School of Engineering to change dual degree requirements
Lauren Hennen
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
In a recent decision by the Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering, all students majoring in two engineering fields will now be subject to the requirements expected of double majors, rather than those outlined for students receiving a dual degree. This change will go into effect for all students graduating in May of 2009.
Jeffrey Wolcowitz, dean of Undergraduate Studies, said that this decision will mean that students graduating with two majors in engineering fields will now be subjected to the less rigorous requirements for a double major. A double major, which lists two major fields under one Bachelor of Arts degree, calls for a student to fulfill the requirements of each major in order to graduate.
A dual degree, on the other hand, carries different requirements. Instead of receiving one Bachelor of Science degree with two major fields, dual degree students will graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees in their major fields. Under dual degree requirements, a student working toward two engineering majors used to have to earn 30 credit hours beyond the credit hours needed for one of those degrees. Now, however, students pursuing majors in two engineering disciplines will only need to fulfill the individual requirements of each major. They will no longer be expected to earn the 30 additional credit hours, and they will receive one Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with two major fields.
Wolcowitz said that this change was made because former engineering dual degree students had been receiving two Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees. Since students were receiving the same degree twice, Wolcowitz said that the question arose, "Why are we treating this as two degrees?"
The change in graduation requirements for engineering dual degree students was made by the Case School of Engineering and not, Wolcowitz said, by the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
"This decision is purely for engineering, and we were able to do it for engineering because it is not a change in policy," Wolcowitz said. This means that students pursuing dual degrees outside of the School of Engineering will still be subjected to the current dual degree requirements. However, Wolcowitz said that Undergraduate Studies is continuing to look at a change in policy for dual degree requirements.
"The question people have raised," Wolcowitz said, "is whether we should continue to require the additional 30 hours for the dual degree."
Many feel that requiring the 30 additional hours for a dual degree makes sense, because students graduating with two majors should complete more coursework in order to receive two degrees instead of one. The 30 hours corresponds to roughly a year of coursework. However, there are others who believe that completing the coursework for two majors should be sufficient for the awarding of two degrees.
The questions surrounding a possible dual degree policy change are not new ones. Undergraduate Studies has grappled with this issue in the past, eventually deciding to maintain the current requirements. But Wolcowitz said the university's dual degree policy is still under examination.
"Our school is not uncommon in its current rule, but there has been interest within the community to revisit this," he said.
Jeffrey Wolcowitz, dean of Undergraduate Studies, said that this decision will mean that students graduating with two majors in engineering fields will now be subjected to the less rigorous requirements for a double major. A double major, which lists two major fields under one Bachelor of Arts degree, calls for a student to fulfill the requirements of each major in order to graduate.
A dual degree, on the other hand, carries different requirements. Instead of receiving one Bachelor of Science degree with two major fields, dual degree students will graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees in their major fields. Under dual degree requirements, a student working toward two engineering majors used to have to earn 30 credit hours beyond the credit hours needed for one of those degrees. Now, however, students pursuing majors in two engineering disciplines will only need to fulfill the individual requirements of each major. They will no longer be expected to earn the 30 additional credit hours, and they will receive one Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with two major fields.
Wolcowitz said that this change was made because former engineering dual degree students had been receiving two Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees. Since students were receiving the same degree twice, Wolcowitz said that the question arose, "Why are we treating this as two degrees?"
The change in graduation requirements for engineering dual degree students was made by the Case School of Engineering and not, Wolcowitz said, by the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
"This decision is purely for engineering, and we were able to do it for engineering because it is not a change in policy," Wolcowitz said. This means that students pursuing dual degrees outside of the School of Engineering will still be subjected to the current dual degree requirements. However, Wolcowitz said that Undergraduate Studies is continuing to look at a change in policy for dual degree requirements.
"The question people have raised," Wolcowitz said, "is whether we should continue to require the additional 30 hours for the dual degree."
Many feel that requiring the 30 additional hours for a dual degree makes sense, because students graduating with two majors should complete more coursework in order to receive two degrees instead of one. The 30 hours corresponds to roughly a year of coursework. However, there are others who believe that completing the coursework for two majors should be sufficient for the awarding of two degrees.
The questions surrounding a possible dual degree policy change are not new ones. Undergraduate Studies has grappled with this issue in the past, eventually deciding to maintain the current requirements. But Wolcowitz said the university's dual degree policy is still under examination.
"Our school is not uncommon in its current rule, but there has been interest within the community to revisit this," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story