LAC的3+2 program

这是一个知识大爆炸的时代。越来越多的知识成为工作的必需。如果50-60年代一个高中毕业生就能在汽车组装的流水线上找到一个收入不错的工作的话，今天一个养家糊口的工作往往需要一个大学文凭。这意味着年轻人在自立之前需要受教育的时间会越来越长; 或者缩小知识面，把职业教育放在更重要的地位。无疑后者占主流。但不同的家长或年轻人在这两个取向上的选择会不一样，自然就会导致不同的教育产品。

我以前提到过很多美国私利大学的本科教育重点是“素质”教育，以哥伦比亚大学的“core curriculum”最出名（见我以前写的“美国私立大学的素质教育”一文: http://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/12574/200912/28852.html）。这个模式至今还是很多LAC的教育模式，只是不同学校对它的内容进行了更新， 以跟上社会的变迁。重视人文教育的家长也同样会有很多职业上的实际考虑。所以，如何把人文教育和职业教育结合起来，是很多LAC的考虑方向。LAC的3+2 program其实就是迎合这类家长学生的喜好的。

LAC的所谓3+2 program就是让学生有三年的LAC教育，大学的后两年去职业取向更明确的Engineering College，一般情况下会拿到两边的本科学位。这些Engineering College和LAC有合作关系，所以，对学生前三年级的LAC教育除了GPA的要求，往往还有必修课的要求。唯一要提醒考虑这个program的家长:如果大学期间需要大学资助（need-based)，后两年的资助往往是Engineering College负责，LAC不管的。这个和大学期间去别的学校游学半年一年，助学金还是原来学校发出来的情况不一样。

我几年前就研究过这个program。记得红尘一笑网友的儿子来问大学选择时, 因他儿子理工方面强，我建议过这个program。大学对待这个选择和pre-med有些相似，有专门的联系和指导人的。有兴趣的家长应该去感兴趣的学校网页上仔细研究，再和校方联系。我把Grinnell College的3+2 program的网页拷贝过来，供大家参考:

3-2 Engineering Program

Students planning advanced study in engineering may complete a full B.A. course at Grinnell before graduate school, or they can follow a 3-2 program in Engineering. The 3-2 program allows students to spend three years at Grinnell and two years in one of the engineering programs with which Grinnell cooperates: Columbia University, California Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Washington University. (Special arrangements can sometimes be made with other institutions.) Under normal progress the student receives a B.A. degree from Grinnell at the end of the fourth year and a B.S. or B.E. degree from the cooperating institution at the end of the fifth year. 

In either case, the prospective engineer studies the natural sciences as an integral part of a liberal education. Students are required to establish at Grinnell a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. A broad base of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences also is strongly recommended. The required science courses are those taken by any student with a serious interest in science, so a definite commitment to engineering is not necessary until enrollment at the engineering school.

For more information about the 3-2 program, please contact the 3-2 Liaison Officer, Charles Cunningham.

If you would like to be added to the 3-2 Program e-mail list, please contact Stephanie Peterson.

Requirements for transfer to Columbia University, Washington University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or California Institute of Technology

Typical Requirements of all four schools (please check affiliate's individual requirements) : 

Mathematics through Linear Algebra (Math 215) and Differential Equations (Math 220)
Two semesters of physics (Physics 131-132)
One semester of chemistry (Chemistry 129 or 210); more for chemical engineering programs
3.3 GPA; higher GPA is required for some programs and some schools

Special Requirements: Columbia University ("Combined Plan")
http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/engineering/combined

One course in computing, a knowledge of C, C++, Java, Python, or MATLAB
One course of economics
27 non-technical credit hours

Washington University ("Dual Degree") 
http://engineering.wustl.edu/DualDegreeProgram.aspx

One course in computing (CSC 161)
Fifteen hours of humanities and social studies, with at least six hours in humanities and at least three hours in social studies

California Institute of Technology ("3-2")
http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/32-program

Recommended: two additional courses in physics (Modern Physics and Mechanics)
A year of chemistry
Twenty-four semester hours of humanities and social studies. At least six of these hours must be in humanities (art, history, languages, literature, music, philosophy) and at least six hours must be in social studies (anthropology, economics, political science, psychology)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ("Transfer Admission")
https://www.rpi.edu/dept/admissions/undergraduate/admission/transfer/index.html

One additional semester of physics
Four courses in humanities and social studies
Persons interested in chemical engineering should have a year of organic chemistry
Those interested in environmental or biomedical engineering should have some cell biology
A major at Grinnell must be completed, but credit to complete it can be transferred back from the engineering school. Usually a Grinnell major in chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics is required
Please note that Grinnell College financial aid does not extend to the student's time at the engineering school. Check with the engineering school for their current financial aid policy.

（二0一八年五月一日）