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Sample Proposal: Quantitative Reasoning

School of Engineering

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COE 321K Computational Structural Analysis

Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

Please give a brief description of the course. Include a description of the specific Quantitative Reasoning skills that students will learn and apply within this course.

Students learn to analyze aerospace structures using the concepts of equilibrium, kinematics, and material constitutive behavior. Emphasis is placed on systematic approaches compatible with the use of matrix solution methods. The students apply their knowledge of basic geometry, trigonometry, calculus, matrix analysis, and engineering mechanics to develop computer programs that are used to analyze engineering structures. The students are taught to interpret the output of their programs in order to determine safe operating limits for the structures being simulated.

Courses that carry the Quantitative Reasoning Flag must emphasize how QR skills can be applied in students’ everyday or professional lives. Please describe the kinds of applications the course uses to teach Quantitative Reasoning. Specific examples from assignments or exams are strongly encouraged.

Computational methods, and especially the finite element method, are tools that are commonly used in professional engineering analysis and design. The students are required to write and build their own computer codes to implement the finite element method. Their codes are then used to analyze the behavior of real-world structures. The final computer code that is developed to analyze two-dimensional elastic structures is the primary project/homework for this course.

Courses that carry the Quantitative Reasoning Flag go beyond a superficial application of equations and strive for understanding of the underlying concepts. Please describe how you teach and assess conceptual understanding of Quantitative Reasoning. Specific examples from class, assignments, or exams are strongly encouraged.

This course goes beyond the superficial application of numerical methods in that students are not simply taught how to use pre-existing commercial codes. Instead, the students are required to write their own programs. By performing this task the students must become intimately familiar and conversant in the theory and methods that underlie these programs.

To satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning Flag, at least half of the course grade must be based on the use of quantitative skills. Please describe the course grading scheme in such a way that clearly demonstrates at least half of the grade requires Quantitative Reasoning. Denote which components require Quantitative Reasoning and the total grade percentage these comprise.

There is no part of this course that does not require quantitative reasoning. The exams and homework are problem-based and require quantitative analysis and reasoning to solve. 100% Quantitative Reasoning – I wouldn’t know how to break it down otherwise.