Engineering Guidelines

Advising for the Dual Degree Cooperative (3-2) Engineering Program

Allegheny College does not offer an Engineering Major or degree. However, through cooperative arrangements with other universities students may obtain a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in their Allegheny Major; hence the title, Dual Degree, also referred to as a “3-2” program. Students who participate in this program will complete their first three years at Allegheny (though in some cases students may elect to spend four years at Allegheny). After their junior (or senior) year, they enter the engineering program of one of the cooperating schools. Once they have completed the requirements of the engineering school, which typically takes two years, they will receive Bachelor’s degrees from Allegheny and from the engineering school. (Neither degree is granted until the requirements of both Allegheny and the cooperating university have been met.)

Cooperating Schools

University of Pittsburgh
Case-Western University (Cleveland)
Washington University (St. Louis)

Requirements
Allegheny Requirements
During their time at Allegheny students must complete the College’s graduation requirements, this includes completing a major, a minor, distributive, and FS requirements. Students who leave Allegheny and enter the engineering program after the junior year are exempted from the Senior Project requirement. Students who stay for their senior year are still required to complete the Senior Project.

Engineering School Requirements
To meet the engineering school requirements students must take specific math and science courses and maintain a specified grade point average (overall and in the required courses) that varies from school to school. While the required courses vary slightly among the cooperating universities and may also depend upon what field of engineering the student chooses to pursue, they all include 3-5 math courses, depending on first-year placement; 2 physics courses (PHYS 110 & 120 or PHYS 101 & 102); a chemistry course (CHEM 120); and a computer programming course (CMPSC 100 or PHYS 280). For more specific requirements students need to consult with the Cooperative Engineering Coordinator.

Advising for entering first-year students interested in engineering:
Incoming first-year students interested in engineering should enroll in either Math 140, 141, 151, or 152, depending on placement, in the fall of their first year. If they placed in Math 141 or higher, they should also take PHYS 110 or 101 their first semester. If they placed into Math 140 they might consider also taking CMPSC 100.

FAQ for Engineering
What courses should students in the dual degree program take their first year?
As students need to complete the cooperating school’s requirements during their first three years (unless they opt to stay for four years at Allegheny) it is important that they begin taking the required courses as soon as possible. This means that it is essential that students interested in the program enroll in the math class recommended by the placement exam, either Math 140, 141, 151, or 152 in the fall semester of their first year. Students placing in Math 141 or higher should also enroll in PHYS 110 in the fall. Second semester students should continue to the next math and physics courses. CHEM 120 is also required, but that does not need to be taken the first year. Any questions regarding course selection should be directed to the Cooperative Engineering Coordinator.

Can students declare a “Pre-Engineering” Major?
No, this is not an option at Allegheny. Students must declare and complete an approved Allegheny Major during their three (or four) years here.

What is the best Major for the dual degree program?
The cooperating schools do not require a particular major, only that you complete the required courses and attain the specified GPA. However, given the overlap between the program requirements and departmental major requirements, it is generally easier to complete certain majors. In particular, students considering civil, mechanical, aeronautical, or electrical engineering should consider majoring in either physics or mathematics. Those interested in chemical engineering should consider chemistry as a major.

When does a student have to commit to the dual degree program?
Students begin formal application to the program during the fall or spring of their junior or senior year, but there is no actual commitment until the student enrolls in the cooperating school’s engineering program. However, students interested in engineering should meet with the Cooperative Engineering Coordinator during their first semester and as needed after that.

Are there other options for students interested in engineering?
Yes, there are several. Within the cooperative programs there is an option to also apply for an accelerated Master’s program which typically requires another year, beyond the two years usually required for the Bachelor’s degree. Another option that Allegheny students regularly pursue is to bypass the Bachelor’s in engineering degree and during their senior year apply directly from Allegheny to Master’s in engineering programs at schools of their choice. Students who graduate from Allegheny with a BS in Math, Physics, or Chemistry and a strong academic record are regularly accepted into Master programs at a range of engineering schools. Consult with the Cooperative Engineering Coordinator for details.

Contact
Prof. Daniel R. Willey, Cooperative Engineering Coordinator
Carr 127
814-332-5368
dwilley@allegheny.edu