The University's new emphasis on interdisciplinary studies signifies a renewed commitment to cross-school programming, contend many students and faculty members. The trend began with the Management and Technology program in 1972. Providing a dual degree between the Wharton School of Business and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the M&T; program gives its students the opportunity to study in two diverse fields that are increasingly becoming more intertwined -- technology and business. M&T; Director William Hamilton, who teaches in both the Wharton and Engineering schools, said the program is a "symbolic representation" of the University's great strength in cross-disciplinary studies. Hamilton added that M&T; is an especially important asset because it draws the world's top students to the University. He noted that the joint Wharton and College of Arts and Sciences degree program -- International Studies and Business -- was modeled after M&T.; Last Saturday evening, Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington hosted a dinner at his Swarthmore home for all freshman M&T; students -- along with representative faculty from each Engineering department -- to laud their accomplishments and welcome them into the program. "My idea has always been that the Engineering school would operate at a human level," Farrington said. "Events such as these enable me to achieve what I always wanted -- a small school in a big University." Four years ago, Wharton and Engineering senior Shane Lipson first spoke to Farrington about having an event geared toward M&T; freshmen. As a result, the dean has hosted annual dinners for the first-year students in the program. Lipson said the event enables freshmen to learn about the different Engineering departments and the M&T; program in a casual environment. He stressed the importance of faculty-student interaction, especially since the stringent demands of the program leave little room for M&T; freshmen to explore the many options for concentration within the Engineering school. Representatives from Career Planning and Placement Services were also present at Saturday's dinner to offer students guidance as to the opportunities open to them upon graduation. CPPS Engineering counselor Rosette Pyne said the competitive program opens up a wide variety of channels for its students because the dual degree increases their "marketability." She added that visiting recruiters often ask specifically to meet with M&T; students because of the preparation they receive as undergraduates. Wharton and Engineering freshman Mona Mahajan said she was honored to be invited to dine at the dean's home. "The lengths someone of the dean's status would go to make us feel welcome says a lot about the school's character," Mahajan added. Farrington noted that casual interaction among students and faculty allow students to feel comfortable in an academic environment that could otherwise be intimidating. Since he began hosting similar events for various student groups within the Engineering school in 1990, other faculty members within his school have followed suit.
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