Engineering Science 3+2
The Engineering Science 3+2 program provides the opportunity for students to pursue a rewarding and challenging career in the high-demand field of engineering without forgoing the broader scope of a Bloomsburg University educational experience. This cooperative program of study leads to two baccalaureate degrees, one in physics, mathematics or chemistry awarded by Bloomsburg University and one in an area of engineering from either The Pennsylvania State University or Wilkes University.
Candidates for these degrees spend three years at Bloomsburg University, where they study science, mathematics, pre-engineering and a broad variety of liberal arts subjects, followed by two years at Penn State or at Wilkes University, where they study engineering disciplines.
Students may pursue an engineering education in any of the following areas:
- Aerospace Engineering (Penn State)
- Agri/Biological Engineering (Penn State)
- Chemical Engineering (Penn State)
- Civil Engineering (Penn State)
- Computer Engineering (Penn State)
- Electrical Engineering (Wilkes or Penn State)
- Engineering Management (Wilkes)
- Engineering Science (Penn State)
- Environmental Engineering (Wilkes or Penn State)
- Industrial Engineering (Penn State)
- Materials Engineering (Wilkes)
- Mechanical Engineering (Wilkes or Penn State)
- Material Science and Engineering (Penn State)
- Mining Engineering (Penn State)
- Nuclear Engineering (Penn State)
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (Penn State)
The preparatory path to an engineering degree at either The Pennyslvania State University or Wilkes University is rigorous and requires careful planning and commitment at BU, but the cost and quality of Bloomsburg makes this "three plus two" program worthwhile.
You'll earn a bachelor of arts from Bloomsburg to hang next to your engineering degree. You'll meet all the requirements for a B.A. in chemistry, physics or mathematics, including essential courses for the full array of engineering programs. These include general and modern atomic physics, chemistry, two years of calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, algorithmic processes, statics and dynamics mechanics and computer-aided design and engineering graphics.
Some engineering programs require disciplin-specific courses, so you'll work with your adviser to make the best use of time and resources while at BU.
All Penn State engineering disciplines listed are offered at the University Park campus. In addition, programs in electrical engineering and environmental engineering may be completed at the Penn State-Harrisburg campus.
Required Academic Performance
Students wishing to complete their studies at The Pennsylvania State University must maintain a quality point average (GPA) of 3.0 overall and a 2.75 in required core courses. However, be advised that the college of engineering at Penn State may designate a particular engineering discipline as being under enrollment conrol due to high demand and impose a higher GPA requirement (typically 3.5) for admission to that discipline. Any such aesignation applies for a two-year period and is then review and may be reviewed.
For transfer to Wilkes University, students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 overall. Transfer candidates to the environmental engineering, materials engineering and engineering management programs are required to have a 2.65 GPA in science, mathematics and pre-engineering courses, while candidates to the electrical engineering program must maintain a 2.75 average in these technical courses.
Admission Procedures
To enter the program, individuals need only apply and be accepted for admission to Bloomsburg University. However, applicants should be aware that any engineering program requires the application of strong mathematical and problem-solving skills. It is expected that the student's high school mathematics background is sufficient for enrollment in 53.125, the initial course in the required calculus sequence, during the first semester of study.
Students should indicate a desire to follow this program of study at the time of admission to Bloomsburg University in order to insure sufficient time to complete all of the required courses. It is difficult to complete the required core courses in three years unless the program is begun in a student's first semester of study. Throughout the program, students should frequently consult with their academic adviser (usually the 3+2 program coordinator) for assistance in careful schedule planning.
Transferring to Penn State
In January of the third year of study, students should apply for transfer to The Pennsylvania State University. All correspondence and the application should clearly indicate that the transfer is requested under a cooperative 3/2 program. Application forms are available in the program coordinator's office. Jan. 31 is the application deadline. Successful applicants will be offered provisional admission to Penn State for the following fall semester.
Completed applications should be supported by the following documentation:
- An official transcript of the applicant's final secondary school grades;
- Two official transcripts of the applicant's Bloomsburg University academic record including all grades earned;
- A schedule of courses to be taken in the spring semester of the third year;
- A letter of recommendation from the 3+2 program coordinator.
At the end of the third year of study, two copies of the student's official Bloomsburg University transcript should be forwarded to the Admissions Office of The Pennsylvania State University. Students who have maintained the required quality point average, who have completed all required courses and who are recommended by the program coordinator, will be offered permanent admission to Penn State.
Transferring to Wilkes
At the beginning of the third year of study, students should apply for transfer to Wilkes University through the coordinator of the program at Bloomsburg University. Applications are available in the coordinator's office.
Completed applications should be supported by the following credentials:
- An official transcript of the applicant's final secondary school grades;
- An official Bloomsburg University transcript of the applicant's grades including all grades earned during the first two years;
- A schedule of all courses to be taken during the third year.
- A letter of recommendation from the 3+2 program coordinator.
Successful applicants will be offered provisional admission to Wilkes University for the following summer.
At the end of the third year, a copy of the student's official Bloomsburg University transcript should be submitted to the coordinator. Students who have maintained the required quality point average, who have completed all the required courses and who are recommended by the program coordinator, will be offered permanent admission to Wilkes University.
The Bloomsburg University Degree
In January of the student's final year in engineering college, the student should send an official transcript of all courses taken to the registrar at Bloomsburg University. A letter indicating intent to graduate should be sent to the coordinator of the Engineering Science 3+2 Program so that course evaluations can be made. The registrar, upon evaluation of the transcript, will arrange for a diploma to be awarded at the university's May graduation.