On Mar. 5th, 2024, Lindenwood University announced that they will be partnering with Washington University for a dual degree program in pre-engineering.
“Lindenwood was interested in expanding options to provide to students, particularly in STEM fields, and we were thinking about engineering,” Dr. Erin Martin said. “As we were looking for ways to create opportunities for students, we thought this would really just be a good fit for what Lindenwood already has to offer, and then it would be able to provide our students with one more pathway towards getting a degree.”
Washington University does dual-degree programs with many other colleges across the country and last fall, Lindenwood approached Washington University about their interest in the partnership. A proposal was eventually sent to allow Lindenwood to join Washington’s list of affiliated institutions, and they were eventually accepted.
“It basically came out of us wanting to create more opportunities for students here,” Martin said. “We get a fair number of students who are interested in engineering, and we didn’t have a pathway for them. So this allows them to have that pathway.”
The partnership is either a three-two or a three-three program, with students starting at Lindenwood for three years, completing their general education courses and their pre-engineering courses. Ranging from courses in calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science. The students also must meet a GPA requirement of 3.25.
“It all varies slightly depending on the kind of engineering that students want to do, then there’s a recommendation letter from the liaison, and basically as long as students meet those requirements, they should be good to go,” Martin said.
According to science professor Dr. Cynthia Schroeder, Lindenwood plans to accommodate specialized labs, equipment, and classrooms tailored to pre-engineering courses, as the program begins.
“The College of Science, Technology and Science is always looking for opportunities to enhance our academic offerings, increase research opportunities, and bolster our growing reputation in the STEM fields,” Schroeder said. “Collaborating with a prestigious institution like Washington University can bring a wealth of benefits to Lindenwood, including access to resources, expertise, and opportunities for students and faculty.”
After completing successful completion of the dual-degree enrollment program, students will receive two degrees: A Bachelors of Science or Bachelor of Arts from Lindenwood, and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Washington University. That is the three-two program. For the three-three program, students have the option to go for an engineering masters degree from Wash-U. At that campus, the students would be taking all engineering courses, but can reverse transfer to Lindenwood if they need to complete any remaining 120 credit hours. Altogether, students and faculty at both Lindenwood and Wash-U are looking forward to how the program plays out, how many students partake in it, and what all the students will get out of it.
“With this partnership, LU will attract more students interested in STEM fields, particularly engineering, thereby diversifying the student body and fostering an even more vibrant campus community,” Schroeder said.
