<p>I heard that most majors have 15 courses, plus the 2 cluster requirements and the writing class, for a total of 22 classes and 10 remaining free classes, which can easily be used to double major. But I've heard that engineering majors have only one cluster requirement because they typically have more core required classes. So how much more core classes do engineering majors typically have, thus affecting the number of free classes available? Do a lot of engineering majors do double majors? I know that double majoring is very common in UR in general, somewhere like half of all students do so. I'm just wondering if this also applies to engineers. If its helpful, the 2 fields I'm considering the most are Computer Science and Mechanial Engineering.</p>
<p>For ME, [Bachelor</a> of Science : Mechanical Engineering : University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.me.rochester.edu/major-minor/major.html]Bachelor”>http://www.me.rochester.edu/major-minor/major.html) Note that there are only three “free elective” slots in the typical schedule.</p>
<p>By my count, the BS in CS requires 17 courses. <a href=“http://www.cs.rochester.edu/sites/default/files/cs-handbook-7aug2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cs.rochester.edu/sites/default/files/cs-handbook-7aug2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>You might consider Take Five: [Take</a> Five Scholars : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester](<a href=“Students : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester”>Students : College Center for Advising Services : University of Rochester)</p>
<p>Don’t engineers complete only 1 cluster, as opposed to 2?</p>
<p>Engineering students complete 1 cluster + another single humanities/social science class so 4 classes required total in addition to their engineering major.</p>
<p>However, if you do a minor it substitutes for cluster. I believe you still need the additional single class though not sure.</p>
<p>Wow, MechE seems to have a pretty loaded schedule. Does that mean that even with UR’s open curriculum, MechE students don’t really have that much more academic freedom than MechE’s from other universities?</p>
<p>And how often to engineers double major, knowing that this is common for the student body in general?</p>
<p>You should look at the ME curriculum to see how many extra slots you would have. The difference is at UR, except for the writing class, your cluster choice and extra classes are entirely your choice. No required psych or soc class if you don’t want. The cluster is sort of a mini minor so all 3 classes revolve around what ever extra interest area you have. </p>
<p>I don’t know that double majoring is easy anywhere in engineering. It would be easier to do a major and a minor. Students majoring other areas are more able to double major especially if there is some overlap of required classes. </p>
<p>What makes UR unique is that they have the Take 5 program where you can take non engineering classes in the 5th year tuition free. So if you find you have a non-natural science interest you want to pursue like music or language or want to do a study abroad program, you can do so in your 5th year.</p>
<p>I know that quite a few comp sci majors are able to double major, but, of the 6 or so MEs that I know, none are double majoring. Engineering here is just as time consuming as at other universities. I assume this is because of how ABET accreditation makes every accredited engineering program teach certain subjects. I know other engineers, however, that still manage to double major, but it’s because of how hard they are willing to work. They still have substantially difficult schedules. If you have any more questions, I should be able to answer them. I am trying to double in comp sci and physics.</p>