Liberal Arts colleges are wonderful places, and have many things to recommend them to students. Smaller and more closely knit campuses, ample academic support, and frequently less arduous acceptance rates than larger universities. With some exceptions however, most liberal arts colleges do lack one thing: engineering programs.
While this is not universal, it is by far the norm. Many students want what a liberal arts college can offer, but also want to study engineering. Luckily, there are programs which bridge this gap: 3+2 joint degree programs. In this article, we’re going to explore what these programs are, how they work, and how they can fit into your strategic application plan. Let’s get started!
What Joint Engineering Programs Are
Many students want to study engineering, but some of these students want more than just that. They want to explore other pathways as well, or benefit from a more traditional educational experience at a small liberal arts college. This is difficult to do, as engineering majors are incredibly intensive, and require you to take a significant number of courses.
On top of this, not all colleges offer engineering majors. Indeed, with some exceptions like Harvey Mudd, most liberal arts colleges do not have engineering as an option. In order to meet the needs of these students, joint programs were started.
These are partnership programs between small liberal arts colleges and larger universities. Each partnership is unique, but they tend to have the following features:
- The programs are split between a college and a university; you spend three years at the first liberal arts college, then two years at the university studying engineering.
- You gain two degrees, one from each of the schools you attend, and have two separate majors. One of these is always engineering; the other is more open to different options. What major you choose may be restricted by program; some require you to have a specific major to transfer.
- You apply to these programs once you are admitted to the first school, rather than as a high school student. Unlike BS/MD programs, you don’t have to apply to these joint programs until you’re already at college.
- There are many prerequisite courses, to make sure you have all of the baseline knowledge you need to finish an engineering degree in two years. These are usually math and physics related.
In spite of these similarities, each program is unique as well. While we’ll give details on some programs below, we don’t cover them all. Here are things to look out for when researching these programs.
Financial Aid
Just because your first college gives you a financial aid award, doesn’t mean your second one will. You will be entering as a transfer student, and aid policies are quite different for these students, and are often less generous. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to receive aid, but you should not count on getting it, and should contact the aid departments of both schools in question to learn what their policies are.
Admissions Requirements
You generally need to apply to these programs, but the components of the application, when it needs to be filed, and prerequisites vary between schools. Since these are integral to your success in the program, we advise looking them up well ahead of time, so you aren’t caught unawares when the deadline comes due. In general, however, you should meet with your advisors as early as possible, as the deadlines for these programs are incredibly tight.
Specific 3+2 Programs
Now we’re going to explore some specific joint programs in engineering. These are not every such program in existence, but give you an idea of what’s available, and what your options are. These are grouped around the school you transfer into, as generally multiple smaller liberal arts schools partner with a single university for these programs.
Note that these smaller schools sometimes have multiple partners as well, giving you some flexibility when applying for your engineering program. This depends on the smaller school in question however.
Caltech 3/2 Program
Caltech invites students who are in their junior year at participating liberal arts colleges to apply for transfer to Caltech. Eligible students will earn Bachelor’s degrees from both institutions. Incoming students may join any major at Caltech, though dual degrees may not be granted in the same major. Admission to the program is not guaranteed, and applications are judged for their fit with Caltech.
Caltech partners with the following colleges:
- Bowdoin
- Bryn Mawr
- Grinnell
- Haverford
- Mount Holyoke
- Oberlin
- Occidental
- Ohio Wesleyan
- Reed
- Spelman
- Wesleyan
- Whitman
Columbia Combined Plan
This is either a 3-2 or 4-2 program, where you spend the bulk of your time at your original liberal arts institution, then earn an engineering degree from Columbia in two years. You apply for the program while in your junior or senior year, high school students cannot apply directly for this program. Students at affiliated schools receive application priority, but students from other schools are considered. There is no quota for admitted students; each application is reviewed individually. The application requires written answers to a few short-answer questions. You need a minimum GPA of 3.3, and may not have received below a B in any math or science prerequisite course for engineering.
Dartmouth Engineering Dual Degree Program
Dartmouth has an agreement with a large number of liberal arts colleges which allows students to earn a BA from their home school and a BS in engineering from Dartmouth. Students spend either their junior or senior year at Dartmouth, return to their home institution to graduate, then return to Dartmouth for a fifth year. You must consult with the Dean of your home college and then apply online to be accepted into the program. Students are expected to have sufficient preparation in math and science at their home college before they begin taking engineering courses at Dartmouth. Dartmouth partners with the following schools:
Is a Combined Engineering Program Right for You?
These programs have many benefits, but also a number of drawbacks. Whether or not they are the right choice for you depends on your own goals for college, and where you are right now. To help you decide, we’ll go over the pros and cons of the programs.
One pro is that acceptance is sometimes easier than getting in via admissions as a high school student. Many of these colleges have very low acceptance rates, and transfer partnerships offer a slightly easier pathway, especially for highly competitive majors such as engineering. The con is that this process of admissions is not guaranteed. Even after getting admitted to the first undergraduate program, you need to apply and get admitted all over again to continue on to the second. While the odds may be good, they are not a certainty.
A pro and con alike comes from the liberal arts college, depending on whether or not this kind of college environment is right for you. Some students thrive in the small and tight knit communities, while others are smothered by them. Your own needs are up to you, but you should consider this aspect carefully, and only apply to these programs if you will prosper in a liberal arts college environment.
Finally, only a few colleges partner with liberal arts schools in these arrangements. Most liberal arts schools have a few potential partners, but not all. This can further limit your options for where you will attain your degree. You should only apply to one of these programs if both partner schools are someplace you want to attend, and where you think you will thrive.
All of that said, these programs offer a great opportunity for some students. They give you a lot more variety in your college career, a chance to earn two separate degrees from two separate schools, and twice as many networking opportunities as most students get. These programs are a lot of work, and should only be undertaken with deliberate forethought, but can offer great benefit to students.
Final Thoughts
Engineering programs are some of the most popular, and competitive, majors that colleges offer. Even when compared to already stark admissions rates, engineering programs are, on average, even more competitive. These joint degree programs offer a kind of side door into some of the country’s best engineering schools, along with perks that make them a great idea for certain students.
Of course, just because these liberal arts schools have slightly higher acceptance rates than their counterparts, doesn’t make them easy for admissions. Many of them are quite competitive in their own right, and their applications have the same essays and quirks as all other universities. If you want help with your application to one of these programs, or want to know more about how we can help you on your engineering journey, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long experience working with students, and are always happy to hear from you.
