Other Undergraduate Degree Programs

Dual-Degree Programs

Mount Holyoke offers several undergraduate dual-degree opportunities described below. (If instead, you are seeking information about credit received at other institutions, see the transfer credit information in the Academic Regulations chapter.)

Engineering

Mount Holyoke participates in the following dual-degree engineering programs, allowing students to earn two bachelors degrees in five years. For each of them, it is important to begin planning in the first year. For more information about the dual-degree engineering programs, visit the programs' website.

The Nexus in Engineering program is also offered, preparing science or math majors for future graduate work in engineering or employment in engineering-related fields.

Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College

Students who choose the Dartmouth dual-degree engineering program spend their junior year at Dartmouth College taking engineering courses. They return to Mount Holyoke for their senior year and earn their A.B. from Mount Holyoke. Following graduation, students spend an additional year at the Thayer School to be eligible to earn a bachelor’s of engineering (B.E.). Admission to the program is through both an internal Mount Holyoke application for the dual degree and a direct application to Thayer.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Admission to Caltech is through its admission committee. Accepted students will spend their fourth and fifth years at Caltech and, after successful completion of that program, will receive both a bachelor of science degree from Caltech and the bachelor of arts from Mount Holyoke.

School of Engineering at UMass Amherst

This program allows a Mount Holyoke student to earn a second bachelor’s degree, in engineering, to be awarded by the University of Massachusetts, in the year following graduation from Mount Holyoke. Students may major in chemical, civil and environmental, electrical, industrial, mechanical, or computer systems engineering.

Ordinarily, the student will spend the junior year at UMass, registered in the appropriate engineering courses through Five College cross-registration. After the fourth year at Mount Holyoke, the student will attend UMass for the fifth year. The programs in computer and electrical engineering require three years at Mount Holyoke followed by two years at UMass. The program is administered by an advisory committee consisting of one member from each participating MHC science department, including mathematics/statistics, as well as a similar committee at UMass, consisting of one member from each participating engineering department.

A student pursuing the dual-degree program must have an MHC advisor from the committee and a UMass advisor no later than the fall of the sophomore year. In consultation with these advisors, the student maps out a plan of study for the sophomore, junior, senior, and postsenior years. The plan must satisfy all graduation requirements at both schools and be approved by both advisors.

The Second Bachelor’s Degree

Mount Holyoke welcomes students interested in earning a second bachelor’s degree. Candidates must submit an official college transcript with conferred degree verification, an autobiographical essay, a proposed plan of study, and two letters of recommendation.

Candidates for a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for financial aid from Mount Holyoke College but may qualify for federal student loans.

Candidates seeking to earn a second bachelor’s degree must spend a minimum of four semesters at Mount Holyoke. They must earn a minimum of 64 Mount Holyoke academic credits (beyond their first undergraduate degree), and complete College and distribution requirements, as well as the requirements of their declared major.

Applicants should contact the Office of Admission for details about the application process.

Applications are accepted throughout the academic year. Two entrance dates are available: September and late January, with a preferred application deadline of March 1 for fall entrance and November 15 for spring.

Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Arts in Teaching

Mount Holyoke, through its Professional and Graduate Education division, offers three different programs issuing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree: the Master of Arts in Teaching program referred to as the "M.A.T. program", the Master of Arts in Mathematics Teaching program referred to as the "M.A.M.T program", and the Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership program referred to as the "M.A.T.L program".

The Committee on Graduate Work — consisting of the dean of studies and representatives from each program offering graduate work — approves thesis proposals and theses, adjudicates petitions for exceptions and waivers to the requirements, and reviews graduate requirements and procedures, forms, fees, and stipends. Each program has a graduate advisor, appointed by the department.

Certificate and Licensure Programs

Teacher Licensure Programs

Students completing Mount Holyoke teacher licensure programs are eligible to apply for a Massachusetts (and NASDTEC Interstate Contract) “initial” license. Undergraduate students may pursue licensure in the areas listed in Psychology and Education. For additional information about undergraduate Mount Holyoke College Teacher Licensure Programs, please see the Teacher Licensure Programs page within Psychology and Education.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) allows graduate students to pursue initial teacher licensure as part of the program. Graduate students who wish to independently pursue additional license types can gain preparation through add-on licensure coursework. More information on the M.A.T. and special education are found in the Professional and Graduate Education chapter.

International Visiting Student Program

International students who wish to study in the United States for a period of one semester or one year may apply as an International Visiting Student. Attending Mount Holyoke as a non-degree-seeking student provides an excellent opportunity to explore a particular field of study in depth, to explore a wide range of disciplines, and to become familiar with the United States and its educational system.

For more information, visit the Admission website.

Certificate for International Students

Exchange students and international guest students who are enrolled in nondegree programs may select courses that will enable them to qualify for the Certificate for International Students. The program requires a minimum of one year in residence and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for 20 credits of work.

Students may earn a certificate in general studies or in a particular field, such as international relations or English. Students may choose a field from any of the majors or minors offered at the College and may want to consult with their academic advisor about their course selections.

Students choosing to earn a certificate in a specific field must complete at least 12 of 20 credits of graded course work in that field with satisfactory academic standing. Students who complete their program of study with a cumulative average of 3.5 or better receive the certificate with distinction. For more information about international student programs, contact the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives at 413-538-2072.

Bachelor's/Master's Accelerated Programs

Mount Holyoke collaborates with several institutions offering our undergraduate students accelerated paths towards Master's degrees.

Accelerated Master's Degrees at University of Massachusetts Amherst

The accelerated master’s degree option is designed to enable students as early as the junior year of study at Mount Holyoke to seek an "early" (conditional) offer of admission into a broad array of specific master's degree programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The requirements for the bachelor’s and master’s degrees remain unchanged.

The standard application procedures for admission to graduate programs at the University apply to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Option as well. Qualifying Mount Holyoke students are encouraged to apply by November 30 of their junior year and receive a conditional admission to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Option in either the fall or spring. At their discretion, these University programs may also consider applications at any point during the student’s junior or senior year. The admission to the graduate program remains conditional until the applicant completes the baccalaureate degree and fulfills both the University's Graduate School and the graduate program’s requirements for admission.

Students begin their master's coursework by taking courses through the Five College interchange after admission to the program. Graduate level tuition and fees will be charged by the University each semester after completion of the bachelor's degree and matriculation as a graduate student.

Further information is available on the University's website: general information and search for particular programs by the "Accelerated" degree type.

Latin American Studies Program, Five-Year Cooperative Degree Program, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University

This five-year cooperative degree program offers exceptional undergraduate students at selected institutions the opportunity to complete the requirements of both the bachelor’s degree and the master of arts degree in Latin American Studies at Georgetown within a five-year period. Qualified Mount Holyoke students should declare their interest in the cooperative degree program during their junior year and apply by May 1 of their senior year. Applicants should have demonstrated academic strength in Latin American content. For more information, contact the Chair of Mount Holyoke's Spanish, Latina/o, and Latin American Studies department. The contact person at Georgetown University is Julie Walsh, walshje@georgetown.edu.

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva

Nonmatriculated Students

Graduate courses for nonmatriculated students are offered through Professional and Graduate Education and include workshops, seminars, institutes, and other programming.

Mount Holyoke also usually admits a small number of students each semester to enroll in undergraduate courses for credit as nonmatriculated (non-degree) undergraduate students. All admitted nonmatriculated undergraduate students register for undergraduate courses on a space-available basis with the approval of the registrar and the instructors of those courses. All undergraduate nonmatriculated students are subject to the academic regulations governing undergraduate students. An official transcript of their course work is maintained. They participate fully in the courses they were approved to take and qualify for student privileges related to their course enrollment. However, they do not share all campus privileges. For example, they are not eligible for on-campus housing nor for advising services.

Non-matriculated undergraduates may be admitted from the following groups:

• Mount Holyoke College Employees, Spouses, and Dependents:  Mount Holyoke College employees, spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children may enroll in up to one course per semester at the College without tuition charge. Other course fees (e.g. laboratory, etc.) are paid by the employee. Tuition waivers are not available for courses offered by the Mount Holyoke Professional and Graduate Education (PaGE) program. Credit-bearing PaGE courses taken by employees may be eligible for the tuition reimbursement benefit; eligibility for this benefit is determined by Human Resources. Interested employees should review the Tuition Benefits section of the staff handbook and contact Human Resources at 413-538-2503 to apply.
• High School Students:
  • Students from South Hadley High School are frequently admitted to take up to one undergraduate course per semester at the recommendation of the school's guidance counselor. Tuition is waived for eligible students. Interested students must contact their guidance counselor and submit a letter of reference from South Hadley High School, their most recent high school transcript, and an application form. 
  • Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (PVPA) High School typically selects up to two students per semester to take one undergraduate course each with tuition waived. Interested students must contact their guidance counselor and submit a letter of reference from PVPA, their most recent high school transcript, and an application form. Additional PVPA students, beyond the two selected by their school, are eligible to take one course per semester at 50% of the per-credit tuition for the course.
  • High school students other than those from South Hadley High School and PVPA are not typically eligible to take courses at Mount Holyoke College, but they may apply and would be required to pay full per-credit tuition prior to registration. Interested students should contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-2025).

• Twelve College Exchange Students: Students from participating Twelve College institutions may attend Mount Holyoke for a semester or a year. Interested students should first seek information from their home campus, then contact Kat Eldred in the Office of Academic Deans at 413-538-2855.

• Undergraduate students from other Colleges and Universities: Students on leave from other colleges may be approved to take coursework at Mount Holyoke College. Tuition must be paid in full prior to registration. Interested students should contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-2025) for an application form. Students must provide the completed application, an official transcript from their home institution, and a letter of good standing from their dean at their home institution indicating that the student may take classes at Mount Holyoke.

• Education Teacher Waiver:  Local teachers who have mentored Mount Holyoke licensure students' student teaching in their classrooms within the past year are eligible to take up to four credits of coursework (undergraduate or graduate courses) in the next academic year. Interested teachers should contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@mtholyoke.edu or 413-538-2025) to apply.

Auditors

A degree student at Mount Holyoke or at one of our partner institutions in the Five College Consortium may audit a Mount Holyoke undergraduate course (outside of Mount Holyoke's PaGE program), if space is available and the student has the instructor's verbal permission to audit. The student and faculty member should agree on what level of participation is expected and allowed. In any case, no record will be kept of the audit and it will not appear on the student's transcript. Because no record will be kept, degree students don't need to complete any registration procedures for audits at Mount Holyoke. Students may not switch between audit and for-credit participation in a class after the usual deadline for Adding courses.

Qualifying employees of the College, their qualifying dependents, and Mount Holyoke retirees and emeriti are eligible to audit one course per semester. They must qualify by submitting an employee course registration form to the Human Resources Office. The form is available from the Human Resources Office and requires the signature of the course instructor to confirm his/her approval of the audit and that space is available.

Mount Holyoke alums and residents of South Hadley who have earned a high school diploma may be approved by the registrar to audit one or more undergraduate courses at the College. They must submit a completed Application for Auditing to the Registrar's Office by the end of the second week of classes. Any course(s), other than those offered by Mount Holyoke Professional and Graduate Education, may be approved for audit but only if there is space available and the auditor has the instructor's signed permission.

Auditors may be assessed fees for beginning language courses, dance courses, physical education courses, and studio art courses. These fees are due at the time of registration. (See also the Tuition and Fees chapter.)

Auditing Privileges

• There is no record kept of audited courses at Mount Holyoke, no grade given, and no credits earned. Auditors will not be counted in the official enrollment of the course.
• Attendance is restricted to the meetings of the approved course. Auditors do not participate in other aspects of College life and do not qualify for other student privileges.
• Permission to audit authorizes class observance only. Beyond that, the character of an auditor's participation in a course rest with the instructor(s) of the course. Instructors are not required to review or grade any work completed by auditors.

Auditing privileges may be denied or revoked at any time. The College reserves the right to limit the number of courses audited by any one person, to limit the total number of auditors on campus in a particular term, and to change this policy.