This approval must be obtained no later than the beginning of the student's junior year. Students are then expected to adhere to this plan unless circumstances require a change, in which case a petition for a modified program must be submitted to the Undergraduate Committee. This program provides a student with industrial experience concurrently with academic work through cooperative work assignments matched to the student's capabilities. Together with a company representative, a faculty advisor is assigned to each student to act as cosupervisor during his or her work assignments. Care is taken to ensure a more challenging and rewarding experience than is typical of most summer jobs.
Students earn a salary during their work periods and also receive academic credit.
Growth in job responsibility is expected as the student progresses. Admission to the program is preferably obtained during the second year so that the work periods follow during that summer and the summer of the third year. This work program, properly reported, may be used to satisfy the undergraduate thesis requirement. Students who wish to go on to graduate school under the auspices of the III-B program have the opportunity to earn an S.M. degree. At the end of the senior year, such students complete two terms of industrial practice and a minimum of one term of on-campus study, during which time they may complete the subject requirements of the S.M. degree and an S.M. thesis.