Dual Degree Engineering
Undergraduate Major College of Natural Sciences
Bachelor of Arts
Major Minute: Engineering at PLU Transcription
[video: Professor Hay is sitting in her office with bookshelves and teaching materials in the background. In the bottom left corner, gold text reads: “Katrina Hay, Associate Professor of Physics”](upbeat music)
Professor Hay: Hi, I’m Professor Katrina Hay, I teach in the PLU’s physics department, and this is my “Major Minute.”
[video: A visual countdown from three flashes on the screen in yellow and black colors. A countdown clock appears on the left side of the screen counting down from 60 seconds after Man claps his hands in the foreground](graphic blips)
Professor Hay: Engineers apply math and science to solve real-world problems. The National Academy of Engineering set 14 21st century challenges for engineers, focusing on sustainability, health, and security. Engineers make a real impact, they’re in high demand globally, and they earn great pay. Dual degree engineering students at PLU take three years of math and science courses before transferring to an engineering school where they will finish, after two more years, with two degrees, one from PLU and one in engineering. PLU trains our students in reasoning, writing, global perspectives, and communications, making our students well-rounded and appealing to employers. With small class sizes, PLU offers smooth transition and time to choose a specialization like civil, mechanical, computer, medical, environmental, or electrical engineering. Some of our recent grads have gone on to UW, Washington University in St. Louis, and Columbia in New York. And they’ve landed jobs at Boeing, Raytheon, GE, and Army Core of Engineers.
(buzzer beeps)
[Man]: Good to go.
Professor Hay: Nice.
(upbeat music)
About:
PLU’s Dual-Degree Engineering Program lets you combine the best of both worlds: a well-rounded liberal arts education and a top-tier engineering degree. You’ll earn two degrees—one from PLU and one from an engineering school.
Here’s how it works: you spend your first three years at PLU to study physics or chemistry, then transfer to a partner school for the engineering degree (typically another two years). Many liberal arts colleges have dual-degree engineering programs, but PLU’s program is exceptionally active, regularly sending over five students per year to engineering schools.
PLU has special partnerships with top engineering schools, such as Columbia University in New York City and Washington University in St. Louis. Recently, PLU also launched a partnership with Washington State University, which will allow students to earn a mechanical engineering degree at WSU in addition to a physics degree from PLU.
These partnerships help you stay on track to finish both degrees and give you a strong shot at admission to these top engineering schools. PLU’s program is particularly distinctive because of the upper-division engineering courses we offer, preparing you for your next step after PLU. You’ll graduate with two degrees, real experience, and a strong foundation to launch your engineering career.
Skills you'll gain from this program:
- Core Engineering Skills — Develop skills every engineer needs, including problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, attention to detail, and communication.
- Data Modeling & Programming — Work with Matlab and other tools to model data and solve complex differential equations.
- CAD Design & 3D Printing — You will learn how to use Autodesk Inventor (CAD software) to design various objects and will have them 3D printed.
- Research & Presentation Skills — Analyze phase diagrams, interpret data, and share your work through posters and presentations.
Where PLU Graduates from the last 5 years work as Engineers:
- Systems Design Engineer, Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Electromagnetics Effect Engineer, Boeing
- Plasma Etch Process Engineer, ESI Engineering
- Systems Engineer, Raytheon Intelligence and Space
- Controls Engineer, ATS Automation
- Technical Support Engineer, Epic
- Aerospace Engineer, ATA Engineering
- Project Engineer, University Mechanical Contractors
- Environmental Process Engineer, Nippon Dynawave Packaging
- Process Engineer, Hitachi America High Tech
It’s FREE to apply to PLU
When you're ready, we're here. Apply now and fulfill your potential!
Get StartedChoose Your Specialty
Between Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis, and Washington State University – Pullman campus, about 20 engineering subdisciplines are available to dual-degree students, including biomedical, civil, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and many others.
Engineering Scholarships
Three PLU students have won the prestigious full-tuition Brown Engineering Fellowship from Washington University in St. Louis. Many others have earned half-tuition and other merit scholarships.
Degree Options
Most students pursue the physics degree while at PLU, but if you’re interested in chemical engineering or biomedical engineering, you can choose to study chemistry at PLU instead.
Research
Dual-degree students can participate in PLU’s Natural Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (NSSURP), which involves working with PLU professors on research projects (and getting paid for it!).
