Catalogs & Handbooks

Pre-Engineering

Dual Degree Engineering Programs

Washington College is an affiliate of the Engineering dual degree programs at both Columbia University in New York and Washington University in St. Louis. These affiliations make it possible for qualified undergraduate students to earn baccalaureate degrees from both Washington College and the Engineering partner institution in as little as five years. A significant benefit of the program at Washington College is the opportunity for students with an interest in engineering to complete their pre-engineering course requirements in a liberal arts environment at a small college.

Students who complete the prerequisite courses specified by our Engineering partners and who also meet specified grade requirements receive guaranteed admission (Washington University) or priority in admission review (Columbia University). Students who complete the course requirements but do not meet the minimum grade point requirements are still eligible to apply to our partner institutions.

During the third year at Washington College students formally apply for transfer admission to an Engineering partner institution. A letter of recommendation from the Dual Degree Engineering Program Advisor at Washington College is necessary to assist qualified students applying for transfer admission. Other letters of recommendation may also be required depending on the program being pursued.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss program requirements and to select coursework for each semester in consultation with the designated Program Advisor at Washington College. Additional information on these programs can be found on the websites of our partner institutions.

To declare an Engineering Dual Degree Program, students, in their third year, must submit a Major-Minor Declaration form, with their advisor’s signature, and indicate on the form they are pursuing the Engineering dual degree program and submit the form to the Registrar’s Office.  The Registrar’s Office will enter the Engineering Dual Degree Program on the student’s record.

Students who complete the dual-degree prerequisite coursework but choose not to pursue a dual-degree program are well prepared to apply competitively to graduate engineering programs at other major universities beyond Columbia University and Washington University. This is an increasingly popular option for Washington College students pursuing careers in engineering. Students pursuing this alternative path graduate from Washington College with a B.S. or B.A. degree in their discipline and then join a university where they may earn an M.S., or an M.S. and PhD in an engineering discipline.