SE 1: Introduction to Structures and Design

About This Course

This course will teach you the basics of how structural engineers design and create all kinds of structures - from buildings and bridges to planes, roads, and even roller coasters.

This course is part of the Structural Engineering Major at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

What You Will Learn

In this class, you will learn about:

Fundamentals of Structural Design: Explore the principles behind designing safe and functional structures.
Math and Data Analysis: Learn how to apply math and data to understand how structures behave under different loading conditions.
Safety and Sustainability: Learn about the engineer's job in ensuring safe and environmentally sustainable structures.
Engineering Ethics: Learn the principles and guidelines engineers follow to ensure their decision-making meets obligations to the public, their clients, and the industry.
Career Paths in Engineering: Explore the different options and paths you can take in engineering.

What You Will Do

In this class, you'll participate in:

Hands-On Labs: Participate in live lab sessions to apply what you've learned about engineering concepts in a practical setting.
Engineering Exercises: Solve conceptual and math problems related to the engineering concepts you learn.
Live Classes: Join live lecture sessions to check your understanding, ask questions, and deepen your knowledge through discussions with your teachers and classmates.
Design Build Group Project: Work with your classmates to design, build, and test your own structure in an engineering design competition.

Prerequisites

None.

It's helpful if you know some basics of trigonometry (like what sine and cosine are), but we'll provide extra materials to get you up to speed if needed.

Course Meeting Details

Required Live Sessions: Tuesdays / Thursdays 4:00 - 5:00 PM

You can watch lecture videos and complete assignments on your own time. All coursework is submitted online.

We'll meet live online twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5 PM.

We also offer extra weekly live tutoring and office hours throughout the week and on weekends for more help.