Admissions Transfer

The Swanson School of Engineering encourages applications from transfer students. Currently, almost half of the students receiving the BSE degree transferred into the school. Transfer applicants are evaluated according to their academic records and potential for completing their particular engineering programs.

There is no minimum of college-level credits for transfer admission consideration. Students with fewer than 24 credits are required to submit high school transcripts and SAT scores, which will be factored into admissions decisions.

The minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements for admission to mechanical or materials science programs are as follows.

• Students from four-year institutions: 2.50 GPA
• Students from community colleges: 2.80 GPA
• Students from regional campuses: 2.75 GPA

Students should have a "C" or better in any previously taken math, science, and engineering courses. It is strongly advised that transfer students have some prior experience with calculus and physics.

Transfer admission is available for fall, spring, and summer terms. The deadlines are as follows.

• Fall admission: July 15th
• Spring admission: October 31st
• Summer admission: March 15th

External Transfer

An external transfer applicant from a four-year institution should have a GPA of at least 2.50 (for courses that satisfy Swanson School of Engineering requirements) on a 4.00 scale at the institution previously attended. Applicants from community colleges should have a GPA of at least 2.80 on a 4.00 scale.

An applicant who has completed fewer than 24 credits of academic work is required to provide SAT I verbal and mathematical reasoning scores and high school academic records. Advanced-standing credits will be granted for college course work at another accredited institution depending on grades received and on the relevance of the courses to the applicant’s proposed program in the Swanson School of Engineering. Only courses in which the applicant received at least a C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) will be considered for transfer and only if the courses are an integral part of the proposed degree program.

Transfer application for the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland campus, is available through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

View course equivalents from a list of schools from which we commonly receive transfers.

Internal Transfer

Most internal transfer applicants from other Oakland campus units to the Swanson School of Engineering come from either Arts and Sciences (A&S) or the College of General Studies (CGS), although students from any of the University’s other schools are eligible for transfer if they meet the Swanson School of Engineering’s requirements.

An applicant for transfer from A&S should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 to be considered for transfer.

An applicant for transfer from CGS without advanced standing from another college or university may apply for transfer upon completion of the equivalent of the Swanson School of Engineering freshman year (i.e., MATH 0220 and 0230, Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 and 2; PHYS 0174 and 0175, Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2; CHEM 0960 and 0970, General Chemistry for Engineers 1 and 2; and ENGR 0011 and 0012, Introduction to Engineering Analysis and Introduction to Engineering Computing; and two approved humanities and social science courses). A cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 is recommended. CGS students with outstanding academic records are encouraged to apply for admission to the Swanson School of Engineering before completing the minimum requirements listed above by initiating the request for transfer in CGS.

The GPA for students transferring into the Swanson School of Engineering from another school or campus within the University will be recalculated in accordance with the Swanson School of Engineering’s policy.

Regional Transfer

Undergraduate Academic Program Change forms for regional transfer relocation from the pre-engineering programs at the Bradford, Greensburg, and Titusville campuses and the Engineering Technology Program at the Johnstown campus are available at each regional campus. Pre-engineering students who have a GPA of 2.75 or higher in the required engineering curricula are guaranteed relocation to the Pittsburgh campus in the program of their choice.

I'm Transferring to Pitt! Now Where Am I Going to Live? (PDF)

InterdepartmenTal Transfer

A Swanson School of Engineering student whose academic record satisfies the minimum requirements for continued registration may apply for an interdepartmental transfer from one engineering department or program to another. To initiate a change of departmental status, the student must complete an Undergraduate Academic Program Change form, available at the Swanson School of Engineering's Office of Administration (749 Benedum Hall). It is the prerogative of the department or program to which the student desires to transfer to approve or reject an Undergraduate Academic Program Change request.