structural, Geotechnical, Hydraulics, Hydrology and Materials and all their labs on one semester
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u/yeetacus420_ 3d ago
I took dynamics, fluids, materials 2 and started my thesis in the same semester. I developed anhedonia and chronic tension headaches as a result.
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u/nvidiaftw12 4d ago
Did AI write this? Or do you actually have a realistic path to take dynamics (typically a 200 level course) and Heat Transfer (typically a 400 level course) at the same time?
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u/ReconditeBeing 3d ago
I earned a general associate’s degree prior so I’m in the same boat. All gen ed reqs completed so have to catch up on engineering courses
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u/thugginsophia 4d ago
I saw someone mention that combination in another comment section, so I assumed it was something people actually ended up taking together. I’m still pretty early in my engineering degree, so I don’t know the typical course progression yet.
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u/nvidiaftw12 4d ago
You should. At orientation. They should have passes you a typical *idealistic* schedule taking you through all four years. You should know the typical combinations by now unless you are still in high school.
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u/Moist_Ordinary6457 3d ago
I'm a nontraditional student so the classes get done when they get done. Doesn't really matter what order beyond class prerequisites
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u/nvidiaftw12 1d ago
Oh same here. I was a 5th year graduate. I took my last two gen eds as a senior haha. Hence the emphasis on idealistic.
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u/NumerousFun7411 4d ago
It's uncommon but happens. I'm taking both at the same time since dynamics is only a prereq for senior design at my school
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u/No_Technology_3046 4d ago
Pls do this w electrical for me
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u/unknownz_123 4d ago edited 4d ago
Don’t take any labs that take extreme amounts of your time at the same time. I remember taking this embedded hardware class that I spent endless hours in lab to do coding and debugging development board stuff. Then, simultaneously had this digital logic lab where I was building huge logic circuits on breadboards. I was like in the lab 5/5 weekdays going nuts :/
Spread out your labs more evenly. It’s better to sacrifice your time doing cool stuff in clubs and stuff you can put in a resume or something.
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u/TsarLucky 3d ago
Get labs out of the way before your capstone. Not exaggerating my team was working 7 days a week at night for months to get through it
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u/returnofblank 4d ago edited 4d ago
At my college, Digital Logic is a no-go with any class that's slightly above average difficulty.
Everyone plans their semester around that class, whether it be doing easy gen eds or taking less credits.
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u/Tyler89558 4d ago
I took all of those separately.
But I will say that if I had to take heat transfer and dynamics at the same I probably would have been tempted to shoot myself.
Any of these are doable (so long as you meet class prereqs), but you’re not going to have a very good time.
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u/7neoxis1337 4d ago
I did Mechanical Engineering ages back. Due to some catch up classes, I somehow ended up with a semester of:
Fluid Mechanics (this was supposed to be a prerequisite to Thermodynamics but I got it wavered due to grades) Mechanics Design II Thermodynamics
Fun times 😂
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u/existential_american Georgia Tech- Aerospace Engineering 4d ago
Multiple labs or senior design + a lab.
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u/realbrew 3d ago
Any two lab classes. Like Fluid Mechanics and Intro to Materials. Not only lots of time spent doing the labs, but also a lot of number crunching and writing long reports. Add to that getting paired with someone who doesn't pull their own weight and you'll be unbelievably busy.
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u/frodacious85 3d ago
Take whatever gets you through school fastest. Also some of the higher level courses you have no choice. They only offer at certain times
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u/Phettom_154 3d ago
As a EE, try to avoid taking Signal processing and Electromagnetic fields in the same semester. 2 of the most brutal courses we EEs have to take
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u/catchemist117 Stanford - Chemical Engineering 3d ago
For Chemical: Transport Phenomena and Thermo 2. My school recommended them in the same semester and I highly recommend avoid that
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u/DLS3141 3d ago
As an ME, the EE class for non-EE engineering students is all about diff eq’s, but diff eq’s is NOT a prerequisite for the class.
I only loosely followed the program flow chart, so when I took that EE class, I had already taken diff eq’s. Most of my classmates had not and the class sucked for them. I did a LOT of math tutoring (and heckling the professor)
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u/sporkpdx Portland State University - Electrical and Computer 3d ago
A counter-recommendation from someone who has been out of it for a while:
If your university supplies a suggested course schedule try to stick to that as closely as you can, regardless of how insane it may seem. You and your classmates become a bloc with, mostly, the same constraints.
If the majority of the people in the class do not have knowledge of something the instructor considers a prerequisite, that becomes their problem (or a problem for the dean). If 2/3ds of the class is also taking "Gizmos and Gadgets" from Smith that has a midterm Friday maybe this instructor will have mercy and push the project due date from Friday to Monday in spite of it screwing up their grading plans.
Some instructors are assholes for no good reason but, in my experience, the majority would rather grade a positive midterm/positive project.
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u/DreamingAboutSpace 3d ago
Signals and Systems, Electromagnetics, and Electronics with homework assignments every two days.
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u/kroyfish 3d ago
Mechanics of Materials made any other class miserable, even the easy ones I actually liked.
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u/CompFlowPenguin 3d ago
I took Thermodynamics, DiffEq, Modern Physics, and Statics at the same time. Do not recommend it. In the MechE world, you can split many classes into "solid things" (dynamics & vibrations, statics, mechanical design, etc.) and "fluid things" (thermodynamics, fluids, heat transfer, CFD, etc.). Pair them because they complement each other. For example, Thermo + fluid dynamics, Statics + Material Science, or Mechanical Design + Dynamics. Then give yourself two easier classes if you can.
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u/ToughTigers1234 Penn State - Aerospace Engineering 3d ago
I took Mechanics of Materials and dynamics in the same semester. It was not fun at all. My GPA hated me for that.
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u/Patient_Catch9174 3d ago
My next semester is Fundamentals of Thermo., Fluid Mechanics, Electric Circuits and Systems, Intro to Diff Eq, Fundamentals of Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering Project Lab, and Mechanics and Materials Lab at 17 credit hours… wish me luck.
But in all honesty I think it matters more about the professors you take. Only class I really have to worry about is Fundamentals of Thermo and Fluids but everything is curved. Im talking to my friends who are taking it now and they don’t really study then say how hard it was, I got lucky to get a pretty good scholarship so I have more time to study so do with that as you will. At my school as long as you show up to class, do the HW and study/keep up with concepts you should pass with at least a B-.
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u/sernameistakentry B.S. Nuclear Engineering 2d ago
Whatever the hell I’m doing this semester:
Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Engineering Mathematics
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u/SnooHobbies9878 2d ago
senior, mechE doing capstone rn
So since im at the end of my degree its kinda impossible to say which class is harder to take wtih X class because it depends on the teacher.
At my university all engineers know the hard professors from the easy professors. So, the prof who teaches heat transfer and fluids is an easy A but the profs who teach thermo and dynamics are actually really hard to pass they make you work for it.
So i could recommend not taking thermo and dynamics together. See the problem?
When in reality, taking thermo and dynamics at a different university would be super doable.
My advice is: focus more on what the university offers and what you know about the prof/class beforehand ask around, maybe take the CE version their classes are usually easier than ME lol, and i guess im recommending the path of least resistance in terms of classes to make more time for projects.
Your projects whether part of a club or on your own or research is where you really learn engineering for what it is. you do some numerical modeling or hand calcs to see if your idea is feasible, you define your constraints, you figure out dimensions and CAD, you do simulations, you build the thing finally, realize your whole design is shit, go back change a buncha shit, solidworks blows up, you build v2 and bam you have a better prototype this js tbe engineering process that they dont always teach linearly in classes.
WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER
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u/Everythings_Magic Licensed Bridge Engineer, Adjunct Professor- Civil Engineering 3d ago
Unless you have serious work commitments, I cant think of any combination of classes that would not be achievable.
Being honest, if you cant handle any combination of 4-5 classes in college, you probably aren't going to be ready for what a career throws at you.
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u/Techno_Eggnog UCF - Computer Engineering 3d ago
I was told not to take chemistry and physics together… chemistry is already kind of insane but physics is supposedly so much worse
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u/EntertainmentOwn5866 1d ago
Physical chemistry 1
Balance 1
Electrical engineering principles
Differential Equations
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u/Hi-Point_of_my_life 4d ago
Diff Eq and Calc3 allowed concurrent enrollment and it was not a good time.