Getting it done in 2 years.

If you're ready to start on all your engineering classes and you can take 16+ credits a term you can complete your engineering program coursework as well as your general education requirements in 6 terms. Here's roughly how it would look.

A well prepared student would enroll in the following sequences the first year:

Calculus (MTH 251-253)
Chemistry (CH 221-223) -- my view is that an engineer without CH 223 (organic) is not adequately prepared
Physics (PH 211-212)
Writing (WR 121,122,227)

This gives you a core load of 16 credits per quarter. In addition you should take:

Engineering Orientation (GE101/Fall)
Library Skills (Lib 127/anytime) -- a good idea though not formally required

This puts your average load at around 18 credits per quarter.

This would leave you the following sequences to take the second year:

Calculus (MTH 256, 254, 255) [255 is strongly recommended but not always required by OSU]
Statics, Dynamics, and Strengths (ENGR 211-212) [213, Strengths of Materials, depending on program]
Physics (PH 213)
Humanities courses (a sequence if you are seeking an associate degree)
Social Science classes (a sequence if you are seeking an associate degree)

This gives you a core load of 14 credits with the following additional courses to complete:

Electrical Fundamentals (ENGR 201/Winter)
Visual Basic Programming (CS 133VB)
Public Speaking (SP 111/anytime) It's gotta be SP 111 for the OSU engineering program

This puts your average load at right around 17 credits per quarter.

Clearly this is a lot of work and is only suitable for truely full time students. It is also heavy on the science the first year and somewhat less so the second year. This could be reasonably modified by shifting the Chemistry sequence to the second year and moving a humanities sequence to the first year. It doesn't really change the credit load but it changes the emphasis.

Traps to Avoid

There are only two big traps to avoid. The first is to be sure you succeed at the math you are taking. If you get in trouble in math all your plans will be set back probably a year. This is why your advisor will often suggest that you take a less rigorous load your first quarter to try and assure your success in math.

A other trap that some students fall into is putting off the Humanities and Social Science classes until the last quarter. It may be hard to fit these into your schedule as you go along but its easier than trying to cram 3 literature classes into one quarter.

First Year


College Algebra and Trigonometry (MTH 111-113)
Chemistry (CH 221-222)[223 depending on program]
Writing (WR 121,122,227)
Engineering Orientation (GE101/Fall)
Library Skills (Lib 127/anytime)

Your average load is around 14 credits per quarter.

Second Year


Calculus (MTH 251-253)
Physics (PH 211-212)
Humanities Sequence
C Programming (CS 133U/Spring)
Public Speaking (SP 111/anytime)

Your average load is still around 14 credits per quarter.

Third Year


Calculus (MTH 254,256) [255 is recommended but not always required]
Statics, Dynamics, and Strengths (ENGR 211-212) [213, Strengths of Materials, depending on program]
Physics (PH 213)
Social Science classes
Electrical Fundamentals (ENGR 201/Fall)

Your average load is around 12 credits per quarter.

Traps to Avoid

There are only two big traps to avoid. The first is to be sure you succeed at the math you are taking. If you get in trouble in math all your plans will be set back probably a year. This is why your advisor will often suggest that you take a less rigorous load your first quarter to try and assure your success in math.

A other trap that some students fall into is putting off the Humanities and Social Science classes until the last quarter. It may be hard to fit these into your schedule as you go along but its easier than trying to cram 3 literature classes into one quarter.

 

Engineering/Physics Advising