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Minors, Majors, and Dual Degrees
Minors, Majors, and Dual Degrees provide you with the opportunity to broaden your skill set outside of engineering. Often times you can choose your courses so that they can be ‘double-counted’ – meaning that the courses will count towards your minor (or major, or dual degree), and count towards engineering. Many of the technical minors (math, computer science, life sciences, etc) can often count for both the minor and as part of the technical electives for the Eng’g major. Many of the humanities/social science minors (history, psychology, language, economics, etc) can count for the minor and as the humanities requirements.

Technical Minor Example: A Math minor consists of Calc I –IV, Linear Algebra (640:250) , and 3 upper level (300 or above) math courses. Many Engineering majors have math courses in their technical elective list. The Mechanical Engineering curriculum has 2 technical elective requirements. There are 5 upper level math courses to choose from in their technical elective list. So, a student in the ME dept is already required to take Calc I – IV and Calc V. If (s)he took 640:250 and another math course to fulfill the 2 technical electives, that would leave only 1 more math course needed for the minor. If the one general elective requirement is unfulfilled, you can elect to take a math course here, completing the minor.

Humanities/Social Science Minor Example: A Psychology minor consists of 6 courses (each of 3 credits or more) including 830:101. Each Engineering student must select 4 humanities electives. You can elect to take all 4 of these humanities requirements (according to the Eng’g humanities/social science guidelines) in psychology. If the one general elective requirement is unfulfilled, you can elect to take a psychology course here, leaving only one course for the minor.

Declaring a Minor
Minors consist of approximately 18 credits. Refer to one or all of: the department, the RU catalog, or departmental website for details on course selection and requirements.
There are 2 forms required: Declaration and Certification of the minor. When you have decided to pursue the minor (sometime in your sophomore, junior, or perhaps senior year), fill out the Declaration of Minor form, and leave at B-100.
The semester before graduation, fill out a form for Certification of Minor. The department from which the minor is obtained must sign the form and return it to B100.

Changing Engineering Majors
Careful thought should precede any change of curriculum. Students should consult the department Undergraduate Director or appropriate faculty advisors in the two majors.

Dual Engineering Majors
This option is rarely taken, but some students have elected to simultaneously complete two engineering majors. Recent examples are Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering; and Chemical and Electrical/Computer Engineering. If you are interested, please consult Dean Bernath for advice (bernath@rci.rutgers.edu).

Double Major vs. Dual Degree
Double Major means that you must fulfill the ‘major requirements’ as described for that department (refer to the Undergraduate catalog for details). Generally, a second major is in the area of 30 credits. You would remain a School 14 student, but you would have the second major denoted on your transcript. Double majors do NOT appear on your diploma, but your final official transcript will note the completion of the second major and you can market this information on your resume.

Once you are certain you would like to pursue this option, come into B100 to fill out the application. There are 2 forms required: Declaration and Certification of the major. When you have decided to pursue the major (sometime in your sophomore, junior, or perhaps senior year), see a Dean in B100 for assistance. The semester before graduation, fill out a form for Certification of Major. The department from which the major is obtained must sign the form and return it to B100.

Dual Degree means that you have to actually apply to the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and be accepted. After you are accepted, you must fulfill all requirements for the BA for SAS. This is a more involved process and includes additional work on top of the ~30 credits for the major. For example, SAS requires that you take additional non-western humanities courses, as well as completing a minor in a H/SS area IF you choose a technical major (like math or computer science) in your 2nd degree. Criteria for acceptance is the same as the criteria for a School-to-School Transfer. This application must be submitted during sophomore or junior year. Students who have 98+ credits and/or are in their final year are NOT eligible for the Dual Degree program. Follow guidelines for the school with which you wish to pursue a Dual Degree (http://admissions.rutgers.edu/collegetocollege/). Consult the specific school for more details.

You would receive two separate degrees/diplomas, one from each school. If you do not complete both degrees concurrently (example, you have a few classes left for you BA, and you decide to graduate with just your BS from Engineering), you may NOT come back at a later date to finish your remaining classes and obtain the second degree.

For either option, refer to the department in which you want to get the major/degree for advice on course selection. The RU catalog and departmental websites are also a good first points of contact for details on the required courses for a major in a specific area.

There is also a 5yr Dual Degree program with the Business School - BS/MBA - 5 year program

Career Services provides students with some valuable information about majors and careers. Majors and Careers



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