<p>I have am accepted and have decided to attend Tufts Engineering program but am not sure if engineering is totally for me. Would it be possible for me to double major in something like physics bio or philosophy? Is it difficult to switch from the school of engineering to arts and sciences once enrolled?</p>
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<p>It's obscenely easy to switch from Engineering into Liberal Arts. Just as it is easy to switch from Liberal Arts into Engineering.</p>
<p>Despite how easy it is to leave engineering, it's something <em>very</em> few engineering students do. Every couple of years, we actually end up with a negative engineering retention rate: more students switching into engineering than leaving it. The big reason for this (in my mind) is our engineers don't burn out in the same way so many others do. Tufts Engineers are given the intellectual and curricular freedom to explore interests outside of engineering, so that students who enter and think, "Maybe I'd like to try a different subject," can do that without endangering their graduate date. </p>
<p>Taking a philosophy class as an engineer (or two or five philosophy classes) isn't such a bizarre thing at Tufts. </p>
<p>I was popping around the Tufts website the other day and I came across the profile of Head Tutors - there are several engineers with 2nd majors outside of engineering in psychology, economics, biochemistry.</p>
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<p>Just in case you want to see for yourself: Academic</a> Resource Center - Head Tutors</p>
<p>It's almost impossible to get a legitimate engineering degree while doubling in something from non-engineering, cuz you have to take languages and all of the other crap Arts and Sciences students have to go through.</p>
<p>A lot of your classes will overlap, but you'll likely be required to do summer classes, 5+ classes a semester, and/or an extra semester.</p>
<p>But Tufts does have special Engineering "2nd majors" designed for AandS students that only require 5-10 additional classes. You won't really learn anything from this program, but you get the degree.</p>
<p>Double majoring is challenging and time intensive if you have a first major in engineering, but it is possible. There are particular second majors that do not require any additional time. These tend to be majors like Drama or Music - which have fewer requirements - or math, biochem, or quantitative economics - which have a lot of overlap with engineering classes. Doing one of these is far from "impossible."</p>
<p>Where Chapst1ck is correct: ff you want a second major in something like psychology or political science, that would require a summer of work.</p>
<p>Saying "You won't really learn anything from this program" is an opinion I absolutely do not share. The idea that classes in Engineering Psychology or Biomedical Engineering won't teach you anything if you are enrolled in Liberal Arts is specious.</p>
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The idea that classes in Engineering Psychology or Biomedical Engineering won't teach you anything if you are enrolled in Liberal Arts is specious.
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<p>I was referring to the fact that they won't learn enough to become engineers after they graduate. For biomedical engineering, students only have to take 2 BME courses to satisfy requirements while BME first majors have to take over 15.</p>
<p>Obviously you learn <em>something</em> from every class you take, but the degree that you'll receive in biomedical engineering is an empty one.</p>
<p>DanAdmiss@Tufts,
How difficult would it be to dual major in Biomedical Engineering as well as Economics at Tufts?
And this wouldn't hinder the learning experiences of either major would it?
Do you recommend it?
Also how do I indicate this when I'm applying?</p>
<p>Two ways to do this. One would be REALLY hard. The other is reasonable, but still a challenge.</p>
<p>The really hard way: getting a first major in BME in the Engineering School with a second major in Econ. The first major BME (this is the accredited degree) has more required classes than any other program at Tufts. You would absolutely need to take summer classes to make this work and you would have effectively zero elective options. Theoretically possible? Yes. Practically feasible without added extra time to graduate? No.</p>
<p>The second, much more reasonable, but still challenging, option is to be a liberal arts students and grab a second major in BME. As has been pointed out, there are disadvantages to this: a major in BME from the Liberal Arts School isn't an ABET accredited engineering degree. This path would be my recommendation if you want a dual major. I firmly believe that this is an option that gives a tremendous education in BME, but you won't receive the depth of technical education an engineering student would. </p>
<p>If you want, foremost, to be an engineering student, it may be worth considering concentrated coursework in econ without actually shooting for the 'major' label. Having a second 'major' as an engineering student may not be that advantageous if you can demonstrate coursework that provides you with a strong foundation; much of this depends on how much you want to balance econ vs. BME. </p>
<p>However, I would like to point out that merely asking that question is a pretty strong indicator that you'd be a great match at Tufts. Tufts is a community of minds that thinks on interdisciplinary and collaborative lines. The sorts of minds that are simultaneously drawn to econ and BME tend to be happy people at Tufts.</p>
<p>I'm curious, what's prompted you to look at the option of a double major in those subjects.</p>
<p>Also, why not minor in Econ?</p>
<p>DanAdmiss@Tufts,
Thank you so much for your response! It was very helpful as well as informative!
I really really love both the subjects. Biomedical Engineering seems like it was created solely for me! I think this is one of the greatest degrees ever and am REALLY looking forward to becoming a BME. However, I have been involved in Model United Nations for four years and Economics simply astounds me. Needless to say, I want the best of both words. I really wanted to dual major however I want to be, foremost, a Biomedical Engineer.
Even though it is possible I really am looking forward to taking electives and continuing on with my extracurriculars while I am in college.
Do you think that if I study for one or two summers extra that free time/ elective courses would be possible (they are essential in my idea of college life)?
How about staying in college for five years, and how would that work? </p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Given what you'd like to do, you're definitely a match for Tufts. </p>
<p>With a couple of summers of extra work, you could become a BME with a second major in econ. Again, this would still be challenging, but it would be possible. And yes, you would have electives and time to do plenty of other fun things. </p>
<p>I'm so pleased to hear that you have something outside of engineering that you care about so passionately. Think about if you really want the 'major' label, however. This is not meant to be discouragement (I think it's awesome that you feel so strongly about this), but just to make sure that would be the best option. The BME major would still provide you with a good deal of opportunity to take amazing econ classes like econometrics or game theory, and you would still be able to delve - deeply delve - into the subject. Don't get too hung up on the label, it's the experience that often counts more.</p>
<p>But yes, with summers, doubling up in econ and BME would be possible in a way that would still let you have the full and active college experience.</p>
<p>I want to reinforce the idea that you don't necessarily have to major in something if you're interested in it. Take some classes in it that interest you! That's been my poison so far, dabbling in various subjects that appeal to me without going through the whole, "what classes do I have to take to fill the major requirements" hoopla.</p>
<p>Dan, or whoever else may know:</p>
<p>I am in the school of engineering. I'm going to get my BA in Comp Sci. What are the requirements and challenges for a double major in Engineering Psychology?</p>
<p>Thanks,
George Bourgeois '12</p>
<p>hey, I dont really know much about going about doing that but that double major was exactly what i was thinking!</p>
<p>Easily explained - sort of.</p>
<p>I'm going to link to the list the major requirements for those programs. </p>
<p>Engineering</a> Psychology Requirements - Tufts University</p>
<p>Computer</a> Science Requirements - Tufts University</p>
<p>Total, that's 22 separate courses you'd need for the double major. You can shave some courses off that with the right AP credit. You need 34 courses to graduate from the School of Liberal Arts, but most students have more than that. With just the bare minimum for graduation, and no AP credit, you'd still have 12 elective courses to take anywhere else. You could continue with more CS, Engineering, or Psychology, but I suspect an average of 3 major-related courses each semester would probably be enough.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge is that scheduling constraints will end up dictating a lot of your schedule compared to the average student. You'll need to plan your courses more carefully and will have to pay attention to what specifically is offered each semester. If you know you need to take Organizational Psychology and Theory of Computation in a particular semester, then you'll need to build your other courses around that. </p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I've heard Ben Hescott (perhaps the nicest computer science professor in the history of CS) say that we have a higher percentage of computer science double majors than any other school. And I know that Ben, personally, is proud of how many of our CS students blend their major with other areas of interest, so you can be sure you'll receive a ton of support and encouragement from the department. And if this is an avenue you're really serious about, I'd encourage you to contact Professor Hescott (<a href="mailto:hescott@cs.tufts.edu">hescott@cs.tufts.edu</a>) to see what he thinks.</p>
<p>Contacting Prof Hescott goes double for you, George, since you're already a Tufts student.</p>
<p>yeah, Ive been talking with prof Hescott for awhile now and I must agree, he is awesome.</p>
<p>sweet, I'm taking comp 15 with him next semester</p>