With hundreds of classes to choose from, it can be difficult for Cal Poly SLO students to choose what to take during their four short years there. We’ve all heard about the classes in engineering and agriculture – they are the two biggest colleges at Cal Poly, after all – but did you know that Cal Poly is also known for the prestigious degrees they offer in areas like business, science, and the liberal arts? Some of the courses required for these classes can be demanding, especially when you’re on the quarter system, but others can be pretty fun and help make those ten weeks fly by! These classes can make or break your experience at Cal Poly (not to mention your GPA), so we’ve compiled this list to help you with your decision.
The Hardest Classes
1. Mechanical Engineering 303: Thermodynamics 2
This class is notorious at Cal Poly for being one of the most difficult courses on campus. It covers a number of concepts in the area of thermodynamics, which is the study of the relationship between heat and other types of energy, and is incredibly rigorous. Professors justify their high expectations by explaining that students who fail to learn these concepts will likely be unable to succeed as engineers. This might seem harsh, but do you really want the person building the bridge you drive on to be the same person who’s college motto was, “C’s get degrees?”
2. Computer Science 357: Systems Programming
Systems Programming focuses on teaching computer science students how to use the C programming language and using Unix commands (lol, no ideas what that even means). The labs are reported to be some of the most difficult of any computer science classes, and students often have difficulty completing assignments in the time allotted.
3. Animal Science 366: Veterinary Pharmacology
Focused on how medical drugs can affect the systems of different animals, ASCI 366 is not for the faint of heart. “We did not have a text book, so we had to find everything on our own. This was difficult for me because often times the information I found was either not accurate or relevant, resulting in a lower grade,” says Haley Harraka, a student at Cal Poly. If you take this class, be prepared to spend a lot of time doing research!
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4. Mechanical Engineering 341: Fluid Mechanics 1
In this class, students learn how properties such as density and outside forces can affect fluids. Although this class is excellent for students who hope to one day build large, water-bearing structures and irrigation systems, it requires a lot of calculus and linear algebra, so don’t take this unless you’re prepared to do some serious math.
5. Biology 426: Immunology
This course covers everything students need to know about immunology, from how the immune system develops to the regulation of cells’ responses to disease. “BIO 426 was my most difficult class. The subject itself is just challenging to learn in such short period of time, as there are so many components to immunology,” said Sarah Mete, who graduated with the class of 2018 at Cal Poly.
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The Easiest Classes
1. Kinesiology 109 – Bowling
If you’re looking for an easy one-unit class to fulfill a PE requirement or get a GPA boost, consider taking bowling. This class meets once a week and gives students a chance to make friends and learn some new skills. The best part is, your ability to bowl won’t affect your grade – all that matters is that you try your best and participate!
2. Aerospace Engineering 310 – Air and Space
Cal Poly has a unique general education requirement known as “Area F”, which focuses on technology and scientific development. Many students fulfill this requirement by taking AERO 310, which is known for being in one of the easiest classes on campus. Recent Cal Poly graduate, Mikaela Tosta, explains, “I was able to work on homework from other classes during his and still pass his class with a 98 percent partly because of the sheer easiness of material, and partly because the teacher was awesome about wanting to help his students learn and enjoy his class.” If you’re looking to fulfill your Area F in the most painless way possible, consider AERO 310.
3. Animal Science 340 – Animal Welfare and Ethics
In this class, rather than focusing on the memorization and methodology of animal care like many animal science classes do, students are instead asked to consider the development of welfare laws that protect domestic animals and wildlife and share their personal thoughts on the subject. Students are not focused on finding the “right” answer, but rather discussing animal welfare issues and determining what answers feel right to them.
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4. Agricultural Education 404 – Leadership in Agriculture
We all know that the attitude and teaching style of the professor can totally change our experience, and Leadership in Agriculture is no exception. “AGED 404 was easiest because the professor made the class really enjoyable while learning about the agriculture industry and leadership,” according to Kayla Erath, a junior at Cal Poly. This class offers students insight into agriculture and the opportunity to learn leadership skills in the fun, hands-on “learn by doing” style that is so popular at Cal Poly.
5. Wine and Viticulture 202 – Fundamentals of Enology
Although a class based in the science of winemaking may seem daunting at first, WVIT 202 actually has a reputation as being one of the easier classes on the Cal Poly campus. Grades are largely based on participation in lab activities and your willingness to learn the basics of winemaking, rather than their ability to memorize obscure facts about wine.
The truth is, it doesn’t matter what major you choose – you’re always going to encounter difficult classes at Cal Poly. The faculty and the students take their studies very seriously, so you can always expect a challenge. But now that you know a little more about the easiest and hardest classes at Cal Poly, hopefully it will be a little easier for you to plan out your classes for the next quarter!