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00-01 LS&A Bulletin

Chapter V: Special Degrees and Pre-Professional Studies

Several special degree programs are offered by the joint cooperation of LS&A and some other college or school within the University. Admission to some of these programs is highly competitive. Because many of these programs require specific courses for admission, it is important for students to identify program interests early in their undergraduate careers, and often at the freshman level. Although the basic requirements are summarized in this chapter, students should consult academic advisors associated with the various programs.

Many LS&A students are interested in applying for admission to a professional school either after two years of liberal arts studies or after completing an LS&A degree. The second half of this chapter describes several pre-professional courses of study. Pre-professional advising is available at both the Academic Advising Center and the Office of Career Planning and Placement.

Special Joint Degree Programs

Engineering (Joint Program in Liberal Arts and Engineering)

This program is designed to enable students to develop a course of study which offers broader academic opportunities than those offered by either college. The program is intended for students who wish to develop a depth of understanding in the technical studies associated with the College of Engineering and in the physical and natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. This integration of technical studies with the liberal arts is the primary strength of the program. It is open to students enrolled in Engineering or LS&A and leads to concurrent bachelor's degrees from both colleges. It is intended primarily for students who enroll as freshmen in one of the two colleges.

The variety of courses which can be elected by students in the joint program makes it impractical to list specific requirements. Instead, each student should consult faculty members and academic advisors in each college to develop the best plan of study. Primary responsibility for planning the academic program and continuing contact with academic advisors in the two fields is assumed by the student, who also is responsible for becoming familiar with the academic policies and procedures of both colleges and the academic requirements and courses in both fields of concentration as described in the Bulletins of the two colleges.

It is usually possible for students carrying 16 credits a term to meet all requirements in 10 or 11 terms.

Joint Degree Program Structure

Candidates for the combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) and liberal arts degree (A.B., B.S., or B.G.S.) must:

  1. complete one of the degree programs in the College of Engineering;
  2. complete a minimum of 90 credits of LS&A courses;
  3. have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

In addition, candidates for the joint Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree must complete the LS&A degree requirements (Introductory Composition, the Upper-Level Writing requirement, the Race & Ethnicity requirement, the Quantitative Reasoning requirement, the language requirement, and an approved area distribution plan) and an approved LS&A concentration plan. Candidates for the joint Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) and Bachelor in General Studies (B.G.S.) degree must complete the LS&A Introductory Composition, the Upper-Level Writing requirement, the Race & Ethnicity requirement, the Quantitative Reasoning requirement, and a minimum 40 credits of LS&A courses 300-level or above with a GPA of at least 2.0. No more than 15 of these credits may be elected from any one division. (A division means a division number in the Time Schedule.)

Administrative Regulations

  1. Students may initially enroll in either the College of Engineering or the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
  2. To be qualified for admission to the joint degree program, students are usually expected to have completed 30 credits of courses with an overall grade point average of at least 2.7. Entry of LS&A students to some programs in Engineering may require a substantially higher grade point average.
  3. Students considering this program should discuss their plans with the program advisor associated with the college in which they are enrolled. Usually this contact should be made early in the sophomore year.
  4. Students must complete an application form indicating their program in each college. Applications are available from Chalmers Knight (Academic Advising Center, 1255 Angell Hall, 764-0332), or Professor Gary Herrin, Assistant Dean, College of Engineering (Engineering Advising Center, 1009 Lurie Engineering Center, 647-7106), and from the web at: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/saa/publications/forms.infosheets
  5. Once admitted to the program, each student continues to register in the college of initial enrollment. That college maintains the primary academic record.
  6. Students should consult the academic advisor for each concentration and secure approval for their class schedule according to the academic policies and procedures of each college.
  7. Students must maintain good academic standing in both colleges to continue in the joint degree program.
  8. Students in good academic standing who wish to withdraw from the program may complete a degree in the college in which they are enrolled. Students not in good academic standing are subject to the academic discipline policies of that college.
  9. Upon completion of the requirements of both colleges, students are granted concurrent degrees. By the beginning of the term in which graduation is anticipated, a Diploma Application must be filed with each college, and the academic advisor for each concentration (specialization) must provide appropriate notification that departmental requirements are satisfied.

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