Engineering
Whitman College offers students the opportunity to earn an engineering degree from one of the nation's top engineering schools through our 3-2 Engineering combined plan.
Why 3-2 Engineering?
Through the 3-2 Engineering program, students earn a bachelor’s degree in their chosen subject area from Whitman College, as well as a bachelor’s in engineering from one of our partner schools, in five years. Engineering students who have received a rigorous liberal arts education have stronger mathematical, writing and critical thinking skills than traditionally trained engineering students. Those who complete the program have a more well-rounded education and are sought after by employers. The 3-2 Engineering program is a good fit for students who wish to pursue a degree in engineering, but also have a strong outside interest, such as varsity athletics, music or theatre.
How does it work?
Students enrolled in the combined plan spend three years studying at Whitman College in Walla Walla. The college offers four sequences for the engineering program:
- Physics/Pre-Engineering — Typical for students who wish to pursue a physical branch of engineering, industrial engineering, operations research or a closely related field.
- Chemistry/Pre-Engineering — Typical for students interested in chemical engineering.
- Computer Science/Pre-Engineering — Typical for students interested in computer engineering.
- Mathematics and Statistics/Pre-Engineering — Typical for students interested in computer engineering or operations research.
- Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Pre-Engineering — Typical for students interested in pursuing biomedical engineering or bioengineering.
With enough planning, it’s possible to successfully complete this program with other majors, as well. However, it is rare to be able to accomplish this within the normal, three years at Whitman. After completing study at Whitman, students transfer to one of our partner schools, earning a degree from both institutions.
Our partner schools are:
- Caltech
- Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University
- McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (also offers a 3-3 program for those who wish to earn a master’s degree)
- University of Washington School of Engineering
See the complete program requirements in the college catalog.
How do I join the program?
Students interested in pursuing the 3-2 Engineering program are encouraged to meet with advisor John Stratton as early as possible in their academic career. Completing the program in five years requires careful planning in order to meet the academic requirements. Application requirements for each partner school also vary. An informational session about the program is held each fall semester. For more information, contact John Stratton, strattja@whitman.edu.