Tufts Blogs

Creating a schedule for the first time can be a daunting task, especially for a first year engineering student. There are so many aspects to consider — how early do I want to wake up, how late do I want to be in class, do I want to have classes back to back and when will I have time to eat were all questions running through my head. Since I was an engineering student going into my Freshman Fall, there wasn’t much flexibility in the classes I could choose. In their first semester, unless they have pre-matriculation credits, most engineers take the same four classes — an introductory physics or chemistry class, English, calculus, and an introduction to engineering class (EN 1). I was afraid that the lack of flexibility would prevent me from creating an academic experience tailored to my interests. Luckily, EN 1 offered many sections focused on different disciplines and taught by professors from all around the School of Engineering. Unluckily, I had to choose just one EN 1 class.

I knew I wanted to major in Computer Science so a class focused on robotics taught by a Computer Science professor seemed like the natural choice, but after learning about the unique Human Factors engineering major here at Tufts I just knew I had to choose Engineering for the Customer as my EN 1 class. I was lucky that the class didn’t interfere with the rest of my schedule, but it wasn’t offered at a very ideal time either. Still, I decided that every Tuesday night from 6 - 9 I wanted to spend my time in group discussions talking about customer experiences from brands we interact with daily, working in a team to understand the principles of good design in a hands on way, and learning about how I as an engineer could be a part of the process of designing good customer experiences. 

After three weeks of classes, I can confidently say that I made the right choice. I love Engineering for the Customer, my professor Eli Cushner, and the fact that there is a final project instead of a final exam. I look forward to reading The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and listening to podcasts about Human Factors engineering for homework every week and I get excited for the 15 minute walk from my dorm in Hodgdon Hall to the Science and Technology Center every Tuesday night. I love the emphasis on interaction and class participation with students asking questions and giving inputs whenever they feel they have something to share with the class. When working to deliver good customer experiences, an engineer has to be part of a team and that’s what the entire Engineering for the Customer class feels like — being a member of a team where we listen to each other, build off each other’s ideas, and work together to create a better understanding of what we are learning. The three hours always go by without us really noticing because we are so engaged. Of course the topics we are exploring are interesting, but my enjoyment is really thanks to my professor who gives us time to discuss, space to freely ask questions, breaks to split up the long class, and best of all performs magic tricks at the beginning of each class. Engineering for the Customer really is magical.

The first schedule can seem really scary to a freshman engineer, but always remember that college is a time to try new things, whether it be a club or a class in a major that you’ve never even heard of before. You might get lucky like me and get a magician for a professor.