A course on computer modeling for second or third year engineering undergraduates

A course on computer modeling for sophomores and juniors at Harvey Mudd College is described. The rationale for such a course is three fold: it teaches students the role of computation in engineering problem solving; fills the present hiatus between the freshman year, where programming is taught, and the senior year, where attempts are made, after many students have forgotten the programming they learned, to use those skills in coursework; and provides a means of introducing the student to the design cycle of testing through analysis and changing designs, until performance criteria are met