4+1 Bachelor of Science Degree with Wellesley College

The Olin 4+1 Program offers Wellesley College students an opportunity to obtain a second bachelor’s degree in engineering by completing a fifth year of study at Olin. Students enrolled in the 4+1 program begin their engineering study while enrolled at Wellesley; by the time they complete their Wellesley degree, 4+1 students must have completed all math and science prerequisites as well as five foundation courses, listed below. In their fifth year, 4+1 students enroll at Olin and spend both semesters in residence, completing major requirements as well as the engineering capstone.

The Engineering Certificate is not intended to serve as a pathway to the 4+1 Program. While there are some overlapping requirements between these two programs, the 4+1 Program requires an extensive set of course and credit requirements not only in engineering, but also in math and science. Students intending to apply for admission to the 4+1 Program will need to plan their schedules carefully and often take courses at different times compared to Engineering Certificate students.

Admission to the 4+1 program takes place in the student's junior year at Wellesley. Students admitted to the 4+1 program receive the Olin Tuition Scholarship for their year as Olin students, and may apply for additional need-based financial aid. Wellesley students who are admitted to the 4+1 Program must spend two full-time semesters in residence at Olin (living on campus). 

4+1 Degree Requirements

All students wishing to complete the 4+1 program must fully satisfy Wellesley’s degree requirements prior to matriculating at Olin, and must also satisfy specific science, math and engineering requirements. The minimum distribution requirements for the 4+1 Degree are shown in the table below.

Area Minimum Credits Required
Engineering 46
Math and Science 30
Arts Humanities and Social Science 28
Total credits in all areas 120

Olin Foundation Courses

Must complete prior to the fifth year (the Olin year)

The listing below contains Olin College courses and some Wellesley College equivalencies. Olin courses begin with MTH, SCI, ENGR, ENGX, AHSE.

MTH1111Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World

2 MTH

AND

SCI1111Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World

2 SCI

OR

CS112Intro Computing for the Sciences

4 SCI

 

ENGR1125Introduction to Sensors, Instrumentation and Measurement

4 ENGR

OR

PHYS210/ENGR210Experimental Techniques

4 SCI

 

ENGR1200Design Nature

4 ENGR

OR

ENGR160Fundamentals of Engineering

4 ENGR

 

ENGR2110Principles of Integrated Engineering

4 ENGR

ENGR2250Collaborative Design

4 ENGR

One of:

AHSE1515Products and Markets

4 AHSE

AHSE2515Iterate

Variable Credits AHSE

AHSE3515Launch

4 AHSE

credits from foundation courses listed above total a minimum of 20; also if AHSE2515 Iterate is selected, it must be taken twice for a total of 4 credits

Math and Science Prerequisites

Foundational math and science topics are prerequisites to the 4+1 program. These topics are:

  • Linear Algebra
  • Differential Equations
  • Vector Calculus
  • Physical science foundation (e.g. mechanics or electricity and magnetism)
  • Biological science foundation
  • Chemistry or Materials Science foundation
  • Probability and Statistics as appropriate to the engineering major

Successful completion of courses in these topics must be prior to fifth year (Olin year)

The listing below contains Olin College courses and some Wellesley College equivalencies. Olin courses begin with MTH, SCI, ENGR, ENGX, AHSE.

Biology Foundation (see note 2)

Chemistry or Materials Science Foundation (see note 3)

Physics Foundation, One of:

PHYS106 and PHYS106 LFund Elec, Magn & Optics w/ Lab

4 SCI

PHYS107Principles and Applications of Mechanics with Laboratory

4 SCI

Linear Algebra, One of

PHYS207Classical Dynamics

4 SCI

OR

MATH215Differential Equations with Applied Linear Algebra

4 MTH

Differential Equations, One of:

PHYS207Classical Dynamics

4 SCI

OR

MATH215Differential Equations with Applied Linear Algebra

4 MTH

Vector Calculus, One of:

PHYS208Intermediate Electromagnetism

4 SCI

OR

MATH205Multivariate Calculus

4 MTH

Probability and Statistics, One of:

MTH2130Probability and Statistics

Variable Credits MTH

MTH2131Data Science

2 MTH

MTH2133Computational Bayesian Statistics

2 MTH

MTH2135Neurotechnology, Brains and Machines

2 MTH

MTH2136Astronomy and Statistics: AstroStats

2 MTH

MTH2137Machine Learning

2 MTH

 

BISC198The Applied Statistics and Data Science in Biology

4 SCI

MATH220Probability

4 MTH

QR150_STAT150Intro Data Literacy: Everyday Applications

4 MTH

STAT160Fundamentals of Statistics

4 MTH

STAT218Introductory Statistics and Data Analysis

4 MTH

 

Design Depth and Engineering Capstone Requirements

In addition to prerequisite course work and Olin foundation courses, all 4+1 students must complete a design depth and engineering capstone requirement. 

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.

ENGR3210Sustainable Design

4 ENGR

ENGR3220User Experience Design

4 ENGR

ENGR3225Systems

4 ENGR

ENGR3232Biomedical Device Design

4 ENGR

ENGR3235Biomimicry

4 ENGR

ENGR3240Tell the Story of What You Make

4 ENGR

ENGR3242Quantitative Engineering Design

4 ENGR

ENGR3252Technology, Accessibility, and Design

4 ENGR

ENGR3260Design for Manufacturing

4 ENGR

ENGR3290Affordable 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. 

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.

Each option is a two-consecutive-semester course requirement, totaling 8 credits.  

ENGR4190SCOPE: Senior Capstone Program in Engineering

4 ENGR

OR

ENGR4290Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship Engineering Capstone

4 ENGR

Total Credit Hours:8

Major Requirements

Choose one of the three Olin majors, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering or Mechanical Engineering and follow the degree requirements as outlined.

It is expected that an Olin major will be comprised of Olin engineering, or related courses. However, if approved, a maximum of two courses (or eight credits) may be transferred from another institution (Wellesley or other).

Notes regarding equivalences and terms

  1. Credit Equivalences between Wellesley and Olin: 1 or 1.25 Wellesley Units = 4 Olin Credits
  2. See the College Catalog for the list of options of biology foundation courses, typically in the SCI1210 through SCI1299 sequence; alternatively an applicant may petition for a Wellesley equivalent
  3. See the College Catalog for the list of options of chemistry and materials science foundation courses; alternatively an applicant may petition for a Wellesley equivalent

For more information on the admission process for the 4+1 Program, see the Olin College Admission page.