Welcome to the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering and congratulations on being addmitted into UC San Diego!
If you are a current student interested in applying to the NanoEngineering (NA25) and Chemical Engineering (CE25) majors, please read below.
NanoEngineering
Effective Summer 2024, the NanoEngineering major will no longer be a selective major, and will be open for students to change into the major. Screening courses and the minimum 3.0 GPA will no longer be required. Students can apply during the academic year using the Major/Minor Tool.
We recommend students meet with a department advisor to ask any questions they have before making the switch. Note, fall is the optimal quarter to change into the major due to sequential courses.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering will remain a selective major, with screening courses and GPA requirements. Students may apply to the Chemical Engineering major once per year (between Summer and Fall quarters). Note that space will be limited and acceptance to this major is not guaranteed. For more information about the admission process and criteria, please see the UC San Diego Selective Majors Page.
Effective Summer 2025, in addition to the screening courses and GPA, continuing students will be considered for the CENG using a point system that awards one point each for having a 3.0 GPA or higher in the major screening courses; California residency; Pell Grant eligibility; and first-generation college status (as determined by information received at the time of initial admission to UC San Diego). Students with the highest number of points will be admitted until all available spaces within the major have been filled. Ties will be broken using random selection. Being a double-major does not disqualify a student from consideration.
We recommend students meet with a department advisor to discuss any questions/concerns. All current students interested in applying to the major must submit their application through the My Jacobs School of Engineering Major Change Application. If the application states that you are not eligible to apply, but you have met all the admission requirements, we recommend you continue submitting an application.
Applications for the Chemical Engineering major will only be accepted once a year, in the Summer.
Prospective undergraduate students can click here for more information about transferring into an engineering major, selective majors, student advising, and more.
Change of Major Requirements - Effective Fall 2017 Quarter and later
Current first and second year students - First and second year current students can apply to the Chemical Engineering major, so long as they have completed all required screening courses (below) and earned a minimum 3.0 GPA in the screening courses. Admission is limited. As continuing students, applications are accepted during the following periods::
- For prospective Chemical Engineering majors: students can apply during the summer term after spring grades have posted and the completion of their 3rd or 6th quarter at UC San Diego (see chart above).
Transfer students - Transfer students interested in applying to the Chemical Engineering major must apply no later than the end of their 3rd quarter at UC San Diego. Transfer students must have completed all required Transfer screening courses (below) and earned a minimum of 3.0 GPA in the screening courses. Admission is limited.
- For prospective Chemical Engineering majors: transfer students can apply during the summer term after spring grades have posted and the completion of their 3rd quarter at UC San Diego (see chart above).
Screening Course Requirements
All screening courses must be taken for a letter grade and have a grade of C- or above as a passing grade. Please note: If you have not completed all of the lower division requirements listed below, please contact our Undergraduate Advisors for more information about the major and how long it will take you to graduate:
- Chemical Engineering FRESHMEN Applicants*: Math 20A-C; Physics 2A-B; Chemistry 6A-C, 7L
- Chemical Engineering SOPHOMORE and TRANSFER Applicants*: Math 18 (formerly MATH 20F), MATH 20A-D; Physics 2A-C, 2CL; Chemistry 6A-C, 7L
*Freshmen and Sophomore applicants have until the end of the sixth quarter at UC San Diego to complete the requirements listed. Transfer students have until the end of their 3rd quarter. We will not consider transfer student applicants who exceed 3 quarters at UC San Diego.
Questions? If you are a current UC San Diego student and have additional questions, contact an advisor through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
If you are not a UC San Diego student, please send an email to ne-ugradinfo@ucsd.edu.