New degree format doubles the academic success

For high school seniors with an interest in more than one field of study, newly launched dual degree programs at universities in Shanghai could be the ideal solution.

In June, the Shanghai Academic Degrees Committee announced the first batch of 24 dual bachelor's degree programs at seven universities in the city.

A total of seven projects, including one that integrates the major of naval architecture and ocean engineering with math and applied math, are from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Four programs, covering a combination of finance and statistics, are from East China Normal University.

The other programs, involving combinations such as chemical engineering and engineering management, as well as diplomacy and French, are offered by East China University of Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai University, East China University of Political Science and Law, and Shanghai International Studies University.

The move to have dual degree programs came after the Academic Degree Commission of the State Council issued a slew of measures in July last year that accelerated the introduction of such programs nationwide.

The measures also stipulated that a university should be able to grant doctorate degrees for the majors involved in the program, and that the majors should be from two different schools.

Students will be selected via the national college entrance examination and will be granted one certificate containing two bachelor's degrees when they graduate.

"Shanghai is building itself into an international hub for economy, finance, trading and transport, and hence needs more interdisciplinary talent," says Jiang Zhibin, director of academic affairs office at Shanghai International Studies University.

"Normally, enterprises offer training in multiple fields to graduates after they are employed. However, the dual degree programs will ease the burden on companies by integrating multidisciplinary education into the university curriculum," he says.

A total of four new programs have been approved by Shanghai International Studies University, including English and international politics, and German and business administration. Enrollment is scheduled to start next year, with an annual capacity of 20 students per program.

"We hope to cultivate linguistic professionals who can contribute to global relations, and those who can facilitate economic development and management," says Jiang.

Before the introduction of dual degrees, undergraduates in China could only choose between taking elective courses, picking up a minor or pursuing a second degree.

"These routes are not the same as taking a dual degree. Elective courses are often basic introductions to industries and suitable only for interest development, while for the other two modes, students usually concentrate more on their first major," explains Jiang.

"If one pursues a dual degree, however, the two majors will be equally significant. The university will offer education on core expertise and select high-quality teaching faculty in those fields as well."

Dual degree students should earn the same credits every semester as their peers pursuing ordinary majors.

"We won't lower the requirements for them, meaning the program is somehow more suitable for candidates who possess a strong learning ability and crave challenges," he adds.

At Donghua University, a program that combines product design at the school of fashion and textile engineering at the school of textiles is among those in the initial batch of dual degrees.

According to the dean at the school of textiles, Gu Bohong, the program will be opened to 50 high school graduates this year.

"The textile industry is vital to Shanghai, which is a fashion capital. We've been working on a new curriculum framework and expect to nurture innovative and talented people with skills in both arts and engineering," says Gu.

A program combining metallurgical engineering and information management and systems is among those set to be launched at Shanghai University next year.

Metallurgy plays a fundamental role in national economic construction, but faces challenges, such as efficiency enhancement and environmental protection, which requires industrial development via intelligent technology, Li Chuanjun, research associate at Shanghai University's school of materials science and engineering, told local media outlet ThePaper. Li says the program will also help broaden job possibilities for students.