A letter by Dominic Borda expressed a desire, as a first-year engineering student, to get "more involved in topics that deal directly with engineering." Mr. Borda exaggerates his case by neglecting to mention ED&G 100, Introduction to Engineering Design, a three-credit, six-hour class where first year students learn and practice skills very representative of engineering. These include engineering drawing, 3-D solid modeling, working in the laboratory, making presentations, using spreadsheets and Web design. Nearly half of the course is devoted to learning and applying the engineering design process to real industry-sponsored projects.

Furthermore, the "meager one-credit seminar," which I coordinate, in fact, does help to prepare students for what lies ahead (inasmuch as a one-credit course can). Regular engineering faculty teach these courses and have developed them specifically to help students learn more about engineering careers and skills. Seminars were not required until 1999 and do represent a recognition by the College of Engineering that more exposure to engineering is needed in the first year.

How else can a first-year engineering student learn more about engineering? A good way is to get involved with the many extracurricular engineering organizations on campus, see www.engr.psu.edu/undergrad/studentsocieties.html. Many of these have practicing engineers come to speak at meetings. Others have hands-on projects that all students can help with. Others, like the Engineering Leadership Development Unlimited and the Envisioneers, actively work to improve the student experience.

Contrary to Mr. Borda's claim, there are significant first-year opportunities to learn more about engineering. That is not to say that there isn't room to improve the curriculum. The College of Engineering is continually improving the engineering experience here at PSU. We encourage student involvement in this process.