Engineering Undeclared

Begin your Grainger Engineering Journey as "Engineering Undeclared"

Need more time to decide on an engineering  major? The Engineering Undeclared (EU) program provides a select group of students with the opportunity to explore major options during their first two years of undergraduate study.

The EU program is designed to guide students toward entering one of 13 majors within The Grainger College of Engineering. Beginning in summer/fall 2022, new EU students who earn at least a 3.0 UIUC GPA and a 3.0 specialized (STEM) GPA while fulfilling program requirements are pre-approved to enroll into one of their three majors of interest. While the computer science (CS) major is not accessible through EU, students may elect to pursue a CS minor, which can put them on the pathway to a CS masters’ degree at UIUC.

How the Engineering Undeclared Program Works

The Engineering Undeclared program is selective and admits approximately 200 students each year. The students admitted to this program have considered all major options; they are often interested in an interdisciplinary field or need more time to explore which major best fits their interests.

If admitted to this program, you will take a class called Engineering 101. During your ENG 101 class you'll hear from engineering departments about their majors, career paths, engagement opportunities, and more. You'll gain hands-on experience with students of various engineering majors and work closely with advisors to apply to your preferred majors by the end of your second year.

You will also receive dedicated advising from The Grainger College of Engineering advisors who have extensive experience in supporting engineering students in academic planning.

Engineering Undeclared FAQs

The Engineering Undeclared program ensures engineering students are still able to pursue an elite University of Illinois degree while being supported by a tight-knit community as they select a major that best reflects their academic goals. Learn more about the Grainger College of Engineering admissions process and information related to the Engineering Undeclared option below.

Students who have narrowed down their selection to two engineering majors are advised to list one of the majors as their first choice and the other as their second choice. Once students are at UIUC, if they discover an interest in a different major, they can work with an advisor to carefully choose classes and keep their options open to apply to transfer to a new engineering major as early as at the end of their first year. Transfer into some majors is very competitive, and transfer to Computer Science is closed to any student entering UIUC Summer/Fall 2022 and after.

The second-choice major should be carefully chosen and reflect the student’s career interests at application time. Some students who list Engineering Undeclared as their first choice may be admitted to their second-choice option, depending on demand.

Engineering Undeclared students will take a regular set of foundational courses common to many engineering majors, plus at least one (and possibly two) “gateway” courses.

Foundational courses include Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, and Rhetoric. Students with appropriate AP credit may skip one or more of these courses and move ahead to other courses, after consultation with an advisor. Undeclared students are required to take Engineering 101, a one-hour course that provides an overview of the engineering majors.

Gateway courses are technical subjects that provide an entry point to one or two specific majors. These courses provide a way to “sample” a major, and they are often required courses in that major. If you eventually choose a different major, the gateway course may count toward a requirement in that major. Examples of gateway courses are ECE 110 (for electrical and/or computer engineering) and SE 101 or ME 170 (for mechanical, civil, systems, and industrial engineering). All classes will be chosen in consultation with an engineering advisor.

To remain in good academic standing within the program, EU students must

  • maintain at least a 2.5 UIUC GPA and a 2.5 specialized GPA (GPA in all STEM courses),
  • meet any GPA requirements that their intended major has for its current students,
  • earn at least a B-in ENG 101 (an exploration of engineering majors taken in their first semester),
  • make appropriate progress in foundational and technical STEM coursework, and
  • meet with an EU advisor each semester.

Students who earn at least a 3.0 UIUC GPA and a 3.0 specialized GPA while fulfilling the above requirements are pre-approved to enroll into one of their three majors of interest. While we try to place each student in their first-choice major of interest, it is not guaranteed. Students specify their majors of interest at the end of their first semester and may modify them in consultation with an EU advisor.

Students who are not in good academic standing or who are not pre-approved for a major selection will be individually advised by the college staff, with decisions about their next steps made on a case-by-case basis.

EU students will be advised in ways that keep as many options open as possible, even before they select a major. While we are not able to guarantee that every EU student can have their first choice of major, we do pre-approve students who earn at least a 3.0 UIUC GPA and a 3.0 specialized GPA and meet other the program requirements to enroll into one of their three majors of interest.  

Students who begin in a specific major are assured from the time of admission that they have a seat in that major. They automatically retain that seat as long as they stay in good academic standing. All students are welcome to explore other majors by taking Engineering 101 or by taking the gateway course for another major. Students who wish to transfer from one major to another should discuss their plans with a college advisor in 206 Engineering Hall as soon as possible.

EU students are not able to declare or change their major to computer science. In fact,computer science is CLOSED to all Intercollegiate and Interdepartment transfers for anyone who entered the university as a first-year student in or after Summer/Fall 2022. Applications to change into Mathematics & CS, Statistics & CS, or CS+X programs are accepted and handled through the UIUC college housing the major. The acceptance process into these majors is highly competitive.

Students can decide to pursue a CS minor, which can put them on the pathway to a CS masters’ degree at UIUC.

Engineering Undeclared students who decide to transfer out of The Grainger College of Engineering follow “ICT/IDT” transfer rules for their intended major. These students should see an EU advisor and an advisor in their intended major to explore options and make plans to transfer out of engineering.

Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT) Process to Engineering Undeclared

Students who entered Illinois in or after Summer/Fall 2022 and are interested in declaring a major in The Grainger College of Engineering must first be admitted into the Engineering Undeclared (EU) Program.

Please note that the Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT) process to EU is competitive and fulfilling the minimum GPA and course requirements will not guarantee ICT admission to the EU program. Students should be working with their academic advisors to identify majors outside of Engineering to meet their academic and professional goals, in the case that admission to EU is denied.

  • Illinois students who entered in or after Summer/Fall 2022 are eligible to apply during their second or third semester for consideration for EU admission at the beginning of the following semester. Students who apply to EU in their third semester may be on a delayed graduation timeline.
  • Students in their fourth semester and off-campus transfer students are not eligible to apply.
  • If students are denied after their second semester, they may apply again in their third semester.

  • Submit an online application during the appropriate application period. Application link will be available only during the appropriate application period (see “ICT Application Periods” below). 
  • Application Contents
    • Specify three majors of interest, in ranked preference. Only two majors can be competitive majors. Competitive majors are: Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. Indicating more than two competitive majors will have a negative impact on an application.
    • Submit a PDF of your professional resume. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the Resume Review sessions offered by The Career Center. 
    • Academic Record Essay: Comment (150-250 words) on your college academic record (courses, grades, any low grades, missing courses).
    • Extracurricular Involvement Reflection Essay: Describe (150-250 words) your involvement in activities outside the classroom.
    • Professional Statement of interest: Submit a professional statement (250-500 words) of interest that explains your interest in the majors you selected and how you intend on exploring majors during your time in Engineering Undeclared.
    • Optional essay: Please state (maximum 250 words) any circumstances that have affected your academic performance that you would like the Admission Review Committee to consider.
  • Applications are reviewed holistically and depend in part on the capacity of the majors of interest the student specified. Major capacities may vary by semester.
  • Requirements to apply
    • Completion of MATH 220/221
    • Completion of CHEM 102/103
    • Illinois Overall GPA of 3.30 or higher
    • Illinois Specialized GPA (all STEM courses) of 3.0 or higher with a B- or higher in individual courses
    • Students who have already completed the courses listed above are expected to complete higher-level technical courses appropriate to their academic goals.

  • Application for Fall admission: May 1 – 15
  • Application for Spring admission: November 15 – 30


The next ICT to EU application will be open May 1, 2024.

Apply Now

ICT Information Sessions

To learn about the transfer (ICT) process to Engineering Undeclared, you are encouraged to attend one of our ICT Information Sessions. These will cover the following: transfer requirements, process, application timeline, and a summary of the Engineering Undeclared Experience. There will be time reserved at the end for a Q&A and for you to speak to a member of the EU team.

Please note: EU ICT Information Sessions are for current Illinois students and advisors only. If you are a prospective University of Illinois student, please direct your questions to the Grainger Engineering Admissions Team at engineering@illinois.edu.

Spring information sessions will be held either on Zoom or in person. Please read the information for each event. Zoom information will be sent by 5PM Central Time the day before the session as well as again about 1 hour before the session begins to all who are registered for the session.

Please sign up to attend an information session.

All times are given in Central Standard Time.

  • Thursday, January 18 @ 1 PM (Zoom)
  • Tuesday, January 26 @ 9 AM (In-person, Grainger Library 433)
  • Monday, February 5 @ 11 AM (Zoom)
  • Thursday, February 22 @ 4 PM (In-person, Grainger Library 429)
  • Tuesday, March 5 @ 2 PM (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, March 20 @ 10 AM (In-person, Grainger Library 433)
  • Friday, April 5 @ 9 AM (Zoom)
  • Monday, April 15 @ 3 PM (In-person, Grainger Library 433)
  • Thursday, May 2 @ 11 AM (Zoom)

Sign up for an Information Session

 

Students who transfer to (or start in) Engineering Undeclared

Students in EU who earn at least a 3.0 UIUC GPA and a 3.0 Specialized GPA, in addition to meeting the requirements to remain in good EU standing, are pre-approved for assignment into one of their three majors of interest. Students who transfer to EU specify their majors of interest in their application to EU. Those students who start as first-year students in EU state their majors of interest at the end of their first semester. While we try to place each student in their first-choice major of interest, it is not guaranteed. Placement depends on the holistic review of a student’s application to their majors of interest and major capacity. Major capacity may change from semester to semester. Modification of the majors of interest may be possible in consultation with an EU advisor.

To remain in good EU standing, students must

  • maintain at least a 2.5 UIUC GPA and a 2.5 Specialized GPA (all STEM courses),
  • meet any GPA requirements that their intended major has for its current students,
  • earn at least a B- in ENG 101 (an exploration of engineering majors taken in their first semester),
  • make appropriate progress in foundational and technical STEM coursework, and
  • meet with an EU advisor each semester.

Students who are meeting good EU standing (maintain at least 2.5 UIUC GPA and a 2.5 Specialized GPA) but are not earning at least a 3.0 UIUC GPA and a 3.0 Specialized GPA will still be considered for their three majors of interest but will not be guaranteed pre-approval. Students who are earning GPAs between 2.5 and 3.0 will need to meet with an EU advisor to discuss paths that will allow the student to meet their professional and academic goals. Students who are not in good EU standing will be individually advised by the college staff, with decisions about available majors and their next steps made on a case-by-case basis.

Students who do not maintain good EU standing may be considered for placement on warning status or, especially if a student is not in good academic standing within the university (below a 2.0 UIUC overall or semester GPA), removal from the program.

Contact the Grainger College of Engineering Team

If you have questions about the Engineering Undeclared option or would like to learn more about which major option you should select during the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact our EU team. We are ready and excited to help you find the engineering program that aligns with your goals and interests.

Please note that all engineering applications are submitted through the University of Illinois Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Programs

The Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

206 Engineering Hall
1308 West Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801

Email: engineering@illinois.edu 
Call: 217-333-2280
Fax: 217-333-0015

Find Your Path in Engineering

Uncertain of your exact path in engineering? Our Engineering Undeclared program provides a unique opportunity for you to explore multiple disciplines before selecting your final major, ensuring you choose the degree that helps you achieve your goals. Get started by taking the next step:

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