At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Welcome! The engineering/management engineering major is offered through the Department of Natural Sciences of Pitzer and Scripps Colleges and is open to students from both colleges. This major is also known as the 3-2 program due to its unique structure. You spend your first three years at your home college (either Scripps or Pitzer), then transfer to a partner engineering school for another two years of specialized engineering training. The partner schools for Scripps students include Columbia University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Harvey Mudd College.
Every year, 3-2 engineering students form a friendly, diverse, high-achieving cohort. At the end of their five-year education, these students often report positively on their experience and launch careers in a range of disciplines, such as aerospace, computer science, and electrical, mechanical, biomedical, financial, and environmental engineering.
During your third year on the 3-2 track, you may choose not to transfer, which is great! After all, one purpose of the 3-2 structure is to give you the flexibility to explore interests in a liberal arts setting before specializing. Instead, you’ll stay for your fourth year at Scripps and major in a related discipline, such as physics, biology, or economics.
There is no formal application needed to begin the 3-2 program, but we highly encouraged you to contact pre-engineering adviser Professor Kevin Setter at ksetter@natsci.claremont.edu for more information
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
As an engineering student, you’ll have plenty of time to explore your interests during their pre-transfer years. But, to keep options open and stay on track with the 3-2 program, you should plan to take PHYS 33 during the fall and PHYS 34 during the spring. Additionally, you should take whichever math course you place into on the sequence: Calculus I, II, III, Linear Algebra, or Differential Equations.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
Yes! As mentioned, you should plan to take math, PHYS 33, and PHYS 34 during your first year, as these courses are prerequisites for other required courses. Additionally, You may find it helpful to make progress on your foreign language requirement during your first year at Scripps, too. For information on course selection, please reach out to Professor Kevin Setter at ksetter@natsci.claremont.edu, who will be happy to help.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes, it is common for students to complete a minor in another discipline such as physics or economics while at Scripps. This is straightforward, as the courses that 3-2 students take overlap significantly with those required of other science majors. Double majoring is less common, though there is no obstacle to doing so if you manage to complete all the requirements of the second major during your three pre-transfer years.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Though the requirements of the 3-2 major may appear daunting, they’re designed to be doable within three years and still allow flexibility for you to dive into other interests and even study abroad during your third year (with some planning). If you’re considering this track, please reach out to Professor Kevin Setter at ksetter@natsci.claremont.edu who will serve as your official transfer liaison during spring of your third year. Good luck and have fun!
Scripps Catalog link to specific requirements for the major/minor:
https://catalog.scrippscollege.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=33&poid=4862
Additional links to information relevant for new student registration:
Partner institution links:
https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/combinedplan
https://engineering.washu.edu/academics/dual-degree-program/index.html
https://www.hmc.edu/engineering/
Scripps offers the opportunity to combine a BA degree with a BS degree in engineering including agreements with Columbia University and Harvey Mudd College. Please refer to the engineering requirements under Science in the Courses. Please also see Combined Degree Programs in this catalog.
Engineering is a 3-2 program in which the student spends three years at Scripps and two years at an engineering school, completing a bachelor’s degree at Scripps and a second one at the engineering school. Both degrees are awarded at the end of five years upon completion of all requirements. An engineering major planning a 3-2 program must petition for participation in the program to the Committee on Academic Review during the fall semester of the junior year. Please refer to Combined Degree Programs section of this catalog.