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Recommendations for Competitive Transfer Applicants

Once you have determined which major you are applying for, we encourage you to review our recommendations for competitive applicants for the college the major is in. All transfer applicants are encouraged to complete the university's graduation requirement in first-year writing prior to applying.

Meeting these recommendations does not guarantee admission but sets you up to be considered a competitive applicant in the review process. AP scores or transferrable coursework from an accredited institution can be used to meet transfer admission coursework requirements. Transferrable courses from other institutions are listed in our transfer course credit database.

When selecting a major, keep in mind you must take courses to meet the degree requirements for that major for at least one year before considering or applying for a major change while at NC State.

A sunny day casts long shadows across the Mary E. Yarbrough Courtyard on main campus.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Agriculture Programs

Majors – Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Science, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Animal Science, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Technology, Crop and Soil Sciences, Horticultural Science, Natural Resources – Soil, Water and Land Use, Poultry Science

  • 2.5 and above GPA for agriculture programs (Preference given to students with a 3.0 and above GPA. Animal Science requires a 3.0 GPA for consideration.)
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • College-level pre-calculus or higher math course
  • 1 semester of General Biology or General Chemistry with a lab (preference is given to students with both courses)

Life Sciences and Pre-Professional Programs

Majors – Biochemistry, Bioprocessing Science, Food Science, Nutrition Science, Plant Biology

  • 2.7 and above GPA for Life Sciences and pre-professional programs (Biochemistry requires a 3.0 GPA for consideration.)
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • College-level pre-calculus or higher math course (2 semesters of calculus preferred for Biochemistry)
  • General Biology I & II equal to NC State’s BIO 181 & 183
  • 1 to 2 semesters of General Chemistry with a lab

Biological Engineering

Biological Engineering

College of Design

Studio-Based Majors (Fall Entry Only)

Majors – Architecture, Art + Design, Graphic & Experience Design, Industrial Design

  • 2.7 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level pre-calculus or higher math course
  • Online portfolio and design essay

Non-Studio Based Major (Fall or Spring Entry)

Major – Design Studies

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level pre-calculus or higher math course

College of Education

Majors – Elementary Education, Learning Design & Technology, Mathematics Education, Middle Grades Education – Language Arts & Social Studies; Mathematics & Science, Science Education, Technology, Engineering & Design Education

Students should complete the transfer student interest form to seek academic advising to determine the best courses and sequence to meet their educational goals. Competitive applicants should meet overall GPA and courses recommended as well as specific requirements by program.

Students admitted to the junior cohort are required to complete ELM 250 in Summer Session II prior to fall enrollment.

All Majors

  • 2.7 or above overall GPA
  • 1 semester or more of English composition
  • College-level math
  • 2.7 or above overall GPA
  • Calculus 1 or higher with a C or better
  • 1 semester of science (biology, chemistry or physics)
  • 2.7 or above overall GPA
  • Pre-calculus or higher with a C or better
  • 1 semester of science (biology, chemistry or physics)
  • 3.0 or above overall GPA
  • Pre-calculus or higher
  • 1 semester of science (biology, chemistry or physics)

If you are granted admission, it cannot be guaranteed that your classification in the Elementary Education program will be the same as your university classification. This means that although the university may classify you as a sophomore in standing, you may be classified as a first-year student within the Elementary Education program, depending on your individual transcript review.

*Students have the option to add a Special Education dual licensure.

College of Engineering

Majors – Aerospace Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Paper Science & Engineering, Textile Engineering

All Majors

  • 3.0 and above GPA*
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • 8 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 141 & 241
  • 2.5 GPA in the last two calculus or higher math courses
  • Calculus-based physics equal to NC State’s PY 205 & 206
  • General Chemistry with a lab equal to NC State’s CH 101 & 102

Due to high demand, some programs are much more competitive and the following GPAs are recommended:

  • Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science: 3.5 GPA (acceptance is extremely competitive and on a space-available basis only)
  • Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering: 3.5 GPA
  • Biomedical Engineering: 3.5 GPA (qualified applicants will be contacted directly by the College of Engineering to complete an additional application after the transfer deadline)

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Majors – Anthropology, Arabic Studies, Arts Studies, Asian Languages, Communication, Criminology, English, French Language & Literature, German Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Studies, Leadership in the Public Sector, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Science, Technology & Society, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish Language & Literature

All Majors

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • 3 or more semester hours of English Composition
  • College-level math

For information regarding transfer admission to Leadership in the Public Sector (LPS), a distance-education degree completion program, please click here.

College of Natural Resources

Majors – Environmental Sciences, Environmental Technology, Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology, Forest Management, Natural Resources, Paper Science & Engineering, Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Sport Management, Sustainable Materials & Technology

All Majors

  • 2.5 and above GPA*
  • English Composition
  • College-level math*
  • 1 semester of science (biology, chemistry or physics)*

*Due to high demand, some programs are much more competitive and the following GPAs and courses are recommended:

  • Paper Science & Engineering: 3.0 (See College of Engineering recommendations for specific course requirements)
  • Sport Management: 3.0
  • Environmental Sciences: 2.5
    • College-level calculus
    • College biology with a lab
    • College chemistry with a lab

College of Sciences

Majors – Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Genetics, Marine Sciences, Meteorology, Microbiology, Natural Resources: Marine & Coastal Resources, Physics, Statistics, Zoology

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • 3-4 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 131 or 141 (some universities and the NC Community College System do not offer a calculus course equal to MA 131)
  • General Biology I & II equal to NC State’s BIO 181 & 183
  • General Chemistry with a lab equal to NC State’s CH 101 & 102 or physics equivalent to NC State’s PY 211

Bachelor of Science:

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • 8 semester hours of calculus with a 2.5 GPA in the last two calculus or higher math courses
  • 4 semester hours of chemistry equal to NC State’s CH 101 & 102 or a score of 5 on the AP Chemistry exam
  • 3.0 and above GPA in all chemistry courses

Bachelor of Arts:

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • 3-4 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 131 or MA 141
  • 4 semester hours of chemistry equal to NC State’ss CH 101 & 102 or a score of 5 on the AP Chemistry exam
  • 3.0 and above GPA in all chemistry courses
  • 2.8 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • 4 semester hours of calculus
  • 4 semester hours of physical science with a lab
  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • 8 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 141 and 241 (minimum of a B in all mathematics courses attempted)
  • Calculus-based physics equal to NC State’s PY 205 & 206 with a grade of B or higher
  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
  • 8 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 141 and 241 (minimum of a B in the last two calculus or higher math courses)
  • 8 semester hours of calculus-based physics equal to NC State’s PY 205, 206, 208 and 209 or PY 201 and 202 with a grade of B or higher in all physics courses
  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • 8 semester hours of calculus with a 2.5 in the last two calculus or higher math courses
  • 4 semester hours of natural science with a lab

Poole College of Management

Majors – Accounting, Business Administration, Economics

All Majors

  • 3.0 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • 3-4 credit hours of college-level calculus

Wilson College of Textiles

Majors – Fashion and Textile Design, Fashion and Textile Management, Polymer & Color Chemistry, Textile Engineering, Textile Technology

  • 2.8 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level calculus
  • College chemistry
  • Online portfolio and essay
  • 2.8 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level calculus
  • College chemistry

The most competitive applicants will have completed both chemistry and calculus; however, an applicant who has completed at least one of the two will still be considered.

  • 2.4 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level calculus
  • College chemistry
  • 2.6 and above GPA
  • English Composition
  • College-level calculus
  • College chemistry

Get To Know Our Colleges

With 100+ majors across 10 undergraduate colleges, NC State offers a wide variety of academic programs to fit students’ interests. Learn more about our colleges below to explore the vast opportunities for transfer students.