Hey there, human — the robots need you! Vote for IEEE’s Robots Guide in the Webby Awards.

Close bar

The Olin Lingo

Like many schools, Olin developed a vocabulary of its own. Here are some examples.

1 min read

Erico Guizzo is IEEE Spectrum's Digital Innovation Director.

Ant Farm: The Academic Center, the school's largest building, where all classes and lab sessions take place.

Co-curriculars: Non-degree courses on a variety of topics. Examples: "Ornithology for Engineers," taught by dean of student life Rod Crafts; "Introduction to Origami," taught by staff member Nick Tatar; "The Art and Traditions of Middle Eastern Dancing," taught by physics professor Zhenya Zastavker; and "Readings in Leadership and Ethics," taught by President Richard K. Miller.

ICB: Integrated Course Block. Freshman math and physics are taught in combination with practical engineering projects. ICB combines relatively traditional lectures delivered in classrooms with hands-on projects that take place in studios. For example, students learn multivariable functions and electromagnetism in math and physics classes, and then work on circuit design in project sessions.

Learning Continuum: Olin believes that learning happens not only through courses, homework, and research work, but also through extracurricular activities, such as volunteer service, student clubs, recreation, and sports.

NINJA: A teaching assistant. Acronym for Need Info Now, Just Ask.

Olin Triangle: A triangle that represents Olin's educational philosophy, each side corresponding to one of its three main components: engineering, liberal arts, and entrepreneurship.

Passionate Pursuits: Olin students are expected to have interests and hobbies they are passionate about. The school encourages these activities, which are as diverse as French literature and trapeze lessons, by providing faculty guidance and, often, funding.

Things That Go Bang: A first-year course in which students build high-voltage devices such as Tesla coils, metal can crushers, coin shrinkers, and electromagnetic rail guns. The course is now part of the first year's ICB.

This article is for IEEE members only. Join IEEE to access our full archive.

Join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of Spectrum’s articles, podcasts, and special reports. Learn more →

If you're already an IEEE member, please sign in to continue reading.

Membership includes:

  • Get unlimited access to IEEE Spectrum content
  • Follow your favorite topics to create a personalized feed of IEEE Spectrum content
  • Save Spectrum articles to read later
  • Network with other technology professionals
  • Establish a professional profile
  • Create a group to share and collaborate on projects
  • Discover IEEE events and activities
  • Join and participate in discussions