Admission to Major

Starting Spring 2021 the college will implement an admit to major process that will utilize one application for all engineering programs.  (This will not include Aviation, which will continue to utilize its program’s current admit to major process.)  This new process goes beyond the traditional grade metric and incorporates a multi-factor review through which the voices and stories of all of our aspiring engineering students can be told. Additionally, updated eligibility requirements will allow students to apply to a major earlier, which, for most students, will be the second semester of enrollment.

Students will be admitted based on background and thought that demonstrate:

• Capacity to understand basic engineering principles and apply them in a variety of settings
• Informed desire for an engineering discipline
• Appreciation for inclusion, collaboration, leadership, and integrity
• Drive to acquire and apply knowledge to enrich one’s life, work, community, and society

Recognizing the challenges in meeting the demand and space availability in popular majors, applicants will choose three majors of interest. In the College of Engineering Pre-Major Program, students will have the opportunity to explore multiple majors through both their coursework and opportunities to engage with faculty, academic advisors, and peers. Students will learn how different engineering majors can lead to similar career outcomes and be supported to make choices with intention and good information. Each year the university directly enrolls into engineering the number of students matching the total capacity of our engineering majors.  In principle we have a place in a major for every pre-major we enroll.  It is our expectation that a majority of students will get their first choice.

Engineering Programs

Due to available capacity, some majors can accept students into the major without needing to go through the application process. The table below shows the current method to seek admission into a major. Please note these statuses will change as enrollment in majors change.

*Direct enrollment into the Aviation Engineering major is available. However, the Professional Pilot Certification (PPC) remains to have limited space and students will need to request joining the specialization separately from enrolling in the Aviation Engineering Major. See Professional Pilot Specialization for additional information.

Regional Campus Engineering Pre-Majors

Students wanting to major in a "space available" major will need to wait to switch into the major until they campus change to Columbus. Students wanting to apply to a major program indicated as “limited space” should submit an application to major as soon as they are eligible to apply.

The Application Process

Students will select and apply to three majors of interest (ranked in order of preference), during the semester that eligibility courses are completed, which generally occurs during the second semester of enrollment. The process requires students to verify their coursework, and respond to a few short essay prompts (about 250 words each). Students will address their interest in the three selected majors, their experiences working with teams, and their life experiences influencing their desire to pursue engineering.

Once final grades are available at the end of the semester, applications will undergo a program review.  Applications will be reviewed in the order of the their preferred major choices. For example, if a student's preference is Civil, Chemical, Environmental, their application will be review by Civil first, followed by Chemical and Environmental if necessary.

All students will be notified of their admission decision on the admission decision date listed below. Admitted students will be offered a place in one major. This offer must be accepted by the indicated deadline to secure a place. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the admission offer.

Starting Autumn 2023

In order to implement a transparent and equitable admission process and recognizing the challenges in meeting the demand and space availability in popular majors, effective Autumn 2023 the college will limit enrollment options for all Columbus and Regional campus students pursuing the following majors:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering (ENG) / Computer and Information Science (ASC)
• Mechanical Engineering

Only students in these pre-majors may apply to their respective major. For example, only biomedical pre-major are permitted to apply to the biomedical engineering major.

Prospective Ohio State students (freshmen and transfers) interested in one of these majors will need to apply to the major during the undergraduate admissions process. Current Ohio State students may continue to switch into these four pre-major programs through Summer 2023.