Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute requires a minimum of 124 credit hours to complete a bachelor's degree.

If students would like to graduate in less time than normal, they can choose the accelerated degree program. RPI accepts transfer credits. The school accepts AP credit and IB credits. Additionally, RPI has a summer session, so students can earn credits during the summer.

NOTE: Around 84% of students who start college at RPI finish the requirements for graduation within six years.

RPI offers an orientation program before the start of fall classes to prepare new students for college life.

Academic Options	Yes	No
Accelerated Degree Program	√
Transfer Credits Accepted	√
AP Credit Accepted	√
IB Credits Accepted	√
Summer Classes Available	√
New Student Orientation	√

Reminder: RPI may have additional academic options available for new and transfering students. Make sure to check with the universty directly for any additional information.

Which Courses Do I Have To Take At RPI?

RPI has a core curriculum, which means there are certain classes or types of classes all students must take to graduate.

Students are not required to fulfill a language requirement

Students are required to take a computer class to fufill the graduation requirements for RPI.

Course	Required?
2nd Language	No
Math	true
Science	true
Computer	Yes

Reminder: Check with RPI directly for more information on requirements. Individual departments or majors may have additional required courses.

Majors at RPI

When choosing a major, RPI students have several choices to make. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see a full list of majors offered at RPI.

Student Designed Majors

Students must choose one of the majors offered by the college. Self-designed majors are not allowed.

Senior Projects

RPI does not require students to complete a senior project.

Double Majoring at RPI

RPI offers students the option to double major, if they would like. Student struggling to choose just one area of study may consider a double major.

NOTE: Declaring a double major may require more work but it can provide a unique combination of experience that helps students stand out when job searching or applying to grad school.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Does RPI Offer Learning Disability Services?

✅ RPI does offer services for students with disabilities.

Prospective students can contact the college's Office of Accessibility Services to learn more about any support and accomodations offered. These conversations are usually kept confidential and will not be shared with the admissions office if you do not wish to share.

Does RPI Offer Online Classes?

✅ RPI has distance learning options for students who are interested in taking classes online.

Does RPI Offer AP Credit?

✅ RPI offers some credit for Advanced Placement (AP) classes taken in high school. Schools have different requirements for what AP scores they accept, so some students may not receive AP credit.

Does RPI Have An Honors Program?

❌ RPI does not offer an honors program or a Freshman Honor College.

Does RPI Require Internships?

✅ RPI requires an internship for all students.

Internships can help students gain hands on work experience for their resume, network, and explore career paths without committing to one path. While RPI does not require internships for students of any major, internships can help students gain hands-on work experience for their resume, and explore career paths that interest them without committing to one path.

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Additional Information About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Library

The main library on campus is the Folsom Library and there are 2 other libraries on campus.

Dual Degree Programs at RPI

A dual degree program allows a student to study and earn two degrees at the same time. A 3-2 dual degree program is a five-year program wherein the first three years are spend taking undergraduate courses and the final two years are spent taking graduate courses. Upon completion of the 5 years, the student will be awarded two degrees, a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.

RPI offers these dual degree programs:

•3-2 dual degree program in engineering

ROTC

What is ROTC?

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which is also commonly known as ROTC, is a leadership program that prepares students to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces after graduation. College level ROTC programs prepare students to become officers in the military through physical, academic, and leadership training. ROTC programs are part of the college curriculum and usually cover the cost of tuition.

Does RPI have any ROTC programs?

Each branch of the miltary has its own ROTC program, but not every program is available at every university. Possible programs include Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, and Navy ROTC.

RPI has an Army ROTC program, an Air Force ROTC program and a Navy ROTC program.

Some ROTC programs are provided directly on campus and others are hosted at a cooperating instiution off campus. The ROTC program locations at RPI include:

•an ARMY ROTC branch unit on campus

•a Navy ROTC branch unit on campus

•an Air Force branch unit on campus

Keep Reading About RPI

To learn more about RPI, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Admissions

Tuition & Aid

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