My Systems Engineering Degree in 18 Minutes

Summary

In this video, a Systems Engineering graduate from UNC Charlotte shares their academic journey, detailing their switch from Electrical Engineering to Systems Engineering. They discuss the courses they took, challenges faced, and the skills gained along the way, such as programming in Python and working with technologies like AWS and Linux during internships. The video highlights the importance of hands-on experience, the value of interdisciplinary learning, and the real-world application of systems engineering principles in project work. The speaker reflects on their growth, from overcoming initial struggles to landing a full-time job after graduation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker graduated from UNC Charlotte in May 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, earning honors (cum laude).
• 😀 They switched their major from Electrical Engineering to Systems Engineering midway through their studies after struggling with Electrical Engineering coursework.
• 😀 The Systems Engineering degree required a mix of general education courses, engineering core classes, and electives focused on systems and business aspects.
• 😀 Early courses included topics like general chemistry, calculus, physics, and computer programming (C++), which were foundational for the engineering degree.
• 😀 One of the challenges was adjusting to the heavy theory-based courses in Electrical Engineering, which led to the switch to Systems Engineering.
• 😀 The speaker found success with hands-on classes like robotics and labs, where they excelled more in practical work than in theoretical studies.
• 😀 The internship at Fidelity Investments during their junior year helped the speaker gain practical skills in Linux, AWS, and Python programming, boosting their confidence in these areas.
• 😀 Junior-year courses delved deeper into core Systems Engineering topics, such as optimization, programming in Python, operations research, and project management, with increasing success in grades.
• 😀 Senior-year courses included a senior design project where the speaker's team worked on optimizing facility layout designs using VR and eye-tracking technology.
• 😀 The Systems Engineering degree at UNC Charlotte guarantees a math minor, which is automatically declared as part of the major requirements.
• 😀 Despite some struggles, including a challenging course on energy markets, the speaker graduated with honors and reflects positively on their overall academic journey.

Q & A

What degree did the speaker graduate with, and from which university?

The speaker graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) in May 2021.

Why did the speaker switch from Electrical Engineering to Systems Engineering?

The speaker switched to Systems Engineering because they were struggling with major-specific courses in Electrical Engineering and did not find the field as enjoyable as expected. They were also interested in staying technical while incorporating some business aspects into their education.

What was the first engineering course the speaker took, and what programming language did it focus on?

The speaker's first engineering course was ECGR 2103, which focused on learning the basics of programming using C++.

What kind of course was Engineering 1201, and what did it cover?

Engineering 1201 was an introductory course to engineering practices and principles. It covered the basics of various engineering disciplines, including electrical, computer, mechanical, systems, and civil engineering.

How did the speaker perform in their calculus courses during their first year?

The speaker performed well in their calculus courses, earning an 'A' in Calculus 1 and a 'B' in Calculus 2.

What did the speaker learn during their internship with Fidelity Investments?

During their internship at Fidelity Investments, the speaker learned Linux, AWS, and Python programming. Initially, they were placed in a Systems Engineering role despite hoping for a Systems Analyst position. Over time, they became comfortable with programming, particularly Python.

What skills did the speaker gain from the course on Operations Research?

In the Operations Research course, the speaker learned about optimization and decision-making models, which involved using matrices for deterministic models and applying them to real-world engineering problems.

How did the speaker perform in their senior year courses?

In their senior year, the speaker excelled in most of their courses, earning 'A's in several system engineering courses, including those on system simulation, project management, and leadership skills. However, they struggled in the Energy Markets course, earning a 'B'.

What was the speaker’s senior design project, and what role did they play?

The senior design project involved optimizing a facility layout design using virtual reality and eye-tracking data. The speaker worked with the eye-tracking data and was responsible for programming the system that calculated the duration people spent near certain objects in the virtual restaurant.

What additional academic benefit did the speaker receive by pursuing Systems Engineering at UNC Charlotte?

By completing a Systems Engineering degree at UNC Charlotte, the speaker was automatically awarded a math minor, as the degree program includes several math-intensive courses.