Physics and Engineering Dual Degree
(Printable version)
Want a degree in both physics and engineering? Want to do it all in five years? UW-Eau Claire has a dual degree program that allows students to receive a physics degree in conjunction with an engineering school degree. You’ll start by taking a number of courses in physics, chemistry and computer science, as well as math, English and general education. After successfully completing the course requirements and meeting the criteria, you can choose to transfer to either UW-Madison College of Engineering or the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology in the Twin Cities to begin the course work for an engineering degree.
Increased employability
Employers are particularly taken with the Dual Physics/Engineering graduates. Your enhanced breadth and depth of dual majors will set you apart from graduates with just an engineering degree.
You’ve got options
Because the courses for the first two years of the dual degree program are the same as those for the pre-engineering program, students can wait until their sophomore year to make the decision to either pursue a dual degree in physics and engineering or transfer to an engineering school.
Strong foundation
Math and physics are essential skills for anyone pursuing a career in engineering. The physics degree curriculum at UW-Eau Claire provides a stronger foundation in math and physics than those courses required for an engineering degree alone, and most UWEC graduates earn a minor in Math, further enhancing their employability.
Dedicated faculty
At UW-Eau Claire you’ll find small classes taught by talented professors who know your name. You’ll work alongside faculty outside class, conducting research publishing scholarly articles, and sharing ideas!
Outstanding graduates
UW-Eau Claire graduates more physics majors than most other colleges in the country, according to a recent American Institute of Physics study. One of those graduates, Jonathan Watson, is a scientist at MIT Lincoln Library, a federally funded research and development center. He works in the Air and Missile Defense Technology division. Watson said he was well-prepared for his graduate studies at MIT and his career, “The physics program provided a breadth to my undergraduate studies that I would have missed in more specialized engineering programs. The program provided a level of flexibility in working on technical problems that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
- Intro to college writing
- General chemistry
I and II
- Wellness concepts
course
- Health related fitness
course
Note: Students planning to transfer to UW-Madison should consult with a dual degree adviser before signing up for a computer science course.
More advising information
Places you’ll find recent graduates:
- Computer Programmer,
Celestica, Eau Claire, WI
- Owner, Consulting Firm,
San Francisco, CA
- Grad schools,
Aerospace Engineering
and Mechanics,
University of Minnesota-
Twin Cities, Minneapolis,
MN
- Owner, Consulting Firm,
San Francisco, CA
- Astronomer, SIRTF Science
Center, California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena, CA
- Quality Engineer and World
Wide Stop Ship Coordinator,
IBM in Rochester, MN
- National Research Council
Research Associate, NASA
Johnson Space Center,
Houston, TX
- Physics Teacher,
Palm Beach County, FL
& Cadott, WI
- Production and System
Engineering, Oak River
Technology, Oakdale, MN
- Industrial Engineer,
Bechtel National,
Frederick, MD
More career information
Department contact information
Kim Pierson
piersokw@uwec.edu
715-836-5009
Special admission requirements
Students must satisfy the 36-credit Liberal Arts Physics Major/Dual Emphasis requirements as well as the University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements. Students must meet the course requirements for their specific engineering discipline from either UW-Madison College of Engineering or the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology. Each engineering school has different entrance requirements and offers different fields within the program.Engineering School Requirements UW-Madison
Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average to transfer into the College of Engineering at UW-Madison. Principal fields within the engineering program at UW-Madison are:• Civil engineering • Computer engineering • Electrical engineering
• Engineering physics • Industrial engineering • Materials engineering
• Mechanical engineering • Nuclear engineering
UM-Twin Cities
Students must have a 2.8 GPA to transfer into the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota. Principal fields within the engineering program are:• Aerospace engineering • Civil engineering • Computer engineering
• Electrical engineering • Materials engineering • Mechanical engineering
