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Sophomore Transfer Information

The University of Illinois welcomes any student interested in transferring.  Lower division transfer students (students who have less than junior standing in college) are evaluated based mainly on the following criteria:

  • Grades in college—requirements vary by program, but typically about a B average is required.
  • Courses in college—preference will be given to students who have all required courses completed.
  • High school academics—lower-division transfer applicants are required to submit official high school transcripts; preference will be given to students who would have been admitted as freshmen to UIUC.
  • ACT or SAT—official exam scores are required for students who do not have 30 graded hours of transferable credit at the time of application; scores are recommended for sophomore transfers who have 30-59 graded hours of college credit.
  • Essays

Students are strongly encouraged to complete courses in the following areas to be on track for graduation from Illinois:

  • English composition—nearly all of the majors require that freshman composition be completed prior to entry to Illinois.
  • Foreign language—students who complete the UIUC foreign language graduation requirement prior to entry will be able to free up space in their schedule for other courses.
  • Quantitative reasoning—all students are required to complete two quantitative courses for graduation and many programs require that these courses be completed prior to transferring.

Required Courses

Following are more specific transfer GPA guidelines by college and course requirements by major. The courses are specifically required for admission; in addition, students are strongly encouraged to complete as many of the courses listed in the transfer handbook to strengthen their application for admission. NOTE: Students who will not be able to complete all of the course prerequisites should address this deficiency in the third (optional) application essay.

Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (2.5 – 3.0 GPA)

  • Agricultural & Biological Engineering/Agricultural Science
    • English composition
    • Calculus I and II
    • One year of general chemistry with a lab
    • The first course of the calculus-based physics sequence
  • Agricultural & Consumer Economics
    • Micro-economics
    • College algebra or higher
  • Agricultural & Environmental Communications and Education
    Human Development & Family Studies
    Technical Systems Management
    • College algebra or higher
  • Agricultural Engineering/Agricultural Science
    • English composition
    • Calculus I and II
    • One year of general chemistry with a lab
    • The first course of the calculus-based physics sequence
  • Animal Sciences
    Crop Sciences
    Food Science and Human Nutrition
    Horticulture
    Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences
    • College algebra or higher
    • One semester of chemistry

Applied Health Sciences (3.0 GPA)

  • Through the 3rd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college.
  • Using the application essays, explain the relationship between your career choice and your extracurricular and work experiences.

Aviation (2.7 GPA)

  • An FAA medical examination is required before the beginning of classes; color vision must be normal; and vision must be 20/20 or correctable.

Business (3.0 – 4.0 GPA)

  • One year of calculus or 1 semester of business calculus & 1 semester of finite math
  • Micro- and macro-economics

Media (3.25 – 3.65 GPA)

  • English composition
  • Quantitative reasoning I (specifically statistics if applying to advertising)
  • Through the 3rd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college
  • Essays will weigh heavily in review; students must demonstrate communications abilities and detail interests in and demonstrate commitment to a career for which a College of Media degree would be appropriate. Students are recommended to include pertinent extracurricular activities or internships.  

Education (3.1 GPA)

  • Special Education
  • All other Education majors
    • English composition
    • Through the 3rd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college

Engineering (3.0 cumulative and technical GPA)

  • English composition
  • Calculus I and II
  • One year of general chemistry with a lab, except:
    • Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Computer Science require only one semester of chemistry with a lab
  • The first course of the calculus-based physics sequence
  • Through the 2nd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college
  • Technical GPA of 3.0 or higher from calculus, physics and chemistry

Fine & Applied Arts (2.25 – 3.2 GPA)

All majors: Through the 3rd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college

  • Architecture (3.2 GPA)
    • Calculus I
  • Art & Design
    • One year of college drawing
    • One year of college design
    • One year of art history
    • Portfolio and interview are required for all applicants except those to Art History; Art History applicants submit a writing sample in lieu of portfolio
    • Students who have not completed the courses above should submit a portfolio and apply to Art Foundation instead of a specific art major
  • Dance
    • Audition
  • Landscape Architecture (2.75 GPA)
    • Physical geography or earth science
    • Plant biology or botany
    • Quantitative reasoning course
  • Music
    • Audition
    • Supplemental application
  • Theatre
    • Audition or portfolio & interview
  • Urban & Regional Planning (2.75 GPA)
    • American government
    • Micro-economics
    • Statistics
    • Sociology

Division of General Studies (2.7 GPA)

  • English composition
  • Through the 2nd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college
  • Students with over 50 hours of transferable credit should not apply to DGS, but should apply to a declared major

Liberal Arts & Sciences (2.5 – 3.0 GPA)

All majors: At least one transferable course specific to major; through the 3rd year of foreign language in high school or through the 2nd semester in college

  • International Studies
    • At least one semester at the college level of foreign language that will be used to fulfill major requirements
    • Students should have no more than 45 credit hours of transferable work to ensure that they can fulfill 60 hours of on-campus residency plus the semester study abroad requirement.
  • Integrative Biology
    Molecular & Cellular Biology
    • English composition
    • Biology I and II
    • One year of chemistry with a lab
    • Calculus I or statistics
  • Economics
    • Micro and macro-economics (minimum grade: B)
    • Calculus I and II
  • Math
    Statistics
    Actuarial Science
    • Calculus I and II
  • Math & CS
    Statistics & CS
    • Calculus I and II
    • Introduction to computer science course for CS majors
    • Technical GPA of 3.0 or higher from calculus, physics and chemistry