Planning Your Program
To be competitive in the pre-engineering program, students generally major in a scientific discipline. Physics is a particularly popular major as it prepares students well for the range of engineering courses they will encounter once they leave Richmond to begin work on their second degree.
Students who are interested in pursuing the pre-engineering tract at the University should speak with the engineering dual degree advisor early and often to ensure that they are well-prepared for making the transition after their third year.
There are 23 different dual engineering degrees in which students can enroll, provided they meet the requirements for transfer of the partner institutions. Richmond currently has relationships established with four engineering schools: Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science and Virginia Polytechnic Institute College of Engineering. In addition, students can earn a Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) or a Masters of Forestry (MF) through Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
3-2 Program
In the “3-2 program,” a student will receive two bachelor degrees from two institutions within a five-year period. Courses in the fourth and fifth years at a partner institution are used to complete the major at Richmond and provide sufficient hours of elective work to complete remaining degree work. The work at Richmond is accepted toward the degree at the partner institution, and successful work in the fourth and fifth years enables the student to gain the second degree. This is a common program between liberal arts institutions like Richmond and engineering schools, but it also is available in some specialized science programs that enhance the offerings at Richmond.
The engineering schools in the table below have agreements with the University of Richmond whereby students will spend their first three years at Richmond completing a number of pre-engineering courses, all general education requirements and most requirements for their major. They will then transfer to the engineering school for two additional years. At the end of the five-year period of successful coursework, the students will receive bachelor of science degrees from Richmond and the engineering school. This combines the best of the liberal arts and sciences with professional engineering coursework.
3-1-1 Program
A “3-1-1 program” provides a bachelor’s degree from Richmond and a master’s degree from a partner institution. The fourth year is taken at the partner institution and the work is transferred to Richmond to complete the Richmond degree. If the fourth year work is of good quality, the Richmond student is admitted to an accelerated one-year master’s degree program at the partner institution. Therefore, at the end of the fifth year a master’s degree may be earned.
Currently, the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering partners with Richmond to provide this opportunity. The fourth year of undergraduate work may be spent at the University of Virginia. The key is that there is no guarantee of admission to the master’s program; admission depends on performance in engineering coursework during the fourth year of undergraduate study. The programs at U.Va. are: biomedical engineering, computer science, mechanical and aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, systems and information engineering, civil engineering and materials science and engineering.
4-1 Program
A “4-1 program” allows University of Richmond students to move into an accelerated one-year master’s degree program at a partner institution. Students complete their coursework at Richmond, but based on performance in selected courses, are admitted into a one-year master’s degree program. Currently, this option is possible through Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering for chemistry students. The proximity of VCU to Richmond and a cross-registration agreement allow talented chemistry majors to take courses at VCU in chemical engineering during their junior and senior years. If they do well, they will be admitted to a one-year master’s of engineering program. Students should discuss this option with the chair of the chemistry department.
4-2 Programs
A “4-2 program” would be of interest to students who wish to complete four years at Richmond before moving on to complete an engineering degree. Columbia University provides two such programs. One leads to a bachelor of science degree in engineering after the two additional years, while the other leads to a master’s degree in engineering. The important distinction is that admission to the bachelor of science degree program is guaranteed upon successful completion of preparatory work at Richmond and the recommendation of the dual degree adviser, while admission to the graduate engineering program is competitive.
