Thanks to Lawrence's foundation in the liberal arts and sciences—and the critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills its students develop—several leading professional schools around the country partner with Lawrence on cooperative programs.

Programs include engineering, law, occupational therapy, and more.


Introduction

A liberal arts education provides excellent preparation for careers in a variety of professions. For this reason, several professional schools have contracted with Lawrence for cooperative programs that enable students to build a foundation in the liberal arts and then acquire specific professional skills. These programs lead, in most cases, to the awarding of two degrees.

The Lawrence cooperative programs listed below generally provide for students to study at Lawrence for three years and then transfer to a professional school for two more years. To qualify for a Lawrence degree in these programs, students must earn 162 units (164 for pre-law) and fulfill all other degree requirements that cannot be met in the professional school. Students must undertake careful planning with the professional advisors and with their own faculty advisors to make sure all requirements will be completed satisfactorily.

Students who earn the required number of units at Lawrence and successfully complete the first year of study in professional school may participate in the Lawrence Commencement with their matriculation class.


Engineering

Program advisors: Matthew Stoneking and Margaret Koker

Students wishing to combine a liberal arts program with professional training in engineering or computer science may want to choose the 3-2 program in engineering, which involves three years of study at Lawrence University and two years of study at an engineering school. Lawrence has formal affiliations with Columbia University (New York, New York), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York), and Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri), but students may transfer to any accredited engineering school with the agreement of the chosen institution. Upon satisfactory completion of the five-year program, these students will receive the Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence as well as a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the professional school they have attended. To prepare for the transfer to an engineering school, students must include among their courses basic mathematics (normally MATH 140, 155, 200, and a tutorial in differential equations), computer science (CMSC 150), introductory chemistry (CHEM 115 and 116), introductory physics with calculus (PHYS 141 and 151), and six courses (36 units) in humanities and social sciences. Many of these courses also will figure in the student’s major at Lawrence. Because specific requirements vary slightly among the engineering schools, students contemplating the 3-2 program should consult early with the program advisor.


Forestry and environmental studies

Program advisor: Bart De Stasio


The college offers a cooperative program with Duke University in the areas of environmental science and forestry. Upon satisfactory completion of this five-year program, spending three years at Lawrence and two at Duke’s School of the Environment, the student will receive the B.A. degree from Lawrence and the professional degree Master of Forestry or Master of Environmental Management from Duke.

The major emphases at Duke are in forest resource production, resource ecology, resource policy and economics, water and air resources, and ecotoxicology. An undergraduate major in natural sciences, social sciences, or pre-engineering is good preparation for the programs at Duke, but a student with any undergraduate concentration will be considered for admission. The student must complete a total of 48 units at Duke, which generally takes four semesters. The student must complete 162 units at Lawrence and fulfill all other requirements that cannot be completed at Duke. All students contemplating this cooperative program should plan to take work in ecology, economics, and statistics at Lawrence before matriculating at Duke.

Some students may prefer to complete the bachelor’s degree before undertaking graduate study at Duke. The master’s degree requirements for these students are the same as those for students entering after the junior year, but the 48-unit requirements may be reduced for relevant, already completed undergraduate work of satisfactory quality. All credit reductions are determined individually and consider both the student’s educational background and objectives.


Law

Program advisor: Ty Collins


A liberal education, whatever the disciplinary focus, is excellent preparation for law school and a legal career. The conventional time for completion of a juris doctor (J.D.) law degree is four years for the undergraduate degree plus three years of law school. Lawrence has an accelerated 3-plus-3 cooperative partnership with Marquette Law School that allows qualified students to complete both the Lawrence degree and juris doctor degree in just six years.

Students in the accelerated program must complete 164 units of coursework at Lawrence, including general education requirements and a major (with Senior Experience), prior to enrolling at Marquette Law School. Students are awarded the Lawrence degree upon successful completion of the first year at Marquette. They then continue for two more years to complete the juris doctor degree.

Incoming first-year students with a 28 or higher on the ACT test may apply for admission to the 3-plus-3 program. Matriculated students who have completed the first year and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher may apply prior to the start of the junior year. Students must take the LSAT as part of the application process, and Marquette considers applicants as part of the general pool for admission and financial aid. Admitted students who decline the opportunity may return to or remain at Lawrence for a fourth year to complete the bachelor’s degree.

Students interested in the accelerated pre-law program are strongly encouraged to work with their academic advisor and pre-law advisor early in their academic career.


Occupational therapy

Program advisor: Matthew Ansfield


Lawrence offers a 3-2 program in occupational therapy in conjunction with the School of Medicine of Washington University, St. Louis. Students spend three years of study at Lawrence and then continue for five semesters and two summers in the occupational therapy program at Washington University. After two semesters of successful study at Washington University, Lawrence awards the Bachelor of Arts degree. The student then continues for three more semesters and two summers at Washington University to earn the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. Students who complete this program are prepared to address the prevention and treatment of physical or mental dysfunctions that impair people’s abilities to perform activities of daily life. Occupational therapists focus on the methods that permit individuals to engage in meaningful life activities. They also assist in modifying environments that make it possible for individuals to function at home, at work, and in the community.

Lawrence students apply to the occupational therapy program of the School of Medicine at Washington University during the fall of the junior year and must meet the entrance requirements established by the occupational therapy program. The Washington University School of Medicine is one of the finest in the country, and the occupational therapy program is competitive. A 3.250 Lawrence grade-point average is a minimum requirement but does not guarantee admission. Students who are admitted may apply for financial aid provided by Washington University.

To complete the occupational therapy program, students must complete 162 units at Lawrence, meet general education requirements, and fulfill all requirements for a Lawrence major. Students also must fulfill the prerequisite course requirements for occupational therapy as follows: BIOL 130, 150, and 242; one additional biology course (6 units) numbered 200 or above; one additional science course (6 units) chosen from physics, chemistry, biology, or neuroscience; PSYC 250 and 260; one course (6 units) chosen from among PHIL 100, PHIL 120, PHIL 320, PHIL 440, or ECON 290; two additional courses (12 units) chosen from the social sciences; and STAT 107. Completing Lawrence requirements and the prerequisite requirements will require careful planning, which must begin early in the Lawrence career. Students interested in this program should talk with their faculty advisors not later than the beginning of the sophomore year. Students should coordinate their plans with the program advisor as well.

More detailed information about the program, requirements for admission, and how to apply can be found at https://www.ot.wustl.edu/education/masters-msot-131.


Public health

Program advisors: Mark Jenike and Judith Humphries
Lawrence offers a 4+1 program in public health in conjunction with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Students spend three years of study at Lawrence and a year of dual enrollment at Lawrence and in MCW’s online public health program starting the summer after their junior year. In the dual degree year, while still in residence at Lawrence, students take the equivalent of 27 units at LU in addition to the online MPH courses. Up to 15 credits (27 LU units) of MCW graduate work may count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. After the dual enrollment year students who have satisfied the Lawrence University general education requirements and their major requirements will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts. Students then continue for a summer semester and a full year in MCW’s online public health program after which they will earn a Masters in Public Health.

Lawrence students apply to the online public health program of the Medical College of Wisconsin by April 10th of their junior year and must meet the entrance requirements established by the public health program. A 3.0 Lawrence grade-point average is a minimum requirement but does not guarantee admission. Prior to starting the public health program, students must complete 162 units at Lawrence. Although there is no restriction on a student’s choice of major at Lawrence, students must fulfill the following prerequisite course requirements for public health: two terms of Freshman Studies, a writing intensive course, a statistics course (STAT 107; MATH 255; BIOL 170; PSYC 170; or ANTH 207), and BIOL 130. An additional intermediate or upper level course in BIOL or ANTH with connections to human health selected in consultation with a program advisor is strongly recommended.

Completing Lawrence requirements and the prerequisite requirements will require careful planning, which must begin early in the Lawrence career. Students interested in this program should talk with their faculty advisors not later than the beginning of the sophomore year. Students should coordinate their plans with the MCW’s public health program advisor as well.

More detailed information about the program, requirements for admission, and how to apply can be found at www.mcw.edu/mph