Michigan Tech has a common first-year engineering program. Within this program, every engineering student takes the same foundational courses: math, engineering, chemistry, physics, composition, and global issues.
Based on math placement, there are two course pathways through first-year engineering.
A student’s mathematics placement is determined by the Department of Mathematics.
If you start in Calculus I or Calculus I+, a sample schedule of your first two semesters may look like this:
| Fall 15-17 credits | Spring 15-18 credits |
|---|---|
| Calculus w/Technology I/I+ MA1160/1* | Calculus w/Technology II MA2160 |
| Engineering Analysis & Problem Solving ENG1101* | Engineering Modeling & Design ENG1102 |
| Physics Lab PH1100 | Physics I PH2100 |
| Chemistry I CH1150/1* | Major Specific Elective |
| Composition UN1015 | Global Issues UN1025 |
*Learning community scheduled
Note: Students with AP or transfer credits for math will be placed into the next appropriate math course.
If you start in Pre-calculus a sample schedule of your first three semesters may look like this:
| Fall 1 15-17 credits |
Spring 1 15-18 credits |
Fall 2 14-17 credits |
|---|---|---|
| PreCalculus MA1032* | Calculus w/Technology I MA1161 | Calculus w/Technology II MA2160 |
| Engineering Analysis & Problem Solving ENG1101* | Engineering Modeling & Design ENG1102 | Physics I PH2100 |
| Prep Chem CH1000 or Chemistry I CH1150/1 | Physics Lab PH1100 | Major Specific Elective |
| Composition UN1015 | Global Issues UN1025 | General Education |
| Optional: General Education/HASS | Chemistry I CH1150/1 if not taken in Fall 1 or General Education/HASS |
*Learning community scheduled
Students who are calculus-ready (i.e., they are placed upon enrollment into Calculus I–MA1160 or MA1161–or higher) have a two-semester sequence to complete the first-year engineering program. Students who are not calculus ready upon enrollment (i.e., they are placed upon enrollment into MA1032–PreCalculus) have a three-semester sequence, which will take 1.5 years in order to complete the first-year engineering program. Students placed into MA1030 will start the three semester sequence when they begin College Algebra 2 (MA1031).