Engineering Dual Degree Program

The engineering dual-degree program at Pacific Lutheran University provides students with the opportunity to combine a liberal arts education with rigorous study in engineering. Students who complete the program earn two degrees-one from PLU and the other from an engineering school. For the well prepared student, the total length of study is five years-three years at PLU and two years at the engineering school, and the program is often referred to as the Three-Two Engineering Program.

Most subdisciplines of engineering are available to students in the dual-degree program. Formal agreements exist with Columbia University in New York City and Washington University in St. Louis. At both schools, three-two students form a community. They share residence facilities and often are enrolled in many of the same courses. PLU students who have participated in the three-two program report their rich cultural and academic experiences at both schools and are routinely very pleased with their decision to have participated in the three-two program.

The PLU Program: The three-two student is awarded a PLU degree when the PLU requirements are satisfied and the program of study at the engineering school is completed. The PLU degree that typically is awarded to three-two students is the Bachelor of Arts in physics. The BA in physics is well recognized by engineering schools and is the most frequently awarded degree by four-year schools with three-two programs. The physics degree can be selected by three-two students in all engineering subdisciplines, but students wishing to study chemical engineering may wish to consider the option of obtaining the BA in chemistry from PLU.

Occasionally, PLU students choose to transfer to an engineering school that does not participate in the three-two program. PLU nonetheless recognizes these students as participants in the three-two program and awards them the appropriate BA degree upon successful completion of their program at the engineering school.

Individual departments do not provide advice on the dual-degree program. All prospective dual-degree students, regardless of their intended engineering subdiscipline, should consult with the three-two director (in the Physics Department) very early in their academic program.

PLU and the participating engineering schools recommend that three-two students use their time at PLU to secure their academic foundations in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Math skills are particularly important to develop, and poor math skills are the most frequent reason prospective engineering students fail to succeed in the program.

PLU requirements: In order to earn a PLU degree in the dual-degree program, the following requirements must be satisfied:

1. Completion of the following science and mathematics courses (44 hours): Mathematics (16 hours): 151, 152, 253; 351 or Physics 354; Physics (14 hours): 153, 154, 163, 164, 223; Chemistry (8 hours): 120 or 125, 338; Computer Science and Computer Engineering (6 hours): 131, 144.
2. 1. For the BA in physics: completion of an additional 12 hours of electives in science and mathematics from the following courses: Mathematics 331, 356; Physics 233, 331, 333, 334, 336; Computer Science and Engineering 245. Chemistry 341 may be substituted for Physics 333. The particular courses chosen will depend on the intended subdiscipline and the engineering school's entrance requirements. Students should consult with the program director before choosing their electives.
   2. For the BA in chemistry: completion of organic chemistry (Chemistry 232, 234, 332, 334) and physical chemistry (Chemstry 341, 342, 343).
3. Completion of the general university requirements as specified in the catalog, except that the following general requirements are waived for all dual-degree students: (a) completion of a minimum of 128 semester hours on the PLU transcript; (b) completion of a minimum of 40 semester hours from courses numbered 300 and above; (c) the requirement that at least 20 of the minimum 40 semester hours of upper-division work must be taken at PLU; (d) the requirement that the final 32 semester hours of a student's program be completed in residence at PLU; (e) the requirement that the senior seminar/project be completed at PLU. Senior projects from the engineering school (a characteristic of ABET-accredited schools) will satisfy the PLU senior project requirement for dual-degree students upon approval of the project by the appropriate PLU department chair.

The engineering school program: The course of study at the engineering school will depend on both the school and the subdiscipline. Between Columbia University and Washington University, approximately 20 different engineering subdisciplines are available to dual-degree students. These include the more common subdisciplines (civil, chemical, electrical, mechanical) and others such as operations research, applied mathematics, geological engineering and systems science. Details are available from the PLU program director.

Academic expectations: For admission to their engineering program, both Columbia University and Washington University require a cumulative PLU grade point average of 3.0 or higher and grades of B or better in pertinent mathematics and science courses. Students who do not meet these requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis. Although students who choose to transfer to another engineering school may be able to gain admission with slightly lower grades than those required by Columbia University and Washington University, all prospective engineering students are well advised to use the higher standard as a more realistic indication of what will be expected of them in the engineering school.

For more information, contact the dual-degree program director in the Department of Physics or visit the program website at www.nsci.plu.edu/3-2program.