Dual Or Combined Degree Programs At University Level

In recent years, there has been a new growing trend towards dual or combined degree programs, both at undergraduate and graduate levels within fields of engineering and sciences. Different departments at various colleges and universities throughout the nation are presently offering either combined intra-departmental BS/MS or MS/PhD programs, and/or dual inter-departmental graduate degrees. There are different advantages to these types of programs. Combined degrees save time by allowing students to enter earlier in their professional careers with advanced degrees. This can help reduce financial stress of education. And dual-degree programs help diversify an individual’s technical and professional skills. Usually universities have slightly more stringent eligibility criteria and rules for selecting students into combined and dual-degree programs. A study by National Academy of Sciences (NAS) suggested that world of work has become more interdisciplinary, collaborative, and global, and requires that we produce young professionals who are adaptable and flexible, as well as technically proficient. With everincreasing demand to keep up with the new technology and growing competition, employers are currently seeking employees with either diversified background or advanced degrees to be able to handle the additional stress put forth by the industrial sector. Diversity, strong fundamentals, advance body of knowledge and technical skills to handle the new technology is the key to future progress. This paper analyzes the current trends through highlighting programs offered by Medical and Engineering schools. The better prospective of getting more students interested in these programs is by educating them and their parents about the potential advantages, which includes monetary benefits, diversified skills, technical competency, job security and saving time. This new trend could definitely mark the beginning of next generation of intellectuals with enhanced capabilities to meet the evolving demands of this age.