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Student Learning Outcomes

Discipline: Physics & Engineering
Course Name Course Number Objectives
Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineers ENGR 285
  • Students will be able to identify and build differential models of common types of systems.
  • Students will be able to classify differential equations and identify appropriate solution methods for them.
  • Students will be able to diagonalize linear systems of differential equations.
Dynamics ENGR 41
  • Students will be able to apply kinematics principles to particles and rigid bodies to obtain position, velocity and acceleration.
  • Students will be able to obtain the location of instantaneous center of rotation of rigid bodies.
  • Students will be able to evaluate forces in connected particles and rigid bodies.
  • Students will be able to use Newton's Second Law for particles and rigid bodies.
  • Students will be able to calculate mass moment of inertia of rigid bodies.
  • Students will be able to apply energy and impulse-momentum principles.
  • Students will be able to apply dynamics to mechanical vibrations of structures.
  • Dynamics students will be able to solve a relative motion problem
  • Dynamics students will be able to solve a differential problem
Electrical Engineering ENGR 44
  • Students will be able to analyze simple circuits.
  • Students will be able to explain the purposes of electrical devices.
  • Students will be able to utilize modeling techniques for system analyses.
  • Students will be able to evaluate applications of electrical circuits and devices.
  • Students will be able to apply the theories of engineering physics to electrical devices.
  • Students will be able to apply operational amplifiers to create analog models of mathematical operations.
  • Students will analyze and demonstrate understanding of the electrical behavior of second order DC circuits.
  • Students will create a Bode plot representation for the transfer function of a frequency dependent filter circuit.
  • Students will be able to analyze and construct a basic non-inverting amplifier.
Energy Science PHSC 3
  • Describe the challenges that must be surmounted for alternative energy production to become fully integrated into the modern energy mix.
  • Explain how an electrical generator produces electricity, and how energy from a variety of sources is transformed into electrical energy.
  • Calculate the power generated by a given volume flow of water falling through a known distance through a hydroelectric generator of known efficiency.
  • Describe the processes underlying nuclear power generation, and be able to calculate the theoretical energy yielded from both fission and fusion reactions.
  • Apply basic heat transfer processes to explain the design of solar thermal collectors and systems.
  • Calculate the efficiency of an energy-transfer processes.
  • Analyze the technical, social, and economic factors driving our present energy production and distribution systems.
  • Students can identify the particular heat transfer mechanisms at play in the design of a solar water heating collector.
  • Students can explain the science behind global warming, and can explain the relationship between the use of fossil fuels and climate change.
  • Students will be able to explain how understanding the relationship between fossils fuel use and climate change relates to real life.
  • Explain the pivotal role energy production and consumption play in maintaining the standard of living in a modern, technological society.
Engineering Critical Thinking ENGR 1C
  • Students will be able to connect critical thinking, writing and language skills to the daily practice of engineering.
  • Students will be able to write reports (6000 words total per semester) that analyze, summarize and evaluate student design projects that employ such strategies as analysis and synthesis and require definition, analysis, interpretation and refutation.
  • Students will be able to complete team based projects, including stage of group formation and conflict resolution.
  • Students will be able to evaluate the performance of engineering design projects, including presentations.
  • Students will be able to produce high quality writing that is appropriate to a college level course.
  • Students will be able to understand and identify formal and informal fallacies of thought and language including those that are commonly found in technical practice.
  • Students will be able to illustrate and distinguish matters of fact from opinion or judgment and reach supported factual conclusions based on evidence.
  • Students will be able to analyze, advocate and criticize ideas and reach conclusions.
  • Students will be able to assess the discovery, critical evaluation, and reporting of information in engineering projects.
  • Students will be able to construct and evaluate logical arguments for client-centered design project presentations.
  • Students will be able to construct and evaluate arguments that utilize both the rational and creative faculties.
Engineering Graphics ENGR 24
  • Students will be able to prepare detailed and assembly drawings for the portfolio.
  • Students will be able to perform necessary calculations for design.
  • Students will be able to develop a 3D model of an existing product based on direct measurement.
  • Students will be able to obtain the development length of a plank to produce a part with given dimensions.
  • Students will be able to draw a cam displacement diagram from the given specifications.
  • Students will be able to prepare engineering drawings using a CAD platform for 2D and 3D drawings.
  • Students will be able to apply good dimensioning techniques using CAD.
  • Students will be able to insert text and data in drawings.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate use of extrusion process for solid modeling.
Engineering Physics PHYS 4A
  • Students will be able to correctly analyze non-constant forces that vary with time or position.
  • Students will be able to propagate uncertainty.
  • Students will be able to experimentally and analytically find the period of a physical pendulum.
  • Students will be able to draw free body diagrams appropriate to the situation presented.
  • Students will be able to integrate with respect to mass over objects and apply that knowledge to be able to solve problems related to center of mass, moment of inertia and gravitational field of objects.
  • Students will be able to write up lab findings scientifically.
  • Students will analytically predict the period of a physical pendulum, then design an experiment to measure the period.
  • Students will be able to design an experiment to find the rotational inertia of an object.
  • Students will be able to apply the material from the course to real life situations.
  • Physics 4A students will be able to calculate the moment of inertia of a typical continuous body.
Engineering Physics PHYS 4B
  • Students will be able to find the specific heat capacity of a material.
  • Students will be able to find an experimental resistance for a resistor.
  • Students will be able to analyze a circuit with an alternating current (AC Circuit)
  • Students will be able to analyze a circuit using Kirchhoff's Rules.
  • Students will be able to use an Oscilloscope to measure the effect of frequency on the impedance of an RC circuit.
  • Students will be able to make electrical measurements.
  • Students will be able to apply the material from the course to real life situations.
Engineering Physics PHYS 4C
  • Students will be able to apply time dilation and length contraction appropriately in relativistic scenarios.
  • Students will be able to draw quantitatively and qualitatively correct ray diagrams for single and double optical surfaces that they have observed quantitatively in a lab activity.
  • Students will be able to correctly apply the 1D Schrodinger Equation to solve to the energy of a quantum particle experiencing a known potential energy and with a known wavefunction.
  • Students will use a laser and single and/or double slit system or diffraction grating and design and execute an experiment to determine the wavelength of a light source.
  • Students will analyze the hydrogen atom and demonstrate the connection between observed spectral lines and the energy levels in the hydrogen atom.
  • Students will be able to apply the material from the course to real life situations.
  • Students will be able to show Einsteins time dilation and length contraction relations starting from appropriate postulates.
  • Students will analyze the hydrogen atom and demonstrate the connection between observed spectral lines and the energy levels in the hydrogen atom
  • Students will successfully experimentally determine the index of refraction of a material experimentally.
  • Students will be able to derive Snell's law
General Physics PHYS 2BG
  • Students will be able to demonstrate the meaning of index of refraction and apply Snell's law of refraction to a problem
  • Students will be able to use electronic equipment to determine the resistance of a resistor.
  • Students will be asked to apply some concept from the course to real life. 70% of the students should be able to make a clear connection between course materials and real life
General Physics PHYS 2AG
  • Students will be able to apply the material from the course to real life situations.
  • Students will be able to correctly write the equation of motion to describe a system involving both translation and rotation.
  • Students will be able to express the velocity of an object in x and y components and magnitude with angle.
  • Students will be able to analyze a system with two masses, massive pulley, incline and friction.
  • Students will be able to apply conservation of momentum to solve a problem.
  • students will correctly choose axes perpendicular and parallel to acceleration (not necessarily the surface)
General Physics PHYS 2BG
  • Students will be able to solve for unknown currents in simple circuits.
  • Students will be able to experimentally find a value for the Earth’s magnetic field.
  • Students will be able to apply Snell’s Law to solve for an unknown index of refraction.
General Physics PHYS 2AG
  • Students will be able to identify an appropriate model from experimental data.
  • Students will be able to identify common forms of mechanical and internal energy occurring within a system.
  • Students will be able to analyze descriptions and depictions of mechanical systems and create representative force diagrams.
  • Students will be able to find the minimum coefficient of friction for a particular equilibrium situation.
  • Students will be able to experimentally analyze a hanging spring – mass system.
  • Students should be able to measure the acceleration of a falling body.
  • Physics 2AG students will be able to draw a correct rigid body diagram for a typical rigid body problem.
General Physics with Calculus PHYS 6B
  • Experimentally determine focal lengths of convex and concave lens.
  • Understand the limitations of classical physics and begin to develop an awareness of the importance of modern physics (i.e. quantum theory and special relativity) in the natural world.
  • Analyze real-world experimental data, including appropriate use of units and significant figures.
  • Relate the results of experimental data to the physical concepts discussed in the lecture portion of the class.
General Physics with Calculus PHYS 6A
  • Physics 6A students will be able to determine the velocity and acceleration of a body using calculus.
  • Physics 6A students will be able to draw a correct rigid body diagram for a typical rigid body problem.
  • Perform experiments in the areas of mechanics, fluids, and thermodynamics, oscillations and waves using the scientific method.
  • Measure a variety of quantities such as length, time, mass, and temperature using appropriate tools.
  • Analyze and evaluate measured data for accuracy and consistency.
  • Construct relationships between physical quantities in the areas of mechanics, fluids, and thermodynamics using experimental results.
  • Collect experimental data and perform data manipulation and analysis using the proper software.
  • Communicate the results of measurements and of subsequent data analysis, including appropriate use of error propagation, units and significant figures.
  • Relate the results of experimental data to the physical concepts discussed in the lecture portion of the class.
  • Integrate diverse physics principles and apply them to problem solving in mechanics, fluids, and thermodynamics.
General Physics with Calculus PHYS 6B
  • Physics 6B students will be able to apply Snell's law of refraction to find the index of refraction.
  • Physics 6B students will be able to use electronic equipment to determine the resistance of an unknown resistor.
  • Solve written qualitative and quantitative problems (at the calculus level) involving electricity, magnetism, light, atomic and nuclear physics.
  • Interpret patterns in experimental results and draw conclusions from data regarding principle of physics.
  • Use digital multimeters correctly to determine the current through and voltage across various elements of an electric circuit.
  • Explain how emission spectra are produced, and why different elements produce different emission spectra.
  • Calculate the electric fields and electric potentials at points in space and explain the physical meaning of these calculated results.q
  • Determine fractions of initially radioactive samples remaining after some period of time.
  • Calculate time and distance measurements made in one frame of reference given the time and distance measurements made in a different inertial frame of reference.
Introduction to Engineering ENGR 1
  • Students will be able to create course sequence plans for engineering or surveying majors
  • Students will be able to produce resumes and cover letters.
  • Engineering 1 students will be able to design an appropriate educational plan for their time at Mt SAC, in preparation for transfer.
  • Students will be able to evaluate engineering majors to find the best fit for abilities and interests.
  • Students will be able to plan proper course sequences for transition to a four-year institution.
  • Students will be able to apply engineering ethics principles to decisions pertaining to public safety.
  • Students will be able to locate information on Fundamentals of Engineering and Land Surveyors-in Training examinations.
  • Students will be able to describe advantages of engineering and surveying degrees as a preparation for careers in medicine, law, and business administration.
Introduction to Engineering Graphics ENGR 18
  • Students will be able to identify and use drafting instruments.
  • Students will be able to apply geometric construction principles to engineering problems.
  • Students will be able to determine the proper position of objects for auxiliary views.
  • Students will be able to prepare orthographic, isometric, and oblique drawings.
  • Students will be able to select the best orientation for isometric views.
  • Students will be able to draw a spiral with instruments.
  • Students will be able to draw three orthographic views of a given object.
Introduction to Engineering Programming Concepts and Methodologies ENGR 6
  • Students will be able to design, implement, test, and debug a program that uses each of the following fundamental programming constructs: basic computation, simple I/O, standard conditional and iterative structures, the definition of functions, and the use of interfaces to the physical world
  • Students will use pseudocode or a programming language to implement, test, and debug algorithms for solving simple problems
  • Students will demonstrate different forms of binding, visibility, scoping, and lifetime management
  • Students will combine software and hardware components in order to respond to physical phenomena and manipulate the physical world.
Mechanics of Materials ENGR 42
  • Students will be able to use strain gauge data to obtain normal stresses.
  • Students will be able to determine the axial force in the components of a composite structure.
  • Given loading diagram for a beam. Students will prepare a bending moment diagram to identify the maximum and minimum values of bending moment on the beam.
  • Students will be able to apply fundamentals of statics to determine reactions at supports and stresses.
  • Students will be able to perform stress analysis of shafts and beams.
  • Students will be able to evaluate deflections of beams and shafts.
  • Students will be able to design beams and shafts.
  • Students will be able to analyze pressure vessels for stresses.
  • Students will be able to design columns axial loading.
  • Students will be able to analyze structures subjected to normal, shearing, torsional and bending stresses.
Physical Science PHSC 9
  • Students will be able to accurately take and record measurements of a variety of physical quantities in lab.
  • Students will be able to apply the material from the course to real life situations.
  • Students will be able to describe the methods of energy transfer.
  • Students will be able to describe macroscopic observations and properties in terms of a microscopic (atomic) model.
  • Students will be able to describe the role of each component in a simple electric circuit.
  • Students will be able to identify the difference between and atom, molecule, and compound.
  • Students will be able to use Newton's laws to find the acceleration of an object.
  • Students will be able to write a balanced chemical equation for a double replacement reaction.
  • Students will identify which material has the greatest specific heat capacity.
Physics PHYS 1
  • 70% of the students should be able to apply some concept from the class to a real-life situation and give a reasonable answer
  • Students will be able to make measurements with optical instruments.
  • Students will be able to construct and make current and voltage measurements on parallel and series circuits.
  • Students will be able to use physics principles to explain how a loudspeaker converts an alternating electrical input into sound
  • Physics 1 students will be able to make measurements with optical instruments.
  • Students will be able to construct and make current and voltage measurements on parallel and series circuits.
Programming Applications for Engineers ENGR 7
  • Students will be able to identify, formulate, and solve computational problems using a methodical approach.
  • Students will be able to design algorithms and flowcharts to facilitate programming and problem solution.
  • Students will be able to create, test, and debug computer programs using procedural and object-oriented approaches.
  • Students will be able to apply numeric techniques and computer simulations to solve engineering-related computational problems.
  • Students will be able to create and apply MATLAB computer programs to analyze data and to generate tables, charts, and graphs.
  • Students will be able to communicate analytical approaches and results according to standard engineering practices.
  • Students will be able to design and document computer programs in a careful and complete manner so as to facilitate analysis and debugging by another programmer, and to anticipate and resolve user errors.
  • Students will be able to create embedded programs to run on a microcontroller.
  • Students can appropriately develop and interpret a mathematical model for a well-defined problem.
  • Students can create a program that intakes values from a user, and outputs a result based upon a calculation from a mathematically defined physical model.
  • Students can manipulate data from a matrix and output a two-dimensional graph.
Properties of Materials ENGR 8
  • Students will be able to use of various formulas for computing the solidification time of a simple casting.
  • Students will be able to identify regions and lines on a Eutectic Phase Diagram.
  • Compare and contrast the atomic and molecular structure in crystalline and noncrystalline materials.
  • Compute the densities for metals having face-centered cubic and body-centered cubic crystal structures given their unit cell dimensions.
  • Describe both vacancies and interstitial crystalline defects.
  • Describe the mechanism of diffusion and calculate diffusion coefficients for some given materials at specified conditions.
  • Interpret and draw stress-strain diagrams.
  • Describe dislocation and strengthening mechanisms.
  • Explain the mechanism of crack propagation for ductile and brittle modes of fracture.
  • Draw, label and explain different phase diagrams.
  • Describe and explain how the macroscopic properties of different glasses (ceramics), polymers, composites, soft/hard magnetic materials and superconductors relate to their submicroscopic/atomic structure.
Robotics Team Project Development ENGR 50A
  • Students will be able to apply basic project management techniques.
  • Students will be able to explain basic electronic design techniques related to projects.
  • Students will be able to apply problem analysis to determine optimal project designs.
  • Students will be able to implement basic programming functions.
  • Students will be able to apply research data to create a solution for robotics projects.
  • Students will be able to participate in regional and state level robotics competitions.
  • Students will document their build contributions toward robotics mobility, manipulation and sensing.
  • Students will be able construct a robotics platform capable of navigating a maze.
Special Projects in Engineering ENGR 99
  • Students will give a presentation on their engineering project.
  • Students will write a engineering or technology paper on their project.
  • Design projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Create proposals for projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Evaluate information from a minimum of three sources (journals or other sources approved by the instructor) that relate to projects.
  • Implement or complete projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Integrate information from sources collected into collegiate-level research papers or project reports.
Special Projects in Physics PHYS 99
  • Students will be able to give a science or technology presentation.
  • Implement or complete projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Students will be able to write a science or technology paper.
  • Design projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Create proposals for projects, research papers, or experiments.
  • Evaluate information from a minimum of three sources (journals or other sources approved by the instructor) that relate to projects.
  • Integrate information from sources collected into collegiate-level research papers or project reports.
Statics ENGR 40
  • Students will be able to define and apply the fundamental laws of mechanics and calculate resultants.
  • Students will be able to draw free-body diagrams of rigid bodies.
  • Students will be able to apply equations of static equilibrium to two- and three- dimensional problems.
  • Students will be able to determine centroids by integration.
  • Students will be able to expand the usage of equations of static equilibrium to distributed loads and submerged areas.
  • Students will be able to determine internal forces in trusses, frames and machines.
  • Students will be able to analyze systems involving friction such as wedges, belts and screws.
  • Students will be able to use parallel-axis theorem to calculate moment of inertia of structural members.
  • Students will be able to apply principle of virtual work to solve equilibrium problems.
  • Engineering 40 students will be able to analyze a typical truss to determine the force in a truss member.
  • Students will be able to draw a free body diagram for a multiforce member and determine reactions.
Surveying SURV 1B
  • Students will be able to compute the required volume.
  • Students will be able to find the length of a vertical curve.
  • Calculate angles and distances to stake-out horizontal curves.
  • Perform vertical curve computations.
  • Apply trigonometry to solve missing data in problems.
  • Select and use appropriate surveying instruments for assigned tasks.
  • Apply photogrammetry to surveying problems.
  • Apply GIS to extract data.
  • Use California Coordinate System.
  • Interpret land survey descriptions.
  • Compute volumes using field data.
  • Transfer field data into field books.
Surveying SURV 1A
  • Students will be able to identify the correct contour line.
  • Surveying students will demonstrate proper use of the leveling equipment.
  • Select and use surveying instruments to perform simple surveying tasks.
  • Develop collaborative skills through active participation in lab activities.
  • Demonstrate proper care of delicate surveying instruments.
  • Create accurate records of all field data and activities, arranged in a neat, clear and orderly manner that is easy to interpret.
  • Apply corrections to measurements to adjust field data.
  • Create survey maps from adjusted field data.
  • Compute areas from maps.