PRE-ENGINEERING AT COLGATE

University Catalog Description

Crisis: we hear the word with increasing frequency, associated with subjects as diverse as energy, agriculture, environment and economy. More than ever before, our complex society depends on technology for survival. More than ever before, talented and dedicated engineers are needed. But technical expertise is not enough. Society needs highly trained men and women with social awareness and understanding of the impact of technology on the human condition. If you're interested in engineering, and if you're willing to face this challenge, then Colgate's pre-engineering program may be the blend of technical rigor and liberal arts that you're looking for.

Why choose a pre-engineering program?
Colgate's pre-engineering program is designed to extend the scope of your undergraduate education by avoiding premature specialization. The program combines three or more years of demanding liberal arts education at Colgate with two years of professional training at one of several top-notch engineering schools. Here are some of the advantages of this strategy.

1. You will earn two degrees, one from Colgate and one from the engineering school. Your dual degrees attest to the broader base of your education and the wider range of your technical prowess. They will serve you well in your search for challenging employment.
   
2. You will enjoy the flexibility and diversity of the liberal arts experience before choosing your professional specialty. In the liberal arts tradition, you will have ample opportunity to pursue interests in the fine arts and humanities. At Colgate, you will prepare to be more than just an engineer: you will prepare to be a responsible and technically competent citizen of the world.
   
3. You can take advantage of the many opportunities for personal growth afforded by the intimate climate of a small college. Your professors are genuinely interested in your personal development, and readily accessible for extra assistance and advice. In addition, they will actively encourage your participation in campus life. At Colgate, you're not just a number.

What is Colgate's pre-engineering program?
Colgate's pre-engineering program comprises several options with different time allocations leading to two academic degrees. The basic program, designated the "3/2 BA/BS" plan, begins with three years of coursework at Colgate concentrated in physics and mathematics. Based on your academic record (see below), your personal and professional goals, and the recommendation of the pre-engineering advisor, you then apply for transfer admission to one of the affiliated engineering schools. Colgate has cooperative agreements with Columbia, Rensselaer (RPI), and Washington University (St. Louis). You are admitted to the affiliated school as a junior engineering student, and complete your undergraduate education in two years of full-time residency. You are awarded a B.S. in engineering from the affiliated school as well as a B.A. in physics from Colgate. In addition, you are entitled to participate in graduation ceremonies at both schools.

The entire spectrum of engineering sub-fields is accessible to Colgate pre-engineering students, including the traditional divisions of electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil, and industrial engineering, as well as emerging and interdisciplinary fields such as biomedical engineering, nuclear engineering, aerospace, materials research, computer science, and operations research. Although the 3/2 BS plan is the basic plan, other options are available, including a 4/2 BS plan and--for exceptional students--a 4/2 MS program.

How is Financial Aid Provided?
It is very important to note that Colgate's financial aid is restricted to students in residence at Colgate, and will not be extended to allay your expenses at the engineering school. However, the affiliated schools treat 3/2 undergraduates as transfer students, allowing you to apply for financial aid, based upon need, immediately upon admission to the affiliated school. Because 4/2 students have already completed an undergraduate degree before transfer, their opportunities for financial aid are more limited. International students take note: Your eligibility for financial aid from affiliated engineering schools is severely limited. You should not expect to receive financial aid once you leave Colgate.

What are the requirements for eligibility?
To be eligible to participate in any of the pre-engineering options, you must have a record of high academic achievement at Colgate. The requirements for participation are set partly by Colgate and partly by the particular engineering school you choose. These latter guidelines differ from school to school, and indeed they fluctuate from year to year in response to changes in the number of applicants. As a general guideline, you must maintain a Colgate G.P.A. of 3.0 (B) (3.5 for E.E. or C.S.) overall as well as in mathematics and the physical sciences in order to be eligible. Moreover, you must complete all of Colgate's graduation requirements, with the exception noted below, before transfer to the engineering school. In particular, you must complete all coursework leading to a degree in physics, with the exception of those physics courses usually taken in the senior year. These courses are waived in lieu of the technical courses taken at the engineering school. (The Colgate course catalog contains more detailed information.) Upon recommendation by Colgate's program liaison officer, eligible Colgate students can expect no difficulty transferring to Columbia, RPI, or Washington University.

Another path to engineering
Because of an anticipated shortfall of engineers with advanced degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.), graduate schools are anxious to locate and attract talented students. The engineering schools have discovered that students trained in physics have little difficulty mastering graduate level engineering studies. As a result, Colgate physics students with good academic records (G.P.A. of 3.0 or better) are accepted routinely into top-ranked graduate engineering schools. If you decide to remain at Colgate for four years, you can still aspire to an engineering career. Your four year physics degree from Colgate will provide excellent preparation for graduate engineering studies.

How do you get started?
After admission to Colgate, you should schedule your courses to begin the physics and mathematics sequence in the fall semester of your first year. Later entry into the pre-engineering curriculum will seriously constrain your course scheduling options. Colgate's introductory physics sequence has been restructured to allow you to enroll in the first course (Phys 120) with no previous calculus background (Math 111 must be taken concurrently). A complete schedule for the first year is shown below:

When you arrive on campus, you should visit the pre-engineering advisor (Prof. Joseph Amato, 207 Lathrop Hall) and indicate your interest in the program. He can supply you with more information specific to the particular engineering schools and disciplines in which you are interested. Prior to admission, you may address inquires to Prof. Amato:

c/o Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Colgate University
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY 13346
(315)228-7653
email: jamato@mail.colgate.edu

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