AP/EA Science, Computer Science & Engineering Courses
The university reserves the right to change or cancel class times and/or course offerings without notice.
- 03-121 Modern Biology
- Enrollment Closed - May 17, 2006
9 units -
This is an introductory course with no lab component that provides the basis for further studies in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics and molecular biology. This course emphasizes the chemical principles underlying biological processes and cell structures as well as the analysis of genetics and heredity from a molecular perspective. This is an introductory biology course for all science and non-science majors at Carnegie Mellon. 80-minute lecture.
9 - 10:20 a.m. daily - 09-105 Introduction to Modern Chemistry
- 10 units
-
This course begins with a very brief survey of some fundamental principles of chemistry and a presentation of chemically interesting applications and sophisticated problems. These will form the basis for introducing the relationships between the structure of molecules and their chemical properties and behavior. The subject matter will include principles of atomic structure, chemical bonding, and molecular structures of organic and inorganic compounds including some transition metal complexes. Relevant examples will be drawn from such areas as environmental, materials and biological chemistry. This is an introductory chemistry course for students interested in engineering, science and other related disciplines at Carnegie Mellon. 80-minute lecture.
10:30 - 11:50 a.m. daily - 09-101 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry
- 3 units
-
An optional laboratory course gives students hands-on experience with laboratory methods and techniques. Experiments include the synthesis and characterization of organic compounds (aspirin and "oil of wintergreen"); a kinetics experiment that involves the determination of the rate law of a chemical reaction; a thermochemistry experiment that investigates the products of a transition metal complexation reaction; and various studies involving iron properties and content. This course is offered at no additional tuition charge to students enrolled in the 09-105 chemistry course. There is a $45 lab fee for materials and supplies.
Lecture: 3 - 4:20 p.m. M
Lab: 2:45 - 5:45 p.m. W - 15-100 Introductory/Intermediate Programming
- 10 units
-
An introduction to the process of program design and analysis using Java programming language for students who have no prior programming experience. Topics include basic data types and their operators, I/O, control structures (selection, loops), classes (including methods and fields), files, arrays, and simple sorting and searching algorithms. 80-minute lecture and 80-minute lab.
If you have taken a programming course before and have used functions, loops and arrays, you should enroll in 15-200 instead of 15-100.
- Prerequisite: minimum PSAT Math = 65 or SAT Math = 650.
- Lab: 9 - 10:20 a.m. daily
Lecture: 4:30 - 5:50 p.m. daily - 15-200 Advanced Programming/Practicum
-
9 units
This course assumes prior programming experience (the equivalent of a one semester college course) and is designed to expand students’ knowledge of computer science and sharpen their programming skills through the implementation of a large project. The course extends object-oriented programming techniques begun in previous course work and covers data aggregates, data structures (e.g. linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs) and an introduction to the analysis of algorithms that operate on those data structures. The course is currently taught in Java and, along with 21-127, serves as a prerequisite for 15-211. -
Prerequisite: minimum PSAT Math = 65 or SAT Math = 650, plus previous programming experience equivalent to the 15-100 Introductory / Intermediate Programming course (see the 15-100 course description.) Experience in the Java programming language is preferred, but not mandatory. An assessment will be administered at the beginning of the course to determine if the student has the appropriate background. 80-minute lecture and 80-minute recitation.
Lecture: 9 - 10:20 a.m. daily
Recitation: 1:30 - 2:50 p.m., 3:00 - 4:20 p.m. or 4:30 - 5:50 p.m. daily - 15-211 Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms
-
New Course Listing
12 units
Fundamental programming concepts are presented together with supporting theoretical foundations and practical applications. This course emphasizes the practical application of techniques for writing and analyzing programs: data abstraction, program verification, and performance analysis. These techniques are applied in the design and analysis of fundamental algorithms and data structures. The course is currently taught in Java. Prerequisites: minimum PSAT Math = 65 or SAT Math = 650, plus previous programming experience equivalent to the 15-200 Advanced / Practicum Programming course (see the 15-200 course description). Students taking this course must also be co-registered for 21-127 Concepts of Mathematics (see the 21-127 course description). Experience in the Java programming language is required. An assessment will be administered at the beginning of the course to determine if the student has the appropriate background. 80-minute lecture and 80-minute recitation.
Lecture: 10:30 - 11:50 a.m. daily
Recitation: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. daily - 16-221 Robots to the Rescue: A Gentle Introduction to Mobile Robotics
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New Course Listing
12 units
This course is designed to teach the basic tools and techniques of engineering and programming a mobile robot. This course is primarily for entry-level undergraduates and graduate students who wish learn the basic tools and techniques of Robotics. This is a project-based course with emphasis on learning-by-doing, supplemented by lectures, seminars and talks. Student teams will build an autonomous mobile robot (from kits that will be provided) and use a course-specific easy-to-use programming environment to instruct the robot to perform increasingly sophisticated behaviors requiring vision, motor control and path planning. Besides providing an introduction to integrated system design issues of mobile robots, the students also learn key concepts of mechanics, electronics, control and programming. Students will be tasked to use the system to develop an application related to Rescue Robotics. Final grade is based in part on participation and contribution within the team and in part on the performance in a competitive final project. Engineering background is not essential; programming experience is desirable. 1-hour daily lecture and 3-hour daily laboratory, plus 6 additional hours weekly.
Lecture: 9 - 10 a.m. daily
Lab: 6 - 9 pm daily - 18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
- 12 units
-
This course introduces the basic concepts of electrical and computer engineering through project work and problem-solving exercises. We will analyze, construct and test an electromechanical system (e.g. a robot) that incorporates concepts within electrical and computer engineering. Specific topics that will be covered include system decomposition, real and ideal sources, Kirchoff's and Ohm's Laws, linear and non linear circuit elements, ideal op-amp characteristics and circuits, combinations logic, Kamaugh Maps and Flip-Flops. There is also a final project that will provide an opportunity for creative design. 80-minute lecture daily, 3-hour laboratory session twice weekly.
- Prerequisite: high school technical course such as chemistry or physics. Junior or senior standing in high school required.
Lecture: 10:30 - 11: 50 a.m. daily -
- 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus
- 10 units
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This course includes, but is not limited to, the study of functions, limits, derivatives, logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions, inverse functions, L'Hospital's Rules, curve sketching, Mean Value Theorem, related rates, linear and quadratic approximations, maximum-minimum problems and applications of integration.
- Prerequisite: high school pre-calculus course with trigonometry, exponential functions and logarithmic functions. This is the first main calculus course at Carnegie Mellon. Students who have successfully completed AP Calculus AB or an equivalent course should enroll in the higher level 21-122. 80-minute lecture.
10:30 - 11:50 a.m. daily - 21-122 Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation
- 10 units
- This course includes, but is not limited to, the study of integration by trigonometric substitution and partial fractions; arc length; improper integrals; Simpson's and Trapezoidal Rules for numerical integration; Newton's method, Taylor's Theorem including a discussion of the remainder, sequences, series, power series.
Note: This is the second main calculus course at Carnegie Mellon. Students who have successfully completed AP Calculus BC or an equivalent course should enroll in a higher level math course, such as 21-259. 80-minute lecture.
10:30 - 11:50 a.m. daily - 21-127 Concepts of Mathematics
- 9 units
-
This is a rigorous course and should only be taken by students with a very serious interest in abstract or discrete mathematics. This course includes an introduction to the algebra of sets, relations, functions and partitions, and a basic introduction to elementary number theory. The techniques of proof introduced include proof by induction, proof by specialization and division into cases, indirect proof, existence and uniqueness proofs and non constructive methods.
Approval of the instructor or the Mathematical Sciences Department may be required. This course is rather difficult, even for students who have already taken challenging high school math courses. Junior or senior standing in high school is required (no exceptions).
9 - 10:20 a.m. daily - 33-106 Physics for Engineering Students I [Mechanics]
- 12 units
-
This course covers basic principles of mechanics and thermodynamics, vectors, displacement, velocity, accelerations, force, equilibrium, mass, Newton's law, gravitation, work, energy, momentum, impulse, temperature, heat, equations of state, thermodynamic process, heat engines, refrigerators, first and second laws of thermodynamics and kinetic theory of gases. 80-minute lecture.
Note: Taking Calculus concurrently is strongly advised. This course is required of all engineering students at Carnegie Mellon.
1:30 - 2:50 p.m. daily - 33-107 Physics for Engineering Students II [Electricity and Magnetism]
- 12 units
-
This course is the second part of a two-semester freshman calculus-based introductory physics sequence for engineering students. The course covers waves, including standing and traveling waves, superposition, beats, reflection, interference, electricity, including electrostatics and electric fields, Gauss' law, electric potential, simple circuits and magnetism, including magnetic forces, magnetic fields, induction and electromagnetic radiation. Prerequisites: high school calculus course or take 21-120 (calculus) concurrently with 33-107. Completion of a Physics Mechanics or equivalent course in high school is recommended. Course will only be offered if there is sufficient enrollment.
10:30 -11:50 a.m. daily - 36-201 Statistical Reasoning
- 9 units
Numerical data surrounds us - from baseball box scores to the gross national product; from crime statistics to demographic trends. Statistical methodology and practice allows us to quantify data in order to draw conclusions. The course will introduce basic concepts involved in statistical reasoning. The major topics include methods for exploratory data analysis, research methods and methods for statistical inference. The course will include the use of the computer to facilitate the understanding of important statistical ideas and for the implementation of data analysis. In addition to lectures, students will attend computer labs each week. 80-minute lecture or recitation.
10:30 -11:50 a.m. daily
All courses in AP/EA are subject to change. Additional courses may be substituted for current AP/EA courses offered.
If you'd like to take a class not available through AP/EA, some classes are open in Carnegie Mellon's Summer Session II courses for current college students. The faculty member teaching the course and the director of the AP/EA program must also authorize your decision. For a complete listing of these courses, contact Enrollment Services - The HUB at 412-268-8186.