Engineering Dual-Degree Program

PLU Requirements

In order to earn a PLU degree in the Dual-Degree Program, the following requirements must be satisfied:

Completion of the following science and mathematics courses

44 semester hours

• MATH 151, 152, 253 (12 semester hours)
• MATH 351 or PHYS 354 (4 semester hours)
• PHYS 153, 154, 163, 164, 223 (14 semester hours)
• CHEM 115, 116 (8 semester hours)
• CSCE 131, 144 (6 semester hours)

Completion of the General Education Program element requirements as specified in the catalog, except that the following general requirements are waived for all dual-degree (3-2) students:

• Completion of a minimum of 128 semester hours on the PLU transcript;
• Completion of a minimum of 40 semester hours from courses numbered 300 and above;
• The requirement that at least 20 of the minimum 40 semester hours of upper-division work must be taken at PLU;
• The requirement that the final 32 semester hours of a student’s program be completed in residence at PLU; and
• 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.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Physics

12 additional semester hours

Completion of an additional 12 semester hours of electives in science and mathematics from the following courses:

• MATH 331, 356
• PHYS 221, 240, 331, 333, 334, 336
• CSCE 331
• CHEM 341 may be substituted for PHYS 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.

Major in Chemistry

• Completion of organic chemistry (CHEM 331, 332, 333, 334) and physical chemistry (CHEM 341, 342, 343)

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, earth and environmental engineering and systems science. Details are available from the PLU program director.

Academic Expectations

For admission to their engineering program, Columbia University requires a cumulative PLU grade point average of 3.30 or higher, and a grade point average of 3.30 or higher in pertinent mathematics and science courses. For Washington University, the required grade point average is 3.25 both overall, and in science and mathematics courses. In addition, Columbia requires that each grade earned in a mathematics or science course at PLU must be at the B level or higher the first time the course is taken. 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.

Engineering schools often do not allow pass-fail courses; thus, PLU students are advised not to enroll in mathematics, science or engineering courses for pass-fail grading.

Columbia University requires that students attend at least two full-time years at PLU before transferring.

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