ES2 for Spring 2022

This page is for a previous semester (Spring 2022). Please visit this page to select a more recent semester to find updated details.

Introduction to Computing for Engineering


As a degree requirement, the Tufts School of Engineering has a computing requirement (and majors within the School of Engineering satisfy this with COMP11 and/or ES2, depending on major). Students should check their major (or intended major(s)) and see if ES2: Introduction to Computing in Engineering is a degree option or requirement. If necessary, an exception may be granted to those students who can demonstrate proficiency in the ES2 course material.

For more details on particular majors for particular class years, please visit the Engineering Degrees webpage.


Course Information

The Tufts University Course Catalog description of ES2 is currently as follows: “An introduction to engineering problem-solving with the aid of computational software. Scientific computing concepts will be introduced including number representation, arrays, structured programming techniques, and good coding practices. Basic numerical and data analysis methods will be introduced including numerical differentiation and integration, matrix operations, descriptive statistics, curve fitting, and optimization. Examples drawn from a variety of engineering disciplines will give students extensive practice in coding solutions and applying them to data.”

The content of ES2 is designed to achieve three main goals: (1) Fluency in a computer language, (2) Understand tools for engineering computing, and (3) Applying these tools to data analysis. The achieve these goals, the ES2 course (dependant on section) may include the following key components:

Fluency in a computer language

  • Master basic coding concepts
  • Know common commands and data types
  • Use good code style
  • Plan both small and medium-scale projects

Understand tools for engineering computing

  • Quantify numerical error in solutions
  • Know how to use symbolic math tools
  • Understand matrix/vector calculations
  • Know how to leverage built in help resources

Apply these tools to data analysis

  • Fit curves/models to noisy data
  • Apply descriptive statistics to datasets
  • Work with a variety of data formats
  • Have exposure to modeling physical systems in code

ES2 Sections for Spring 2022:

Instructor bios can be found here.

Section 01 (Instructor: Prof. Danahy, Language: Python)

E+ Block: Monday and Wednesday from 10:30am to 11:45am

Section 02 (Instructor: Prof. Cross, Language: Python)

I+ Block: Monday and Wednesday from 3:00pm to 4:15pm

Section 03 (Instructor: Prof. Timko, Language: Matlab)

H+ block: Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30pm to 2:45pm

Section 04 (Instructor: Prof. Bell, Language: Python)

L+ Block: Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30pm to 5:45pm

Section 05 (Instructor: Prof. Henderson, Language: Python)

G+ Block: Monday and Wednesday from 1:30pm to 2:45pm


ES2 Exemption Exam Information:

The Fall 2021 Exemption Exam for ES2 will happen virtually in October 2021 (October 15th, 2021 at 1:30pm). See link below for all information related to this exam.

ES2 Exemption Exam Information for Fall 2022