The 3-2 Engineering program is your pathway to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from MCLA and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from a MCLA partner institution. At MCLA you gain the basic science background required of all engineers, supplemented by a solid liberal arts curriculum that will allow you to move as freely in corporate offices as your science and engineering background will allow you to move in the laboratory or at technical field sites. This preparation for a career in engineering takes place in a small, intimate campus setting. Class sizes are small and you are part of a close-knit family of classmates and faculty - an important factor in the early years of college life.
As the name implies, as a 3-2 student you will spend your first three years at MCLA, followed by two more years at a host engineering school. Why spend 5 years for two bachelor's degrees rather than 4 years for just one? It's a matter of quality rather than quantity. Engineering schools are typically highly structured and focused on a narrow specialization - their goal is to produce engineers. This often leaves two gaps in the engineering curriculum - The underlying science that engineering principles are based on are often hurried through, and the liberal education that gives practicing engineers confidence to function outside the strict bounds of their technical expertise are given only passing attention. There's just not enough time to do it right in the traditional four years of college.
The course of study is similar to the physics BA program, reflecting the strong background in that subject (and the requisite mathematics) required in engineering curricula. Additionally, the department offers several courses specifically designed for engineering students. These include: