Professor Fitz-Gerald is truly the perfect example of an ideal teacher for this course. Dr. Fitz ensured that the class was not focused on meaningless busywork and calculations that most of us would never end up using (like some ENGR professors that my friends had), but rather the very essential foundations and principles that every future engineer needs to know. His lectures focused on the different engineering disciplines offered at UVA, the engineering design process, and engineering failures. Throughout the semester, we got to work on a class project that allowed us to experience all aspects of the engineering design process, it was really fun!

From his very first lecture, you'll know right away that Dr. Fitz isn't like most teachers you'll have. He does not want you to focus on your grade, but rather learning about what engineering truly entails. You'll also immediately get the sense that he cares about the well being for each and every one of his students. Go into his office anytime, and your guaranteed a 15 minute conversation where he asks about you and how your doing. Count yourself very lucky if you get this guy as a professor; he's really the GOAT!

Fitz is a fantastic person! His class is a great way to start off your first semester. Most of your grade is based around a single, final project which the entire class works on. This year the TAs threw in a few engineering essays but other than that everything is group work. As long as you put in time with your group and actually care about the final project, you should be okay. The class is a lot of fun, and people make lots of friends. If you have the option of Fitz as your prof for this class, I'd definitely recommend choosing him.

This class was great! Professor Fitz cares about each of his students and is passionate about teaching engineering. (Although he is known to go off on random tangents during lectures, but these can be interesting too). The class consists of a semester-long group project that is chosen by the class. As a class, you have to take responsibility for the project and learn to work together and communicate. Our class kind of learned this the hard way, so at the very end of the semester we were scrambling to finish the project. However, outside of this project there are very few assignments and no exams. As long as you put in effort, it's an easy A.

Fitz is a great professor, and a great start to your engineering career here at UVA. The class revolves around a semester-long group project that requires teamwork and communication.

Fitzy's class if BY FAR the most fun I've ever at had UVa: as of fall 2011 there was no midterm and the final is the project your class chooses. Group work is the main focus of the course, but the groups tended to change as the project moved forward so you ended up working with a lot of different people. Most of the project was completed out of class, but Fitzy nearly always came to observe/ give us pointers. If you show up to work on the project/complete your group write-ups you're practically guaranteed at least an A-.

Really nice guy, extremely chill. You have to put in time for your project, but if you manage your time it's not bad at all. Also an easy grader. Highly recommend

Lots of group work. He really tries to have the class understand that they need to work together to accomplish the final project, which is most of your grade. He doesn't intervene much, which causes you to work together to set up meeting tims, building times, etc. Other than that the class is ridiculously easy. No notes to take, no HW, just an hour with cool Dr. Fitz.

interesting class, you learn a lot, but most of what you learn is through experience not through the lectures, and you have no clue where you stand in the class until you see your grade. He's not an unreasonable grader though so no worries.

This class was a ton of fun, really emphasized group work. Professor Fitz-Gerald was enthusiastic and helpful, yet at the same time let our class be extremely independent.