First-Year Engineering

First-Year Engineering is the launchpad for all engineering students at Purdue.

A writer can’t put pen to paper without first learning the alphabet. Much like a contractor can’t raise a strong structure without a solid foundation.

Establishing the basics is a crucial first step toward success, which is why we’ve established and continue to evolve our innovative First-Year Engineering program – to allow our engineering students to cultivate a strong foundation on which to achieve their vision and make their mark on the world.

Through this program, we educate thousands of students annually, providing them the time and resources to explore the engineering disciplines offered at the college and advising them to follow educational paths that spark something brilliant inside of them. We train, test and challenge our students, encouraging them to identify their strengths, redirect their weaknesses and define their resolve, setting them on course to go beyond what they thought was possible.

Bolstered by a research-bases curriculum, we generate better outcomes, better students, better engineers.

There are many pathways through First-Year Engineering. Our core curriculum is mapped out for potential and current students to review.

First-Year Engineering has a staff of professional advisors available to help students in a variety of academic success, registration, personal, and professional issues. The advisors are here to be a student's definitive source of information and advice; students can consult with their advisors any time they have a question or problem, no matter how small.

Advising Appointments

Plan Ahead

  1. You may make an appointment up to two weeks in advance.
  2. Be on time for scheduled appointments. If you arrive later than five minutes after your appointment start time, your advisor may ask you to reschedule.

First-Year Engineering Students Online Appointment Scheduling: Appointments should be made for the following: registration advising, discussing plans of study, issues of a personal and/or educational nature, exploring engineering options, questions about University and College policies, assistance with resumes, career questions, SEP and MyPurdue Plan, general questions and concerns.

To make an appointment with your assigned advisor, click HERE.

Walk-In Appointments

Walk-in questions with professional advisors are appropriate to:

  • resolve conflicts in your schedule
  • complete paperwork
  • sign a credit authorization form
  • ask time-sensitive questions

Walk-in times are designed for quick questions and therefore are held to 15 minutes per visit. Students should only use walk-in times of their assigned advisor unless the assigned advisor is not available and there is an immediate time sensitive matter. More information about walk-in times, including the schedule, is available here.

Potential CODO students

If you are not a First-Year Engineering student who has viewed the First-Year Engineering CODO video and need to ask a question that your current advisor can’t answer, you are welcome to come to ARMS 1300 to meet with an FYE advisor during walk-in advising times: Please see walk-in schedule.

Last Updated: July 27, 2020

Course Syllabi

ENGR 131 Syllabus

ENGR 132 Syllabus

ENGR 133 Syllabus (EPICS)

Core Curriculum Map

Required Course Descriptions

Information on all courses at Purdue is available at mypurdue.purdue.edu. You also can review course descriptions or view our map of the 30 credit-hours curriculum with advising information and latest retention data. 

Last Updated July 27, 2020

Beginning in the Fall 2018, First-Year Engineering students explored teh engineering majors at Purdue using a new series of Career Exploration videos and engaging in out-of-class activities led by the schools and divisions of engineering. This replaced a former career exploration program of school presentations during classtime. 

Student Resources

Get ahead and watch informative videos about each discipline of engineering at Purdue University.

Also, check out the College of Engineering School Degree Areas.

Alumni Highlight: Making Sense of ENGR 131/132

"I wanted to let you know how helpful ENGR 131/132 has been since I have started my career at UTC Aerospace Systems. A lot of what I have been doing so far involves team dynamics, working with new people (customers), and a lot of Microsoft Excel use. In all honesty, it was hard for me to see the point of some of the lessons being taught both as a student and a peer teacher. However, I just wanted to commend you and your team for all of your hard work in truly preparing me for life in the engineering world."

Michael Davidson, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, May 2015 Graduate