Physics, a compulsory subject to study engineering?

[yanagii]

Hi all.

I am a lower 6 Bio student. Recently, I have started developing some kind of fondness towards the engineering field particularly mechanical and aerospace engineering. However, the problem is, I am not a Physics student. Without this subject, am I still eligible to study the following field in the future either local or abroad provided that IF I do well in my maths and other science subjects?

Help is appreciated.

[henry_yew]

As far as I'm concern, the simple answer is NO. There have been two cases that I know of, where one of them involved a fellow ReComer who made the enquiry to me personally, and both of them had a problem that needs resolved.

The problem: they were Biology students back in Form 6. The fellow ReComer was offered an engineering course in a private university which he/she was keen to take up, but was required to do a one-year Foundation course first, perhaps just Physics alone.

Another case involves a student who is currently in my campus, undergoing his Foundation course. He's actually older than me, much to my surprise. And when asked, he said that he wanted to do engineering but since he's got no Physics background in STPM or Pre-University level, the university requires that he takes the whole Foundation course.

So, if you wish to study engineering, you must take Physics AND Mathematics as the prerequisites. Besides, in engineering you can never escape Physics, even in your undergraduate years. In Civil Engineering, you'd study about statics, principles of solid mechanics, equilibrium equations, etc. ; Mechanical Engineering - dynamics, principles of solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, etc. ; Chemical Engineering - fluid mechanics, statics, etc. ; Electrical and Electronics Engineering - circuits, microelectronics (these are still Physics!), etc. ; Petroleum Engineering - fluid mechanics, petroleum geoscience, etc.

See? You can't escape Physics if you intend to take Engineering. Unless, of course, you are talking about Software Engineering.

[Sillyboy]

Hi all.

I am a lower 6 Bio student. Recently, I have started developing some kind of fondness towards the engineering field particularly mechanical and aerospace engineering. However, the problem is, I am not a Physics student. Without this subject, am I still eligible to study the following field in the future either local or abroad provided that IF I do well in my maths and other science subjects?

Help is appreciated.

I concur with Henry Yew. It is practically IMPOSSIBLE to study engineering without Physics. Engineering is built on Physics!! Even if you do higher maths, you will meet some 'Physics' along the way (fluid mechanics, mechanics in general..) But even these subjects would not allow you to fully appreciate an engineering course because the approach taken in a course like that might differ to that of a maths course'.

Forgive me for such harsh words but we sometimes have to be cruel to be kind. Fondness towards a certain field does that necessarily mean having the ability for it. Maybe there could be remedial classes for the engineering courses available locally but I cannot say the same for the ones offered at overseas institution.

[Eurytos]

As far as I'm concern, the simple answer is NO. There have been two cases that I know of, where one of them involved a fellow ReComer who made the enquiry to me personally, and both of them had a problem that needs resolved.

The problem: they were Biology students back in Form 6. The fellow ReComer was offered an engineering course in a private university which he/she was keen to take up, but was required to do a one-year Foundation course first, perhaps just Physics alone.

Another case involves a student who is currently in my campus, undergoing his Foundation course. He's actually older than me, much to my surprise. And when asked, he said that he wanted to do engineering but since he's got no Physics background in STPM or Pre-University level, the university requires that he takes the whole Foundation course.

So, if you wish to study engineering, you must take Physics AND Mathematics as the prerequisites. Besides, in engineering you can never escape Physics, even in your undergraduate years. In Civil Engineering, you'd study about statics, principles of solid mechanics, equilibrium equations, etc. ; Mechanical Engineering - dynamics, principles of solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, etc. ; Chemical Engineering - fluid mechanics, statics, etc. ; Electrical and Electronics Engineering - circuits, microelectronics (these are still Physics!), etc. ; Petroleum Engineering - fluid mechanics, petroleum geoscience, etc.

See? You can't escape Physics if you intend to take Engineering. Unless, of course, you are talking about Software Engineering.

Regarding Henry_yew's opinion on engineering and physics i STRONGLY object on his view. This is because there are many engineering courses that do not require physics as a prerequisite. For example, biochemical engineering, biomolecular engineering and certain chemical engineering undergraduate courses do not require you to study physics as a prerequisite. Engineering does not only have physics and computing as a branch, as our world continuously improves, the branches off engineering just get wider and wider. I reckon there will soon be engineering courses in the not too distant future that require economics as a requirement, ( the newest branch of a science ) !

[Sillyboy]

Regarding Henry_yew's opinion on engineering and physics i STRONGLY object on his view. This is because there are many engineering courses that do not require physics as a prerequisite. For example, biochemical engineering, biomolecular engineering and certain chemical engineering undergraduate courses do not require you to study physics as a prerequisite. Engineering does not only have physics and computing as a branch, as our world continuously improves, the branches off engineering just get wider and wider. I reckon there will soon be engineering courses in the not too distant future that require economics as a requirement, ( the newest branch of a science ) !

A simple check from the internet reveals that these 3 courses do heavily revolve around Physics. Yes, Physics is a prerequisite.

Regarding the second highlighted, I suggest you look up financial engineering.

[henry_yew]

Regarding Henry_yew's opinion on engineering and physics i STRONGLY object on his view. This is because there are many engineering courses that do not require physics as a prerequisite. For example, biochemical engineering, biomolecular engineering and certain chemical engineering undergraduate courses do not require you to study physics as a prerequisite. Engineering does not only have physics and computing as a branch, as our world continuously improves, the branches off engineering just get wider and wider. I reckon there will soon be engineering courses in the not too distant future that require economics as a requirement, ( the newest branch of a science ) !

Yes, it's true that the three examples provided above requires knowledge in biology and chemistry, but a surface check in Wikipedia and Google, as well as the UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering still requires Physics. For these subjects, you still cannot escape subjects like Fluid Mechanics. Here's what I got from UCL:


Students offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) will be asked for the Diploma with an overall score of 32, normally with grades 6,5,5 to include Mathematics and/or Physics, plus Chemistry and/or Biology at Higher level.


You still cannot escape Physics.

[WilsonCWJ]

How can someone do engineering without physics? I thought engineering is a field for applied sciences and physics is a vital component of science.

[angina]

hi , actuallly i got one fren who do his bio in form 6 ,but end up study manufacturing engineering in ukm.so,if u really interested in enginineering.dont scared to go for it.

as long as i am concerned,in form 6 there are only two stream restriction when you applying uni.for example if u are art stream u cant apply science stream subject

but,physic and bio both belong to science stream .so,u still eligible to apply.

but, for sure you have to polish up your physic !!!all the best for you

[henry_yew]

How can someone do engineering without physics? I thought engineering is a field for applied sciences and physics is a vital component of science.

Not ALL engineering courses require physics. Courses like software engineering will deal more with the mathematics of computers. You don't need physics to be a software engineer.

But no matter with what qualifications you use to enter a university, the fact is this: If your engineering course is, in any way or other, somehow related to physics (be it fluid mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, atomic structures, etc.), then you can never fully escape the grasp of physics.

Unless you are 100% sure that your engineering course doesn't require Physics and that no Physics courses will be taught in your course, then you'd better brush up your Physics well.

Remember, it's better be careful than sorry. =)