RT Journal Article ID 7a081ea37fa4506a A1 Dinin, Alessandra A1 Jaeger, Audrey J. A1 Culpepper, Dawn K. T1 THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN'S AGENCY IN AN ENGINEERING DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM JF Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering JO JWM YR 2017 FD 2018-02-26 VO 23 IS 4 SP 339 OP 363 K1 engineering K1 women's colleges K1 agency K1 dual-degree program K1 case study AB The purpose of this case study is to understand the unique experiences of women participating in an engineering dual-degree program with a research institution, North Carolina State University, and a women's college, Meredith College. We use agency as a lens to highlight the perspectives and actions that students take to complete the program [O'Meara, Campbell, and Terosky, Living Agency in the Academy: A Conceptual Framework for Research and Action, Ann. Conf. Assoc. Study High. Educ., 2011]. Fifteen students and former students from a variety of backgrounds participated in an hour-long, semi-structured interview to discuss their experiences. The participants indicate that the dual-degree program affords them "the best of both worlds" where they can benefit from a small, friendly, single-gendered campus while also earning an engineering degree, which they enjoy and attribute to future success. Specifically, the dual-degree program is able to mitigate two challenges to women in engineering: a chilly climate and self-efficacy. This study is significant because it introduces a new theoretical lens to consider women in engineering and it highlights some practical implications for institutions trying to start or support similar programming. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/00551c876cc2f027,40648be8069d9a95,7a081ea37fa4506a.html