Course 19 at
MIT is the
Department of
Applied Mechanical Engineering. From
1946-
1983, the number
applied to the
Meteorology Department, but that major
was later folded into
Course 12, or
EAPS.
The Institute does not formally recognize Course 19. You won't
find it listed in the Commencement proceedings, and there
is no departmental web site. There are usually several
students who double major in Course 19 in every class,
however, and far more who take it as a minor. These people
are better known as roof and tunnel hackers, and have been observed to "enjoy taking things apart, exploring, and building large models, and tend to be nocturnal and wear black."
Course 19 boasts several old and experienced professors,
including Jack Florey, James Tetazoo, and J. Arthur Random. The department values hands-on experience, and
has been known to offer seminars over IAP some years.
Its best-known teaching text is probably the MIT Guide to Lockpicking, but professors and students alike emphasize responsible use of knowledge.
Freshman considering Course 19 are encouraged to attend
the introduction offered during Rush, and
a history of departmental activities is
available for inspiration.