<p>Basically, traditional curriculum is mostly just first year calculus/chemistry/physics and a computer programming course and liberal arts requirement. So you’d have almost no exposure to engineering during your first year. If you have taken AP, the traditional program is very much like it except it may have a little tougher problem sets and exams in college. So you already have an idea what it’s about. It’s like a HS extension, just a bit more labor intensive. Does it teach engineering? Not really.</p>
<p>Now compare that with this:
[Engineering</a> First - EA1: Case Studies](<a href=“http://ea1.mccormick.northwestern.edu/casestudies/]Engineering”>http://ea1.mccormick.northwestern.edu/casestudies/)
<a href=“http://ea1.mccormick.northwestern.edu/courseinfo/Syll_f06.html[/url]”>http://ea1.mccormick.northwestern.edu/courseinfo/Syll_f06.html</a>
The syllabus shows that the first quarter of EA (EA1) is largely about linear algebra. A typical intro linear algebra from math department has almost no engineering. This EA1 integrates the two.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/prospective/efirst/coursework.php[/url]”>http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/prospective/efirst/coursework.php</a>
By the way, you still need to take 2 quarters of physics and all the calculus. The whole EA/EDC curriculum replaces just 5 courses they had before. In the end, you would finish with more courses at NU than you would at most other schools.</p>