Overview
Curriculum
Who can apply?
Advising, Support, and
Cooperation
Admission to the Program
Financial Aid and Housing
Benefits of the program
What participants say
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
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The Dual-Degree Program in
Engineering at Saint Mary's College
 B.A. or B.S. degree with a major at Saint Mary's College
- B.S. degree with an engineering major at the University
of Notre Dame
Overview of the Program
Saint Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame
jointly offer a five-year, dual-degree program through which students
earn a bachelor's degree (either a B.A. or B.S.) from Saint Mary's in
four years, and a second bachelor of science (B.S.) in engineering degree
from Notre Dame following a fifth year of study. The dual-degree program
began in 1977 and was formalized and expanded in 2006 to better serve
students.
The Curriculum
Under the co-exchange agreement that allows Saint Mary's
and Notre Dame students to take courses on either campus, students in
the dual-degree program take all pre-engineering courses (e.g. chemistry,
mathematics, and physics), as well as other courses required to satisfy
the degree requirements, at Saint Mary's College. They take all engineering
courses at the University of Notre Dame.
The curriculum is strenuous and demands the best efforts
and careful planning of well-prepared, highly motivated students.
During the first year at Saint
Mary's College, students
enroll in chemistry and calculus for majors (CHEM 121/2 and MATH 131/2
or 133), modern language, and general education courses, including one
that satisfies the College writing requirement.
During the second year at Saint
Mary's College, students
enroll in physics for chemistry and engineering majors (PHYS 221/2),
calculus for majors (MATH 231), other required mathematics courses for
the engineering major (e.g., linear algebra - MATH 326), other major
courses and general education courses. Students also enroll in the Introduction
to Engineering courses (EG 10111/2) at the University of Notre Dame.
During the second semester
of their second year, students
also declare a Saint Mary's major and decide on an engineering major
at Notre Dame.
During the third and fourth
years at Saint Mary's College,
students enroll in engineering major courses at Notre Dame as they continue
to pursue their Saint Mary's major. As students progress through the
program, they take more and more courses at Notre Dame and fewer at Saint
Mary's until they transfer to Notre Dame at the end of their fourth year.
Students remain at Saint Mary's College for four years, ordinarily completing
their major and earning a bachelor's (B.S. or B.A.) degree in that time.
For their fifth and final year, students in the program
transfer to the University of Notre Dame. They complete their engineering
major in chemical, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, civil, or computer
engineering, computer science, or environmental geosciences, and earn
a second bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in one of those fields.
Who Can Apply
Saint Mary's students majoring in the sciences and mathematics
are especially encouraged to apply to the dual-degree engineering program.
However, the program is open to students in any major who have fulfilled
the necessary prerequisite coursework.
Successful students in the program have pursued a chemistry
major at Saint Mary's (in four years) and a chemical engineering major
(in five) at Notre Dame. The program's flexibility allows for other possibilities,
however, such as combining a mathematics major with electrical engineering,
political science with civil engineering, or biology with environmental
geoscience.
Because the program is rigorous and demanding, the decision
to apply and a preliminary plan for completing coursework should be made
by second semester sophomore year.
Advising, Support, and Cooperation
To best serve students in the program, academic advisors
from Saint Mary's and Notre Dame work together to advise them as they
progress through their five years of study. The pre-engineering advisor
and departmental chairs for respective majors at Saint Mary's work closely
with the Director of Academic Affairs in the Engineering Dean's Office
and departmental chairs of respective engineering fields at Notre Dame
to create integrated academic schedules that best serve the students.
The usual semester limits on the number of co-exchange credits allowed
does not apply to students pursuing the dual-degree program.
Students transfer across the street for their fifth year
of study in a streamlined application process. Along the way, they receive
support and encouragement from faculty and advisors on both campuses.
Admission to the Program
The University of Notre Dame guarantees admission to
the Saint Mary's College students who, after three and a half years of
study, have earned at least a 2.5 grade point average (on a 4-point scale)
in their technical courses and who have been recommended by Saint Mary's
College.
In addition, Notre Dame expedites the formal transfer
process by requiring only the official college transcripts and the transfer
application form and by waiving the high school transcripts, standard
examination scores (e.g. ACT/SAT), and personal statements required of
other transfer students.
Early notification of acceptance is made by March 1,
giving students time to apply for financial aid and make housing plans
for the fifth year.
Financial Aid and Housing
Upon transfer to Notre Dame for the fifth year, students
in the program receive the same consideration for scholarships and other
types of financial aid as other transfer applicants to the University.
They are no longer eligible for financial aid from Saint Mary's College. Students adhering to the financial aid application procedures will be considered for assistance within the policies consistently applied to all other Notre Dame students except as may be restricted by appropriate government regulations.
Saint Mary's offers on-campus housing to program participants
for all five years, allowing the strong friendships and networks they
develop to support them throughout.
Benefits of the program
The dual-degree engineering program's greatest benefit
is that it offers students the best of both worlds:
- At Saint Mary's, students enjoy
small classes and personal attention from faculty, helping them to
thrive in demanding science, mathematics, and general education courses. Saint Mary's
students also benefit from the uniquely challenging and supportive
environment of a women's college. Their liberal arts foundation gives
them strong critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, and communications
skills.
- At Notre Dame, students gain
an excellent technical education in engineering. They have access
to cutting-edge laboratories, equipment, and research facilities
right across the street. Along with their
Saint Mary's and Notre Dame alumni networks, students in the program
can tap into an expanded network for internship and job opportunities.
The program is flexible, allowing students to explore
a variety of disciplines through coursework and to choose majors-both
at Saint Mary's and Notre Dame-that reflect their interests.
The program is unique. Only one other women's college
in the United States offers an engineering program, and it is designed
to prepare students for graduate school. In contrast, the distinctive "4
+ 1" format of the Saint Mary's-Notre Dame program allows students
to obtain a terminal degree in engineering at a nearby, existing program
in just five years. Graduates of the program usually secure jobs by
the end of their studies, if not sooner, with the expectation of higher-than-average
earnings given the value of their two degrees.
The dual-degree program benefits
Saint Mary's College, which does not offer an engineering major,
and the University of Notre Dame's engineering programs, which like
others around the nation are seeking to attract more women. Nationwide, about 17 percent of engineering
students are women. At Notre Dame, about 23 percent of engineering students
are women.
For more information, contact:
Associate Professor Toni M. Barstis
Chair, Chemistry Department and Pre-Engineering Advisor
Saint Mary's College
168 Science Hall
tbarstis@saintmarys.edu
(574) 284-4661 |
