80s era engineering majors, help me out...

[Dawgzilla2]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

 

[paindonthurt]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

I don't think you could have taken cal based physics without calculus 1. Maybe cal 1 and 2.

I was ME in 2002 but I was a sophomore at state, but but had some freshmen classes.

Arch appreciation - elective
Graphic communications - mech drawing
Engineering Economy I - basically financial management
Calculus III
Intro to Linear Algebra
Physics I - obviously i had calc 1 and 2 already

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

Probably wasn’t Intro to Shop Tools.

 

[dawgman42]

There were a couple of electives. I know I took Psychology the first semester of my freshman year (in addition to art appreciation).

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

What semester did you get to blow the whistle?

 

[MagicDawg]

You may be forgetting a foreign language requirement?

Physics 1 was definitely in the spring.

 

[TroyMcClure2025]

Probably wasn’t Intro to Shop Tools.

Because they had fathers that taught them how to be a man.

 

[HotMop]

Probably wasn’t Intro to Shop Tools.

I had that class while my Dad worked on our cars. Typically followed up with a class on curse words, disappointment, and regret.

 

[Dawgbite]

There were a couple of electives. I know I took Psychology the first semester of my freshman year (in addition to art appreciation).

I don’t think I took Psychology until my junior year, could’ve been sophomore but definitely wasn’t freshman. I was ROTC so I took something in the ROTC building. I remember that I took 21 hours both semesters freshman year.

 

[lazlow]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

Intro to <Enter Eng. Discipline here> Engineering (1hr?)

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

Pre-Business 101?

 

[RocketDawg]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

That was after my time, but here's what I took when I was a freshman except we had to take Basic ROTC and Phys Ed the first 2 years. I followed the catalogue and all these were required (no elective in the early years). 144 hours to get a degree then.

First Semester 19 hours
General Chemistry I 3
General Chemistry Lab 1
Graphics 2
English Comp 3
American Civilization (American History) 3
Calculus I 5
Phys Ed 1
ROTC 1

Second Semester 18 hours:
Chemistry II 3
Chem Lab 1
Graphics 2
English Comp 3
Calculus II 3
PE 1
General Physics 4
Basic ROTC 1

 

[BulldogBlitz]

Mech drawing i remember.
Cal 1 I remember because the bookstore told me to run from that purely theoretical professor.
Chem and lab. Yes. Beyond that, I cannot remember.

However, since physics was mentioned, funniest freshman year story was the prof telling us his tests were all multiple choice....but he didnt give credit without seeing your work. All the questions had answers with varying mistakes....so all answers were attainable. First test is returned to us, and a girl sitting on the second row is sobbing. She goes for it in class when he asks "any questions "....she got a 40, never scored below a B in her life and this just couldn't be right or fair.

Rofl. Good times.

 

[leeinator]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

I took Intro to Biblical Archaeology. Great elective course in that cool looking building with the old columns and stuff across the street from the ROTC building. I think Dr. Vardamin was the prof's name or something close to it. Great teacher and many eng. and business students took it as an elective. Another good elective was Intro. to Architecture in the building across from the northwestern gate of Davis Wade. Another really fun course and the prof was an ex-Auburn guy. Practically an automatic A, but I enjoyed it so much, I really worked hard on it. I also took Military History I & 2 plus Combat Military First Aid (Soph. ROTC class)...(best not to eat a lot before that class!).

 

[leeinator]

There were a couple of electives. I know I took Psychology the first semester of my freshman year (in addition to art appreciation).

Music Appreciation I really enjoyed!!

 

[patdog]

Dang your memory is good. My one memory of which classes I took is I had to have an English Lit class to graduate. So I took one fall Sr year. Was struggling & taking 18 hours so dropped it after the drop date. They had a policy that you could retake a course and the old grade would go away. So I did that summer. But I didn’t take the exact same English Lit class & wound up with an F on an otherwise good transcript. It had no effect on my future employment.

 

[patdog]

I took Intro to Biblical Archaeology. Great elective course in that cool looking building with the old columns and stuff across the street from the ROTC building. I think Dr. Vardamin was the prof's name or something close to it. Great teacher and many eng. and business students took it as an elective. Another good elective was Intro. to Architecture in the building across from the northwestern gate of Davis Wade. Another really fun course and the prof was an ex-Auburn guy. Practically an automatic A, but I enjoyed it so much, I really worked hard on it. I also took Military History I & 2 plus Combat Military First Aid (Soph. ROTC class)...(best not to eat a lot before that class!).

I took an Old Testament course at Jones. It was taught by a preacher whose son was a friend of mine. It was actually a very good history of Israel course.

 

[RocketDawg]

Mech drawing i remember.
Cal 1 I remember because the bookstore told me to run from that purely theoretical professor.
Chem and lab. Yes. Beyond that, I cannot remember.

However, since physics was mentioned, funniest freshman year story was the prof telling us his tests were all multiple choice....but he didnt give credit without seeing your work. All the questions had answers with varying mistakes....so all answers were attainable. First test is returned to us, and a girl sitting on the second row is sobbing. She goes for it in class when he asks "any questions "....she got a 40, never scored below a B in her life and this just couldn't be right or fair.

Rofl. Good times.

I took a course my junior or senior year called Compressible Aerodynamics. One of my buddies was sweating when the tests were about to be handed back. He told me, "I doubt I made a 50 on that test". He made 19. I don't remember what I got but it was a tough course.

 

[patdog]

I took a course my junior or senior year called Compressible Aerodynamics. One of my buddies was sweating when the tests were about to be handed back. He told me, "I doubt I made a 50 on that test". He made 19. I don't remember what I got but it was a tough course.

I used to room with a doctoral engineering student (he went back after working several years). Had a couple of buddies who took his course. They routinely scored less than 50 on his tests. But he had to grade in the curve of everyone would fail so they passed. Both went on to have good careers in engineering. That was a 17ed way to teach a course and design tests. It’s like it was a competition between the professors to see who could get the lowest scores on their tests.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

So no one yet knows the answer? At least Im not alone. I used to have my old catalog. But it got lost with a bunch of my other stuff in a personal tragedy.a

Sometime in the late 70s ot early 80s, they compressed what was a 5 year engineering curriculum into 4 years for accreditation compliance. So most semesters were 18 hours or more.

It wasn't an engineering intro course. I dont think it was a second elective, because there was no room for that in the course load. We just couldn't remember, though.

If no one knows, I may have to order my transcript....which has to be mailed because its too old to be digitized.

 

[garddog]

Dang your memory is good. My one memory of which classes I took is I had to have an English Lit class to graduate. So I took one fall Sr year. Was struggling & taking 18 hours so dropped it after the drop date. They had a policy that you could retake a course and the old grade would go away. So I did that summer. But I didn’t take the exact same English Lit class & wound up with an F on an otherwise good transcript. It had no effect on my future employment.

Must have been Clyde Williams for that Lit class. I made a 30 on my first paper for him. Thank goodness he graded on the curve.

 

[RocketDawg]

I used to room with a doctoral engineering student (he went back after working several years). Had a couple of buddies who took his course. They routinely scored less than 50 on his tests. But he had to grade in the curve of everyone would fail so they passed. Both went on to have good careers in engineering. That was a 17ed way to teach a course and design tests. It’s like it was a competition between the professors to see who could get the lowest scores on their tests.

That was the philosophy of Mr. Temple in Calculus III. I believe 1 person out of 25 passed his course. He didn't grade on the curve. I heard he got put on probation over that course but I can't verify.

 

[Boosh]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

Chemistry

 

[dawgman42]

Chemistry

"Chemistry I + Lab." Pretty sure he didn't take it twice during the same semester.

 

[dawgman42]

So no one yet knows the answer? At least Im not alone. I used to have my old catalog. But it got lost with a bunch of my other stuff in a personal tragedy.a

Sometime in the late 70s ot early 80s, they compressed what was a 5 year engineering curriculum into 4 years for accreditation compliance. So most semesters were 18 hours or more.

It wasn't an engineering intro course. I dont think it was a second elective, because there was no room for that in the course load. We just couldn't remember, though.

If no one knows, I may have to order my transcript....which has to be mailed because its too old to be digitized.

You left out a history course. I AP'd out of all of that and never had to take one, but wasn't that standard curriculum for two semesters (some sort of history class)?

 

[Arnept]

So no one yet knows the answer? At least Im not alone. I used to have my old catalog. But it got lost with a bunch of my other stuff in a personal tragedy.a

Sometime in the late 70s ot early 80s, they compressed what was a 5 year engineering curriculum into 4 years for accreditation compliance. So most semesters were 18 hours or more.

It wasn't an engineering intro course. I dont think it was a second elective, because there was no room for that in the course load. We just couldn't remember, though.

If no one knows, I may have to order my transcript....which has to be mailed because its too old to be digitized.

Said it was in Hilbun? This is way before my time but could have been a gen ed like World Geography.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Mine was 20 years later and was different eng but one of the classes was anal meth, and that scared me down a different career path

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Mine was 20 years later and was different eng but one of the classes was anal meth, and that scared me down a different career path

Though come to think of it, I do run into a lot of anal and meth in my current work

 

[dawgman42]

Though come to think of it, I do run into a lot of anal and meth in my current work

You work for Cullman Liquidation?

 

[ZombieKissinger]

You work for Cullman Liquidation?

5 star us on Yelp

 

[patdog]

Must have been Clyde Williams for that Lit class. I made a 30 on my first paper for him. Thank goodness he graded on the curve.

I just sucked at interpreting the authors deeper meaning. I got a B in the summer course but spent hours on the homework assignments. The final was 3 hours long. After 2 hours it was me & the professor. I finally handed it in a little before time was up. Explained to him how long it took me & this was the last course I needed to graduate. He just said, I think you’ll be ok.

 

[grinnindawg]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

16 hours is correct. From the 83 catalog:

 

[TheBannerM]

I took “Writing For Engineers” as a freshman or sophomore

 

[champdawg.sixpack]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

Thermo I?

 

[johnson86-1]

Met up with an old classmate for lunch, and we were trying to remember our Freshman class load, primarily first semester.

I know we took 19 hours right out the box, but we couldn't remember one of the courses. We had:

English Comp
Calculus I
Chemistry I + Lab
Mechanical Drawing
Elective

Thats only 16 hours. What else did we take? Pretty sure it wasn't Physics, because that also had a lab. I do remember trudging up the hill from Duggar to Hilbun, but that was just how I got to all my classes.

I was later, but we had:
Cal I
Chem I
Chem lab (1 hour)
Auto cad (maybe called engineering drafting or something?)
C+ programming
psychology
Intro to (whatever specialty) engineering for one hour.

I think that’s all they encouraged us to take. That was 17 hours with one of those hours being a 3 hour lab that for some reason only counted as one. Our intro course had a decent workload outside of class. No hard tests but a couple of group presentations and a group project. I think they gave lots of group work to try to get antisocial engineers to make friends in their major.

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

I recall some sort of Assembly Programming course too, 1's and 0's out the wazzoo...

I had band electives too, Fall was marching band (drumline), spring was symphonic and jazz.

 

[Walkthedawg]

I had that class while my Dad worked on our cars. Typically followed up with a class on curse words, disappointment, and regret.

An internship in a mechanic's shop over one summer should be required for mechanical engineers.

"Why hello Mr Mechanical Engineering student. I hear you will be with us for a few months. Let me show you around.

Over there we have an Audi that takes 3-4 days and thousands of dollars of extra parts and labor to replace a 12 dollar thermostat. We will start you on that.

Over there, we have GM car with a Series II 3800 engine that is hydro locked because the Exhaust Gas Recirculating Valve is mounted on the ABS plastic intake manifold making it prone to crack and flood the engine with coolant.

Over there we have a Displacement on Demand engine that has a failed valve lifter causing catastrophic engine damage resulting in a full rebuild.

Over there we have a 6.7 Ford Powerstroke with a clogged DPF in the exhaust, causing back pressure in the turbo, causing the seals to blow, causing the turbo to fail, and then the resulting metal in the oil to cause the engine to fail.

Over there we have a Volkswagen with plastic coolant piping with leaking joints, a 3.5 liter eco boost engine that takes a couple days to replace a simple coolant pump and needing its third set of camshaft phasers, a fancy Mercedes AMG needing a 10,000 dollar brake job, a GM duramax diesel that a sheared 10 dollar metal pin on the crankshaft caused the engine to fail....

hey... where did you go Mr Mechanical engineer?"

 

[dawgman42]

I took “Writing For Engineers” as a freshman or sophomore

That class was just evil. English professors that admittedly hated engineers teaching engineers and bitching about them throughout the semester.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

16 hours is correct. From the 83 catalog:View attachment 1101683

This was the most helpful response. Maybe what we were mis-rembering was the number of hours we took that first semester. I would have sworn it was 19, even though I cant come up with another class. 16 seems like barely a full time student.

I remember that Fortran class from Spring semester...using punch cards to run our programs. I seriously looked at transferring based on State's outdated computer system but ultimately I just learned programming on my own.

 

[TheBannerM]

That class was just evil. English professors that admittedly hated engineers teaching engineers and bitching about them throughout the semester.

It was **** like “create instructions for making a paper airplane.” I was like “maybe I’m not smart enough to be an engineer because I can’t do this.”