Perspectives on EG1004

Our world is becoming ever more complex. It is no longer possible to cope by relying on expertise from a single discipline. First-year students in engineering schools must come aboard the "speeding train of runaway information overload" and be able to sort out what is and is not relevant. They must be able to work in multidisciplinary teams and be able to present their activities to peers as well as supervisors. To address these issues, the NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers EG1004 Introduction to Engineering and Design. The course provides students an overall perspective on engineering as well as useful tools and methods that will be highly valuable to them in the years to come.

EG1004 has evolved from its original form which was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Gateway Coalition nearly thirty years ago. Many faculty members, teaching assistants, and students have contributed to this evolution and made it a better course. Intrinsic to the continuous change is one of this course's unique features: teaching assistants that are recruited from the pool of former students. Students know all too well what is troubling them, and when they get a chance, as TAs, to improve a perceived problem area, they jump on it!

This course by its very nature has to be dynamic. It must reflect what is happening in the real world that is changing each day. Current students benefit from improvements made in previous years. Your comments will help make this course even better for future students.

Jack Bringardner

Director of General Engineering and Industry Associate Professor
Assistant Dean for Academic and Curricular Affairs

NYU Tandon School of Engineering

September 2022