This page is for a previous semester (Spring 2023). 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 CS 11 and/or ES 2, 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 (see Exemption Exam information).
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 2023:
See Instructor Bios for Spring 2023
Section information will be released in October during pre-registration advising, once finalized in SIS.
ES2 Section 1: Ethan Danahy (taught in Python)
– Lectures (Course #23256): Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30am to 11:45am
– Lab (Course #23763): Fridays, 10:30am to 11:45am
ES2 Section 2: Jenn Cross (taught in Python)
– Lectures (Course #23081): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00am to 10:15am
– Lab (Course #23765): Fridays, 9:00am to 10:15am
ES2 Section 3: Brian Timko (taught in Matlab)
– Lectures (Course #23222): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30pm to 2:45pm
– Lab (Course #23840): Fridays 12:00pm to 1:15pm
ES2 Section 4: Emily Carlson (taught in Python)
– Lectures (Course #24941): Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00pm to 4:15pm
– Lab (Course #24942): Fridays, 3:00pm to 4:15pm
ES2 Section 5: Trevion Henderson (taught in Python)
– Lectures (Course #23252): Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30am to 11:45am
– Lab (Course #24944): Fridays, 10:30am to 11:45am
Exemption Exam for ES2 Information
The Fall 2022 Exemption Exam for ES2 will happen virtually in October 2022 (Wednesday October 19th, 2022 from 12pm to 1pm during the Tufts Open Block). See link below for all information related to this exam.