Thinking Logically
Out of all of my classes this semester, the one that I look forward to doing the homework for the most is Discrete Mathematics, CS61. That may be…
Hi prospective engineering student!
As you begin your college search journey, it’s important to know all the application and eligibility requirements for the undergraduate engineering programs you are considering. While most undergraduate engineering programs either require or highly recommend students take physics and calculus in high school, our office recognizes that physics and calculus may not be available or accessible to all high school students. So in 2020, Tufts amended our curriculum requirements for applicants to the School of Engineering. Physics and calculus are no longer required courses for admission.
However, we still highly encourage students interested in engineering to pursue four years of rigorous math and science study in high school. At Tufts, all incoming first-year engineering students must take calculus (listed as Math 32; equivalent to a Calculus 1 course) and physics (listed as Physics 11; equivalent to a Physics 1 class). While these courses are taught at an introductory level, all students benefit from having a foundation in these courses before starting engineering at Tufts. Courses taught at the college level are very different in content than those taught in high school (since we don’t have to prescribe to a fixed curriculum like AP or IB classes!), so our introductory-level classes give you a strong foundation of what is expected of you during your time as a Tufts engineer. Click here to view all our School of Engineering graduation requirements.
What does a rigorous math and science study look like? This is tricky question because it can mean different things for students depending on what’s available in their high school. In short, taking a rigorous math and science curriculum means that a student has taken the high-level math and science courses available to them. For some students this might mean taking AP Physics and AP Chemistry. For others it might mean taking IB Math Analysis HL. Or perhaps dual enrollment classes at your local community college. Or a virtual option (we have students currently studying engineering at Tufts who took calculus online because their high school senior class only had 26 students and they didn’t offer calculus!). Or something else entirely! We get applications from over 8,000 different secondary schools…so we know “high-level” courses mean something very different student to student and school to school.
It’s also important to note that Tufts will award incoming students college credit for certain AP, IB, A-level, and dual-enrollment courses, Click here to learn more.
We highly encourage you to talk with your teachers to plan out a curriculum that exposes you to calculus and physics. This may include taking physics and calculus outside of your high school or outside regular school semesters. As always, when planning out your academic career in high school, you should take courses that you find both academically challenging (in a good way) and enjoyable. See below for a simplified version of math and science courses that offer students exposure to physics and calculus.
* Please note these are suggested classes that we believe will better prepare you for a rigorous math and science background and are by no means the only options.
I hope this blog post helped clarify our change in curriculum requirements. Our office is committed to being transparent with students as they navigate the college application process. Please rest assured that we will read your application in a contextual, holistic manner. Never fear to reach out and ask for help/clarification from admissions officers. We are here to help!
Out of all of my classes this semester, the one that I look forward to doing the homework for the most is Discrete Mathematics, CS61. That may be…