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, paired with a Bachelors of Arts in Physics or Chemistry major, as specified below

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)
• CSCI 131 (2 semester hours)
• DATA 133 or CSCI 144 (4 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
• CSCI 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

Students are also required to complete an ABET-accredited engineering degree before the Bachelor of Arts degree can be awarded by PLU. The specific course of study in the final phase of the program at the engineering school depends on both the school and the subdiscipline. PLU maintains formal arrangements with Columbia University in New York City and with Washington University in St. Louis to facilitate the transfer process into either of those institutions. 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 biomedical engineering, applied mathematics, and environmental engineering. Details about the additional requirements for transfer to Columbia University and Washington University can be found at those institutions’ websites: undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combined-plan and engineering.wustl.edu/prospective-students/dual-degree/Pages/default.aspx.

Academic Expectations

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. 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. Columbia University requires that students attend at least three full-time years at PLU before transferring. Guaranteed admission is not available for candidates who began college, whether at an affiliate school or not, in Fall 2019 or later. All applicants who began college in Fall 2019 or later will be considered under a competitive review process.

For Washington University, the required grade point average is 3.25, both overall and in science and mathematics courses.  Washington University also considers applicants under a competitive review process.

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.

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/ .