Preprofessional Programs
Middlebury believes that a liberal arts curriculum develops critical thinking and communication skills that are essential for beginning any career or profession.
Our undergraduate program focuses on the liberal arts, but offers specific curricula and resources designed to prepare students for professional careers, regardless of your major:
- Architectural Studies
- Education Studies
- Health Professions
- Pre-Engineering
- Pre-Law
- Study Away at the Middlebury Institute (MIIS)
Pre-Engineering
Middlebury does not offer an engineering major, but there are several options for combining a Middlebury degree with study in engineering.
Graduate Programs in Engineering
One option is to complete a Middlebury B.A. in one of the sciences and then apply to an engineering graduate program. After completing the Middlebury degree, students commonly move directly into a master’s (or Ph.D.) program in engineering. It usually takes two years after the B.A. to complete an engineering master’s degree, though sometimes this can be accelerated.
Students interested in this path should major in one of the sciences—normally physics for electrical engineering, computer science or physics for computer engineering, chemistry for chemical engineering, etc. At the same time, it is highly recommended to get a broad general education in science by electing cognate science courses, particularly in physics, mathematics, and computer science. A course in economics is recommended, and biology and/or geology are also valuable for some fields.
Dual-Degree Programs
Another option is to apply to one of the Middlebury partner institutions (Dartmouth or Columbia) and interleave the Middlebury degree with a program at one these schools.
Admission to these programs is not guaranteed, and the most important step towards applying to these programs is completing the prerequisite courses. Students interested in these programs should start planning their course sequence in their first year and are encouraged to contact the pre-engineering advisors if they have any questions.
Dartmouth Dual-Degree Program (2-1-1-1 or 3-2)
Dartmouth offers both a 2-1-1-1 and a 3-2 program. In the 2-1-1-1 program, students spend their junior year studying engineering at Dartmouth, return to Middlebury for the senior year (graduating with a B.A.), and then go back to Dartmouth for a fifth year and receive a second degree, a bachelor of engineering (B.E.). For the 2-1-1-1 program, the Dartmouth prerequisite courses should be completed during the first two years at Middlebury and students should apply to Dartmouth (2-1-1-1) by February 1 of their sophomore year.
In the 3-2 program, students complete the first three years at Middlebury, and then spend two years at Dartmouth, receiving a B.A. from Middlebury and a B.E. from Dartmouth at the end of the fifth year. For the 3-2 program, the Dartmouth prerequisite courses should be completed during the first three years at Middlebury and students should apply to Dartmouth (3-2) by February 1 of their junior year.
Financial aid is transferable to Dartmouth for a limited number of students on a competitive basis for their junior year.
Learn more about the Dartmouth Dual-Degree Program.
Columbia Combined Plan Program (3-2)
The other dual-degree program, or combined-plan program, is with Columbia University in New York City. Columbia offers a 3-2 program, in which students complete the first three years at Middlebury and then transfer to Columbia for the final two years of study.
At the end of the fifth year, the student receives two degrees: a B.A. from Middlebury, and a B.S. from one of the Columbia programs. During the three years at Middlebury, students will need to complete the prerequisite courses for the Combined Plan Program plus all the Middlebury distribution requirements and most of those for their Middlebury major.
Learn more about the Columbia Combined-Plan Program.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions for Liberal Arts Students Interested in Engineering by M.E. Baylor, Carleton College.
- Subscribe to the pre-engineering distribution list to receive relevant announcements.
Contact
For more information on engineering programs, please contact the current advisors at pre-eng@middlebury.edu. The current advisors are Philip Caplan, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, and Susan Watson, Professor of Physics.
Pre-Law
Professor Steve Viner is the pre-law advisor.
Pre-Law Club
Join other students interested in the law. The pre-law club sponsors talks by law school admissions officers in the fall and lectures and panel discussions by both academics and practitioners. Notices and events are posted on the pre-law blog. For more information, contact Linda Booska at lbooska@middlebury.edu.
Resources
From LSAT preparation to internships, you can find a wealth of information at the Center for Careers and Internships. Contact Tim Mosehauer at tmosehau@middlebury.edu.