General Distribution and Course Requirements
The required minimum of 120 credits must be appropriately distributed among five areas of study. The table below gives the minimum credits required in each area.
| Area |
Minimum Credits Required |
| Engineering |
46; where the QEA 1, 2, and 3 course sequence contribute 2 engineering credits |
| Math and Science |
30; of which at least 10 must be Math; where the QEA 1, 2, and 3 course sequence contribute 6 math credits and 4 science credits |
| AHS and Entrepreneurship |
28; of which at least 12 must be AHS |
A credit corresponds to an average of three hours of student work each week throughout an academic semester. Therefore, a four-credit course (the most common course size at Olin) generally requires students to spend 12 hours each week attending classes, completing homework, participating in laboratory activities, and fulfilling all other course responsibilities.
The course catalog lists, for each course, the number of credits earned and their area. Most courses provide credit in only one area. Some courses distribute their credits across more than one area. Students must register for at least 12 credits but no more than 20 credits each semester. Students typically register for 16 credits per semester. First year students are limited to 18 credits in the first semester. Some activities, like Passionate Pursuits and a few classes, provide non-degree credit, which appears on the transcript, but do not count toward minimum credit requirements. Non-degree credit counts toward the maximum credits per semester, but not toward the minimum.
General Course Requirements
All Olin students, regardless of degree or concentration, must satisfy the following course requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to complete all required 1000 level courses prior to the start of their junior year. Note: some courses are required to be taken during a specific semester/year of study while others are suggested.
Designated alternatives are identified in the registration materials as course numbers ending in 88 or 88A. A designated alternative may also be part of a Curriculum Innovation Experiment or Prototype (CIE) and described in a CIE#### course description.
Modeling Foundation
| MTH1111 | Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World | 2 MTH |
| SCI1111 | Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World | 2 SCI |
Mathematics Foundation
Foundational mathematics content in the following areas is required of all students: linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and probability and statistics.
For students studying Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering with a concentration in Robotics, and Mechanical Engineering, additional foundational mathematics content in ordinary differential equations is required.
The interdisciplinary three course sequence titled Quantitative Engineering Analysis delivers the content areas of linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, and multivariable calculus, along with the physics foundation requirement. Each course in the sequence blends mathematical content, physics content and engineering content and as such, a minimum of the first two courses in the full sequence must be completed in order to satisfy the foundational content required for all students. Each course builds on content from the previous and thus successful completion is a prerequisite to move on in the sequence.
In the event that the sequence cannot be completed, the following minimum content guide will provide alternative direction for the remaining content areas. Keep in mind that the interdisciplinary courses are designed to build upon mathematical, science and engineering concepts in a sequential manner.
Linear Algebra-Multivariable Calculus
| Completion of: |
Minimum Requirement Met: |
Distribution of Credits Earned:
|
|
ENGX2000
Quantitative Engineering Analysis I
|
Linear Algebra
|
2 MTH
1 SCI
1 ENGR
|
| ENGX2006
Quantitative Engineering Analysis 2
|
Multivariable Calculus
|
2 MTH
1 SCI
1 ENGR
|
Probability and Statistics - One of
2 credits in Probability and Statistics, satisfied by one of:
| MTH2130 | Probability and Statistics | Variable Credits MTH |
| MTH2131 | Data Science | 2 MTH |
| MTH2133 | Computational Bayesian Statistics | 2 MTH |
| MTH2135 | Neurotechnology, Brains and Machines | 2 MTH |
| MTH2136 | Astronomy and Statistics: AstroStats | 2 MTH |
| MTH2137 | Machine Learning | 2 MTH |
| or designated alternative | |
Science Foundation
Foundation Science content in the following areas is required of all students: Biology, Chemistry or Materials Science, and Physics.
Biology Foundation - One of:
The Biology Foundation is satisfied by one of the following courses at the 1000 level or by an intermediate or advanced biology course under the following circumstance:
- Students who successfully completed an AP biology class in high school are automatically eligible to place into an intermediate or advanced biology class. Olin typically offers one or two advanced biology courses per year. Students choosing this option should complete a course waiver form for the foundation biology requirement.
| SCI1210 | Principles of Modern Biology with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1220 | Human Genetics and Genomics with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1230 | Think Like a Biologist with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1240 | Designing Better Drugs with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1250 | Six Microbes that Changed the World with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1260 | The Intersection of Biology, Art and Technology (IBAT) | 4 SCI |
| OR | |
| An intermediate or advanced biology course | |
To engage in advanced biology courses, please see courses in the SCI2200-SCI3299 range of numbers.
Note: Students may take more than one course in the SCI1210 through SCI1299 number sequence, as these courses include a significant amount of non-overlapping content and learning experiences. The first course taken by a student may satisfy the biology foundation Course Requirement, and the second class may earn credit towards the MTH/SCI Distribution Requirement, and may also be included in a Bioengineering Plan of Study.
Chemistry/Materials Science Foundation - One of:
4 credits in Chemistry or Materials Science, satisfied by one of:
| SCI1310 | Introduction to Chemistry with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1320 | Paper Panacea: Part I with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| SCI1399 | Special Topics in Chemistry | Variable Credits SCI |
| SCI1410 | Materials Science and Solid State Chemistry | 4 SCI |
| SCI1420 | Metals, Mining, and the Environment | 4 SCI |
| SCI1430 | Plastic Planet | 4 SCI |
| SCI1440 | Materials Creation, Consumption, and Impact | 4 SCI |
| SCI2310 | Environmental Analysis & Science | 4 SCI |
| or designated alternative | |
Physics Foundation - all of:
Miinimum of 2 credits in Physics, satisfied by the completion of the Quantitative Engineering Analysis 1 and 2*.
*Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering with a concentration in Robotics, and Mechanical Engineering majors will have additional foundational physics requirements.
| ENGX2000 | Quantitative Engineering Analysis 1 | 4 ENGR |
| ENGX2006 | Quantitative Engineering Analysis 2 | 4 ENGR |
Engineering
Engineering Foundation - All of:
| ENGR1125 | Introduction to Sensors, Instrumentation and Measurement | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR2110 | Principles of Integrated Engineering | 4 ENGR |
Engineering Capstone - One of:
Eligible students will receive a detailed questionnaire from the capstone directors early in the spring semester before the capstone activity begins. Based on this student information, students will be assigned to ADE or SCOPE or a designated alternative (if available).
Each option is a two-consecutive-semester course requirement, totaling 8 credits.
| ENGR4190 | SCOPE: Senior Capstone Program in Engineering | 4 ENGR |
| OR | |
| ENGR4290 | Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship Engineering Capstone | 4 ENGR |
| OR | |
| Designated alternative | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Design
Design Foundation - All of:
ENGR1200, Design Nature is offered in the fall semester and is required to be taken by all first semester, first year students.
ENGR2250, Collaborative Design is offered in the spring semester and is required to be taken by all second semester, second year students.
Design Depth Course - One of:
The approved design depth courses listed below adhere to four criteria: 1) focus on a major theme in design thinking covered at an advanced level, 2) involve substantial theoretical consideration of design principles, processes or methods, 3) present the theme and theoretical consideration at an interdisciplinary level covering material that is relevant and accessible to multiple disciplines, and 4) provide substantial project experience that aims to create an artifact such as a component, process or system to meet needs, demonstrate possibilities or offer critique.
| ENGR3210 | Sustainable Design | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3220 | User Experience Design | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3225 | Systems | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3232 | Biomedical Device Design | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3235 | Biomimicry | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3240 | Tell the Story of What You Make | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3242 | Quantitative Engineering Design | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3252 | Technology, Accessibility, and Design | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3260 | Design for Manufacturing | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR3290 | Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship | 4 ENGR |
| or an approved ENGR3299 Special Topics in Design Engineering course-see registration materials | |
The design depth course chosen above may not be also used in a major plan of study.
AHS and Entrepreneurship
Students complete an AHS foundation, an Entrepreneurship foundation, and either a concentration in AHS or a concentration in Entrepreneurship.
AHS Foundation - One of:
| AHSE1100 | History of Technology: A Cultural & Contextual Approach | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1122 | The Wired Ensemble -Instruments, Voices, Players | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1135 | The Digital Eye: Photography, Vision, and Visual Communication | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1145 | The Human Connection: Tools and Concepts from Anthropology for Understanding Today's World | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1148 | Dirt to Shirt: Global Garments in Context | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1150 | What is "I"? | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1155 | Identity from the Mind & the Brain: Who Am I and How Do I Know | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1170 | Infrastructure Studies | 4 AHSE |
| AHSE1199 | Arts, Humanities, Social Science Foundation Topic | 4 AHSE |
All AHS foundation courses offer:
- an introduction and overview of an AHS discipline
- writing instruction and practice
- an introduction to contextual and critical thinking
- examples of how to integrate content and perspectives of different disciplines.
Entrepreneurship Foundation
AHSE1515 Products and Markets is required in the first year, second semester (spring only) for all students.
AHS or Entrepreneurship Concentration
Students may choose to concentrate in AHS or Entrepreneurship. An AHS/Entrepreneurship concentration is a 12 credit sequence of approved courses that coherently explore a chosen discipline or a disciplinary or interdisciplinary topic.
AHS and Entrepreneurship concentration courses are drawn from offerings at Olin, Wellesley, Babson, or other approved institutions. Concentrations that contain AHS courses often include a four credit AHS Capstone Project,
AHSE4190. Concentrations that contain Entrepreneurship courses often include Entrepreneurial Project course work in
AHSE2515, Iterate, or in
AHSE3515, Launch.
Independent study and research credits (ISR) cannot be included in AHS or Entrepreneurship concentrations.