University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering
Undergraduate Academic Advising

Changing Majors

Declaring or Changing Majors 

Select your current major to review the eligibility criteria and process for declaring a major in or changing majors within The Grainger College of Engineering. 

Students enrolled in the Engineering Undeclared should follow the guidelines provided by those programs. 

Follow the eligibility criteria and process for Grainger Engineering - All Majors. 

If you entered the university as a first-year student in Chemical Engineering, follow the eligibility criteria and process for Grainger Engineering - All Majors 

If you have already completed an on- or off-campus transfer to Chemical Engineering: 

  • If you entered the university as a transfer student in Chemical Engineering you are not eligible to apply.  Off-campus transfer students must be admitted directly to Grainger Engineering at time of transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student summer/fall 2022 or later, apply to Engineering Undeclared during your second or third semester.
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student prior to summer 2022,  you are no longer eligible to apply for transfer to Grainger Engineering (including Engineering Undeclared).  

Any Chemical Engineering major may apply to add a dual degree in Innovation, Leadership, and Engineering Entrepreneurship (ILEE).

Students currently in an engineering major who are interested in changing to another engineering major may petition to do so as follows:

Application Dates for Fall 2024: April. 1 - April. 30, 2024 (applications will be reviewed once final grades for Spring 2024 are available)*

Decisions Released: mid-June, 2024.

Carefully explore all of your interests and meet with advisors before requesting to change majors. 

  • If you entered as a first-year student you may submit a major-change request during your second - fifth semester. 
  • Requests for a second transfer are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will only be considered for majors that are not high in demand and for which there is a clearly demonstrated interest and reasonable time to graduation.  
  • All courses listed in the Requirements by Major section for your major(s) of interest must be completed by the end of the semester in which you are submitting the major-change petition. 
  • Students may select 1-3 majors of interest on the application and will be reviewed for their major selections in the order they are ranked (second and third choice selections will only be reviewed if you cannot be accommodated in your first choice and if you provide evidence of interest).
  • Majors that are high in demand may only be selected as first choice. Currently, these majors include COMPE, CS, EE, and ME. 
  • If admitted to any of your selected majors you will be automatically enrolled in your new major. Only apply to majors in which you are interested in transferring.  

Students ready to pursue a major change may complete the On-Campus Transfer/Major-Change Petition.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, major selection, or the application please ask prior to submitting the On-Campus Transfer/Major-Change Petition. Meet with a college advisor or send an email.

Physics (LAS) → Engineering Physics

If you entered the university as a first-year student in Physics (LAS) you may request to move to Engineering Physics once the following requirements have been satisfied:

  • You must be in good academic standing
  • You have completed (i.e. earned credit/grades which are posted to your degree audit)
    • MATH 220 or 221, 231, 241;
    • PHYS 211, 212, 225;
    • CHEM 102/103*;
    • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • You have a 2.0 or higher GPA in MATH and PHYS coursework
  • You are able to enroll in Grainger Engineering for a minimum of two semesters (excluding summer/winter) prior to degree completion
  • ICT Request Form: Physics (LAS) → Engineering Physics (This form replaces the major-change petition and may be submitted year round.  Requests are reviewed at the time of submission; required courses need to be completed before submitting this form.)

If you have already completed an on- or off-campus transfer to Physics (LAS), or would like to pursue a major other than Engineering Physics: : 

  • If you entered the university as a transfer student in Physics (LAS) you are not eligible to apply.  Off-campus transfer students must be admitted directly to Grainger Engineering at time of transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student summer/fall 2022 or later, apply to Engineering Undeclared during your second or third semester.
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student prior to summer 2022, and are not currently enrolled in the Pre-Engineering Program (PREP), you are no longer eligible to apply for transfer to Grainger Engineering (including Engineering Undeclared).  

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

CS + X (all majors) → Computer Science

If you entered the university as a first-year student in a CS + X major prior to summer 2022 you may request to move to Computer Science once the following requirements have been satisfied:

  • You have completed (i.e. earned credit/grades which are posted to your degree audit) for
    • MATH 220 or 221, 231;
    • CS 124 (or 125), 128, 173, 225;
    • PHYS 211;
    • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • The request must be submitted prior to your fifth semester of enrollment (the final application cycle will be for fall 2023)
  • The review process is competitive and acceptance is not guaranteed. Your application should clearly demonstrate how your academic and professional goals would be best served by a transfer from your current CS + X major to Compute Science.
  • Submit your request using the On-Campus Transfer/Major-Change Petition (the spring 2024 application will be open Nov. 1 - Nov. 30, 2023)

If you have already completed an on- or off-campus transfer to a CS + X major, entered the university as a first-year student in a CS + X major summer/fall 2022 or later (transfer from CS + X majors → CS is not available), or would like to pursue a major other than Computer Science: 

  • If you entered the university as a transfer student in a CS + X major you are not eligible to apply.  Off-campus transfer students must be admitted directly to Grainger Engineering at time of transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student summer/fall 2022 or later, apply to Engineering Undeclared during your second or third semester.
  • If you entered the university as a first-year student prior to summer 2022,  you are no longer eligible to apply for transfer to Grainger Engineering (including Engineering Undeclared).  

If you entered the university as a transfer student in a major outside of Grainger Engineering you are not eligible to apply.  Off-campus transfer students must be admitted directly to Grainger Engineering at time of transfer to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a Grainger student who was previously an Off-campus transfer student, you may apply to change major. However, it is not guaranteed you will be permitted to change your major and you will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

If you entered the university as a first-year student summer/fall 2022 or later, apply to Engineering Undeclared during your second or third semester.

If you entered the university as a first-year student prior to summer 2022, you are no longer eligible to apply for transfer to Grainger Engineering (including Engineering Undeclared).  

Requirements by Major

See the Grainger Engineering - All Majors section above for dates and deadlines. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major: https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/aerospace-map

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. CHEM 104/105 is not required to request a major change but is a major requirement.  If CHEM 104 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 105 will be waived. 

**First-year students who are requesting a major change prior to the start of their third semester may apply without this course complete.

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHEM 104/105, General Chemistry II and Lab
  • MCB 150, Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life**

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/bioengineering-map

Any student submitting a major-change request to Bioengineering for the spring 2024 application cycle or later will be required to have credit for CHEM 103 and CHEM 105; the labs are not waived if a student earns CHEM 102 or 104 credit through AP or proficiency exam.

 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHEM 104/105,* General Chemistry II and Lab -OR- another technical course required for the major (TAM 211, PHYS 212, etc.)

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/cee-map

If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. If CHEM 104 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 105 will be waived. 

Required courses:

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • ECE 110, Introduction to Electronics* -OR- ECE 120, Introduction to Computing (ECE 120 is recommended)

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/ce-map

*ECE 110 is preferred, but ECE 205 may be considered if you are currently in another major which requires it. 

 

For Electrical Engineering → Computer Engineering

If you are a current Electrical Engineering major interested in changing to the Computer Engineering major you may submit a major-change request once the following requirements have been satisfied:

For a fall 2023 major change these requirements need to be complete (i.e. earned credit/grades which are posted to your degree audit) by the end of the spring 2023 semester. 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, 231, 241, 285, 257 (or 416);**
  • PHYS 211, 212, 213, 214;
  • ECE 110, 120, 210, 220;
  • CS 173 (or MATH 213), CS 225

**Students who will remain on the 2020-2021 catalog or earlier complete MATH 220 or 221, 231, 241, and 286 (or appropriate substitute) and CHEM 102/103. If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

Computer Science is closed to on-campus transfer, including Engineering Undeclared, for all students who entered the university in summer/fall 2022 or later. 

Students who entered the university prior to summer 2022 should refer to the requirements below:

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CS 124 (or 125), Computer Science I
  • CS 128, Computer Science II
  • CS 173,* Discrete Structures
  • CS 225, Data Structures

Students requesting transfer from Electrical or Computer Engineering complete: Comp I; MATH 220 or 221, 231; PHYS 211; ECE 120, 220; CS 173 (or MATH 213), and CS 225. 

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/cs-map

*Completion of CS 173 is strongly recommended, but MATH 213 may be used to satisfy the requirement.

Required courses:

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab
  • ECE 110, Introduction to Electronics** -OR- ECE 120, Introduction to Computing (ECE 110 is recommended)

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major: https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/ce-map

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

**ECE 110 is preferred, but ECE 205 may be considered if you are currently in another major which requires it. 

 

For Computer Engineering → Electrical Engineering

If you are a current Computer Engineering major interested in changing to the Electrical Engineering major you may submit a major-change request once the following requirements have been satisfied:

For a fall 2023 major change these requirements need to be complete (i.e. earned credit/grades which are posted to your degree audit) by the end of the spring 2023 semester. 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, 231, 241, 285, 257 (or 416);***
  • PHYS 211, 212, 213, 214;
  • ECE 110, 120, 210, 220;
  • CHEM 102/103***

***Students who will remain on the 2020-2021 catalog or earlier complete MATH 220 or 221, 231, 241, and 286 (or appropriate substitute).  If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/engineering-mechanics-map

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. CHEM 104/105 is not required to request a major change but is a major requirement.  If CHEM 104 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 105 will be waived. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHEM 104/105,* General Chemistry II and Lab -OR- another technical course required for the major (TAM 211, MATH 241, etc.)

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/engineering/environmental-engineering-bs/#degreerequirementstext

 

For Civil Engineering → Environmental Engineering 

If you are a current Civil Engineering major interested in Environmental Engineering you may request to move within the department once the following requirements have been satisfied:

  • You must be in good academic standing and have a 2.0+ overall GPA
  • The required courses listed are complete: Comp I; MATH 220 or 221, 231; PHYS 211; CHEM 102/103, 104/105 (or other technical)

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. If CHEM 104 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 105 will be waived. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103, General Chemistry I and Lab
  • TAM 211,* Statics

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/industrial-engineering-map

*First-year students who are on track to complete TAM 211 during the fall semester of their second year may apply without this course complete.

The BS dual degree in Innovation, Leadership, and Engineering Entrepreneurship (ILEE) adds value to your primary engineering degree by helping you develop an entrepreneurial and leadership mindset. This degree isn't just for students who want to create a startup—it helps create entrepreneurial-minded leaders who are in demand by large companies. A unique aspect of this degree is the inclusion of project-based experiential credits. Note that the ILEE degree is only available as a dual degree for Engineering students.

ILEE Dual Degree Eligibility, Requirements, and Application

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHEM 104/105,* General Chemistry II and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. If CHEM 104 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 105 will be waived. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/mechanical-map 

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. 

Required courses:

  • Composition I (RHET 105 or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CS 101, Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci
  • CHEM 102/103, General Chemistry I and Lab
  • CHEM 104/105, General Chemistry II and Lab
  • MCB 150, Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major: https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/neural-eng-map.

 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major:

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived.

The major is titled Engineering Physics for students on the 2021-2022 catalog, or earlier. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • MATH 241, Calculus III
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS 212, University Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
  • PHYS 225, Relativity & Math Applications
  • CHEM 102/103,* General Chemistry I and Lab

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework the major:  https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/physics-map 

* If CHEM 102 credit is earned through AP or proficiency exam, CHEM 103 will be waived. 

Required courses: 

  • Composition I (RHET 105, or equivalent)
  • MATH 220 or 221, Calculus I
  • MATH 231, Calculus II
  • PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
  • CHEM 102/103, General Chemistry I and Lab
  • TAM 211,* Statics

Students are strongly encouraged to make progress in additional coursework for the major: https://grainger.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors-and-minors/systems-engineering-map 

*First-year students who are on track to complete TAM 211 during the fall semester of their second year may apply without this course complete.