<p>Are there any other good LAC's in engineering other than Harvey Mudd and Swarthmore</p>
<p>Lehigh University is LACish and great engineering school</p>
<p>Lafayette, near Lehigh.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd really should be viewed as a superb small engineering/tech school rather than an LAC. Their course offerings in non-science fields are very limited, relying on the other Claremont Colleges for things like art, languages, social sciences, humanities, etc. Virtually all of the students will be majoring in science/engineering, so it won't have the feel of a liberal arts college (although the Claremont colleges offset that a little bit). </p>
<p>This is neither a pro or a con, just something to consider. I think the decision to attend Harvey Mudd really has to be made on the same basis as choosing to go to MIT or CalTech or any other pure tech school. If you are absolutely, positively sure that you want to focus exclusively on science and engineering stuff, then it's a great choice. However, if you want to explore other fields and, who knows, maybe end up as Poli Sci or Philosophy major, then a tech school isn't going to offer much in the way of those options. </p>
<p>Conversely, an LAC with an engineering department is going to give you a broader education, but not as much depth in the engineering program as a tech school. For example, you get a BS degree in General Engineering from an ABET-accredited program at Swarthmore, but it's different than a tech school where you would graduate with a BSE degree in a specific type of engineering -- Mechanical, Chemical, etc. The more specialized degree probably makes more sense if you are looking to be recruited as a working engineer straight out of college. Swarthmore's engineering majors are more likely to either go to grad school in engineering or go into career paths that combine solid technical backgrounds with a broader education: systems design for Wall Street firms, entreprenuerial careers like software companies, etc. You still specialize with electives in a particular field of engineering, but not to the same extent as actually getting a degree in, for example, Chemical Engineering.</p>
<p>As far as tradtional LACs that offer a BS degree in general engineering like Swarthmore's, I believe that Smith has recently started an engineering program.</p>
<p>Hartwick College in upstate NY has excellent science facilities...they just opened a new science center. Hartwick also offers cooperative programs in engineering with Columbia University and Clarkson University, which is a 3-2 program. Three years at Hartwick, two at one of the other universities, it's an excellent program:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.hartwick.edu/x782.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.hartwick.edu/x782.xml</a></p>
<p>Bucknell...</p>
<p>Why is there no board for Hartwick??</p>
<p>My DD has been accepted to RPI as a Medalist, but is also being offered merit money from Hartwick and is seriously considering Hartwick. </p>
<p>It would be nice if there was someway to connect on these boards.</p>
<p>Dado...I don't know why there isn't a Hartwick board. You should start one! Congratulations on the acceptances.</p>
<p>Im surprised Collegehelp is the only one to mention Bucknell....arent they ranked pretty up there for engineering (especially for a LAC)</p>
<p>For a woman, Smith has engineering.</p>
<p>yes Bucknell is highly ranked in US News among non-doctoral degree granting colleges.</p>
<h1>2 Harvey Mudd</h1>
<h1>8 Bucknell</h1>
<h1>9 Swarthmore</h1>
<h1>14 Lafayette</h1>
<h1>21 Gonzaga</h1>
<h1>21 Union</h1>
<h1>21 Valparaiso</h1>
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Conversely, an LAC with an engineering department is going to give you a broader education, but not as much depth in the engineering program as a tech school. For example, you get a BS degree in General Engineering from an ABET-accredited program at Swarthmore, but it's different than a tech school where you would graduate with a BSE degree in a specific type of engineering -- Mechanical, Chemical, etc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would point out that Harvey Mudd only offers a General BS degree in Engineering. Yes, you can specialize in a particular engineering 'area', but you will still receive only a BS in Engineering, without further specification.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction on H. Mudd. </p>
<p>I just assumed they offered the traditional specialized degrees in engineering.</p>
<p>Dado2grls....just following up on your post again. RPI is a great school, but because it is a science school, I wonder if your daughter will get the proper exposure to the humanities and to the different types of people she would find at a school like Hartwick. I don't know this for a fact, but I would guess RPI has a pretty homogenous student body( of science types), while I think you are more likely to find some diversity at Hartwick--meaning artsy kids, science kids, business kids, theater kids....etc, etc. I think this type of exposure is important. Just something to consider.</p>
<p>This has been mentioned before and recently: there are many schools which offer cooperative degrees in engineering. The one I know for sure is Lawrence University: Students wishing to combine a liberal arts program with professional training in engineering or computer science may want to choose the 3-2 program in engineering, which involves three years of study at Lawrence University and two years of study at an engineering school. Lawrence has formal affiliations with Columbia University (New York, New York), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York), and Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri), but students may transfer to any accredited engineering school with the agreement of the chosen institution.</p>
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This has been mentioned before and recently: there are many schools which offer cooperative degrees in engineering. The one I know for sure is Lawrence University
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<p>Wellesley has a 3-2 deal with MIT, where you end up with 2 degrees: a BA in Wellesley and a SB in engineering (or possibly Urban Planning or Architecture) from MIT. MIT's engineering school is not bad. </p>
<p>When I looked into this years ago, the programs that interested me were : Bucknell, Trinity College (CT), and Union College.</p>
<p>Knowing what I know now, I'd suggest looking at any of these schools' programs more carefully before I concluded any of them were truly "good" for engineering. Look at the number of specifically engineering faculty, number of engineering majors available(electrical, mechanical, etc.) and number of engineering courses offered.</p>
<p>For 3-2 programs I'd suggest investigating: i) how many students from that LAC had actually completed this program; and ii) is the "transfer" to the engineering college automatic, or conditional and requiring separate, subsequent application which may well not be granted? I looked at some programs which were structured in the latter manner.</p>
<p>One more thing: When I said "courses offered" I really should have said "courses actually given each semester". LACs have a tendency to list tons of courses in their catalog, but then only offer them every other year, or even less frequently, whenever/if they get someone who is actually qualified to teach it.</p>
<p>If you are going to spend five years in a 3/2 program to get two bachelor's degrees (BA and BS), wouldn't it make more sense to add one year to the equation and get your Masters degree in Engineering (i.e. a BS followed by the M.E.?)</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you are going to spend five years in a 3/2 program to get two bachelor's degrees (BA and BS), wouldn't it make more sense to add one year to the equation and get your Masters degree in Engineering (i.e. a BS followed by the M.E.?)
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<p>I think the presumption there is that you will be able to get into a strong M.Eng/MS program. The 3/2 Wellesley program allows you to lock in a program where you get both degrees. You apply to the program as a Wellesley junior, and if you are admitted and decide to complete the program, then you will earn both bachelor's degrees. Let's take the other scenario. Let's say that you decide to complete the regular BA in 4 years and then apply to engineering graduate school. You might not get in anywhere, or at least not get in anywhere good (i.e. not as good as MIT). And by going down this road, you forfeit your chances at getting that SB from MIT. </p>
<p>Hence, speaking of the Wellesley program 3/2 program, I see it as a way to hedge your bets. Sure, if you're kicking so much butt at Wellesley that you are confident you will get admitted to a top engineering graduate program, you probably don't need the 3/2 program (although I certainly see no harm in just applying). But if you're not doing that well (but at least well enough to get into the 3/2 program), then this is a way for you to still get an elite engineering degree. Sure, it's only an engineering bachelor's degree, but it's stil an elite engineering degree. I would argue that a bachelor's degree in engineering from MIT is more marketable than a master's degree in engineering from a no-name school.</p>