Combined Plans

Engineering and Computer Science

Adviser: Mark Beck, Fall (Physics); Fred Moore, Spring (Physics)

Whitman College is associated with Caltech, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University, the Duke University School of Engineering, the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Washington School of Engineering in combined programs for liberal education in engineering and computer science. In addition, with consultation and approval from the Engineering and Computer Science Program adviser and the program’s advisory committee, students may be able to arrange individual programs combining liberal education with study in engineering or computer science at another nonassociated but ABET-accredited department of engineering and/or computer science.

Typically the combined plans require five years of study. The first three years are spent at Whitman College, and the last two years are spent at the engineering school, where the student completes courses in computer science or one of the branches of engineering. At the University of Washington and at nonaffiliated institutions, more than two years may be necessary to complete the second phase of the combined plan program. Students who transfer to Whitman as candidates for the combined plan must complete a minimum of two years in residence at Whitman and satisfy appropriate modifications of the requirements outlined below. In the combined plan, two degrees are awarded upon successful completion of the program: the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with major in Natural and Mathematical Sciences or NMS, by Whitman College; and the degree of Bachelor of Science, with major in computer science or a field of engineering, by the transfer institution. The requirements for the combined plan are given below in the section titled NMS Major Requirements. Also note the information in the section titled Notes and Cautions. Individuals interested in the Computer Science option are particularly cautioned to read and be aware of issues mentioned in the Notes and Cautions section.

The combined plans in liberal arts and engineering or computer science require careful scheduling. Students who are interested in chemical, mineral, metallurgical, or biomedical engineering should take Chemistry 140 (or 125, 126, 135, and 136) and calculus during their first year. Students who are interested in other branches of engineering or in computer science should take Physics 155 or 165 and 156 or 166 and calculus during their first year. Also, students should consult with the program adviser in their first year at Whitman and regularly thereafter to ensure that they are making proper progress in the program.

Students must declare an NMS major before the end of their fourth semester in residence at Whitman in order to be eligible to transfer to another institution to complete the program. (Transfer students must declare an NMS major before the end of their second semester in residence at Whitman.) Students will have Prof. Moore as major adviser but may need to consult with professors in science departments.

NMS Major Requirements

The NMS major, intended only for students in the 3-2 Engineering and Computer Science Program, has the following requirements.

I.   Earn at least 93 credits and spend three years at Whitman (62 credits and two years for transfer students) with a Whitman grade-point average of at least 2.0.

II.  Complete the Whitman General Studies Program before transferring to another institution.

III. Complete the mathematics and science courses in lists A and B below, with a cumulative GPA at Whitman in these courses of at least 2.0 and no course grade below C-.

A. Mathematics 167, 225, 235, 244, and 300; Physics 155 or 165 and 156 or 166; Chemistry 140, or the full General Chemistry sequence (Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136).
B. One of the following three sequences, chosen with the consent of the 3-2 Engineering and Computer Science Program adviser:

1. Physics 245, 246, 255, and 256;
2. Chemistry 245, 246, and 251, 252;
3. Mathematics 260, 270, and 358 — for the Computer Science option. Please refer to Notes and Cautions section.

Normally, students interested in a branch of engineering closely related to physics choose 1; students interested in chemical engineering choose 2; students interested in computer science choose 3 (see Notes and Cautions section); and students interested in biomedical engineering choose either 1 or 2, depending on the intended subfield and transfer institution.

Additional mathematics and/or science courses are recommended. For example, Mathematics 367 offers techniques useful in most fields of engineering; Physics 335 is an essential prerequisite for students interested in electrical engineering; and statics (at another college or university) and Physics 347 are important prerequisites for students interested in civil or mechanical engineering.

IV.  Complete the requirements for a degree in computer science or a field of engineering at one of the affiliated institutions — Caltech, Columbia University, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Washington — or in any other ABET-accredited program in the United States.

Notes and Cautions

I.   Four of the five affiliated institutions (but not the University of Washington) require that students seeking admission secure a recommendation from the 3-2 program adviser. Even with a recommendation from the 3-2 program adviser, admission to some of the affiliated institutions is not guaranteed. Under normal circumstances, to secure a recommendation from the 3-2 program adviser at Whitman and to be admitted to any of the five affiliated programs, students need cumulative and mathematics-science grade-point averages of at least 3.0. Washington University in St. Louis and Columbia University normally accept students who are recommended by the 3-2 program adviser at Whitman, take the prerequisite mathematics and science courses, satisfy the general education and credit requirements set by their institutions, and meet their GPA standards (3.3 for Columbia and 3.25 for Washington University in St. Louis).

II.  Some institutions have higher (than 2.0) overall and mathematics-science GPA requirements for transfer admission and/or additional course, credit, or general education requirements. Here are three examples. A) Along with additional requirements that depend on the intended major program, Columbia University requires that students spend “approximately” three years at Whitman, complete 97 (not 93) credits at Whitman, and take the equivalents of Economics 101 or 177, 102, and English 110 (or 210). B) Washington University requires students to complete a three-credit or four-credit humanities or social science course numbered 300 or above. C) Caltech requires all 3-2 program students to take Physics 245, 246, 255, and 256. This includes, for example, students planning to study chemical engineering who also would be expected to take Chemistry 245, 246, 251, and 252. (See Requirement III above.)

III. Students receive a Whitman College degree, with an NMS major, after completing requirements I through IV above and, in particular, after receiving a B.S. degree with major in computer science or a field of engineering from an affiliated institution or from a nonaffiliated but ABET-accredited program. Completing a degree in a nonaffiliated program or at the University of Washington may take more than two years.

IV. If a Whitman student does not receive a B.S. degree from a transfer institution, he or she must satisfy the requirements for a Whitman College major other than NMS. Students, in consultation with their premajor advisers and the 3-2 Engineering and Computer Science Program adviser, may need to keep this possibility in mind as they schedule courses at Whitman.

V.  For individuals interested in the Computer Science option: It is critical to contact the program adviser early in your time at Whitman College. The hierarchical nature of the mathematical coursework required for this option along with the scheduling rotation and enrollment limits of specific mathematics courses make this course of study challenging to accomplish in three years. Indeed, there are a variety of scenarios (including starting this path late) that may preclude an individual from pursuing this option without either additional time at Whitman (beyond the normal three years) or coursework taken elsewhere.

Forestry and Environmental Management

Advisers: Robert Carson (Environmental Studies and Geology) and Tim Parker (Biology)

Whitman College has an association with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, Durham, N.C.

The Cooperative College Program is designed to coordinate the education of students at Whitman College with graduate programs in the broad area of resources and environment offered at Duke University. Participating students are accepted into either of two degree programs, the Master of Forestry (M.F.) or the Master of Environmental Management (M.E.M.). The cooperative program is designed to accommodate students after three years of study at Whitman or upon graduation from Whitman. Duke requires applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (general test without any advanced subject tests) in October or December of the year prior to the desired year of entrance. Those students who complete the necessary qualifications and who choose to enter Duke after three years may qualify for one of the professional master’s degrees with four semesters at Duke, in which at least 48 credits are earned. Upon completion of the requirements of the Duke program, the student will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in the appropriate field by Whitman College. See the Nicholas School of the Environment website, www.nicholas.duke.edu, for additional information.

The major for the Whitman degree will be biology or geology, depending on the courses taken at Whitman.

The specific requirements to be completed at Whitman College are as follows:

I.   For the biology major, the following courses are required: a minimum of 22 credits of biology to include Biology 111, 112, 205, 215 or 277, plus a minimum of seven additional credits in courses above the 200 level; Chemistry 125, 126, 135, 136, or 140; Economics 101 or 177, 102; Geology 210 (or 110 or 120); Mathematics 125, a statistics course. In addition, the following courses are recommended: Mathematics 167, Economics 307, a year of physics.

II.  For the geology major, the following courses are required: a minimum of 22 credits of geology to include Geology 210 (or 110 or 120), 227, 350, and at least 10 additional credits in courses numbered above 300; Biology 111, 112; Chemistry 125, 126, 135, 136, or 140; Economics 101 or 177, 102; Mathematics 125, a statistics course. In addition, the following courses are strongly recommended: Biology 215 or 277, Mathematics 167, Economics 307, and a year of physics.

III. Students must have a minimum of two years of residence at Whitman and have completed a minimum of 94 credits.

IV. Students who wish to participate in this program as a 3-2 candidate must obtain a recommendation from the Duke/Whitman 3-2 Committee. However, Duke University reserves the right to make the final decision regarding acceptability of the student for admission.

Law

Advisers: Patrick Frierson (Philosophy) and Noah Leavitt (General Studies)

Whitman College is associated with Columbia University in an accelerated, interdisciplinary program that allows students to obtain a bachelor’s degree from Whitman and a juris doctor degree from Columbia after successful completion of a combined program requiring six years rather than seven.

After spending three years in residence at Whitman in any of the liberal arts, the student will enroll not only in law courses at Columbia but also, after the first year of regular law courses, in other professional or graduate-level courses selected in consultation with Whitman College.

Columbia is one of the nation’s most selective law schools. The program is thus designed for students with high academic credentials, combined with qualities of leadership and maturity that show promise for outstanding professional service.

Requirements for satisfactory completion of the bachelor’s degree portion of this combined program are determined by Whitman. Requirements which should be completed during the first three years in order to qualify as an applicant are set forth in guidelines available from the prelaw advisers. It is important to study these requirements, as well as those of the student’s contemplated field of major study, as early in the years at Whitman as possible. Planning is essential and needs to be started either late in the first year or early in the sophomore year.

Students must formally communicate their interest in being considered for the Whitman-Columbia Program in Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education early in the first semester of their junior year by notifying the prelaw advisers. In the spring of his or her junior year, each candidate for nomination to the program submits to the Whitman College Pre-Law Committee a letter of application, a copy of their transcript, their scores on the Law School Admissions Test (note that students will need to register for the February LSAT in early January), and letters of recommendation from two faculty members. In addition, the candidate undergoes an interview by the committee. During the process, the Pre-Law Committee will consult with Columbia Law School. If the candidate is successful, the nomination is formally forwarded to Columbia which will, in turn, send application materials to the nominee. Acceptance at Columbia will depend upon a number of factors, of which scores on the LSAT and grade-point average are but partial criteria.

Oceanography

Advisers: Paul H. Yancey (Biology) and Patrick Spencer (Geology)

Whitman College is associated with the School of Oceanography of the University of Washington in a program for liberal education in biological or geological oceanography. The plan requires five years of study; the first three years are spent at Whitman College and the last two years at the University of Washington, where the student takes courses in oceanography and biology or geology. Students who transfer to Whitman College as candidates for the combined plan must complete a minimum of two years in residence at Whitman College and complete appropriate modifications of the requirements outlined below. In the combined plan, two degrees are awarded upon successful completion: the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Whitman College and the degree of Bachelor of Science in Oceanography by the University of Washington. The degree from Whitman College will be in biology or geology, depending on the courses taken as specified below.

Students who are recommended by Whitman will enter the admissions process of the University of Washington. In order to secure a recommendation from Whitman, a student must satisfy the following requirements during his or her three years at Whitman:

a. Earn at least 94 credits and spend three years at Whitman (62 credits and two years for transfer students) with a Whitman grade-point average of at least 3.0.

b. Complete the First-Year Experience, required of all first-year students attending Whitman.

c. Complete the General Studies Distribution Requirements at Whitman.

d. Complete certain mathematics and sciences courses including those listed below, with a cumulative GPA at Whitman in these courses of at least 3.0.

This plan requires careful scheduling. Students must declare one of these majors by the end of their fourth semester in residence at Whitman College (transfer students must declare at the end of their second semester in residence at Whitman College). It is strongly recommended that interested students consult with one of the program advisers starting in their first year, then consult regularly thereafter to ensure that they are making proper progress in the program.

Required Math and Science Courses

I.   Biology-Oceanography majors must complete Chemistry 125, 126, 135, 136 (or 140), 245; Mathematics 125, 126, 225, 235; Geology 110 (or 120 or 210); Biology 111, 112, 205, 215 or 277, 303 and 304 or 305 and 306, and 310 or 330. A year of physics (eight semester credits) also is required, which may be satisfied with Whitman’s Physics 155 or 165, 156 or 166, or the University of Washington’s Physics 121, 122, 123. At the University of Washington in their fourth and fifth years, students must take at least eight semester-equivalent credits of upper-division biology electives, and three semester-equivalent credits of independent research; and they must take the Biology Graduate Record Examination and attain a score sufficient to satisfy Whitman’s requirements.

II.  Geology-Oceanography majors must complete Chemistry 125, 135, 126, 136, or 140; Mathematics 125, 126, 225, 235; Biology 111, 112; Geology 110 (or 120 or 210), 227, 350, 358, 368, and four or more credits in courses numbered above 300. A year of physics (eight semester credits) also is required, which may be satisfied with Whitman’s Physics 155 or 165, 156 or 166, or the University of Washington’s Physics 121, 122, 123. At the University of Washington in their fourth and fifth years, students must take at least 12 semester-equivalent credits of upper-division geology electives; and they must take the geology department written major examination and attain a score sufficient to satisfy Whitman’s requirements.