One program, two degrees, two vibrant cities, double the opportunities – it almost sounds too good to be true, but Hamline University’s dual-degree program with Washington University offers engineering students the opportunity to earn physics and engineering degrees by attending both institutions during a five-year period.
First offered in 2020, Hamline’s initial dual-degree students entered the program in 2021 and will be shipping off to St Louis’ Washington University in the near future. The program sees students study physics at Hamline for three years, then study engineering at Washington University for two years.
Decades ago, Hamline had a similar partnership with Washington, and more recently, with the University of Minnesota. When UMN ended the academic partnership in the late 2010s, however, Hamline was left with only its pre-engineering program and a strong demand for a direct engineering degree pathway.
"When I became department chair we started looking back at how we lost this option,” said Dr. Lifeng Dong, chair of the Hamline Physics Department. “Suddenly, we didn't have this option anymore, but there was still a student need.”
Hamline has a successful pre-engineering program, but one unique benefit of the dual-degree program is that it gives students more time to explore which of the different engineering disciplines best fits their skills and interests.
"We do have quite a number of students who are interested in engineering but they just don't know what field to go into,” Dr. Dong said. “In the regular program, some students may start with one specific field of engineering, but after they take classes they change that interest. This program is very effective in giving students a broader understanding so they can discover whether they are interested in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. Then when they make their choice, they can go to Washington University and earn two degrees."
As program liaison, Dr. Dong makes sure students are on the correct track and meet the proper course requirements in order to attend Washington University in their fourth year – which in and of itself is a benefit to Hamline students, since Washington is an internationally recognized university with selective admission. Hamline's dual-degree program gives many students a chance to prove their academic rigor at Hamline and then attend an institution they may not have been admitted to initially.
“They are very selective and it is challenging to get in,” Dr. Dong said. “But with this partnership, students are given an opportunity to get into that program.”
In addition to the academic appeal, the program also introduces students to St. Louis, which, like the Twin Cities, has been a top ranked location for young professionals. What’s more, students complete the dual degree program with more job and internship opportunities having studied in two cities, and double the networking connections among peers and professors.
