Second Bachelor's Degree
Overview
At IIT, students who have already received a bachelor's degree from another regionally accredited institution can broaden their education by earning a second bachelor's degree with a different major.
A student whose first degree was awarded by another institution must complete a minimum of 45 additional credit hours at IIT. All other graduation requirements apply for the second degree. The GPA required for "summa cum laude," "magna cum laude," and "cum laude" for the second degree must include all IIT coursework. This means that a student will need to earn 60 hours at IIT in order to receive an honors designation and that both the cumulative and major GPA must be at least 2.000 for graduation
Students interested in pursuing a second degree in engineering or computer science whose first degree was in business, physical/natural science, or technology can expect to take more than the required 45 hours given the structure of an engineering or computer science curriculum. If applicants have not completed Calculus and Physics (Calculus-based) in their previous degree we recommend they complete that coursework at a community college before they can be considered for admission.
We admit students on a rolling basis. You should complete your application as soon as possible, however, to ensure proper time for evaluation and processing. The application deadline for the Spring 2010 is December 9, 2009, and for the Fall 2010 semester the deadline is June 11, 2010. To apply, use the application linked above. You should ensure that official college transcript(s), one Letter of Recommendation and Personal Statement be submitted to complete your application. All admitted Second Degree students are reviewed for Merit Scholarships (up to $12,000).
Questions can be directed to Ryan Nelson, Assistant Director and Transfer Coordinator, at 312.567.5192 or nelsonr@iit.edu.
Application
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Apply online using the Universal Application*† |
* Note: When filling out the Universal Application, you will be leaving the IIT website. You must make IIT your selected institution in order for us to receive your application; it will not automatically send IIT your application for you.
† During registration, select "Special Programs" from the "I am applying as a student for the term beginning" question. Make sure to select the appropriate student type when filling out the supplement.
A Student's Perspective
Alex Barnett, pursuing a second bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, describes his experiences with IIT:
When I decided to go back to school, I was interested in staying in Chicago to maintain my job. It was then that I looked into IIT, the small school on the South Side with interesting architecture.
I was immediately impressed by the job placement rate. If I were going to go back to school for something new, I wanted to be sure I would be approaching a practical goal. Additionally, everyone I talked to in the professional community held IIT in high regard. They either knew someone who attended IIT or knew someone that had hired an IIT graduate. However, the final deciding factor was the replies I received from professors in response to my inquiries into the Electrical Engineering program. This level of extraordinary attention has really distinguished my experience at IIT.
Since I began my second bachelor's in the spring of 2007, I have consistently been impressed by the quality of my professors. Every one of them has conveyed an excellent grasp of the subject they are teaching and most of them have incorporated examples from their professional experience into the material at hand. Beyond the quality of lectures and course material, my professors have been accessible. Whether in office hours or during the short break after class, they have been determined to help me understand difficult material and excited to help me take the material further. I am very serious about my education at this point in my life and IIT has been an ideal resource.
IIT has not just been an academic resource, but a social resource as well. As an older student, I was a little nervous about going back to school with a younger demographic. However, IIT is so diverse that I don't feel any pressure to "blend in." I have met students from nine different countries and all different age groups. I have developed bonds with students who have a similar excitement about electronics, math, or whatever subject is at hand. I have even become an executive board member in a student group. Altogether, I feel I am a welcomed member of a healthy and diverse community.
