2024-2025 Catalog > Academic Opportunities > 3-2 Combined Plan in Engineering

3-2 Combined Plan in Engineering

Occidental College cooperates with the California Institute of Technology and the School of Engineering of Columbia University in several programs based on a broad foundation in the liberal arts.

These combined plans provide qualified students with an excellent liberal arts background and advanced-level entrance into either of two outstanding engineering schools. The programs are designed specifically for superior students who have strong preparation in English writing skills, mathematics, and science.

The curriculum offers considerable freedom of choice of an eventual major. Students who, by the end of the first two years, find their interests developing in fields outside of science or technology, may still choose most non-science majors in the College and graduate after the usual additional two years of course work. Similar options also exist through the junior year for choosing majors in mathematics or most other sciences without loss of time. Thus, in contrast to many engineering programs, students choosing the combined plans do not commit themselves in the first year exclusively to an engineering major. This flexibility is particularly advantageous to capable students whose abilities and interests span many fields.

The 3-2 Combined Plan Program requires completion of three years of work in the liberal arts at Occidental followed by two years of regular session work at Caltech or the School of Engineering of Columbia University. Upon successful completion of the full five-year program, students are awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the Combined Plan from Occidental and the degree of Bachelor of Science in the selected field of engineering from either Caltech or Columbia.

Students interested in the 3-2 program gain entrance into the engineering school through a strong academic record at Occidental and a recommendation by the Occidental liaison officer on behalf of the faculty. At least a 3.5 grade point average, both in science/mathematics and overall, is required. Applications to Caltech and/or Columbia are due in the spring of a student’s third year.

Students entering the programs at Occidental should have received excellent grades in high school English (including writing experience), mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Four years of high school mathematics are required, including trigonometry and a course often called Introductory Analysis (or Pre-Calculus).

Students considering either of these programs should apply directly to Occidental. For more advice, please contact:

Alec Schramm

Program Liaison & Adviser for Physical Sequence

alec@oxy.edu

(323) 259-2809

Chris Craney

Adviser for Chemistry Sequence

chmclc@oxy.edu

(323) 259-2767

Jeff Miller

Adviser for Computer Science Sequence

jeffreymiller@oxy.edu

(323) 259-1303