Home | 3-2 Program in Engineering

For students who want to combine their interest in engineering with other liberal arts disciplines, Clark offers the 3-2 Engineering program.

Clark offers this five-year program in conjunction with Columbia University. Students take pre-engineering courses in the sciences along with classes in the arts, humanities, and social sciences for three years, followed by two years of advanced engineering studies at Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Upon completion, students receive two degrees: a B.A. from Clark and a B.S. in engineering from Columbia.

The required curriculum of the 3-2 Engineering program, which is open to all Clark students, must be started during the first year of study to permit the timely completion of all requirements. Those students whose high school background (as determined by placement examinations) has not prepared them to enter calculus (MATH 120) and composition (ENG 020) during their first semester may not be able to enter the program unless they enroll in a summer semester to complete the requirements on time.

Note: Incoming first-year students who expect to enroll in the 3-2 Engineering Program should indicate their interest to their summer adviser when they pick classes in June or July. In addition, please plan to make an appointment with the Program Committee Chair, Charles Agosta, once you arrive on campus for the fall semester; email physics@clarku.edu or call 1-508-793-7169. The Physics Department is located in Room 231 of the Sackler Sciences Center.

Program highlights

Part 1: at Clark

At Clark, students in the 3-2 Engineering Program are advised to major in a field that strongly overlaps the entrance requirements for Columbia’s engineering school, such as chemistry, computer science, economics, environmental science and policy, mathematics, physics, or a self-designed liberal-arts/engineering major. Your major at Clark will sometimes complement your intended engineering major at Columbia. For example, if you are interested in chemical engineering, a chemistry major at Clark would be a good choice. Read about Clark courses and their equivalents for the Columbia program.

Students are encouraged to seek the advice of 3-2 Engineering Program Committee members as well as a major adviser who is familiar with the program. Course selection will be slightly different for each student, depending on the chosen major and high school AP courses, but the sample curricula will be a good place to start when planning a schedule. Students intending to declare self-designed liberal-arts/engineering major may wish to use the 3-2 Engineering Committee as their major advisory committee.

Part 2: at Columbia

At the Columbia University Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, students may major in any of the fields offered. In addition to the traditional engineering fields taught at all schools, unique programs such as engineering and public policy, biomedical engineering, system science and engineering, and fire protection engineering are also available. Please consult the program chair for further information.

Enrollment at the engineering school. Students submit a formal application for admission to the engineering school through the 3-2 Engineering Committee during their junior year. Application for financial aid is made at the same time, and those students receiving financial aid can expect to be supported at levels that are generally consistent with the level of Clark’s support during the first three years. Please note that financial aid is not available for foreign students.

Core first-year courses: 3-2 Engineering Program

To pick your courses you must first know your desired engineering major at Columbia, such as mechanical, electrical, computer, etc., and the major you intend to follow at Clark. The first year of courses is important to get you through the program efficiently. Your particular selections will vary depending on your Clark/Columbia major selections and AP credits. Below is a list of common first-year courses.

Credits	Courses
1, 2	Calculus: MATH 124 and 125 (satisfies FA) (a)
3, 4	Physics: PHYS 120 and 121 (satisfies SP) (Phys 110 is not acceptable)
5, 6	Chemistry: CHEM 101 and 102.
7	A VE perspective course e.g. Intro to Literary Analysis ENGL 20
8	One more perspective course, it may be a course from your major area.

Columbia will accept Math 120 and 121 for the Calculus sequence, but 124 and 125 are preferred.

Sample programs of study

Below are sample programs for your first three years of study in several majors to help you design your yearly schedule at Clark:

Chemistry
Computer Science
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Physics

1st year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 124	Honors Calculus I	FA
CHEM 101	Intro to Chemistry	SP
PHYS 120	Introductory Physics I
ENGL 20	Intro to Literary Analytics	VE

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 125	Honors Calculus II	FA
CHEM 102	Intro to Chemistry	SP
PHYS 121	Introductory Physics II
	Historical Perspective	HP

2nd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 130	Linear Algebra
CHEM 131	Organic Chemistry
PHYS 130	Oscillations, Waves, and Optics
	Art or music history perspective	AP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 131	Multivariate Calculus
CHEM 132	Organic Chemistry
PHYS 131	Quantum Physics and Relativity
	Values perspective (a)	VP

3rd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 244	Differential Equations
PHYS 127	Computer Simulation Lab
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy	GP
CHEM 260	Physical Chemistry I

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
CHEM 142	Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 246	Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 250	Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 262	Physical Chemistry II

Computer Science majors are required to take summer courses or to take five courses during the academic year to complete the requirements on time.

1st year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 124	Honors Calculus I	FA
CSCI 120	Computer Science I	SP
PHYS 120	Introductory Physics I
MATH 114	Discrete Mathematics
ENGL 20	Intro to Literary Analytics	VE

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 125	Honors Calculus II	FA
CSCI 121	Computer Science II	SP
PHYS 121	Introductory Physics II
	Historical Perspective	HP

2nd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
CSCI 140	Computer Language and Computer Organization
CSCI 160	Data Structures and Algorithms
CSCI 210	Artificial Intelligence
	Art or music history perspective	AP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 130	Linear Algebra
Math 131	Multivariate Calculus
CSCI 211	Topics in Artificial Intelligence
PHYS 130	Oscillations, Waves, and Optics	SP

3rd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
CSCI 170	Analysis of Programming Languages
CSCI 180	Automata Theory
CSCI 230	Compiler Design
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy (a)	GP
	Language Perspective (a)	LP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
CSCI 240	Computer Architecture
CSCI 201	Proseminar (b)
MATH 244	Differential Equations
	Values Perspective (a)	VP

These perspectives can be taken in any order.
Capstone course in computer science, required for the major. (It is usually reserved for seniors but can be taken by juniors with the strong background given by this program).

NOTE: To satisfy all requirements before enrolling in the engineering school, it may be necessary for the student to register for five courses during two semesters while at Clark.

1st year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 124	Honors Calculus I	FA
BIOL 101	Intro Biology I	SP
PHYS 120	Introductory Physics I
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy	GP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 125	Honors Calculus II	FA
GEOG 104	Earth System Science
PHYS 121	Introductory Physics II with Calculus
PHIL 131	Environmental Ethics	VP

2nd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
EN 101	Introduction to Environmental Science & Policy
MATH 130	Linear Algebra
CSCI 120	Computer Science I
	Verbal Expression Perspective	VE

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
EN 242	Sustainable Development and Planning
MATH 131	Multivariate Calculus
GEOG 205	Introduction to Hydrology
	Historical Perspective with Diversity & Inclusion	HP & DI

3rd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 244	Differential Equations
CHEM 101	Intro to Chemistry I
	Art or music history perspective	AP
	Language perspective (may require prerequisite coursework)	LP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
GEOG 263	Climate System and Global Change
CHEM 102	Intro to Chemistry II
GEOG 283	Terrestrial Ecosystems (as capstone)
EN 207	Climate Change, Energy, and Development

1st year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 124	Honors Calculus I	FA
PHYS 120	Introductory Physics I
ENGL 20	Intro to Literary Analytics	VE
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy	GP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 125	Honors Calculus II	FA
PHYS 121	Introductory Physics II
	Values Perspective (c)	VP

2nd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 130	Linear Algebra
MATH 114	Discrete Mathematics
PHYS 130	Oscillations, Waves, and Optics
CHEM 101	Intro to Chemistry	SP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 131	Multivariate Calculus
MATH 244	Differential Equations
PHYS 127	Computer Simulation Lab	FA
	Values perspective (c) or History of Math (a)	VP / HP

3rd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 172	Intro to Modern Analysis
MATH 225	Modern Algebra I
MATH 212	Numerical Analysis
	Art or Music History (c)	AP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 216	Intro to Complex Analysis
MATH 201	Proseminar (b)
	Language Perspective (c)	LP
	Elective to fit engineering speciality

History of Mathematics is offered in alternate years, so should be taken in the first or second year as possible.
Capstone course in mathematics, required for the major (usually reserved for seniors, but can be taken by juniors with the strong background given by this program).
These perspectives can be taken in any order.

If the results of the mathematics placement examination place you below calculus, you will be required to take calculus in a summer semester to prepare for your second-year courses (MATH 130/131 and PHYS 130). If you do not place into ENGL 20, you also may be required to take summer courses.

Physics majors are required to take summer courses or to take five courses during the academic year to complete the requirements on time.

1st year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 124	Honors Calculus I	FA
PHYS 120	Introductory Physics I
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy	GP
ENGL 20	Intro to Literary Analytics	VE

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 125	Honors Calculus II	FA
PHYS 121	Introductory Physics II
	Historical Perspective (a)	HP
	Art or music history perspective (a)	AP

2nd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 130	Linear Algebra
PHYS 130	Oscillations, Waves, and Optics
PHYS 127 or 219	Computer Simulation Lab or Electronics Lab
CHEM 101		SP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 131	Multivariate Calculus
PHYS 131	Quantum Physics and Relativity
PHYS 123	Methods of Physics
	Values perspective (a)	VP

3rd year courses

Fall semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
MATH 244	Differential Equations
PHYS 160	Classical Mechanics
PHYS 150	Statistical and Thermal Physics
ECON 10	Economics and the World Economy	GP

Spring semester

Course #	Course Title	Perspective
PHYS 171	Intro to Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 161	Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 299	Special Projects in Physics (b)
	Language Perspective (a)	LP

These perspectives can be taken in any order.
The special project course is normally continued throughout the following summer under the direct supervision of the faculty. Students can anticipate financial support during the summer for well-developed projects.