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)
Note: courses not hyperlinked are Wellesley College equivalent options
| MTH1111 | Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World | 2 MTH |
| AND | |
| SCI1111 | Modeling and Simulation of the Physical World | 2 SCI |
| OR | |
| PHYS120 | Introduction to Simulation and Modeling | 2 ENGR |
| | |
| ENGR1125 | Introduction to Sensors, Instrumentation and Measurement | 4 ENGR |
| OR | |
| PHYS210/ENGR210 | Experimental Techniques | 4 SCI |
| | |
| ENGR1200 | Design Nature | 4 ENGR |
| OR | |
| ENGR160 | Fundamentals of Engineering | 4 ENGR |
| | |
| ENGR2110 | Principles of Integrated Engineering | 4 ENGR |
| ENGR2250 | Collaborative Design | 4 ENGR |
One of:
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)
In the listings below, courses not hyperlinked are Wellesley College equivalencies. Of these, where there is an option of two, the preferred choice is listed first.
| Biology Foundation (see note 2) | |
| Chemistry or Materials Science Foundation (see note 3) | |
| Physics Foundation, One of: | |
| PHYS107 | Principles and Applications of Mechanics with Laboratory | 4 SCI |
| PHYS108 | Principles and Applications of Electricity and Magnetism | 4 SCI |
| PHYS109 | Principles and Applications of Electricity and Magnetism w/ Laboratory | 4 SCI |
Linear Algebra, One of
| PHYS207 | Classical Dynamics | 4 SCI |
| OR | |
| MATH215 | Differential Equations with Applied Linear Algebra | 4 MTH |
Differential Equations, One of:
| PHYS207 | Classical Dynamics | 4 SCI |
| OR | |
| MATH215 | Differential Equations with Applied Linear Algebra | 4 MTH |
Vector Calculus, One of:
| PHYS208 | Intermediate Electromagnetism | 4 SCI |
| OR | |
| MATH205 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 MTH |
Probability and Statistics, One of:
| MTH2130 | Probability and Statistics | 2 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 |
| | |
| MATH220 | Probability | 4 MTH |
| BISC198 | The Applied Statistics and Data Science in Biology | 4 SCI |
| PHYS305 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 4 SCI |
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.
| 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.
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.
| ENGR4190 | SCOPE: Senior Capstone Program in Engineering | 4 ENGR |
| OR | |
| ENGR4290 | Affordable 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
- Credit Equivalences between Wellesley and Olin: 1 or 1.25 Wellesley Units = 4 Olin Credits
- 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
- 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.