The following are summary answers to frequently asked
questions about Drew's Dual Degree/Combined Plan program with Columbia
University. For the most
accurate and complete information, please consult with Drew's
Liaison Officer and the individual web site
of the participating school.
- What are some advantages of the dual degree
program?
Students who may not be sure
of their career goals can choose to keep their engineering options
open for several more years. Engineers from this program will
have been more broadly educated taking humanities courses in
a liberal arts environment. And the transition to a more structured
rigorous engineering curriculum will be more gradual.
- If I know I want
to be an engineer, should I consider a dual degree program?
Students who are confident in
their desire to be an engineer may prefer the more direct path
to a B.S. engineering degree at an engineering school. A year
of school and its financial cost are saved. But often students
are unsure of their choice and not completely informed about
an engineering career. The dual degree program is more flexible
in keeping options open.
- What do I have to
do to participate in the dual degree program?
No official applications are
made until you are ready to transfer to the engineering school.
Upon arrival at Drew, it is important to meet with the Drew
Dual Degree Liaison Officer to begin to plan your Drew curriculum
with the dual degree course requirements in mind.
- How good do my grades
have to be in order to participate in the dual degree program?
A Drew GPA of 3.0 (B) overall
and in your mathematics and science courses is a bare minimum
for acceptance to the engineering school. Higher grades will
make you more competitive in the engineering environment.
- Am I guaranteed admission
to a participating engineering school?
The agreement signed by Drew
and the participating engineering school guarantees transfer
admission provided that the required prerequisite courses have
been completed and the GPA requirement met. The Dual Degree
Liaison Officer must certify that the requirements are completed
and supply a favorable recommendation.
- Who is the Drew Dual
Degree/Combined Plan Liaison Officer?
This is a person at Drew, normally
a faculty member, who advises Drew students interested in the
program. He or she receives timely information regarding the
programs from the participating schools, and is responsible
for formally recommending a student for admission to the engineering
school. The current Drew liaison is Dr.
Robert Fenstermacher.
- What are the courses
that are required for the program?
The courses vary somewhat depending
on the actual engineering or applied science program selected.
But all programs require 4 semesters of calculus through differential
equations, two semesters with lab of calculus-based physics,
one semester with lab of chemistry, and one semester of computer
science. Some of the programs require additional math, chemistry,
or physics. Another group of humanities courses (writing and economics) are required
but are normally easily met by the distribution requirement
at Drew.
- Will I be limited
in my choice of major if I participate in the program?
The simple answer is no, but
more explanation is necessary. Since a fair number of science
courses are required prerequisites for these programs, it is
easier to meet them AND the requirements for a Drew major if
you are majoring in one of the sciences at Drew. For example,
a physics major would automatically take most of the engineering
prerequisites as part of the physics curriculum. The farther
afield you go from a science major, the more carefully you must
plan your curricular schedule.
- If I intend to transfer
to the engineering school after three years at Drew, will I need
to have completed all of Drew's graduation requirements in that
time?
A student should have substantially
completed most of Drew's graduation requirements INCLUDING those
for a major. Meeting all of the major requirements, especially in the
sciences, can sometimes be difficult. Often an agreement
is made with the major department at Drew to substitute one
or more related courses at the engineering school for a remaining
major requirement at Drew.
- If I have financial
aid at Drew, will it transfer with me to the engineering school?
Financial aid granted by Drew
or other agencies for attendance at Drew will NOT transfer to
the engineering school. Columbia University has need-based
financial aid available for admitted program students. Information
on merit aid should be requested from the participating school.
In any case, a new application for financial aid will have to
be made.
- Are there any disadvantages
to participating in the dual degree program?
Perhaps the major disadvantage
is the additional year and expense required to receive both
degrees. Additionally students who transfer after three years
will miss their senior year at Drew, a year often offering a
capstone experience in the form of undergraduate research or
independent study.
- Are there any opportunities
to experience aspects of an engineering program earlier in my
Drew career?
Drew students have occasionally taken preparatory
engineering courses at other nearby engineering schools during a regular semester or over
the summer.
- What happens if
I change my mind and decide not to pursue the dual degree program?
As long as you are making normal
progress toward your Drew degree requirements, there is no penalty
attached to dropping the idea of the dual degree. No official
application is made to the program until you actually apply
to transfer to the engineering school.
- When will I get
my Drew degree if I transfer to the engineering school after three
years?
Normally a student pursuing
a "3-2" option will receive both degrees (B.A. and
B.S.) at the end of five years when all requirements for both
degrees have been completed. A student leaving Drew at the end
of four years and pursuing a "4-2" option will receive
their B.A. degree from Drew upon leaving Drew.
- Can I get a Masters
Degree (M.S.) in engineering as part of these programs?
Dual degree students earning
both a B.A. from Drew and a B.S at the engineering school
can apply for an advanced engineering degree and remain for
that training. A Masters degree will likely take an additional
one or two years. Four year Drew students who have majored
in mathematics, physics, chemistry, or certain other physical
sciences at Drew, may apply to Columbia for a "4-2"
Master of Science Program. The M.S. degree is earned in two
years after graduating from Drew. Admission to this program
is NOT guaranteed. Graduating science majors at Drew have
also applied to a number of other engineering schools and
have been accepted into masters and doctoral engineering programs.
