Engineering at Bard

In affiliation with the schools of engineering at Columbia University and Dartmouth College, Bard offers several programs of study leading to a degree in engineering.

Columbia University Programs

Dual Undergraduate or Graduate Program with Columbia University
Associate Professor of Physics Paul Cadden-Zimansky. Photo by Scott Barrow

Dual Undergraduate or Graduate Program with Columbia University

Under Columbia’s 3+2 program, a Bard student may transfer to Columbia at the end of their junior year at Bard, and upon completing a two-year program at Columbia, qualify for both a BA from Bard and a BS from Columbia. Columbia also offers two 4+2 programs in which Bard students can complete a BA at Bard and, after two years of study at Columbia, qualify for a BS or MS degree from Columbia.

For students who started at Bard before 2019, admission to Columbia’s BA/BS program is guaranteed provided students fulfill all course requirements; maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 overall; and in their pre-engineering courses have no grade below a B. For students entering Bard in 2019 or later, Columbia will no longer offer guaranteed admission. Instead, Columbia will move to a competitive admissions process where taking the pre-engineering courses and maintaining grade requirements will be recommended, but not required. Columbia offers financial aid to U.S. citizens and residents admitted to the BA/BS programs; students who complete their BA prior to entering Columbia are ineligible for federal financial aid, but they may receive aid directly from Columbia.

Curriculum at Columbia

For the 3+2 and 4+2 BA/BS programs, students complete the set of foundational courses required by Columbia plus courses specific to their intended major at Columbia. These are detailed in Columbia’s Pre–Combined Plan Curriculum Guides (see below). Equivalences between Bard and Columbia foundational and field-specific courses can be found below.

Students applying for the 3+2 program must meet Bard’s requirements. Students in the 4+2 program must complete all of Bard’s graduation requirements in their four years at Bard and can apply up to one year after graduating.

  • Curriculum Guides
  • Foundational Courses
  • Field-Specific Courses

Dartmouth College Program

Dual Undergraduate Degree with Dartmouth College
Photo by Scott Barrow

Dual Undergraduate Degree with Dartmouth College

Dartmouth offers a 2+1+1+1 BA/BE program, in which the student spends two years at Bard; takes engineering courses at Dartmouth in the third year; returns to Bard for their senior year; and completes their engineering courses at Dartmouth in the fifth year. Admission to the Dartmouth program is competitive and contingent upon fulfillment of Bard’s major and distribution requirements and foundational courses in science and mathematics. Dartmouth does not offer financial aid in the first year. 

Dartmouth Program Website

Petitioning to Apply

Approval from David Shein, the dean of studies, is required for participation in the 3+2 and 2+1+1+1 programs. Interested students should consult with Professor Paul Cadden-Zimansky, the pre-engineering adviser, early in their Bard careers. Students must petition the Dean of Studies Office explaining their interest in the program and providing supporting letters from their academic adviser and the preengineering adviser. The form is available below. Students should submit the petition after their first year at Bard but before they apply to Columbia or Dartmouth—ideally, at or soon after Moderation. Approval of the petition requires the following: 

Dual-Degree Petition (PDF)
Contact Us
Professor Simeen Sattar. Photo by Pete Mauney '93 MFA '00

Contact Us

Interested students should consult with
Paul Cadden-Zimansky,
the preengineering adviser,
early in their Bard careers.

Office: Rose Science Laboratories, 113
Email: paulcz@bard.edu
Phone: 845-758-7584