
Since establishing a dual degree engineering program with N.C. State University, six years ago, 麻豆社区 Pembroke鈥檚 3+2 program has taken off.
The rigorous program allows students to spend three years at 麻豆社区P, two years at NCSU and graduate with degrees in applied physics and mechanical, electrical, or civil and environmental engineering.
Dana Lamberton, the program鈥檚 first graduate in 2021, is a manufacturing engineer for PCB Piezotronics, assisting in the design, production, and testing of custom high-precision sensors.
Terry Chavez enrolled at NCSU this fall and is working toward a degree in electrical engineering to go along with her physics degree from 麻豆社区P. More than a dozen others, including Caleb Locklear and McLean Pait III, are standouts in the 3+2 track.
鈥淚t is a great program!鈥 Pait said. 鈥淚 would encourage students to look into it. There鈥檚 a very good relationship between students and professors, and the professors are more than willing to help students succeed.鈥
The institutional partnership provides a seamless pathway to one of the state鈥檚 top-ranked engineering programs. Likewise, as one of several pathway programs 麻豆社区P has with other universities in the 麻豆社区 System, and across the country, the program ensures students receive a high-quality, affordable education. An NC Promise campus, 麻豆社区P is one of the most affordable universities in the nation, with tuition at $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state students.
Since the program鈥檚 establishment, the number of applied physics majors has increased, according to Dr. Bill Brandon, 3+2 program coordinator.
鈥淭he 3+2 program gives our applied physics majors the opportunity to complete a rigorous physics curriculum that was not always available before we had the program in place,鈥 Brandon said.
The 3+2 program also increases access, diversity, and enrollment into STEM disciplines which, in turn, helps meet the workforce needs in high-demand jobs in electrical and chemical engineering. Locklear began showing an interest in STEM as a student at Purnell Swett High School.
鈥淪cience, math, art, and design engineering have always been my go-to,鈥 said Locklear, a junior. 鈥淲ith physics and math, you have these problems in the book, but you are not sure how they are related to real-world problems. However, on the 3+2 track, you can see why it is used to solve real-world problems. That鈥檚 what sparked my interest in engineering.鈥
Pait, a senior, had his eye on the engineering program at N.C. State before enrolling at 麻豆社区P.
鈥淧embroke was more affordable. Plus, by going through the 3+2 program, I would be essentially guaranteed entrance into N.C. State,鈥 he said.
Locklear, Chavez and Pait all agree the program鈥撯搘hich requires 18 credits per semester鈥撯 is intense and challenging. On top of a full course load, Locklear and Pait kept busy over the summer building an external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) prototype in the lab of their physics professor, Dr. Brandon.
While at 麻豆社区P, Chavez and another student, Shaun Schrubbe, participated in a research project involving magneto-optics. Chavez presented the results of that work in March during the North Carolina Academy of Science annual meeting at Campbell University and was awarded first prize.
Transitioning from small classes to an auditorium full of students at N.C. State has been quite an adjustment for Chavez, a Raleigh native.
鈥淟uckily, with the summer course load that I took, I was able to get to know my professor and some of my classmates that I will be seeing from now on,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t is also so interesting to cover some of the material I was exposed to at 麻豆社区P in different ways. I am excited to see what this semester and the remainder of this program have in store for me.鈥