Dual-Degree Program in Engineering

Mount Holyoke participates in three dual degree engineering programs allowing students to earn two degrees in five years, a bachelor of arts (A.B.) from Mount Holyoke and a degree in engineering from the partner institution.  (See below.)  Dual degree students complete an MHC major and all other MHC graduation requirements by the end of the fourth year.  They also complete a major in engineering at the partner institution.  Students interested in a dual degree in engineering should consult with a member of the MHC Engineering Committee during the first semester at the College.  Currently this committee includes Professors Wei Chen (Chemistry), Paul Dobosh (Computer Science), Thomas Millette (Earth and Environment), Harriet Pollatsek (Mathematics), and Katherine Aidala (Physics). 

Some Mount Holyoke students prefer to earn the four-year A.B. from Mount Holyoke, majoring in science or mathematics and including a few engineering courses at UMass via the Five College Exchange, and then complete a master’s degree in engineering in one or two additional years elsewhere.  Students interested in a master’s degree in engineering also should consult with a member of the Engineering Committee.

All dual degree students must complete the MHC Application for a Dual Degree in Engineering.  Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in mathematics and science courses.  Each partner institution also requires an additional application, as described below.  The MHC form is available in the Office of the Dean of the College, 202 Mary Lyon Hall, and is due no later than December 1 of the sophomore year. 

For students who receive financial aid from Mount Holyoke, the MHC form also constitutes the application for an MHC Engineering Scholarship for study at the dual degree partner institution.  A limited number of MHC Engineering Scholarships are available to highly qualified students on a competitive basis.  Applicants will learn whether they have been awarded an Engineering Scholarship before the start of the spring term of the sophomore year.

Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College
Students who choose the Dartmouth program ordinarily spend their junior year at Dartmouth College taking engineering courses.  They return to Mount Holyoke for their senior year and earn their A.B. from Mount Holyoke.  Following graduation, students spend an additional year at the Thayer School to earn a bachelor of engineering (B.E.).  Students complete an application to Thayer, and admission is by Thayer in consultation with the MHC Engineering Committee.  Students seeking financial aid apply to MHC for an Engineering Scholarship for the third year and to Thayer for financial aid for the fifth year.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Students who choose the Caltech program spend three years at Mount Holyoke followed by two years taking engineering courses at Caltech.  At the successful completion of the fifth year, they earn the A.B. from Mount Holyoke and a bachelor of science (B.S.) in engineering from Caltech.  Caltech offers financial aid, but only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.  MHC Engineering Scholarships are not available for study at Caltech.

UMass Program in Engineering
Students who choose the UMass program ordinarily spend their junior year living at UMass and taking engineering courses.  They return to Mount Holyoke for their senior year and earn their A.B. from Mount Holyoke.  Following graduation, students spend an additional year at UMass to earn a bachelor of science (B.S.) in engineering.  For admission, students work with both an advisor from MHC and a UMass advisor to plan a proposed five-year course of study and complete the MHC/UMass Engineering Dual Degree Program form.  The MHC/UMass form is available in the Dean of the College’s Office.  Students seeking financial aid apply to MHC for an Engineering Scholarship for the third year (tuition, fees, room and board) and for the fifth year (tuition and fees).  Currently, students may apply to UMass for aid toward room and board costs in the fifth year.