Applying to Your Major
In order to enroll in major-specific classes and graduate, you must be admitted into your intended major program. Admission to major is primarily based on your academic performance in foundational coursework, with some programs also reviewing non-academic information such as responses to essay prompts or personal statements.
SUMMER/FALL 2020 OPEN APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please refer to major information listed below.
As you apply to each major, you will find that many programs use terminology such as EPHR, CPHR, OSU Advising Report, and Degree Audit. Here is a quick reference guide:
- EPHR = Eligibility Point Hour Ratio. This is an admission to major point-hour ratio (or GPA). You can view which courses are included in a major's EPHR by viewing the Major Application Guidelines below.
- CPHR = Cumulative Point Hour Ratio. This is the point-hour ratio (or GPA) you have earned at OSU.
- OSU Advising Report. This is an unofficial transcript of your OSU academic record. You can access your OSU Advising Report by going to Buckeyelink and searching for "Advising Report."
- Degree Audit. This is an online degree progress auditing tool which monitors the completion of degree requirements and may calculate your program's EPHR and/or CPHR. You can view instructions on accessing your Degree Audit here.
Major Application Guidelines
Admission to each major program is competitive. In order to assist you with setting goals for your academic performance, each department publishes a year in advance a set of criteria which, if met, guarantees admission to the major. These criteria, along with admission coursework, is compiled in the documents called Major Application Guidelines:
Students beginning major coursework in Summer 2020: Major Application Guidelines
Because majors are competitive, you are encouraged to identify a first-choice major and an alternate major. You can apply to multiple programs in the same term. If accepted to both, you will need to notify the program you no longer intend to pursue so that program can extend admission to additional students, if possible.
If you are ready to begin major coursework next term, you should submit your application to the major during this term. Review the section below for guidelines on preparing your application to your intended major.
Preparing your Application to Major
Step 1: Review the Major Application Guidelines, available above. Identify the major(s) you want to apply to this term.
Step 2: Verify that you meet the requirements to apply for your intended major(s) and that each major program accepts applications during this term.
Note: All majors except Aviation allow you to apply during the term in which you are enrolled in your last admission-to-major courses. Aviation requires you to apply once you have completed all admission-to-major courses.
Step 3: Review the application information for your intended major(s) (see below). Prepare all required materials prior to beginning the online application. For example, if a major program requires an essay or short answer prompt, or a projection of courses, you should prepare those materials before beginning the online application.
Step 4: Submit your online application by the major application deadline.
The open application deadline for each term is the third Friday. Acceptance of applications after this deadline varies by each department. If you submit your application by the encouraged application deadline, you will meet the deadline for all major programs accepting applications this term.If you are interested in applying AFTER this deadline, please scroll down and locate your intended major to determine if your major program is currently still accepting applications.
Step 5: You will receive notification of your admission decision via an email sent directly to your OSU email account. Most admission decisions will be made after final grades for this term have posted and been reviewed.
If you are admitted to multiple major programs, you can only accept admission to one major program during this admission cycle. You will need to notify the programs you no longer intend to pursue that you are declining the admission offer at this time. This will not negatively affect any future applications you submit to these programs in the future if you change your intended major and will allow these programs to consider extending admission offers to other students. If you intend to pursue multiple degrees in the College of Engineering, please meet with an advisor in each program so you can plan your coursework and application to each major accordingly.
Optional: Some major programs limit how many times you can apply to a major program. If, after submitting your application, you wish to cancel your application at a later date, complete the Cancel Application Request no later than 11:59PM on the tenth Friday of term.
Online Major Applications
Below are the online major applications for each engineering program. Scroll down to your program to review information and begin your application.
Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineer
Application Deadline: Friday, September 6, 2019
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1172, 2173; PHYSICS 1250, 1251; CHEM 1250; MECHENG 2040; AEROENG 2200; ENGR 1100; ENGLISH 1110.
Application Materials: none
Click here to begin your application.
Aviation
Application Deadline: There is no deadline for this major. Once you have the required courses, you can submit the application.
Students who apply after this deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
To apply you must have completed the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250, ENGLISH 1110; AVIATN 2000, 2100.
Application Materials: PDF of your OSU Advising Report.
Click here to begin your application.
Biomedical Engineering
Application Deadline: Applications are only accepted during Spring.
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1100, 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250; CHEM 1210, 1220.
Application Materials: Projection of coursework for the next three academic terms (SU, AU, SP); description of any awards, honors, or scholarships; descriptions of relevant work or volunteer experience; responses to the following short answer questions:
- How do you think your background experience(s) will add to the diversity in the BME Department? (300 word maximum)
- What attracted you to the field of biomedical engineering? (150 word maximum)
- What are your career goals and how will a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering help you succeed in achieving them? (150 word maximum)
Click here to begin your application.
Chemical Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2020
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; CHEMISTRY 1210, 1220; ENGR 1100.
Click here to begin your application.
Civil Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2020
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250; MECHENG 2010; ENGR 1100; ENGLISH 1110.
Click here to begin your application.
Computer Science and Engineering
All applications to the major are final and cannot be cancelled or retracted. To apply and be admitted you must meet the following requirements:
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completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): CSE 2221, ENGR 1100, 1181, 1182; MATH 1151; PHYSICS 1250; ENGLISH 1110
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earned at least 15 credit hours at Ohio State
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one of the following GPA requirements:
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CPHR of at least 3.3 and MPHR (major GPA) of at least 2.7
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CPHR of at least 3.0 and MPHR (major GPA) of at least 3.2 having completed CSE 2221, 2231 and 2321
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Application Materials: none
Note: This application is for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering, offered through the College of Engineering. If you are interested in pursuing the Computer and Information Science majors (BS or BA) offered through the College of Arts and Sciences please submit the CIS Online Major Application. If you have questions about the difference between the CSE and CIS major programs, please contact the CSE Advising Office.
Click here to begin your application.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2020
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in 12 hours at OSU and completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250
Application Materials: Students will have to respond to 3 essay questions. The specific essay questions, along with more detailed information about the application, can be found on the ECE website.
Engineering Physics
Application Deadline: Applications are only accepted during the Spring term.
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250, 1251.
Application Materials: If your CPHR and/or EPHR is less than a 3.0, prepare a response to the following prompt: "Please describe why you are a good match for the Engineering Physics program. Explain your interest in the program and what led you to pursue this academic path. In addition, please share factors that contributed to your CPHR and/or EPHR being below a 3.0. Include any other information you would like the committee to know or consider."
Click here to begin your application.
Environmental Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, September 11, 2020
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250; CHEM 1210, 1220; MECHENG 2040; ENGR 1100; ENGLISH 1110.
Click here to begin your application.
Food, Ag, Biological and Ecological Engineering
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250, one of the following sciences: CHEM 1210 or CHEM 1250; ENGR 1100 or ENGR 1110 and 1120.
Click here to begin your application.
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2020
To apply you must have completed the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250, 1251, ENGLISH 1110, and ENGR 1100. Additionally, you must also have completed or be enrolled in MATH 2568, STAT 3470, and CSE 1223 (ENGR 1281.01 or 1281.02 are equivalent and fulfill the programming requirement). Full admission to the major requires a C or higher in MATH 2568, STAT 3470, CSE 1223, and ENGLISH 1110.
Application Materials: One-page (single or double spaced) personal statement in response to this prompt: "Please describe why you want to be an Industrial and Systems engineer. Highlight any special circumstances that might have affected your academic performance."
Click here to begin your application.
Materials Science and Engineering
Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2020
Applications are accepted during autumn and spring terms. The MSE major courses are lock-step and sequential, and begin only in the Spring semester of each year.
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; CHEM 1210 OR 1250; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250; MATSCEN 2010 (C or higher); ENGLISH 1110.
Click here to begin your application.
Mechanical Engineering
Application Deadline: Friday, July 5, 2020
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; MATH 1172, 2173; PHYSICS 1250, 1251; CHEM 1250; MECHENG 2010; STAT 3450; ENGR 1100; ENGLISH 1110.
Application Materials: none
Click here to begin your application.
Welding Engineering
Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2020
Applications are accepted during autumn and spring terms. The WE major courses are lock-step and sequential, and begin only in the Spring semester of each year.
To apply you must have completed or be enrolled in the following courses (or equivalents): ENGR 1181, 1182; CHEM 1210 OR 1250; MATH 1151, 1172; PHYSICS 1250; MATSCEN 2010; ENGLISH 1110.