|
|
Course Catalog 2024-2025
Bachelor of Arts Combined with Bachelor of Science in Engineering Program
|
|
The 3-2 Engineering Program is designed to develop within students not just the requisite grounding in science and mathematics, but also the creativity, effectiveness in communication, and sensitivity to real-world problems that are hallmarks of successful engineers.
Students in the program pursue studies in the liberal arts, including mathematics and sciences, during three years at Oberlin and then complete an accredited schedule of engineering courses during two years at an affiliated engineering school. At the end of five years, students receive two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Oberlin and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) from the engineering school. The latter degree allows recipients to sit for the professional licensing examination for engineers.
Oberlin’s partners for the 3-2 program are:
- Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio)
- California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California)
- Columbia University (New York, New York)
- Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri)
To ensure fulfillment of entry requirements at partner engineering schools, students are encouraged to discuss their interest in the program as early as possible with Oberlin’s engineering advisor. Because students in this program spend only three years at Oberlin, they must satisfy modified general requirements for the BA degree program at Oberlin.
 Visit the catalog page for the 3-2 engineering program.
Students are responsible for compliance with the institutional graduation requirements stated in the Oberlin College and Conservatory Course Catalog in effect when they first matriculate at Oberlin unless action by an appropriate faculty body specifically directs otherwise.
The Bachelor of Arts degree, as part of the combined liberal arts and engineering program, is conferred by Oberlin upon students who successfully complete the requirements detailed below.
|
Summary of Degree Requirements
Detailed Degree Requirements
Minimum Course Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
- Students must successfully complete a minimum of 24 full courses or the equivalent, of which at least 22 must be full academic courses (two academic half courses will count as the equivalent of one academic full course ).
- Up to two of the required 24 courses may be fulfilled by a combination of co-curricular courses .
- This minimum course requirement is subject to the requirements and limits below.
Major Study Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
- Students who pursue the Bachelor of Arts combined with Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program declare the 3-2 engineering major .
- The major must be declared before completion of 16 full courses or the equivalent.
- Students may declare additional major(s) as part of their BA degree.
Winter Term Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
The purpose of this requirement is to provide students a semi-structured opportunity to pursue interests outside of regular course offerings through immersive learning experiences.
- Winter Term takes place in January of each academic year. In certain extreme cases, permission may be granted for a student to complete a Winter Term project outside of the scheduled Winter Term. Such exceptions are granted by petition to the Registrar’s Office.
- Winter Term projects can be completed on- or off-campus, independently or in groups, and carry either one half or one full Winter Term credit.
See more about Winter Term.
General Course Requirements
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
- The following requirements must be satisfied with courses successfully completed at Oberlin College and Conservatory.
- For the purposes of these requirements, London Program and other academic courses taught by Oberlin faculty at an off-campus location will be considered courses completed at Oberlin.
- Exceptions may be made for transfer students (students who matriculate at another institution and then transfer to Oberlin) as noted below.
- Individual courses may be counted simultaneously toward more than one general course requirement providing they carry the appropriate attributes.
- Courses that are considered individual or one-on-one arrangements, such as private readings, individual research, and honors courses, do not carry degree attributes (CD, QFR, WINT, WADV)
Curriculum Exploration Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
There are two parts to this requirement:
-
Students are required to complete two full academic courses or the equivalent in each of the three divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences–Arts and Humanities (ARHU), Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSMA), and Social Sciences (SSCI)–with courses in two different departments or programs within each division, as determined by the course prefix. Courses in the Conservatory of Music will count towards the arts and humanities division. One full academic course or the equivalent must be completed in each college division by the end of four semesters.
Transfer students may count towards this requirement up to one full academic course or the equivalent in each college division, from the courses they transfer to Oberlin. Transfer students must complete at least one full academic course or the equivalent in each college division while at Oberlin. The courses (Oberlin and/or transferred from another institution) counted towards this requirement must be in two different departments or programs within each division, as determined by the course prefix.
- Students are also required to complete two additional full academic courses or the equivalent outside their maximal division (the division in which the greatest number of courses is completed).
See a list of courses with the ARHU attribute.
See a list of courses with the NSMA attribute.
See a list of courses with the SSCI attribute.
Cultural Diversity Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
The Committee on Diversity Studies administers this requirement.
Students must complete at least three full academic courses with the Cultural Diversity (CD) attribute. The three courses must be earned in at least two different departments or programs, as indicated by the course prefix. These courses must be completed at Oberlin. Students who study away in a full-semester, credit-bearing international program will receive CD credit equal to one course. Students who study away in a full-semester, credit-bearing U.S. program that directly addresses diversity may petition the Committee on Diversity Studies to receive CD credit equal to one course.
This requirement encourages students to understand cultural diversity in complex ways and in multiple contexts by taking courses that attend to questions of difference, imbalances in political and social power, diversity in cultures and the interactions among and between cultures, and methodological approaches to the study of diversity. In awarding CD credit for international study away programs and some U.S. study away programs, this requirement recognizes that study away is a profound pedagogical encounter with diversity that complements the engagement of diversity in courses across the Oberlin curriculum.
See a list of courses with the CD attribute.
Quantitative and Formal Reasoning Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
The Committee on Quantitative and Formal Reasoning administers this requirement.
Students are required to complete two Quantitative and Formal Reasoning (QFR) courses, at least one of which must be completed by the end of the fourth semester. This requirement can only be satisfied with courses completed at Oberlin, with the exception that transfer students may petition to count one transferred course with a comparable focus on quantitative and formal reasoning toward this requirement.
This requirement is designed to empower students to be able to use quantitative and formal reasoning in their academic and professional work, as well as in their personal lives. Courses carrying the QFR attribute aim to help students develop the ability to use tools, algorithms, or strategies to solve problems, make decisions, or evaluate evidence, and to equip students with the ability to formally evaluate models or sets of evidence. QFR courses emphasize developing and evaluating assumptions, organizing and structuring data, and conducting analyses to make sound judgments and conclusions. QFR courses often focus on quantitative data, but the hallmark of QFR is the application of formal logic and explicit rules for decision-making.
See a list of courses with the QFR attribute.
Writing Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
The Committee on Writing administers this requirement.
Students are required to complete two courses with either the Writing Intensive (WINT) or the Writing Advanced (WADV) attribute by the end of the second year of study if possible. A third course with the WADV attribute is strongly recommended. These courses must be completed at Oberlin, with the exception that transfer students may petition to count one transferred course with a comparable focus on writing toward this requirement.
The writing requirement is designed to help students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences develop the ability to do the following:
- communicate effectively in writing;
- understand writing as a process;
- engage in writing as a form of critical thinking;
- demonstrate rhetorical flexibility by addressing various audiences and purposes in their writing; and
- demonstrate awareness of the conventions and forms of writing in particular disciplines.
See a list of courses with the WINT attribute.
See a list of courses with the WADV attribute.
Residence Requirement
Return to the summary of degree requirements.
Students must spend at least four semesters–completing no fewer than 16 full courses or the equivalent–in residence at Oberlin or enrolled in Oberlin programs. Work completed during an approved academic leave of absence counts toward the residence requirement. Ordinarily, the last semester (or four full courses) must be completed while in residence.
|
|
|
