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- In the 3-2 program, students must complete a rigorous series of
math and science courses for three years at ESU before completing the
final two years at Penn State. In order to complete the first three
years on schedule, one must be prepared to take calculus and physics
during their first term on campus. As such, make sure you have taken
geometry, algebra and trigonometry (and done well) before enrolling.
If you have the opportunity to take calculus and/or physics, do so.
It will make your life a lot easier once you enroll.
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- You can, but you will not be guaranteed admission to Penn State (assuming you've
met the criteria above). That guarantee is only
made to those who enter ESU as a freshman without credits from another university.
If you were enrolled at another college previously, even if it was Penn State or another
PA state system university with its own 3-2 engineering transfer agreement with Penn State, and you
want to go to Penn State to complete the engineering degree, you will have to apply as
a regular transfer student.
Important: Just because you are admitted into the 3-2 engineering transfer program
as an engineering major at ESU does not mean you are eligible for the automatic
transfer to Penn State.
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- Yes. As long as you enter as a freshman, without credit from another university, you are still
eligible for guaranteed admission (see criteria above). Your 3-year time limit starts
when you enroll at ESU.
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- At any point in the program you are free to transfer to any
engineering program. However, you must apply to the desired school
and your admission is not guaranteed. On the other hand, after three
years of successful (see below) coursework at ESU, you are guaranteed admission
to Penn State (main campus) as part of an agreement ESU has with
Penn State.
You also have the option of staying at ESU. Although ESU does not offer an engineering degree,
you can stay and obtain a degree in physics or industrial physics. The first three
years of the industrial physics is very similar to the first three years of the 3-2 engineering
program. So, you can stay and graduate in a year if you'd like. Some people then go on
to graduate school and get a graduate degree in engineering.
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- The only courses you are required to take (and pass with a C or
better) at ESU are: calculus I and II, calculus-based physics I, and
general chemistry (for most majors). You are also required to
complete 76 transferable credits within your three years at ESU
(a standard load is 90 credits within three years).
However, the more courses
you can complete here at ESU, the better.
The courses you can take at ESU are spelled out in the
3-2
agreement between Penn State and ESU.
Courses listed that you do not take at ESU you will have to pick
up at Penn State, which will prolong the time it takes to finish
your degree beyond the expected two years (five years total).
Note: If you want an ESU degree in addition to the Penn State degree,
you also have to meet the general education requirements of ESU. Many of the
general education courses at ESU will also count for the general education program
at Penn State. However, you have to be careful. Pay close attention and work with your
ESU advisor if you want to have as much overlap as possible.
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- For most of the engineering majors, you need to maintain a 3.00
grade point average (if you retake a course, the original grade is
included along with the grade you earn when repeated). A higher GPA
(3.50) is required for aerospace engineering, bioengineering, computer engineering*1,
civil engineering*2 and mechanical engineering.
A lower GPA (2.75) is sufficient for Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the majors in the College of Earth and
Mineral Sciences (environmental systems, materials science, mining, and petroleum and natural gas).
For all engineering majors except those in the Earth and Mineral Sciences,
you need a C or beter in calculus I and II, calculus-based
physics I, and general chemstry I.
You also have to finish at least 76 transferable and applicable credits at ESU.
Notes:
*1: Students entering PSU in the Fall of 2008 will no longer
need to meet the higher GPA requirement in Computer Engineering.
*2: Students entering PSU prior to Fall of 2010 (entering ESU prior to Fall of 2007) do not
need to meet the higher GPA requirement in Civil Engineering.
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- Every fall semester, we will provide Penn State with a list of students who
have indicated their desire to participate in the 3-2 program. So, if you are enrolled at ESU
as a pre-engineering major, Penn State is already aware of you. You will also be assigned
an advisor at Penn State. You should contact the department corresponding to your intended major and make
arrangements to meet with your advisor to discuss your credits and course schedule well before your
first semester at Penn State.
After the fall of your third year (or earlier in special situations --
see below), you need to submit an application (available on the Web, which requires you to
set up a login account)
to the admissions office of Penn State (deadline is February 1). The
application is supported by (1) your final high school record, (2) Two
copies of the official ESU transcript (including fall grades), (3)
schedule of courses for the spring term, and (4) the
check sheet
filled out with the grades of courses taken and which are planned for spring semester. The check sheet is completed by
you (although you might wish to discuss it with your ESU advisor beforehand) and sent to the Penn State
Office of Admissions.
At the end of the
third year, you need to forward two official ESU transcripts to Penn State.
For more information, see the Transferring from a 3-2 Program
page at Penn State.
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- You are free to transfer whenever you'd like. However, you are only guaranteed admission to Penn State
after you have completed a 76 transferable and applicable credits at
ESU (which, for most majors, includes a C in calculus I and II, physics I and chem I) with whatever
minimum GPA is required (typically 3.0). In fact, for chemical engineering, it is recommended that
you apply after 2.5 years, so you don't fall too far behind in the chemical engineering coursework,
the first of which is offered in the spring.
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- As mentioned above, you are free to
transfer whenever you'd like. However, after three years you are no longer guaranteed admission to Penn State.
At that point, you need to apply as a regular transfer student.
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- There are several reasons why you wouldn't be able to go to Penn State. It may be that
your GPA is too low or you transferred into the ESU program from another university program.
However, just because you aren't eligible for the automatic acceptance into Penn State does not
mean you have to give up your dream of engineering. You can always apply for transfer into an
engineering program, either at Penn State or some other engineering school, like Temple, Lehigh or
Pitt.
You might also find that you love ESU too much to leave, or you decide that you prefer to graduate
in four years rather than five. In those cases, you can stay at ESU and graduate with a degree in
Industrial Physics. That program, unique to ESU, mirrors the engineering program for the first
three years and prepares you for physics jobs in industrial settings. It also prepares you for
graduate programs in engineering.
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- Financial aid regulations consider engieering to be a four-year program.
Consequently, some government-provioded financial aid may not be
available for a total of more than four years of study. You may,
however, be eligible for merit-based scholarships after completing
one year of study at Penn State.
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- No. You only get an ESU if you complete the entire 3-2 program (which includes two years
at Penn State) or if you stay at ESU and complete one of the 4-year programs (like
Industrial Physics).
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- Once you transfer, you are considered a student of the school you
are then attending. Consequently, once you finish the program at that school, you
will receive a degree from that school.
If you graduate from Penn State, having gone through the 3-2 program at ESU, you can
apply for a B.A. in physics from ESU, assuming you have met the general education requirements
at ESU, which are slightly different from the requirements at Penn State.
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- For information on engineering and the specialities within
engineering, check out the Engineering,
Go For It! publication by the American Society for
Engineering Education.
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- For more information, you should contact
the
physics department secretary, Debra Boushell,
or the department chairperson, Robert Cohen.