To support students interested in earning degrees from both CMC and another academic institution at the same time, or in earning advanced degrees at an accelerated rate, CMC has established relationships with a number of respected academic institutions.
3/2 Engineering Programs
BA/BS in Management-Engineering
Designed for strong students who want both a thorough liberal arts background, a solid grounding in economics and management, and a major in engineering, the BA/BS Management-Engineering (ME) program allows students to attain the first two goals in three years at CMC, and the third at a school of engineering to which they have been accepted, normally in an additional two years. This is commonly called a “3/2 program.”
During their junior year at CMC, students apply to transfer to an accredited engineering school. Program participants must complete at least 24 courses, including all major requirements and all general education requirements except for senior thesis, before leaving CMC. The bachelor of arts degree is conferred upon confirmation by transcript of receipt of a bachelor of science degree, or the equivalent, in engineering. Students who are either not accepted to an engineering program or who decide not to transfer to an engineering school at the end of the third year of study at CMC may return to CMC for a fourth year of study to complete the bachelor of arts degree in another major. Students interested in combining a program with HMC may select the dual degree program in Economics and Engineering. Students pursuing a 3/2 program with Columbia University must complete three full years in residence at CMC followed by two full years at Columbia University.
BA/BS in Economics and Engineering
Students interested in receiving a bachelor of arts degree with a major in economics from CMC and bachelor of science degree with a major in engineering from a second academic institution have two options under the Economics-Engineering (E&E) program. The programs are an extension of the successful Management-Engineering (ME) program, but have more requirements and students complete full majors in Economics and Engineering. The first option (Option I) is a dual degree program of Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and Harvey Mudd College (HMC). The second option (Option II) is a dual degree program of Claremont McKenna College and other certified engineering programs. Like the ME program, both 3/2 options of the Economics and Engineering program are designed for students interested in a liberal arts education, together with a demanding curriculum in both economics and engineering. Students who plan to major in Economics and Engineering are expected to complete five (or more) courses per semester. New students may enroll in five courses during their first semester. Professor Higdon is the program advisor.
- Option I: Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College
Students in this 5-year program spend three years at CMC and two years at HMC. In addition, students complete all general education requirements of both HMC and CMC, except for the senior thesis at CMC. Upon completion of the program, students receive a bachelor of arts degree with a major in Economics and Engineering from CMC, and a bachelor of science degree with a major in Engineering from HMC.
Under a joint admissions agreement, CMC students with a grade point average of 9.50 or higher, who have completed all required courses for the program during their years at CMC and meet HMC’s other grade requirements, are guaranteed admission to HMC. Deadline for application is February 1 of the junior year.
- Option II: Claremont McKenna College and Certified Engineering Schools
This option allows CMC students to complete a full major in Economics at CMC and then transfer to an engineering institution of their choice and earn a degree in Engineering. Upon completion of the engineering program, students will earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in Economics and Engineering from CMC and a bachelor of science degree with a major in Engineering from the engineering institution.
During the three years at CMC, students must complete all general education requirements, except for the senior thesis, and all CMC requirements for the Economics major . At the end of the junior year, students transfer to an engineering school of their choice where they complete that institution’s requirements for graduation with a major in Engineering. Upon receipt of the degree from the engineering institution, CMC students received their bachelor of arts degree from CMC with a major in Economics and Engineering. Students who are either not accepted to an engineering program or who decide not to transfer to an engineering school at the end of the third year of study may return to CMC for a fourth year of study to complete the bachelor of arts degree in another major. Students pursuing a this program with Columbia University must complete three full years in residence at CMC followed by two full years at Columbia University.
Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education (AILE)
Claremont McKenna College participates in the Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education (AILE) program at Columbia University, a 3+3 joint degree program. Through this program, CMC may nominate two juniors each year to apply to and enroll at Columbia School of Law after three years of study at CMC. Successful applicants obtain a bachelor of arts (BA) degree from CMC and a juris doctor (JD) degree from Columbia in six years.
CMC may annually nominate up to two juniors for the AILE Program. Before applying, applicants must have completed five full-time semesters in good standing and have taken the LSAT. Accordingly, applicants must sit for the LSAT no later than February of their junior year. Once CMC submits its nominations, Columbia will decide whether to invite the nominees to apply for admission to the Law School. Invitations will be extended in early-April, with invited nominees submitting their law school application materials two to three weeks later. Admission decisions will be communicated in early- to mid-May. Due to the compressed application timeline, applicants are encouraged to review Columbia Law School’s application components well in advance.
Program participants must complete at least 24 courses, including all major and general education requirements except for senior thesis, before leaving CMC. At Columbia, program participants take additional graduate credits in the liberal arts to compensate for the senior year at CMC. Students receive the BA from CMC upon confirmation by transcript that they have successfully completed their first year of law school at Columbia and have earned the equivalent of a total of at least 32 CMC courses.
The AILE Program is highly selective and seeks applicants with outstanding academic credentials who:
- Are juniors completing their 6th full-time semester of study in residence at CMC (in Claremont or on an approved off-campus study program)
- Have earned at least an 11.00 cumulative GPA by the time of nomination
- Demonstrate a sincere interest in pursuing a legal education and interdisciplinary work
- Possess qualities of leadership and maturity which show promise of outstanding professional service
To be nominated for the AILE Program, students must submit the following materials to Career Services:
- Application Form
- Résumé
- Unofficial Transcript
- Two recommendations from professors in different academic departments
- Two-page essay describing the student’s interest in and qualifications for the AILE Program
- LSAT scores
The CMC nominating committee will review applications, interview finalists, and make the final selections. Contact Jason Jeffrey for deadline information and complete program details.
Early Graduate School Entrance
Students with unusually strong records may be accepted by graduate schools at the end of their junior year (with completion of at least 24 courses). Once they complete at least two years of graduate work and earn advanced degrees, they may petition for a bachelor of arts degree from CMC. Students must complete all of CMC’s general education and major requirements except for senior thesis before leaving the College. For information, contact the Registrar.
Robert Day School BA/MA Combined Degree Program
The Robert Day School offers a combined BA/MA program which allows students to complete both a bachelor of arts and a master of arts in finance within four years. The BA/MA program requires 36 units of coursework, at least 20 of which must be completed in residence at CMC during at least 5 regular semesters. Students may alternately elect to complete the program in four and a half or five years (9 or 10 semesters). Students who anticipate taking more than four years to complete the combined degree program should plan their college expenses accordingly. BA/MA Students complete 9 MA-level courses and meet all other MA requirements. Up to four MA courses may apply as Level II electives toward the CMC undergraduate major in economics. Students who complete the BA/MA program may not have the financial economics sequence recorded on their transcripts, since the MA portion of the combined degree subsumes that credential.
Who is eligible for the combined BA/MA Program?
Students admitted to CMC as first-time freshmen may apply to the BA/MA program in the fall of their third semester in college. Students who transfer to CMC may apply to the BA/MA program after completing at least one full-time semester in residence at CMC. Transfer students must satisfy the same residency and course requirements for the BA/MA program as those students who arrived at CMC as freshmen.
It is possible for students pursuing a variety of undergraduate majors to also pursue the BA/MA in finance option. In addition to the undergraduate major in Economics or Economics-Accounting , students may also be able to complete a dual major in another discipline. Students in other combined degree programs (such as Management-Engineering or Economics and Engineering ) are not eligible for the combined BA/MA program. Such students who wish to pursue the graduate curriculum at CMC could be admitted to MA program at the conclusion of their undergraduate program.
How long does the program take?
Depending on a student’s situation, he/she might earn both the BA and MA degrees within four years or might spread their work over up to five years. Significant advanced planning is needed to complete the program in four years, because it normally requires that students amass four extra undergraduate units before the start of the senior year. There are also financial aid implications for students who take more than four years to complete the program.
How many courses must a student complete in total?
BA/MA students must complete 36 units in order to satisfy their combined degree requirements. At least 20 of those course units must be satisfied in residence at CMC with regular full-credit academic courses, 4 more in-residence courses than is required for the 32-unit BA degree. Students must complete, present, and defend a major research project in the area of financial economics. The project may be the student’s senior thesis, which is also a general education requirement. Students who use the senior thesis for this requirement must register for the one-half credit research seminar course (ECON180 CM - Seminar in Research Methods ). Students must present and defend their research at the end of the semester in which they complete their research work.
Prerequisites for the program include:
Students are required to complete:
Interested students should meet with the Director of Graduate Programs, Professor Darren Filson and/or the Director of the Robert Day Scholars program, Kevin Arnold, to determine whether they would be competitive candidates. Students in the BA/MA program are not permitted to count an undergraduate course (any non-FIN course) toward the MA except in special circumstances that require approval of the Chair of the Economics department. The only exceptions to this rule are that students can elect to take ECON 154 CM - Financial Statement Analysis instead of FIN 440 CM - Advanced Accounting Analysis , MATH 109 CM - Introduction to Mathematics of Finance can be taken for MA-level credit (as FIN 309 CM - Introduction to the Mathematics of Finance ) and students can replace up to two of their MA electives with ECON 126 CM - Microeconometrics , ECON 127 CM - Special Topics in Econometrics: Economic and Financial Forecasting , or ECON155 CM - Valuation and Reporting of Financial Liabilities and Equity (Intermediate Accounting II) .
Students who want to complete both degrees within four years can accumulate 36 units in any combination of the following ways:
- Applying up to 2.0 units for participating in programming for summer internships, along with FIN 300 CM , FIN 301A CM , and FIN 301B CM .
- Applying up to 4 units of undergraduate credit from eligible work by examination (AP, IB, etc.) or transfer credit.
- Overloading with undergraduate courses during regular semesters at the College.
When can students begin taking MA courses?
Students admitted to the BA/MA program may begin taking MA courses as soon as they have satisfied the appropriate prerequisites. ECON 134 CM - Corporate Finance is a prerequisite for every FIN course except FIN360 CM - Corporate Governance and Ethics (which has no prerequisites other than ECON 050 CM ) and FIN 440 CM - Advanced Accounting Analysis (or ECON 154 CM - Financial Statement Analysis ). The prerequisite for FIN 440 CM - Advanced Accounting Analysis is ECON 086 CM - Accounting for Decision Making . The prerequisite for ECON 154 CM - Financial Statement Analysis is ECON 150 CM , but this prerequisite is waived if the student earned at a grade of at least B+ in ECON 086 CM - Accounting for Decision Making .
The Robert Day School recommends that students plan their courses and their senior thesis to avoid taking eight MA courses and overloading with a full-unit of senior thesis during one semester of their fourth year, if at all possible.
Are there any other requirements for graduation?
All BA/MA students must complete an internship in finance during the summer between their 3rd and 4th years which has been approved by the Robert Day School. The summer internship may include an academic component. The internship credit may count toward one of the 36 course units required in the combined degree program, but it may not count toward the 20 course unit residency requirement.
What if a student already completed a summer internship for credit previously?
Students must complete an approved internship during the summer between their 3rd and 4th years but it need not be taken for full credit. For students seeking academic credit for an internship, the maximum number of credits is 1.0 during a student’s time at CMC.
Are there any other GPA requirements for graduation?
The grade point requirements are those that apply for each degree separately. In particular, in the courses that count toward the MA, students must obtain a GPA of at least 8.00 (B- average) and no failing grades (F). In the 32 units that count toward the BA, students must satisfy the standard CMC requirements. Students cannot be awarded the MA unless they also meet all of the requirements of the BA.
In addition, admission and remaining in good standing in the BA/MA program normally requires that the student has achieved at least a B average (9.00) in the prerequisite courses taken so far and in each of the BA courses that count toward replacing an MA course. (This includes ECON 050 CM ,ECON 086 CM , ECON 101 CM , ECON 102 CM , ECON 120 CM , and ECON 134 CM .) Earning more than two grades below B- in these courses, failing any of these courses, or achieving less than a B average will normally be sufficient grounds for removal from the BA/MA program. In addition, unless there are exceptional circumstances, the student must earn at least a B in ECON 134 CM . Failing to make adequate progress towards completing the prerequisites in a timely manner may also be sufficient grounds for removal from the BA/MA program.
How and when do I apply to the program?
Applications to become a BA/MA Scholar are typically submitted early in the fall semester of sophomore year, with selection completed following the posting of fall grades. A GMAT or GRE score is not necessary. Further details can be found on the Robert Day School and Robert Day Scholars websites or by contacting the Director of the Robert Day Scholars Program.
If I am accepted to the program, how do I register every semester?
You will register for both undergraduate and graduate courses through the CMC student portal system.
What grades will show on my transcript?
Your transcript would reflect both a bachelor of arts (BA) and a master of arts (MA) degree. You would receive letter grades for every course that you use towards your undergraduate degree, including those that also count towards the graduate degree. The sole exceptions are the FIN 300 CM , FIN 301A CM , FIN 301B CM , and any internship course, which are graded on a credit/no-credit basis.
Accelerated Degree Programs with Claremont Graduate University (CGU)
MA Program in Economics
CMC students interested in graduate economics training for business, government, or non-profit enterprise are encouraged to consider the accelerated BA/MA program in economics at Claremont Graduate University (CGU). Participants in this program enroll, with the permission of the program advisor and the CGU instructor, in graduate courses as part of their undergraduate education. Program participants may count four (4) CGU graduate economics courses completed while at CMC towards both the CMC bachelor of arts degree and the CGU master of arts degree. After receiving the CMC degree, students enroll at CGU for two additional semesters and complete another eight graduate courses for the MA degree.
Interested students should meet with their CMC advisor and CGU economics faculty member during their junior year to map out a program of study and prepare their application to CGU. Applications and degree requirements information are available from the Claremont Graduate University.
MBA - Robert A. Day 4+1 BA/MBA Program
The Robert A. Day 4+1 BA/MBA Program provides an opportunity for CMC students to earn a bachelor of arts degree from CMC and a master of business administration (MBA) degree from the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) in just five years. The program is a unique alternative to the traditional route to an MBA. Rather than interrupting their careers to pursue an MBA degree, Day 4+1 students begin taking MBA courses during the senior year at CMC. Students then graduate from CMC with their undergraduate classmates before completing the MBA in a fifth year of full-time study at CGU.
In addition to the coursework, Day 4+1 students participate in two intensive summer internships, one after the junior year at CMC and the second in the summer between graduating from CMC and the fifth year of the program. The summer internships are concentrated periods of work experience where students develop professionally while gaining sensitivity to issues involved in the practice of management.
CMC students interested in the program should meet with the Director of Graduate Programs of the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance, Professor Darren Filson, no later than the beginning of their junior year in order to plan their programs of study and sequencing of coursework. Students apply for admission to the 4+1 program by the end of January of the junior year. College transcripts and GMAT scores must be submitted along with the application at this time.
MA Program in Political Science
Government majors in good standing and interested in pursuing a master of arts degree at Claremont Graduate University may begin work on a master’s degree in political science at the Center for Politics and Economics at The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) during their senior year at CMC. In their last year at CMC, program participants select classes that will count toward both the bachelor of arts degree (with a major in government) at CMC and one of the following master’s programs at CGU: public policy (MAP), international studies (MAGIS), and politics (MAP).
Students must seek formal admission to the program at CGU late in their junior year or early in their senior year. Up to three graduate-level courses may be completed in the senior year, preferably two core courses in the chosen field and a relevant elective, and applied toward the graduate degree. In addition, CGU may accept some CMC government courses toward the master’s degree.
Students receive a BA from CMC at the end of senior year and a master’s degree from CGU upon completion of 36 graduate units and the master’s research paper, as required for the master’s degree.
MA Program in Psychology
CMC and The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) offer psychology and neuroscience majors the opportunity to obtain an accelerated MA degree in psychology from CGU one year after receiving the bachelor of arts degree from CMC. Under this program, CGU will grant up to 16 units of graduate credit for advanced undergraduate courses taken while the student is an undergraduate at CMC. In addition to the CMC courses, in their senior year program participants must take two graduate courses (eight units) at CGU, including a core course and a four unit course in either statistics or methodology. After entering CGU, program participants must complete at least 32 units (eight courses) for the MA degree.
Students must formally apply to and be admitted into the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at CGU. Applicants must be majors or dual majors in psychology or neuroscience, who will complete a one-year empirical research senior thesis in one of those fields during the senior year.
Students interested in the accelerated MA program in psychology are encouraged to apply no later than the spring semester of the junior year. The application can be completed online. Students should make sure to note that they are from one of the undergraduate Claremont Colleges and request a fee waiver. The GRE is required. For further information, contact the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University.
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