2009 Courses
Engineering Problem Solving
This course is an excellent experience for students interested in engineering and applied mathematics.
In this course devoted to the analysis and solution of complex engineering problems, representative examples from different fields of engineering will be used to illustrate and to develop problem-solving techniques. Students will consider a variety of problems from the fields of electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering, among others. They will employ sound engineering principles and models to develop mathematical techniques, such as estimation, approximation, and numerical and graphical analysis.
The main purpose of this course is to utilize the engineering design process to solve engineering problems within the broader context of society. In this context, the students will be asked to solve a number of engineering design challenges based on real world problems. Through these challenges, students will learn about the various branches of engineering and how they work together. Ultimately, this course endeavors to interest students in pursuing engineering as a career field. Even if students choose a career outside of science, math, or engineering, the research and teamwork skills developed during the program will prove invaluable to students throughout their academic and professional careers.
Entrepreneurial Leadership
This course will appeal to any student with an interest in business, management, or economics.
In this course students are exposed to the world of entrepreneurial leadership. Students will identify the keys to entrepreneurial success that they inherently possess, including effective leadership, multiple thinking, and people skills. Students will work together to develop individual ideas into marketable concepts and to develop strategies to make those ideas work. Students will focus on entrepreneurial successes and failures in modern business and popular culture, examining the external factors that dictate these results, as well as leadership challenges entrepreneurial organizations face–organizational behavior and community leadership. Topics will include business climate, economics, media influence, negotiation, and communication and presentation skills. Students will be encouraged to “think outside the box” in the development of a feasible business plan for their entrepreneurial ideas as a final project.
Forensic Science
This course provides an excellent introduction to the exciting world of medicine, applied chemistry and biology.
Fingerprints, DNA, hairs, and fibers–thanks to forensic science, this type of evidence has become increasingly crucial in medical research and modern justice systems. In this course students take an in-depth look at the exciting field of forensic medicine and science. Students will examine some of the types of evidence that are encountered in criminal investigations and the techniques that are used to analyze the evidence. Students will trace and analyze evidence and engage in laboratory exercises simulating real-life methods of evidence analysis. Students will also participate in a mock crime scene, examining the many roles of medical examiners and crime scene investigators. The course is designed with discussion, debate cases, and the portrayal of forensic science in popular culture.
JAVA for Video Games
This course will fascinate students interested in computer science and software engineering.
In this course students will create their very own video games in Java. The course will cover object-oriented program design, event-driven programming, simulations, debugging, documenting student work, and using online resources and tutorials. Along the way, students will learn how the concepts used in video game development can be applied in many other areas as well. In addition this course will require students to apply their mathematics background to make objects move, spin, explode, and collide. The course will also give a brief overview of many of the fields of computer science as they relate to video game development. By the end of the course, students should understand the basics of how video games are written, know how to program in Java at a basic level, and know more about the different subfields of computer science. Web logs will document students’ daily progress.