Engineering – Accelerated Dual Degree

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Program Overview

King’s College offers a 3+2 Dual Degree Engineering Program in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and a 3+3 program with Washington University in St. Louis. In these programs, students study for three years at King’s College, taking mathematics, science, pre-engineering, and liberal arts courses, and then transfer to Notre Dame or Washington University to complete engineering courses in their chosen fields. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive both a B.S. from King’s College (in Physics, Chemistry, Environmental and Ecological Sciences, or Computer Science) and a B.S. in Engineering from Notre Dame (in Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, or Mechanical Engineering) or a B.S and M.S. from Washington University (in Biomedical Engineering, Imaging Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Sci. and Math, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or Mechanical Engineering, among other degree options).

The Accelerated Engineering program at King’s takes an interdisciplinary approach to exposing students to the transferable skills of liberal learning valued in a King’s College education. The knowledge, skills, and dispositions students acquire by virtue of the Core liberal arts curriculum at King’s will enhance their ability to be successful contributors within their chosen engineering field. During the three years at King’s, students take a variety of liberal arts courses that develop skills in written and oral communication, moral reasoning, and critical thinking. Employers value the liberal arts/engineering combination since students possess not only technical skills but also the ability to write proposals, make presentations, and broadly understand engineering systems and the role of technology in our changing society.

professor and students setting reviewing engineering plans on a computer

What makes the accelerated engineering program special?

The accelerated engineering program at King’s is unique for several reasons. At King’s, students will be studying within a science field and will receive a B.S. in Physics, Chemistry, Environmental and Ecological Sciences, or Computer Science upon successful completion of their years of study. The second degree provides students with a broader and more technical background which is advantageous in today’s job market. In addition, students complete a First-Year Engineering Seminar, where the different engineering disciplines and career options are explored to help students choose the track that is right for them, and a second-year Systems Design course which provides an early opportunity for project-based, hands-on learning.

two accelerated engineering program people using a computer

Program Details

The University of Notre Dame Program

King's students in the accelerated engineering degree 3+2 program will transfer to The University of Notre Dame in one of seven engineering tracks—Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental or Mechanical Engineering—and will receive a B.S. from King's in the disciplines specified below:

B.S. Physics from King's:

Aerospace Engineering track
Mechanical Engineering track
Civil Engineering track
Electrical Engineering track

B.S. Chemistry from King's:

Chemical Engineering track

B.S. Computer Science from King's:

Computer Engineering Track

B.S. Environmental and Ecological Sciences from King's:

Environmental Engineering track

Applying to Notre Dame

In order to apply for transfer admission to the University of Notre Dame, students must have:

At least 60 credits of eligible engineering and general education courses
A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.
A cumulative technical grade-point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale (all mathematics, science and engineering courses).
A “B” or better in all courses that transfer to Notre Dame
A recommendation for admission by the 3+2 Program Director and the relevant department chairperson at King's (as required), and the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.
Demonstrated commitment to the community values and standards of conduct of both Notre Dame and King’s College, as determined by Notre Dame’s sole discretion

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Notre Dame reserves the right to restrict access to some majors depending upon current student inventories and available classroom / lab space. During application, King’s students would be able to identify a primary and secondary major.

More information on the engineering programs at the University of Notre Dame is available here.

The Washington University in St. Louis Program

King's students in the 3+3 program will transfer to Washington University in St. Louis in one of seven engineering tracks—Biomedical, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering—and will receive a B.S. from King's in the disciplines specified below:

B.S. Physics from King's:

Biomedical Engineering track
Electrical Engineering track
Mechanical Engineering track
Systems Engineering track

B.S. Chemistry from King's:

Chemical Engineering track
Environmental Engineering track

B.S. Computer Science from King's:

Computer Engineering Track

The dual-degree program with Washington University is a 3+2+1 (3+3) graduate program. After completing three years at King’s, students complete two years of undergraduate engineering coursework and one year of graduate engineering coursework at WashU. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a B.S. from King’s, a B.S. in Engineering from WashU and a master’s degree from WashU. Degrees are awarded as follows:

Degrees offered through the Washington University program
Degree from King’s College	Degree from Washington U
B.S. Physics	B.S. Biomedical Engineering	M.S. Biomedical Engineering^* M.S. Imaging Science
	B.S. Electrical Engineering	M.S. Electrical Engineering
	B.S. Systems Engineering	M.S. Systems Sci. and Math.
	B.S. Mechanical Engineering	M.S. Mechanical Engineering M.S. Aerospace Engineering^ M.S. Materials Science^
	B.S. Mechanical Engineering	M.E. Mechanical Engineering^**
B.S. Chemistry	B.S. Chemical Engineering	M.E. Energy, Env. & Chem. Eng.
B.S. Chemistry	B.S. Environmental Eng.
B.S. Computer Science	B.S. Computer Engineering	M.S. Computer Science M.S. Computer Engineering^*** M.S. Cybersecurity Engineering
		M.E. Computer Science & Eng.
		Master of Info. Syst. Management
B.S. Environmental Science	B.S. Environmental Eng.	M.E. Energy, Env. & Chem. Eng.
B.S. Environmental Science
Options with any B.S.		M.S. Eng. Data Analytics and Stat. Master of Engineering Management
Options with any B.S.		Master of Construction Manage.

^*B.S. degree must include Introductory Biology

^**B.S. in Mechanical Engineering required

^***B.S. in Computer Engineering or Electrical engineering required

Applying to Washington University in St. Louis

Students applying for transfer admission to Washington University In St. Louis should apply to Washington University after the fall semester of their 3rd year. In order to apply for transfer admission to Washington University, students must have:

At least 60 credits of eligible engineering and general education courses
A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
A cumulative technical grade-point average of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale (all mathematics, science and engineering courses).
A recommendation for admission by the 3+2 program director and the relevant department chairperson at King's (as required)

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuing a Master’s Degree at Washington University

After completing 90 credits at King’s College, students enroll directly into both an engineering master’s program and an undergraduate engineering program at Washington University. Students earn both engineering degrees and are classified as graduate students for all three years at Washington University. A minimum G.P.A. of 3.25 is typically required for entry into the program. For all students admitted, tuition is reduced by 50% for all three years.

For more information on the engineering programs at Washington University in St. Louis, visit this page.

Additional Info

Academic Standing and Progression Criteria

Students must remain in good academic standing to maintain eligibility for the 3+2 Program. Because of the rigorous nature of the compressed 4-yr degree at King’s and the heavy technical load at the transfer institution, students must demonstrate eligibility for the program by meeting minimum GPA requirements and by completing minimum credit loads.

Academic standing within the 3+2 engineering program will be reviewed each semester by the 3+2 Program Director. Students must achieve a minimum overall and a minimum technical GPA each semester, as outlined in the table of progression criteria below. A student’s overall GPA will include all courses (major specific and Core courses) completed at King’s College; the Technical GPA (TGPA) will include all major-specific courses in PHYS, CHEM, MATH, CS, ENST, BIOL and ENGR required by the specific 3+2 major curriculum.

Minimum progression (GPA) requirements
Semester	Minimum Program GPA Requirements*
Semester	Overall GPA	Technical GPA	Dismissal GPA
Fall Yr 1	GPA ≥ 3.00	TGPA ≥ 2.90	GPA < 2.00
Spring Yr 1	GPA ≥ 3.10	TGPA ≥ 3.00	GPA < 2.10
Fall Yr 2	GPA ≥ 3.20	TGPA ≥ 3.10	GPA < 2.40
Spring Yr 2	GPA ≥ 3.25	TGPA ≥ 3.20	GPA < 2.70
Fall Yr 3	GPA ≥ 3.25	TGPA ≥ 3.25	GPA < 3.00
Spring Yr 3	GPA ≥ 3.25	TGPA ≥ 3.25	GPA < 3.00

Failure to meet the minimum progression criteria will result in an academic warning letter or dismissal from the program. Specific admissions requirements for both transfer schools are outlined below; *students should keep in mind that the required GPA for admission to Notre Dame is higher than the minimum GPA requirement.

Note - No course grade may be lower than a C in order to transfer to Notre Dame or Washington University

* Technical GPA: based on grades in engineering, computer science, mathematics, chemistry and physics courses required by the 3+2 curriculum

FAQ

How fast can I complete an engineering degree?

You can complete a single engineering degree in just four years, but with our accelerated engineering program, you can earn two engineering degrees in 5-6 years, depending on the track chosen. Students could then graduate with two degrees, a B.S. from King’s and either a B.S. in Engineering from Notre Dame or an M.S. from Washington University. Explore our civil engineering or mechanical engineering degrees for four-year options. State licensure requirements vary and may affect the timeline.

Is it possible to get an engineering degree in 2 years?

Yes, students can get an associate's degree in engineering in two years at some colleges, but the degree will either focus on foundational skills, allowing you to progress onto a four-year degree, or practical application, so you can begin hands-on work. However, engineers need to have earned a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Review your state's requirements for specific details surrounding licensure.

Will engineers get replaced by AI?

No, engineers will not be replaced by AI. Society will always need engineers, and right now AI is developing to allow engineers to work more productively by completing mundane or repetitive tasks. “For example, AI enables code generation so engineers no longer need to program machines line by line and can focus on product enhancements” (Karunska, Di Battista, & Elsner, 2026). According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, climate changes relating to AI will “drive demand for renewable energy engineers, environmental engineers, and electric and autonomous vehicle specialists.”

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