Dual-Degree Program

The Dual-Degree Program is for students at other liberal arts colleges who want to study engineering at Dartmouth. You'll spend your junior or senior year at Dartmouth, receive your bachelor's degree from your home school, and then return to Dartmouth to complete a fifth year of engineering studies in the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) program.

A Dartmouth academic year has three 10-weeks terms. The academic calendar includes 4 terms — fall, winter, spring, and summer. You can begin your first year at Dartmouth in the summer, fall, or winter term of your junior or senior year. When you return for your BE year, you'll begin classes in the fall term.

After your first year at Dartmouth, you may want to pursue an internship. Contact Career Services for information about engineering internships. Career Services will also help you find a job after you finish the BE degree.

Participating Schools

Thayer School considers applications from students at the following schools. You should consult with your dean or academic advisor regarding the acceptability of Dartmouth courses toward degree requirements at your home school.

Student Experience

Engineering Student Designs Stander for Disabled Children

Engineering Student Designs Stander for Disabled Children

Scott Mitchell '15, a Dual-Degree engineering student at Bowdoin and Dartmouth, far right, and his team designed a stander for cerebral palsy patients that not only works, but is also adjustable, comfortable, and inexpensive.

Ice Safety Device Testing

Ice Safety Device Testing

Dual Degree students Javier Esteban de Celis from Wheaton College, Stjepan Vrbic from Colby College, and Garth Verdeflor from Vassar College took advantage of nearby Occom Pond to conduct testing for their ENGS 21: Intro to Engineering ice safety extraction device being developed in consultation with the local fire dept.

So You Want To Be an Engineer

Liberal Arts in the Machine Shop

Dozens of Vassar College students have completed the Thayer Dual-Degree Program, combining their liberal arts education at Vassar with an engineering curriculum at Dartmouth.

Vassar students in the Machine Shop. Top, from left: Robert Nikolai and Ross Guju. Bottom, from left: Stephanie Jump, Wanjiru Gachuhi, Evangelia Stoikou, Carolyn Savich, Rachel Josef, and James Gibson.

Program Options

Ask your dean or advisor which program option your school follows.

Option 1 (2-1-1-1)

  • Freshman and sophomore years: home college
  • Junior year: Dartmouth
  • Senior year: home college
  • BE year: Dartmouth

Option 2 (3-2)

  • Freshman, sophomore, and junior years: home college
  • Senior and BE years: Dartmouth

Course of Study

Preparation for First Year at Dartmouth

You should arrive at Dartmouth with solid preparation in mathematics and science, including:

  • Calculus (3 courses through vector-valued functions)
  • Physics (2 courses through mechanics and electromagnetism)
  • Chemistry (1 course in general chemistry)
  • Computer science (1 course, an introduction to computer science and programming)

Courses beyond the minimum, e.g., in your science major or supportive of your engineering interest, are strongly recommended and are considered in admissions.

Preparation for Bachelor of Engineering Program

As part of your BA program at your home school, you should complete upper-level courses in math and science that support your engineering interests. Examples include:

  • linear algebra and differential equations
  • electromagnetism and atomic physics
  • organic and physical chemistry
  • cell, molecular, or environmental biology

The Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree also requires a full year of courses in the arts, languages, humanities, and social sciences.

First Year at Dartmouth

Common Core Courses (3 courses)

  • ENGS 21: Introduction to Engineering
  • ENGS 22: Systems
  • ENGS 23: Distributed Systems and Fields
    - Requires ENGS 22.
    - ENGS 23 requirement is waived for students who have taken or will take an intermediate course in electromagnetism.

Distributive Core Courses (choose 1 or 2 courses)

  • ENGS 24: Science of Materials
  • ENGS 25: Introduction to Thermodynamics
  • ENGS 26: Control Theory
    - Requires ENGS 22
  • ENGS 27: Discrete and Probabilistic Systems
  • ENGS 28: Embedded Systems

Gateway Courses (choose 1 or 2 courses)

  • ENGS 30: Biological Physics
  • ENGS 31: Digital Electronics
  • ENGS 32: Electronics: Introduction to Linear and Digital Circuits
    - Requires ENGS 22, at least concurrently.
  • ENGS 33: Solid Mechanics
  • ENGS 34: Fluid Mechanics
    - Requires ENGS 23.
  • ENGS 35: Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
    - Cell and Molecular Biology recommended.
  • ENGS 36: Chemical Engineering
    - Requires ENGS 22 and 25.
  • ENGS 37: Introduction to Environmental Engineering

See the Undergraduate Course List for other undergraduate electives.

BE Year at Dartmouth

After receiving the BA degree from your home school, you'll return to Dartmouth to pursue the BE degree.

Depending on your undergraduate preparation, you may have to take additional mathematics and natural science courses to meet BE degree requirements.

With approval of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, students admitted to the BE program from other institutions, e.g., Dual Degree Program students, may transfer up to 11 STEM courses in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. Course credit transfers approved by the Dartmouth Registrar in partial satisfaction of AB degree requirements, with approval of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, may be included in partial fulfillment of BE degree requirements.

Courses transferred for course equivalency, or for engineering credit with no course equivalency, must be suitable for inclusion in a technical and applied science program and should be evaluated according to the process outlined by the Thayer Registrar for course transfers. Courses transferred in fulfillment of the math and natural science requirements for the BE program will first be assessed by the Dual Degree Program Director, the BE Program Committee, or appropriate math/science instructors at Dartmouth. Prior to approval for transfer, additional supporting material may be required, including course catalog descriptions, textbook information, syllabi, etc.

See BE Degree Requirements for more details.

Information & Planning

Program Information

Additional details for prospective Dual-Degree students.

Dual-Degree – Prospective Student Information (.pdf)

Program Planning

Course planning guide for enrolled Dual-Degree students.

Dual-Degree – Program Planning Guide (.pdf)

Tuition & Expenses

First Year at Dartmouth

Students applying for the first year in the Dartmouth dual-degree program should consult with their home school's registrar regarding tuition. Expenses at Dartmouth shows a break-down of expenses for the current year at Dartmouth.

Second Year at Thayer School

Students in the second year of the dual-degree program are Bachelor of Engineering candidates and pay BE tuition to Thayer School of Engineering. Expenses vary greatly depending on the student's choice of housing and eating arrangements. Financial aid can considerably lower these costs.

Housing

First Year at Dartmouth

First-year dual-degree students live on campus in Dartmouth undergraduate housing.

Second Year at Thayer School

Second-year dual-degree students are responsible for arranging their own housing. Information about the local rental market is at Dartmouth College Real Estate Office.

Students can also contact engs@Dartmouth.edu for local listing information.

Financial Aid

First Year at Dartmouth

First-year students are not eligible for financial aid from Dartmouth since they are on exchange from their home college. Students who have financial aid from their home college should check with their registrar to see whether that financial aid can follow them to Dartmouth.

Second Year at Thayer School

Second-year dual-degree students are BE candidates and are eligible for financial aid from Thayer School.

Admissions

Admission to the Dual-Degree Program is through Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth admissions office.

First-Year Dual-Degree Students

  1. Review the informative guide for prospective students:
    Dual-Degree – Prospective Student Information (.pdf)
  2. Consult with your dean or academic advisor regarding the acceptability of Dartmouth courses toward the degree requirements of your college.
  3. Obtain approval from your college to participate in the program, and check on financial aid.
  4. Apply through our online Dual-Degree application by February 1 prior to the year you are planning to attend, depending on the program option you choose.
    • For the 2-1-1-1 program option, apply by February 1 of your sophomore year.
    • For the 3-2 program option, apply by February 1 of your junior year.
    • Note: We have implemented a brand new application system, please be sure to contact us if you experience any difficulties.
  5. The online application will directly request your letter of recommendation from your advisor once their information is entered.
    Your recommender will be able to submit responses to the questions below through the online process.
    • How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
    • Please assess the quality and level of the applicant’s work, both analytic and experimental, including strengths and weaknesses, as appropriate.
    • How would you describe the applicant’s maturity, balance, reliability, teamwork (cooperation, contribution), oral and written communication skills, and character?
    • Has the applicant been engaged beyond coursework, e.g., as a teaching assistant, research assistant, artist, or maker?
    • Does a year spent at Dartmouth fit well with the applicant’s plan for completing her or his major at your school?
  6. International students must review the addendum, which explains several issues affecting international applicants to the program:
    Dual-degree - International Student Addendum (.pdf)

Second-Year Dual-Degree Students

Dual-degree students returning for the BE year apply through BE admissions.

Admissions Office Contact Info

Dual-Degree Program
Attn: Jenna Wheeler
Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth
15 Thayer Drive
Hanover, NH 03755

jenna.d.wheeler@dartmouth.edu
+1 (603) 646-3677