It’s the final stretch! Semester 2 is nearly done and dusted, and freedom is almost within our reach. With the semester wrapping up, here are some of my reviews on Semester 2 courses before I have to bury myself in exam study.
STRCTENG 201
Workload 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 | Difficulty 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Honestly, after STRCTENG 200 in Sem 1, my expectations weren’t exactly high, but I found STRCTENG 201 surprisingly interesting! This course can be split into three main topics: sustainable construction materials, transport materials, and structural analysis.
The labs for this course involve a concrete lab and a transport lab, each followed by a lab report. There is also an online test that covers steel and timber worth 10%, and a transport quiz worth 2.5%. For the structural half of the course, expect a basic skills quiz (refreshing STRCTENG 200 knowledge!) and marked homework problems every two weeks or so.
The first half of the semester is fairly relaxed, but be ready for a jump in workload for the second half, particularly with several group reports and assignments due around the same time. For this course, structural analysis is definitely the most challenging section, covering the last 7 weeks of the semester. This course also shares a few overlaps with STRCTENG 200 concepts, like qualitative analysis of structures and deflection calculations (just with different methods!).
CIVIL 200
Workload 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 | Difficulty 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
CIVIL 200 covers soil and rock behaviour, stress, seepage and shear strength. This course starts off memorisation-heavy, but after the first few weeks becomes very calculation-focused.
There are also quite a few labs for this course, which are graded for attendance, but the workload for each is minimal as it can be mostly completed in your lab session. There is also a mid-semester test worth 20%, and a large project that is split into two parts: Part A: individual, and Part B: (worth 10%), which requires group work.
The most difficult part of this course that I found is the volume of content, and the short 50-minute mid-sem test! So make sure to practice common questions and know your content well, as it is definitely a rush against time!
ENVENG 200
Workload 🌟🌟🌟/5 | Difficulty 🌟🌟🌟/5
ENVENG 200 starts with global environmental challenges and climate change from Weeks 1-3, then moves to monitoring air quality and noise in Weeks 4-6, followed by Water and Wastewater treatment in Weeks 7-9 and finishes off with an Environmental Impact Assessment group report.
There are two labs: one where you measure the air quality and sound levels, and another about water treatment processes. Each lab is followed by a lab report. There are no “tests” but expect quizzes every three weeks or so that are worth 5% each. These are in person, on paper, invigilated- so basically mini bite-sized tests throughout the semester.
Unlike the previous year, this course has sadly introduced a final exam :((. What to expect from this course is that it is very memorisation-heavy compared to math-heavy.
ENGGEN 204
Workload 🌟🌟/5 | Difficulty 🌟/5
ENGGEN204 is probably a breath of fresh air compared to the other courses you take in Semester 2. This course focuses on teamwork and has relatively light workload apart from the big assignments.
The best part about this course is that it does not have an exam! For this course expect to have weekly quizzes (22%), and weekly tutorials that are marked for attendance (12%). The big assignments for this course include a video assignment (14%), a presentation worth (14%) and a report (18%).
Difficulty (general)
Therefore, to sum up my general ranking of Sem 2 courses in terms of difficulty is:
- CIVIL 200 = STRCTENG 201
- ENVENG 200
- ENGGEN 204
ENGGEN 299: Summer School
Bonus mention! ENGGEN 299 is a course that needs to be completed for all engineering students, and for civil students this is done in Summer School. This is a very hands-on course where you will build a motor using soldering, laser cutting, 3D printing and assembly. Not my favourite course, but perfect if you enjoy practical projects!
Semester 2 was definitely a lot different from semester 1. I felt like I was writing lab reports every week, whereas Sem 1 felt like having a test every week. If I were to describe this semester in short it would be lab reports and groupwork.
Lastly, thank you for following along! It has been such a fun experience being a Part II Blogger this year, and I wish you all the best for the final time!
Jolie