• Introduction to WPI
• Section 1: The WPI Plan
  • WPI Degree Requirements
  • Bachelor of Science vs. Bachelor of Arts?
  • The Planning Process
  • Academic Advising
  • Major Areas of Study
  • Concentrations
  • Minors
  • Double Majors
  • Minimum Distribution Requirements for Students
  • Courses Qualifying for Engineering Distribution Areas
  • Projects
  • Projects Program
  • Project Centers
  • The Major Qualifying Project (MQP)
  • The Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)
  • Residential Projects Programs
  • On-Campus IQP Programs
  • Humanities and Arts Requirement
  • The Social Science Requirement
  • Awards and Prizes
• Section 2: Department and Program Descriptions
• Section 3: Course Descriptions
• Section 4: Academic Policies and Procedures
• Section 5: Unique Opportunities at WPI
• Section 6: Career Development & Graduate School
• Section 7: Admission, Expenses, Financial Aid & Housing
• Section 8: Trustees, Administration & Faculty
• Supplement
• Search

Double Majors

An option for some students who wish to broaden their WPI experience is the completion of two distinct majors through the double major option. The choice to pursue a double major should be made early in a student's career. The limit on the number of majors that a student may complete per degree is two.

For double majors, the diploma may list both majors (in order of preference by the student), either major, or no major as indicated by the student.

The following modifications are made to the degree requirements for students who elect to pursue a double major:

1. The Sufficiency.

   If a major requires the completion of a humanities and arts sufficiency, satisfactory completion of an MQP in Humanities & Arts or International Studies shall satisfy the humanities and arts sufficiency requirement. If a major requires completion of a technical sufficiency, satisfactory completion of an MQP in a science, engineering, or mathematics discipline shall satisfy the technical sufficiency requirement.

2. The Interactive Qualifying Project.

   If one of the majors of a double major is in Social Science and Policy Studies, a single project bearing at least one unit credit may be used to satisfy both the MQP requirement for the SSPS major and the IQP requirement. In order to be used to satisfy both requirements, the combined social science MQP and IQP must meet the goals of both projects. It must be interactive in nature involving an aspect of technology, and must also be an application of social science knowledge and analytical techniques. In order to select a single project that satisfies both the goals of the MQP and the goals of the IQP, the decision to pursue a social science double major needs to be made fairly early in the student's career.

3. The Major Qualifying Project.

   At least one separate and distinct major qualifying project of at least one unit of work must be completed for each major.

4. Distribution Requirements.

   The distribution requirements for each major must be met, but requirements common to both majors only need to be satisfied once. Students pursuing multiple majors, concentrations, and/or minors should also consult the rule on Credit Overlap for Degree Designations and Requirements (page 254). The requirements for each individual major must be completed and certified by the
   Program Review Committee of the department offering that major.

Some departments offer more than one major. A degree may not include more than one major course of study from the same department unless provided for in the list of exceptions below.

Exceptions:

• A student may major in Industrial Engineering and also in either Management, Management Engineering, or Management Information Systems.
• A student may major in Chemistry and also in Biochemistry.
• If a student wishes to complete two Interdisciplinary (Individually-Designed) Major Programs, the double major must be proposed in a single Educational Program Proposal which must be approved by the student's Program Advisory Committee for each major. The Committees shall ensure that the majors are substantially non-overlapping.

Other Provisions.

If a student's double major includes an Interdisciplinary (Individually-Designed) Major Program, the double major must be described in the Educational Program Proposal for the Interdisciplinary Major. See page 132 for the requirements of a double major involving Humanities and Arts.

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Last modified: February 07, 2007 10:52:26