Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.
Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
7 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
A laboratory course covering data processing, tension/compression tests, creep, fatigue, fracture, composites, combined stress, beam flexure, dynamic loads, and buckling.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Andrew Mikkelson
The course was rated as low difficulty, with lectures that explained concepts clearly and utilized many examples to aid comprehension.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Examines properties and tests of materials for constructing or repairing facilities like buildings and transportation systems, including lab/field measurement techniques and technical report preparation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026This course uses computational tools to solve engineering physics problems through modeling, algorithm selection, and validation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Robert Witt
Homework assignments were time-consuming and difficult, with one student estimating each took over eight hours to complete. Assignments comprised 75% of the final grade.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Practicum in Finite Elements covers elementary FE theory and uses a commercial computer program to solve practical mechanics problems, emphasizing modeling and result evaluation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Ramathasan Thevamaran
Although theoretically easy, the class was considered way too time-consuming for its content, with all homework assignments completed in pairs.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Dynamics course covering kinematics, force-mass-acceleration, work-energy, impulse-momentum, and moments of inertia.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Sonny Nimityongskul
One student described the final exam as hard and noted that dedicated time was required to manage the course alongside other commitments.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Statics covering principles of mechanics, force systems, equilibrium, structures, distributed forces, moments of inertia of areas, and friction.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jennifer Detlor, Jacob Notbohm
Homework assignments could take a long time to complete, particularly on days with concepts not discussed in class. The course is often described as a weed-out class where students must be ready to struggle.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Mechanics of Materials covers stress, strain, torsion, beam bending, compound stresses, deflections, indeterminate members, and columns for civil engineers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Corinne Henak
The course was rated as moderately difficult, with a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026