Bulletin 2007-2008 - Austin College

Religious Studies is not affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, but offers a widevariety of courses, perspectives, and experiences in the liberal arts tradition toenhance one’s preparations for ministry in its diverse forms. Students who contemplatethe graduate study of theology or professional training for a church vocationshould register with the college chaplain and director of church relations. Individualcounseling is available by appointment with members of the religious studies facultyand the College Chaplain and Director of Church Relations. During each term,representatives from different theological seminaries visit the campus. Conferencesare arranged with pre-theology students so they may learn more about graduatetheological education.Pre-Engineering: The Dual Degree Program in Engineering provides Austin Collegestudents the opportunity to earn two undergraduate degrees by obtaining a liberalarts background before specializing in an engineering field. In this program, a studentspends the first three or four years at Austin College and then transfers to an engineeringschool at which a suitable program of study can be arranged. While at Austin College,in addition to the engineering prerequisite courses in mathematics and the sciences,students must complete all other undergraduate degree requirements. Dependingon the engineering school and the preparation of the student, between two andthree years of work are normally required to complete the degree requirements atthe engineering school.Austin College is one of a select group of liberal arts colleges which has a uniquecooperative agreement with Washington University in St. Louis. Agreements arealso in effect with Columbia University, which offers a wide range of programs inengineering and the applied sciences, and with Texas A&M University in many traditionalengineering disciplines, including chemical engineering. In addition, AustinCollege and the University of Texas at Dallas offer a special Three-Two Program inElectrical Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering. These arrangementsoffer certain advantages to students, but it is possible for students to transfer to avariety of engineering schools, both in the state of Texas and elsewhere, providedsufficient advance planning is undertaken in the first two years at Austin College.An important part of this advanced planning is the Declaration of Dual-DegreeProgram, which shows how all Austin College requirements for graduation will bemet. This Declaration must be filed concurrently with the Major Declaration. Uponcompletion of the requirements for the degree at the engineering school, the studentalso is awarded a bachelor of arts degree from Austin College.Austin College does not offer any engineering courses; however, qualified studentsmay earn an engineering course credit from Washington University during the Januaryterm or during a special three-week session in May. Costs for this, like other specialoff-campus January term courses, are not included in the basic tuition fee.It should be noted that this program assumes the same academic preparation priorto admission to Austin College as that required of students admitted directly to theengineering school as freshmen. For example, the student should be ready to entercalculus and physics during the first term of the first year. A student not so preparedmay need to take extra courses in a summer term or an extra fall or springterm unless time can be saved elsewhere. It is important that the interested studentconsult with the pre-engineering adviser in the selection of all courses to be takenat Austin College.ACADEMIC PROGRAM| 63