Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in the Professional Schools
The College of Arts & Sciences — in conjunction with the Brown School, the McKelvey School of Engineering, the Olin Business School, and the Program in Occupational Therapy at the School of Medicine — offers dual (3-2) degree programs. If accepted into a 3-2 degree program, a student may work toward the AB degree during the initial three years at Washington University and toward the professional degree during the fourth and fifth years. A student electing to do a 3-2 program must complete a combined 150 academic units to earn both the AB degree and the professional degree.
Prior to entry into a 3-2 program, a student in the College of Arts & Sciences must complete the following:
- At least 90 academic units of course work offered in the College of Arts & Sciences;
- All distribution requirements;
- All requirements for an Arts & Sciences major; and
- At least 18 of the 30 required units in upper-level course work.
Note: Some graduate programs may allow one or two courses for the undergraduate degree to be taken concurrently with graduate-level course work. Students should consult carefully with advisors in both programs to determine whether this option is available and, if so, if it is advisable.
A transfer student who seeks the AB degree under this plan must complete at least four semesters in full-time residence in the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University.
Thirty units of graduate academic credit taken during the fourth year will complete the 120 academic units required for the AB degree. The professional degree is earned when 150 combined academic units and all degree requirements for the professional school are completed. A student must be recommended by the faculty of the professional school to the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences in order to receive the combined degree.
Students interested in a 3-2 degree program should do the following: (1) discuss degree options with a dean in the College of Arts & Sciences and with a dean in the professional school; (2) request the Eligibility Certification Form in the College of Arts & Sciences; and (3) submit the completed Eligibility Certification Form with the application for the 3-2 program to the professional school early in the spring semester of their junior year.
AB dual master's degree students are formally admitted into the graduate program of the professional school for a 3-2 program for the fourth year. For students accepted into these 3-2 programs, the undergraduate division will remain the primary school for the fourth year. The professional school program will not become primary until after the eighth semester of study as an undergraduate (or after early graduation with a bachelor's degree). In the fifth year, the professional program will become primary.
Students in 3-2 programs will pay the standard full-time undergraduate tuition rate for the fourth year, except for those enrolled in the MBA program, which charges a premium above the undergraduate tuition rate. Students will receive financial aid for the fourth year based upon their eligibility for undergraduate financial aid awards, including Pell Grants.
There is no commitment for undergraduate financial aid beyond the fourth year of study. Students in 3-2 programs may apply to the professional programs (MBA, Social Work) for graduate student financial aid for study in the professional program beyond the fourth year.
This policy applies to all Arts & Sciences undergraduates who have completed less than the equivalent of eight semesters of academic work toward their bachelor's degree. If these students enroll in any Washington University graduate or post-baccalaureate degree program to begin course work toward a graduate degree during their fourth year before they have been awarded a Washington University bachelor's degree or completed the equivalent of eight semesters of undergraduate enrollment, they are covered by this policy.
This policy applies to current 3-2 programs involving Washington University bachelor's and master's programs and to any future 3-2 programs.
Brown School Master of Public Health Program
The Public Health 3-2 program leads to an AB degree from the College of Arts & Sciences and an MPH degree from the Brown School. Interested students should apply to the Brown School during the first semester of their junior year. Students from all academic disciplines with an interest in public health are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the Brown School's 3-2 MPH Program website.
Brown School Master of Social Work Program
The Social Work 3-2 program leads to an AB degree from the College of Arts & Sciences and an MSW degree from the Brown School. Interested students should apply to the Brown School during the second semester of their junior year. Students from all academic disciplines with an interest in social work are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the Brown School's 3-2 MSW Program website.
McKelvey School of Engineering
The combined AB/Master's Program is designed to enable students in the College of Arts & Sciences to pursue a coordinated five-year program of study leading to an AB degree in the College of Arts & Sciences and a master's degree in the McKelvey School of Engineering.
Olin Business School
A five-year program combining an undergraduate degree and a master's degree is available to a select number of students. More information about the Olin Business School 3+2 Program is available on the Olin website.
Program in Occupational Therapy at the School of Medicine
The Washington University 3-2 Occupational Therapy program allows students to earn both their undergraduate degree and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) within five and a half years.