Students interested in preparing for post-graduate study in engineering or Grinnell’s 3-2 engineering program may select nearly any major offered at Grinnell College while completing the required courses. Grinnell does not offer a pre-engineering major. Instead, common majors paired with later studies in engineering are biological chemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, general science, math, and physics.
How does a student get started?
The 3-2 engineering program advisers, Paul Tjossem or Charles Cunningham, support students with their planning for any pathway to later degrees in engineering. Once or twice each fall semester, Professor Tjossem holds a meeting for students interested in pre-engineering. Signs are posted in Noyce Science Center. Students can also join an email listserv coordinated by the Science Division.
Options for Later Study in Engineering
There are three common ways Grinnell students pursue later educational opportunities in engineering.
- 3-2 engineering program: Grinnell has cooperative programs with several universities which allow completion of both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree in five years (three years at Grinnell; two years at the other institution). The types of engineering a student can prepare for are detailed on the 3-2 Engineering page.
- 4-2: Students complete four years at Grinnell earning a Bachelor of Arts degree while preparing for two additional years at another university to earn a second bachelor’s degree. This involves the same prerequisites as 3-2 program, but the student will have graduated from Grinnell in year 4.
- Graduate degrees: After graduating from Grinnell, students may apply for and enroll in Master of Science degree programs (1-2 years) for engineering or engineering PhD programs (typically 4-5 years).
The specific areas of engineering a student can prepare for and the differences in later degree programs are detailed on the 3-2 Engineering page.
Courses Planning at Grinnell
Students preparing for any of these engineering paths should expect robust engagement with the sciences in their first semesters at Grinnell. Specifically, a student interested in engineering should complete four math courses, a year of physics, one or two semesters of chemistry, introduction to economics, and one semester of computer science at CSC 161 or above. And for the 3-2 program, this is in addition to preparing to complete at least three-fourths of a major in the three years they attend Grinnell. Thus, it is advisable to take math in both semesters of the first year. Choosing a major in the first year that best overlaps with 3-2 requirements is also beneficial. That planning may also include a major that permits the student to take two courses for year 4 at the affiliate institution that will count back toward completing the Grinnell major (along with the rest of the 32 credits) in year 4.
Beyond the 3-2 requirements, Grinnell expects students to pursue a liberal arts education. Students should complete many classes in fields that enhance language skills (writing and communication both in English and in another language) as well as knowledge about human behavior and society and the many forms of creative expression. This is true for the affiliated 3-2 programs also: they require approximately 32 credits from courses outside of the sciences in order to qualify for enrollment in/transfer to their program.
As engineering is both a social and a scientific pursuit, we discourage students from double-majoring in STEM disciplines while pursuing 3-2 Engineering.
Off-Campus Study
Students interested in pursuing engineering after four years at Grinnell can easily include a semester of off-campus study in their Grinnell plans. Students who aspire to the 3-2 engineering program will find it difficult to fit in a semester of off-campus study, but they may be able to engage in global learning through one of the other study opportunities through the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) or apply for summer research outside of the United States. Consult with IGE to learn about a range of programs with different goals, some of which have a focus on engineering.
Contributions to Other Majors/Concentrations
At Grinnell, students will find courses that complement the 3-2 STEM-heavy curriculum and contextualize engineering. History, music, the arts, and political science help inform and humanize the pursuit of engineering, which is at heart the means and methods of solving problems, set within a societal framework of economics, aesthetics, ethics, and sustainability.