3-2 and 4-1 Programs

3-2 Combined Plan Program

The 3-2 Combined Plan Program offers undergraduate students from Columbia College an opportunity to earn both a bachelor of arts degree from Columbia College (CC) and a bachelor of science degree from Columbia Engineering (SEAS) in five years. This program is also available to students from affiliate schools. As one of the first dual degree engineering programs to be instituted in the United States, Columbia’s Combined Plan Program was the pioneer in its field. Today it continues that pioneering spirit by leading the way in engineering and applied science discoveries.

Application Procedure

Students apply for the 3-2 Program during their junior year. Applications become available online in December. Please note that admission is offered for the fall semester only. The preferred deadline to submit the application is in mid-February; the Admissions Committee highly recommends that applicants submit their materials by this deadline. However, applications will be accepted until mid-March. Candidates with completed applications will receive their admissions decision by mid-April.

Requirements

Before enrolling in the 3-2 Program, students must:

• Earn a minimum of 93 CC points
• Complete the CC Core Curriculum
• Complete the requirements for a CC concentration or major
• Complete all SEAS pre-engineering courses
• Complete all prerequisites for a proposed SEAS major

Students must have an overall and pre-engineering GPA of 3.0 or higher (3.3 for students entering in fall 2011 or later).

Required Pre-engineering Courses

The following courses must be taken prior to enrollment in the 3-2 Program (please consult the Pre-Combined Plan Curriculum Guide for additional courses required for each SEAS major):
• Complete the full Calculus sequence through Calculus IV (MATH V1202)
• Complete Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH E1210) or Introduction to Applied Mathematics (APMA E2101). Please see individual majors for math requirements.
• Complete two semesters of Physics (PHYS C1401 and C1402)
• Complete General Chemistry I (CHEM C1403)
• Complete a Chemistry or Physics Lab. This choice may depend on the student’s intended Engineering major
• Complete one semester of Computer Science and Programming in C, JAVA, or MATLAB (COMS W1003, W1004, or W1005). Please note that some majors require specific programming languages.
• Complete Principles of Economics (ECON W1105)
• Complete University Writing (ENGL C1010)
• Earn at least 27 nontechnical credits (including Economics and
Writing)

Additional Information

Admissions website

3-2 Combined Plan application

Columbia Engineering Bulletin

Course Equivalence Form (for current students)


CC + SEAS 4-1 Program

The 4-1 Program provides Columbia Engineering (SEAS) students with the opportunity to expand their education in liberal arts through an additional year of study at Columbia College (CC), including the completion of a CC major or concentration. At the end of the fifth year of study, students receive a bachelor of arts degree from CC in addition to a bachelor of science degree from SEAS. Admitted students are eligible for a fifth year of housing and financial aid. Students who are accepted and decide to matriculate into the 4-1 Program are required to be in residence at Columbia College for two semesters and complete at least 31 credits during their fifth year. A maximum of 93 points can be transferred from the B.S. degree to the B.A. degree.

Application Procedure

Students apply for the 4-1 program during the spring of their junior year, but interested students should meet with their advising dean at the Center for Student Advising (CSA) during their first or second years to learn more about the program and declare their interest. Advisers will review requirements for admission into the program and assist with academic planning.

Applications are due in late April and should be submitted directly to the CSA. Applicants will meet with the person in charge of the 4-1 Program to review the application materials in detail. Applicants are notified of the tentative admissions decision in the summer after junior year. The official admissions notification occurs during the summer after senior year.

Requirements

Students must complete the following requirements during their four years at SEAS:
• All requirements for the B.S. degree
• All CC Core requirements
• Any prerequisite courses for the intended CC major or concentration

Applicants must achieve a 3.0 GPA in CC Core and prerequisite courses.

As part of the application, students are required to obtain departmental approval of the entire fifth year curriculum from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The departmental adviser must certify in writing as part of the application that the proposed curriculum will complete the intended major or concentration and satisfy B.A. degree requirements at the end of two semesters.

Please note that courses cannot double count toward a minor or major at SEAS and a major or concentration at CC. However, the same courses may be used to satisfy both SEAS nontechnical elective requirements and CC Core and major/concentration requirements.


CC + Mailman 4-1 Program

The 4+1 program between Columbia College and the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health is a dual degree program that allows  students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Columbia College and a Master of Public Health degree (M.P.H.) from the Mailman School of Public Health (Mailman) in five years. 
 
College students may apply to the program in their junior year (Application Deadline December 1st). Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and are expected to have taken at least one semester of calculus, statistics or other appropriate quantitative course. Particular M.P.H. disciplines – specifically, the Biostatistics program and the Environmental Health Sciences program – have additional prerequisites. More information, including application instructions, can be found on the Mailman website. Students may also contact Megan Rigney in the Berick Center for Student Advising with any questions: mr2168@columbia.edu
 

SIPA 5-Year Program

The SIPA five-year program allows Columbia College students to earn a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Public Policy or International Affairs in five years. Students should start planning for this program by their sophomore year. For more information please visit the Columbia College Bulletin and contact Jessica Dzaman, jcd2148@columbia.edu.
 

For more information about the 3-2 and 4-1 programs, make an appointment with your advising dean.

 

James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising

Visit

403 Alfred Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Call: (212) 854-6378

Fax: (212) 854-2458

Hours  
Monday–Friday
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An Advisor of the Day is available by phone or in person Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.