MIT-WELLESLEY
DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM

The Double-Degree Program enables Wellesley students who are accepted to MIT as transfer students to earn a B.A. degree from Wellesley and an S.B. degree from MIT over the course of five years. Double-Degree candidates must fulfill the requirements for a major at both institutions. Interested Wellesley students apply for transfer admission to MIT at the end of the sophomore year. Students should only consider the following MIT Courses (their word for Departments) and should also be aware of the fact that access to a given course could at times be limited for transfer students:

• Architecture (Course 4)
• Urban Studies and Planning (Course 11)
• Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16)
• Chemical Engineering (Course 10)
• Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1)
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Course 6)
• Materials Science and Engineering (Course 3)
• Mechanical Engineering (Course 2)
• Nuclear Engineering (Course 22)
• Ocean Engineering (Course 13)

Students accepted for transfer defer their admission and enroll at MIT after completion of their junior year at Wellesley. During the junior "bridge" year, students will be assigned major advisors at both institutions so that they may plan a program to advance their work toward both degrees. During the fourth and fifth years, students are enrolled at MIT. Our existing Wellesley/MIT Exchange permits cross registration throughout the five-year period; the exchange enables students to integrate their two study programs thoroughly.

Please note: once you receive your degree from Wellesley, you give up your right to be re-admitted to the Double Degree program and work towards an MIT degree.

Who Might Consider the Double-Degree Program

The Double Degree is especially appropriate for students who wish to work in the U.S. or abroad directly after graduation. It is also appropriate for students with interests in engineering and in a very different field at Wellesley. For example, one Double Degree student majored in English at Wellesley and in Civil Engineering at MIT.

Students who plan to go on to graduate school should explore a Master's program instead of two bachelors degrees. Students do not always need a bachelor's degree in a given field to enter a Master's program in that field. Fields like Management are best done at the Masters level. A Masters cannot be earned through the Double Degree program. REMEMBER, the existing cross-registration program allows students to gain background and competence in a field without actually completing two degrees.

The Double-Degree program is difficult and expensive; the rewards, however, are great. Students should also know that neither MIT nor Wellesley gives financial aid to any student in the fifth year of undergraduate study. During the fourth and fifth years, Double-Degree candidates are governed by MIT financial aid policy.

How the Double Degree is Structured

The first three years are spent as a Wellesley student, and all fees are paid to Wellesley. The fourth and fifth years are at MIT, with all fees paid to MIT.

Initial Advising

All students exploring the Double-Degree program should obtain and read the MIT Bulletin, which contains explanatory sections for every department. Wellesley students may obtain a Bulletin by presenting Wellesley IDs at the MIT Student Service Center, Bldg 11-120.

SCIENCE CORE:. All fields at MIT require completion of a sequence in Calculus equivalent to Wellesley's MATH 115, 116, 205 ; a Physics sequence equivalent to Wellesley PHYS 107, 108 and additional science and laboratory requirements.

Degree Requirements at MIT

The Double-Degree program is based on the assumption that both institutions will count courses taken at the other institution toward their degree requirements. A student's four-course language sequence at Wellesley, for example, may fulfill the humanities concentration requirement at MIT.

Students should seek the direction of their major advisors at both colleges to ascertain that all degree requirements have been fulfilled. Consult the MIT Bulletin for degree requirements at MIT.

Advising in Major Fields

Students are encouraged to consult the MIT undergraduate departmental advisors as early as possible. It is expected that interested students will take at least one course in their prospective major department during sophomore year. Students are encouraged to cross-register at both institutions throughout the five years. This is one of the strengths of the program that makes it different from a standard three/two program such as the Bryn Mawr/Cal Tech connection.

The Transfer Application Procedure

• Interested students - first-years and sophomores - should schedule a meeting with their Class Dean and with Professor Ted Ducas (Physics Dept) to explore options. Those interested in pursuing the double-degree should become familiar with their prospective departments at MIT by talking with faculty members there and by taking at least one course at MIT.
  
  
• During fall of the sophomore year, interested students should contact the transfer admissions office at MIT (253-4770) to request a transfer application. The completed application is due at MIT by March 15.
  
  
• All interested students should submit an application to the Wellesley Double Degree Committee by February 10 of the sophomore year. Application forms for Wellesley are available in the Exchange Office. Students must be approved by the Wellesley Double-Degree Committe in order to participate in the Double Degree program.
  
  
• The full tranfer application is due at MIT by March 15 of the sophomore year. This application involves an essay and three recommendations, so students should allow ample time for obtaining letters of recommendation. Applicants should include at least one MIT faculty member among their referees. (These three letters of recommendation are also required for the proposal to the Committee at Wellesley - see above.) Acceptances are announced by MIT around June 1. Actual admission to MIT is deferred until fall of the fourth year.
  
  
  • MIT looks closely at SAT II scores (math, science, and English or History required), and at grades in courses at both Wellesley and MIT. Candidates may want to consider re-taking SAT II tests to improve scores.
    
    
  • If a student has received a C or less in Math or Science, she should not apply.
    
    
  • Students should have received B or better in Math, Physics, Calculus, Chemistry, Math and Science.
    
    
  • The letters of recommendation should be very strong. The GPA should be 3.5 or above, and both Wellesley and T.A.s from MIT should be strongly supportive of the applicant's candidacy.
    
    

  BRIDGE YEAR -- Junior Year at Wellesley

• Once you have been accepted to MIT, at the beginning of the bridge year, you should contact Mary Enterline, Associate Dean for Academic Services at MIT (617) 253-9763. At MIT, Ms Enterline will be your advisor for the double degree. You will also be assigned a departmental advisor in your MIT major.
  
  
• During the junior/bridge year, you should be working with advisors at both institutions to plan both majors and to arrange transfer credit (to MIT). At MIT, transfer credit is awarded by each department. You should be sure that each department has evaluated your credits. All transfer credit questions should be settled during the bridge year.
  
  
• At the beginning of each semester of the bridge year, you should file with your Class Dean an academic plan, detailing how you will meet both Wellesley and MIT requirements.
  
  
• During the spring term of the bridge year, you should complete a transfer credit review on your first five semesters of work at Wellesley. A copy of this transfer of credit review should be submitted to Dean Enterline at MIT.
  
  
• In spring of the bridge year, you will need to confirm in writing to the MIT Transfer Admissions Office (with a copy to Dean Enterline) that you intend to enter MIT in September of that year.
  
  
• Financial aid should be discussed during the bridge year. Financial aid is controlled by the institution to which you pay tuition. MIT has higher self-help levels (i.e., loan and work) than Wellesley. There is no grant aid for the fifth year for any student.
  
  
• It is your responsiblity to be familiar with the degree requirements of both institutions. THIS MEANS DEADLINES, FEES, DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS, CORE REQUIREMENTS, ETC.
  
  
  

  FOURTH AND FIFTH YEARS - enrolled at MIT

  Double Degree students are accepted to MIT as transfer students. Therefore, housing, credit requirements, fees, and academic regulations will be set by MIT.

• During the fourth and fifth years of the program, students will be enrolled at MIT, which means that housing, credit requirements, fees and academic regulations will be set by MIT. If you want dormitory housing at MIT , you should enter the housing lottery for transfer students. Dormitory housing is currently not guaranteed for transfer students at MIT. If you do not live in a dormiatory, you may rush an independent living group in September or find an apartment. Double Degre candidates may not live at Wellesley during the last two years.
  
  
• Double Degree candidates are expected to participate in the orientation program for transfer students and to follow the check-in procedures for transfer students. Transfer credit review should be completed by the drop date at MIT.
  
  
• Once you are enrolled at MIT, you are expected to complete departmental requirements and any remaining Institute requirements at MIT (core courses, HASS-Distribution credits, etc.) in addition to the major.
  
  
• Academic commitments at Wellesley should not be substantial during the two years spent at MIT. Undertaking an honors thesis at Wellesley would mean taking no more than four classes, including the thesis, per semester. Double-Degree candidates do not receive MIT credit for the Wellesley thesis.
  
  
• Please note that you must get both of your degrees simultaneously. You may participate in graduation ceremonies at Wellesley with your class; however, the Wellesley degree will not be awarded until you complete the fifth year at MIT. If you decide to pursue only one degree, you must inform your class dean and Dean Enterline in writing of your change in plans. When you receive one degree, you are no longer eligible to pursue or be awarded a bachelor's degree from the second school.

For further information, contact:

Professor Ted Ducas, MIT-Wellesley Liaison Officer - (781) 283-3047

Dean of Students at Wellesley - (781) 283-2322

Class Deans at Wellesley - (781) 283-2325

Linda DiSilva, MIT Transfer Admissions, 617-258-5520

Mary Enterline, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs/MIT - 617-253-9763

• Exchange Office
• Date created: October1995
• Last modified: May 1, 2003
• Expires:June 30, 2006