University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
If you are a current full-time Illinois student interested in transferring into the Pre-Engineering Program, please view the Pre-Engineering ICT webpage for more details on the Intercollegiate Transfer process.
Pre-Engineering
The Pre-Engineering Program (PREP) is intended to provide an opportunity for highly qualified students who are not currently in the College of Engineering to prepare themselves for possible transfer into the College of Engineering. Students in PREP will reside in DGS while they complete the prescribed PREP curriculum and prepare for the Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT) process to the College of Engineering. Guaranteed Admission Major Chart
Resources Available to PREP Students
Pre-Engineering Advisor: A designated Pre-Engineering academic advisor in the Division of General Studies will help students navigate their academic journey. To schedule an appointment with a PREP advisor, click here.
The College of Engineering Campus Resources: Many of the programs within the College of Engineering are also available for students in PREP, such as CARE, IPENG, and WIE.
Engineering Coursework: In addition to exploratory courses, students will also gain better access to some introductory major courses within the College of Engineering curriculum.
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Engineering Orientation – ENG 100
Engineering at Illinois – ENG 101
Engineering First-Year Experience elective – ENG 198
Agricultural & Biological Engineering – ABE 100
Introduction to Bioengineering – BIOE 120
About Civil Engineering – CEE 195
Mechanics in the Modern World – TAM 195 (Engineering Mechanics)
Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering – MSE 182
Orientation to Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering – NPRE 100
Computer Science – CS 125, CS 173, CS 225
Electrical & Computer Engineering - ECE 110, ECE 120, ECE 210, ECE 220
Systems Engineering and Design – SE 101
Mechanical Engineering – ME 170
Pre-Engineering Curriculum
Core Technical Coursework: PREP students should progress as much as possible in the core technical courses in order to show their aptitude and readiness to transfer. While individual Engineering majors have specific requirements, students in PREP will also need to show progress in the following coursework:
- Calculus I, II, and III (Math 221, 231, and 241)
- Physics Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism (Phys 211 and 212)
- General Chemistry I (Chem 102/103) and General Chemistry II (Chem 104/105 - if required for major)
Course Sequencing: Students will work closely with PREP advisors to both determine the most appropriate schedule based on placement test information and potential AP/IB/Dual Enrollment credit and also ensure specific course requirements are being met for majors of interest. Those who are ahead in the suggested sequence for the major (e.g., through AP or proficiency credit) are still expected to continue taking an appropriate engineering course load.
Good Standing: Standing in PREP is reviewed each semester. To maintain Good Standing in PREP students must:
- Maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Maintain a 3.00 specialized or technical GPA (all math, science, and Engineering courses)
- Earn a grade of "satisfactory" in Engineering 101
- Make progress on appropriate foundational coursework of Calculus (MATH 221, 231, & 241); General Chemistry I and Lab (CHEM 102 & 103); Physics Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 211 & 212)
- Make satisfactory progress in technical sequences each semester
- Meet with PREP advisor each semester
- Start Engineering Portfolio during first semester in PREP
Consequences of not maintaining Good Standing in PREP may be placement on PREP Warning Status or removal from PREP and reassignment to Undeclared in DGS.
Add/Drop Policy
PREP students will have a hold placed on their account on the 11th day of the semester. In order to add or drop a course after the 11th day, a PREP student should meet with an advisor, who will complete the PREP Late Course Change Form.
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When meeting with an advisor to drop a course, students will discuss which course they want to drop, why, and the potential implications of dropping that course (i.e. staying on track in the PREP curriculum, maintaining full-time academic status, satisfying financial aid requirements). Additionally, students cannot drop a course if it will place them below 12 credit hours unless they have been approved for an underload that semester.
Students considering dropping the following courses should know that doing so could jeopardize their ability to make satisfactory progress and remain in Pre-Engineering:
- CHEM 102/103, 104/105, 202/203, 204/205
- CS 101 or 125
- MATH 220/221, 225, 231, 241, 285 or 286, 415
- PHYS 211, 212, 213, or 214
- RHET 101, 102, or 105, CMN 111 or 112
- ESL 111, 112, or 115
When meeting with an advisor to add or change sections of a course, students will receive a copy of the PREP Late Course Change Form to have signed by the course instructor and department (unless it is a 2nd 8 week course). They must return the form to the DGS office in order for the change to be processed and finalized. Students should be aware that even if a course is open when they complete the form, it does not guarantee that seats will be available when the form is processed.
If students are interested in adding a 2nd 8 week course, they should consider the following before submitting the PREP Late Course Change Form:
- How would adding this course impact my ability to be successful in my other coursework?
- Are there seats available in the course I am interested in?
- Does the course conflict with my current schedule?
- Will I need approval for a course overload (more than 18 credit hours) to add the course?
- Are there any other courses I would consider adding if my first choice does not work?
Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT) to the College of Engineering
Students preparing to transfer to the College of Engineering can read about the ICT application process here.
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In order to apply to the College of Engineering, students in PREP will complete and submit their Engineering Portfolio. Criteria for submitting the Engineering Portfolio are:
- Students must complete the required Classes for Each Major listed on the College of Engineering WIKI Page by the end of the semester for which they submit their Engineering Portfolio.
- First-year PREP students may submit their Engineering Portfolio in their second semester at Illinois (if all required courses have been completed or are in progress) for review at the completion of the semester.
- Students who have been accepted into PREP through the ICT process after their first year of college may submit their Engineering Portfolio in their third semester at Illinois (if all required courses have been completed or are in progress) for review at the completion of the semester.
To be eligible for guaranteed admission to an Open Capacity major in the College of Engineering, students must meet the following minimum requirements:
- At least a 3.0 overall and Specialized GPA (sGPA).
- Completion of specific required classes for each major (see section above).
- Completion of the Engineering Portfolio (ICT application).
The Specialized GPA is calculated based on all foundational technical courses related to the Engineering core curriculum.
- The guaranteed admission criteria vary according to demand and capacity for each major.
- Students who are eligible to submit the Engineering Portfolio will be guaranteed admission to an open capacity major in the College of Engineering based on the capacities listed at the time of enrollment into PREP (see chart below).
- Transfer into highly requested majors have more stringent requirements as detailed below and are subject to competitive review based on space available.
- Although the listed criteria provide guaranteed admission into majors, all applications are reviewed holistically. The guaranteed admission criteria does not represent a minimum cutoff for admission.
- Space availability is subject to change.
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Students Enrolled in PREP Starting Fall 2017 |
Students Enrolled in PREP Starting Fall 2018 |
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Competitive Review 3.75 overall & sGPA + competitive review |
Bioengineering Computer Science Mechanical Engineering |
Bioengineering Computer Science Mechanical Engineering |
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Restricted Capacity 3.75 overall & sGPA |
n/a |
Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering |
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Limited Capacity 3.50 overall & sGPA |
Aerospace Engineering Computer Engineering |
Aerospace Engineering |
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Moderate Capacity 3.25 overall & sGPA |
Civil and Environmental Engineering Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering |
Civil and Environmental Engineering Industrial Engineering |
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Open Capacity 3.0 overall & sGPA |
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Engineering Mechanics Engineering Physics Materials Science and Engineering Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering Systems Engineering and Design |
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Engineering Mechanics Engineering Physics Materials Science and Engineering Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering Systems Engineering and Design |
Notes:
- Competitive Review majors (Bioengineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering) are not guaranteed admission based on GPA. Admission will be based on a holistic application review by the College of Engineering and the space available in that competitive major.
- Although the listed criteria provide guaranteed admission into majors, all applications are reviewed holistically. The guaranteed admission criteria does not represent a minimum cutoff for admission.
- sGPA or Specialized GPA is the cumulative GPA of all math, science, and Engineering courses taken at Illinois.
- Civil and Environmental Engineering has been moved to "Moderate Capacity" from "Limited Capacity" as of October 2018 for all students in PREP.