The Dual Degree Engineering Program is a partnership between Kalamazoo College and several engineering schools that enables a student to graduate from both schools with a B.A. from Kalamazoo and an accredited B.S. in engineering from another school, using some of the same courses for both degrees.
Interested students start their college journey at K, where they have the opportunity to explore passions and try out courses in different departments. Getting the full liberal arts experience, students take first-year and sophomore seminars, learn a second language, explore academic interests and programs, and take prerequisite math, physics, chemistry, computer science, and other courses needed for the second bachelor’s degree in engineering. Students may also cross-enroll at Western Michigan University (not far from Kalamazoo College) and try selected courses in engineering. Students have the choice of transferring from Kalamazoo to an ABET accredited engineering program at the end of three years at K and eventually graduate with a major in Chemistry or Physics. Some students decide to stay at Kalamazoo all four years and then enter engineering school, either as an undergraduate or a graduate student. This option is more flexible and allows completion of multiple majors, minors and concentrations, including academic programs outside of STEM fields.
Completion of the engineering degree (assuming the student has taken appropriate prerequisite courses) will typically take two to three years, depending on the choice of program and whether the student also wants a master’s degree (M.S.) in engineering. Some students staying at K four years may enter engineering master’s programs directly, skipping the B.S. degree and accelerating the schedule. Most students participate in engineering internships, some of which last an entire year, and these extend the timeline, but are usually well compensated.
In offering this program we partner with the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University St. Louis (WUSL) and the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Western Michigan University (WMU). The affiliation with WUSL eases the transfer process and enables supplemental financial aid opportunities. WMU has transfer scholarships available, in addition to their traditional need-based financial aid program. The two schools offer a variety of ABET accredited engineering programs at both the B.S. and M.S. level, and WUSL offers an accelerated combined B.S. and M.S. in engineering. It is also possible to transfer to other public university engineering programs in Michigan or elsewhere.
For more information:
Dr. Tom Askew, Director of Dual Degree Engineering
208C Olds/Upton
Email: Tom.Askew@kzoo.edu
OR
Dr. Eric Barth
217 Olds/Upton
Email: Eric.Barth@kzoo.edu
Check out the Advising website for more information about the Engineering DSA.