3+2 Engineering Program

The Combined Plan program at Columbia University offers students the chance to engage with two distinctive educational experiences, earning both a liberal arts and an engineering degree. 

Students should apply to Columbia’s Combined Plan program during their junior year at Willamette. Because Willamette is an affiliated liberal arts school, applications from Willamette students will receive priority in admission review. 

Applicants should have a minimum overall GPA of 3.30. Students must complete both the foundational and major-specific prerequisite coursework by the end of the spring semester of application. Dual degree applicants will need to include recommendation letters from the Combined Plan liaison, a science instructor, and a math instructor. They must also demonstrate proficiency in English as directed by the Columbia website.

Washington University’s dual degree program is dedicated to guiding “liberally educated engineers.” They believe in strong communication and problem-solving skills, a broad background in the humanities and social sciences, and a high-quality technical education. 

A GPA of B+ (3.25 out of 4.0) or better, both overall and in science and mathematics courses, is required for admission to the Dual Degree Program at the McKelvey School of Engineering. Applicants with lower GPAs are considered on a case-by-case basis and require a letter of support from the student’s undergraduate institution. 

Students seeking to enroll in the Dual Degree program must meet all of the following requirements for undergraduate professional engineering study before entry into WashU:

• Chemistry: One semester of general chemistry with a lab.
• Computer programming: One course or certified proficiency in a high-level language
• English composition: One course or acceptable examination scores 
• Humanities and social sciences: No fewer than 15 semester hours in approved areas; this sequence must include at least six semester hours in humanities and three semester hours in social sciences.
• Mathematics: A calculus sequence that includes exposure to multivariable calculus and a separate course in differential equations (linear algebra or matrix algebra strongly recommended).
• Physics: One-year calculus-based sequence with lab.
• Total credits: A minimum of 90 semester hours of transferable college credit (courses with grades below C do not transfer).

After three years at Willamette, students directly enter both an engineering master's program and an undergraduate engineering program at Washington University. Students obtain a BA or BS from Willamette and receive both BS and MS engineering degrees from Washington University. Washington University classifies these students as graduate students for all three years. While this renders students ineligible for Federal Financial Aid, all admitted students benefit from discounted tuition, with reductions of 50% in the first year, 55% in the second year, and 60% in the third year.

Spend four years at Willamette and two years at Columbia or Washington University in St. Louis. At the end of six years, receive both a BA or BS from Willamette and a BS from the Affiliated Engineering School.

Holding a bachelor's degree makes you ineligible for Federal Financial Aid. Even if you can secure your Willamette BA/BS after four years, it's recommended to wait until completing your second BS to receive it.

A BS in engineering is a professional degree, and fields like Civil Engineering that require the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology certification mandate students to obtain it.

The 4-2 Master of Science Program provides the opportunity for students holding a BA or BS from Willamette in mathematics, physics, chemistry, or certain other physical sciences to receive an MS degree after two years of study at Columbia in the following fields of engineering and applied science: biomedical, chemical, civil, computer science, Earth and environmental, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering; applied physics; applied mathematics; engineering mechanics; operations research; and materials science.

Each applicant must present evidence of an outstanding undergraduate record, including exceptional performance in physics and mathematics through differential equations. The program of study, designed individually in consultation with a faculty adviser, will integrate undergraduate work with the chosen field of engineering or applied science. In the first year, the program will primarily include basic undergraduate courses, while the second year will focus on graduate courses in the selected field.

Graduates of the 4-2 Master of Science program may not be eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam if their undergraduate degree is not in engineering or a related field. Students should also check with individual state boards to determine eligibility requirements for employment. Engineering fields requiring ABET certification, such as Civil Engineering, mandate a professional degree, which is a BS in engineering, whereas a master's degree is not mandatory.

A 3+2 engineering program is an academic pathway that allows students to earn both a liberal arts and an engineering bachelor's degree in a total of five years. 

The program structure typically involves students spending the first three years completing a bachelor’s degree in a related field. This part of the program focuses on core subjects and building foundational knowledge. The next two years are spent on specific engineering disciplines at one of our partner schools.

Depending on your career goals, financial situation, and preferred educational structure, an accelerated engineering program can be worthwhile. Employers value the skills that come from a liberal arts institution. By combining those skills with an engineering focus, students are prepared to stand out in the job market.

Willamette's 3+2 Engineering program helps students embrace a variety of skills. Our liberal arts focus encourages students to develop soft skills and problem-solving skills that are essential to engineering. With our partnerships, students can then develop the technical skills that are necessary for graduate programs and a variety of careers in engineering.