Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, the Boston area’s newest engineering school, has begun offering a new “Certificate in Engineering Studies” that will enable students at Wellesley, Brandeis and Babson to explore engineering and gain experience for careers or further study. The program is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of engineering in a plan of study typically consisting of five courses ranging from introductory to advanced.
“We are very pleased to offer this new program,” said Michael Moody, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Olin. “There are many paths to becoming an engineer, and not all of them begin with an undergraduate engineering degree. Olin’s new Certificate in Engineering Studies provides a structured way for students at our partner institutions to explore their interest in engineering.”
The program is aimed at students in non-engineering fields who wish to learn more about engineering because they are considering careers in industry, are planning on entering graduate school in engineering, or are simply curious to learn more about technology-related disciplines.
“We believe that students completing the Certificate have the opportunity to expand their post-graduate options for careers or advanced study in technological fields by demonstrating a more significant degree of engineering expertise and a commitment to further engineering education,” said Moody.
The certificate program offers six options that allow students to explore various aspects of engineering, including engineering design, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering, engineering systems and materials engineering.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Andrew Shennan, Dean of the College at Wellesley. “This new program will give Wellesley students an excellent overview of what engineering is and what it can do.”
The opportunity to expand academic offerings is not the only advantage of the new program, according to Michaele Whelan, Vice Provost at Brandeis University. “Brandeis University students will be able to go to Olin for a semester and become immersed in its unique team-based and project-based learning culture,” said Whelan. “Our strong science students will benefit from Olin’s innovative approach to engineering.”
The program is the latest example of growing partnerships Olin has established with its academic neighbors. Among other initiatives, the four institutions have agreements that allow their students to cross- register for classes. The arrangement has permitted students from the four partners to increase their academic options and take courses not available at their home institutions.
“I am delighted with the new Certificate in Engineering Studies program that will be available to Babson students through our partnership with Olin College,” said Patricia Greene, Provost at Babson. “One of the advantages of our collaboration is the increased ability to offer a greater variety of opportunities. The combination of engineering and entrepreneurship provides a tremendous foundation for many kinds of careers. I hope that many of our students take advantage of this program.”
A precursor to the new program was a semester-long introductory engineering course taught last spring at Wellesley by Olin professors Gill Pratt and Brian Storey, along with Wellesley physics professor Theodore Ducas. The class provided an overview of engineering and acquainted students with Olin.
“Olin’s proximity has helped us make considerable progress toward our goal of introducing engineering into women’s liberal arts education,” said Shennan, who noted that there is considerable interest in engineering among Wellesley women. In addition to cross-registration opportunities at Olin, Wellesley has a long standing cross-registration agreement with MIT.
Wellesley and Brandeis are introducing the new program this fall, while Babson is still working out the details of offering the program on its campus. Students interested in the program should consult first with their advisor at their home institutions, and after receiving the advisor’s approval, contact the Certificate Program Coordinator at Olin College. Students enrolling in the program should generally have a strong background in math and science. Some courses have prerequisites, and teamwork is often an integral part of the experience.
For more information, contact the Certificate Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor Mark L. Chang, at 781-292-2559 or mark.chang@olin.edu.
