Under construction
A quick FAQ about 3-2 programs and how they can benefit you.
What is a 3-2 dual-degree program?
What areas of engineering can I specialize in with a 3-2 program?
What other schools partner with Morningside College to offer 3-2 programs?
What are the advantages of a 3-2 program?
What are the disadvantages of a 3-2 program?
What is a 3-2 dual-degree program?
A 3-2 program is an exchange program between two 4-year programs. For various reasons (see advantages
), many students find the small school environment very supportive to learning during the first years of their degree.
However, engineering is a very diverse field, with each area of specialization requiring its own courses; this is something
that small schools cannot do, they do not have the student numbers or the faculty breadth to adequately cover those topics.
Instead, we work with students to identify the sub-discipline that is of most interest, then the 3-2 agreements allow the student
to transfer directly to a school that does offer that specialized degree.
The 3-2 title comes from the time structure. A student typically spends 3 years at their first school (although well prepared students can complete this part in 2 years), securing a solid understanding of
general principles and the liberal education necessary to use them, then 2 years of specialized education at the second school. Because of the way these agreements are worked
out at Morningside College, the credit earned at the second school transfers back, allowing the student to graduate with two degrees,
one from each school.
What areas of engineering can I specialize in with a 3-2 program?
Coming soon
What other schools partner with Morningside College to offer 3-2 programs?
Coming soon
We have an agreement with the University of Minnesota.
We are currently negotiating details with Iowa State University, Mankato State University, South Dakota
State University, and University of Iowa.
What are the advantages of a 3-2 program?
Coming soon
The statistics on students entering an engineering program are quite
impressive.
The average student entering an engineering program has taken:
3.5 years of HS science (including physics)
3.8 years of HS Math (including calculus)
4 years of HS English
3 years of HS social science
The average ACT scores for students entering engineering programs are
English 20.8
Mathematics 23.3
Reading 21.7
Science 22.5
However, the average student takes 4.8 years to graduate with a bachelor's
degree. The most problematic courses to get through are physics and
calculus.
The big problem shows up after graduation - many engineering graduates reach the pinnacle of their careers
within 10-15 years because they never developed the liberal skills
necessary to move on in management.
The 5 year 3-2 program addresses these problems deliberately:
We make sure that our students are ready for physics and calculus before
placement in those courses. We know exactly what is expected because our department teaches
those courses.
We make sure that our students get an appropriate liberal education, including options in business and management, so that they can continue to the highest achievable levels.
If you do not have the background of the average student (perhaps your high school did not offer calculus), we will work with you to build that background.
Probably the most important - those all important early courses, the
foundation on which your career is built, are taught in small classes (usually
between 7-30), by faculty members. We do not rely on graduate assistants, and
the faculty members do not have several hundred students to deal with. If
you want help, you can always find it.
What are the disadvantages of a 3-2 program?
Coming soon
It takes an extra year - or does it?
For the well-prepared student, it is possible to complete a 3-2 program in 4
years. For the average student, the time required to graduate with a 4-year engineering degree
averages at 4.8 years.
This often involves repeating a class (or two, or ...). So the difference
for the well prepared student is zero, and for the average student, it is really 0.4 years. In those extra 0.4
years, you build -
A more solid foundation than you might be able to in a higher pressure
4-year program More of a liberal education, giving you greater flexibility to move into new areas (including management)
as your career progresses Relationships with faculty members at two schools instead of just one
Two degrees - one in a specialized area, and one in a general area.
