Considering a 3- 2 Dual Engineering Program. During the last two posts, we’ve been exploring possible academic choices for a future valedictorian from North Carolina. If you missed them and the more than two dozen comments that the posts triggered, here they are: Where Should This Teen Attend College? Where Should This Teen Attend College? Part IISome of the parents who shared their thoughts mentioned 3- 2 engineering programs.
I promised to share what I know about 3- 2 engineering options. Ben goofing off at the chalkboard. I explored these dual engineering programs several years ago when my son Ben, who will soon be starting his senior year at Beloit College, was contemplating majoring in engineering.
While Ben wanted to consider engineering he had zero interest in attending a university. He wanted to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a liberal arts college. Ben already understood what a liberal arts education offers because his sister Caitlin was a student at Juniata College, which is one of the liberal arts colleges featured in late Loren Pope’s popular book, Colleges That Change Lives: 4. Schools That Will Change the Way That You Think About Colleges. Caitlin enjoyed all the perks that a liberal arts college can provide, including small classes, great interactions with professors, internship opportunities and the freedom to explore her academic passions. Initially I thought Ben’s possible major—engineering—would prevent him from attending a liberal arts college, which, as the name suggests, focuses on the liberal arts such as history, English, philosophy, as well as the sciences and math. It’s rare to find a liberal arts college that offers engineering, but here are some exceptions: In doing some research, however, I discovered the existence of 3- 2 engineering programs, which allow students to attend a liberal arts college for three years and obtain a bachelor’s degree in a major like physics or chemistry.
The student transfers after three years to an engineering school, such as Washington University in St. Louis, for an additional two years to earn an additional bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Combined Plan Programs. The Combined Plan programs (3-2 and 4-2). The 3-2 program allows. The 3-2 program allows students to spend three years at Grinnell and two years in one of the engineering programs.
How Good Are 3- 2 Engineering Programs. Columbia University. I wondered how successful these programs were so I contacted the 3- 2 coordinators at Washington University and Columbia University when my son was exploring his options. These two universities happen to be popular for the dual degree programs.
Bowdoin College arranges shared studies programs with the University of Maine at Orono, the School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University, the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, and the.
The 3- 2 coordinators at both schools raved about the programs and the caliber of the liberal arts students who participate. The Columbia coordinator called 3- 2 programs a “hidden jewel” and her peer at Wash U. They are also less likely to “wash out” because they are more likely to avoid professors who believe it’s their duty to “weed out” weaker engineering candidates. Employers also love the liberal arts/engineering majors since they not only possess the technical skills, but also know how to write papers, make presentations, and think beyond the requirements of an engineer.
The 3- 2 coordinator at Washington U. I pulled this map off the dual engineering program website at Columbia University that shows just how many liberal arts colleges are affiliated with the program.
Click on the following link to learn more about Columbia’s 3- 2 engineering program. Here is the link to Washington University’s 3- 2 engineering program. Here are the liberal arts colleges and universities that participate in Wash U’s dual degree program. Other Engineering Dual Degree Programs. Columbia and Wash U aren’t the only schools that offer dual degrees, but they are popular choices at many liberal arts colleges. Here are links to some other dual degree programs: Teens who are interested in this engineering alternative should contact the 3- 2 coordinator (often a physics professor) at the liberal arts colleges on their lists. When we were visiting colleges, we made sure we met with this professor.
The 4-1 Program provides Columbia Engineering (SEAS) students with the opportunity to expand their education in liberal arts through an additional year of study at Columbia College (CC), including the. Overview; Undergraduate. Admissions; Course Flowchart; Curriculum Checklist; General FAQs; Incoming 3-2 FAQs; Undergraduate Advisors; Graduate. MS Orientation; MS Checklist. Columbia Engineering. Departments and Programs; Courses; Advising and Support; Sciences at Oberlin. Read more about the 3-2 Engineering program in the course catalog. With Columbia University School of Engineering and.
The dual- program coordinator can share what courses a student must take — lots of mathematics and physics. When I was researching schools, Columbia transfers had to have a minimum GPA of 3. Washington University it was a GPA of 3. One of the drawbacks of the dual degree programs is that students must leave after three years to pursue engineering. That is a hard sell for some students. Students can graduate in four years and then transfer to an engineering school, but that will increase the cost.