<p>So I was wondering if it is possible or how easy it is to dual major in engineering and physics. I know there is a Engineering Physics Concentration, but I really want to get an ABET accredited engineering degree as well as completing a Physics concentration. I think I would be doing EE or MechE, and I would be doing the Sc.B. Physics program. Is this possible? Any information wuld be appreciated.</p>
<p>You’ll be more likely to get a response in the main Brown forum than here, since very few people check these subforums.</p>
<p>With that said, why do you want to get such a dual concentration? What would you like to get out of it? It may be the case that you don’t get much out of the physics concentration, given that background you’d get in one of those engineering fields.</p>
<p>With that said (and please note that I haven’t counted courses), I’m pretty sure it’s infeasible to complete such a combination. There is essentially no overlap between the physics and EE or MechE programs, since the former requires physics and not engineering courses, while the latter requires engineering courses with very little physics. Even an AB in physics would allow for essentially 0 electives over your time at Brown. This would mean 4 intensive science courses a term (even the most intense students avoid this, generally), and 5 such courses would be detrimental to the rest of your existence (socially and otherwise). You get roughly 1 elective a term in an engineering program - you certainly can use some of them for physics courses to satisfy your desire to study in those areas, but a dual Engineering and ScB Physics program does not seem feasible.</p>
<p>I agree with Uroogla: whats your motivation? You should really pick one or the other.</p>
<p>My motivation is that physics is my passion, but engineering is also something that I would love to do and is more practical job-wise. Looking at the course requirements, there is a decent amount of overlap, but yes it would require me to not take any electives beyond those of my four humanities, until my junior and senior year when the course requiremnts are more general.</p>
<p>I’m still not seeing the overlap, certainly not the 9 courses you’d need to make this program doable in 4 years without taking the equivalent of 20 credit hours in a term.</p>
<p>the overlap is just in the math courses and some of the physics courses would count towards advanced science courses for the engineering concentration. For example, first semester, Freshman year, I would take Math, Physics, and two engineering courses, which would be what the typiccal engineering major and physics major would take combined minus the humanity elective. It seems that I would be able to get the humanity electives in if I were to take five courses in a later semester. I am just throwing this out there, as I realize that would take away from the experience and would require alot of commitment that I am not sure I have. Anyway, thanks for responses.</p>
<p>I think there’s nothing wrong with starting down that path and seeing how you feel - you might change your mind or decide that it’s too much, but there’s nothing stopping you from getting an AB in physics or even just taking the courses that you like most and taking courses in other departments for more-relaxing semesters. The first couple semesters will give you a sense of what you can handle and want to do. Just be aware that even that first semester schedule will be very intense, so make good use of your advisor, Meiklejohn, and Shopping Period to decide if that’s the best schedule for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you for that response uroogla, I really don’t know if I want to dedicate so much time and course load to this, so I will se how it goes. Thanks again.</p>
<p>I just saw your message. I had a student who is taking that … Engineering (Industrial) and Physics (Applied). Maybe it is slightly different from what you have in mind, but depending on how many tech electives and free electives you have, you can generally fit another degree in with one extra term and taking an extra course in one or two terms earlier in the academic career. If you would like, you may send me your university curriculum flowchart for both engineering (which one are you in?) and Physics and I can help you see how difficult it might be. All the other advisors have their points well taken. This is another look at your question/curiosity.</p>
<p>In theory, Brown only lets you stay an extra semester or year if you’re doing a dual-degree (as in ScB/AB or ScB/SM, not ScB/ScB) program. In practice, not sure if that’s true.</p>