What Electives should I take? (Structural Engineering)

[spiq]

Hey guys, so if you've seen my other thread I've decided to stick with Civil Engineering. I'm going into my third year and I'm going to start taking my technical electives. I've already decided to make my degree a structural focus but there are so many electives I can take and I have to narrow it down to 5 additional classes plus a design course. As far as within structural I am interested in all aspects of it, but here are the possible electives plus some other non-structural ones I'm interested in...

-Structural Theory II (Indeterminacy conditions for structures; slope deflection method, etc.)
-Strength of Materials II (Unsymmetrical bending, shear centers, etc.)
-Experimental Methods in Structural Dynamics
-Advanced Structural Design
-Timber Design
-Prestressed Concrete Design
-Computer Aided Structural Design
-Flow Routing
-Green Engineering (since everything's going green)
-Soil Mechanics Lab
-Soil Stabalization
-Rock Mechanics and Design

Any advice would be very beneficial and thank you as always
-nick

 

[AUMathTutor]

Well, I'm no Civ-E, but...

If it were me in your situation, I would stick to classes that teach methods rather than specific content, unless I had a special interest in the content itself. Methods are generally applicable across content, whereas content may not teach methods applicable to other content and the content may be very focused.

With my limited knowledge, I would say that based on my advice, the following courses sound most appealing to me:

High priority:
- Structural Theory II
- Advanced Structural Design
- Experimental Methods in Structural Engineering
- Computer Aided Structural Design

Medium priority:
- Strength of Materials II
- Green Engineering

Low priority:
(the rest)

 

[Mene]

I would recommend that you prioritize taking courses that will provide you with a strong foundation in structural engineering principles and design. This includes courses such as Structural Theory II, Strength of Materials II, Advanced Structural Design, and Computer Aided Structural Design. These courses will give you a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of structural engineering and prepare you for a career in the field.

In addition to these core courses, I would also suggest considering courses in areas that are becoming increasingly important in the field of structural engineering, such as green engineering and experimental methods in structural dynamics. These courses will provide you with valuable skills and knowledge that will make you a more well-rounded and competitive engineer.

It is also important to consider taking courses outside of the structural engineering discipline, such as Soil Mechanics Lab and Rock Mechanics and Design. These courses will provide you with a broader understanding of the factors that affect structural design and will make you a more versatile engineer.

Ultimately, the electives you choose should align with your interests and career goals. I would recommend speaking with your academic advisor and other professionals in the field to get their insights and advice on which courses would be most beneficial for you. Good luck in your studies!