The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences 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: Transfer Grade Point Average (GPA) guidelines are provided to assist prospective applicants in assessing their opportunities for admission. These are guidelines only: the final standards will depend on the number and qualifications of applicants to each program.
- Agricultural and Consumer Economics: 3.0 (Note: Averages for some concentrations are 3.5-3.7; GPA in major-related courses is considered.)
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Dietetics, and Human Nutrition: 3.0
- Agricultural Education: 2.75
- All other programs: 2.5
- Courses in college: Preference will be given to students who have completed the courses listed below.
- 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 Illinois.
- 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: Two essays of no more than 300 words each are required in the
application. The essay portion is an important factor in our evaluation
so you should allow enough time and prepare an outline of what you want
to say. The essay topics are:- Essay 1: In an essay of 300 words or less, please discuss your academic interests and/or professional goals.
- Essay 2: In an essay of 300 words or less, choose one extracurricular activity, work experience, or community service project from the list you provided on the application and explain why you initially chose it, why you continued with it, and how you benefited from it.
- Additional information (optional): If you are unable to meet one or more of the transfer admissions requirements for your program, please explain. Or, is there any additional information you feel we should be aware of while reviewing your application, including extenuating circumstances that affected your academic record?
Students are strongly encouraged to complete courses in the following areas to be on track for graduation from Illinois:
- English composition—Freshman composition should be completed prior to entry to Illinois.
- Foreign language—students who complete the College’s foreign language graduation requirement (through the third level of one language in high school and/or in college) prior to entry will be able to free up space in their schedule for other courses. Applicants must have completed, at minimum, two years in high school or one semester at the college level of language prior to admission.
- Quantitative reasoning—all students in the College of ACES are required to complete at least two quantitative courses for graduation, and all programs require that the Quantitative Reasoning I requirement be completed prior to transferring (see notes on specific courses below).
Required GPAs and Courses
Following are more specific transfer GPA minimums and course requirements by major. Note the GPAs listed are minimums for admission consideration. Admission to each program is competitive and based on the quality of the applicant pool. 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 & Biological Engineering
-
Application information: Apply to the major in Agricultural & Biological Engineering.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Courses:- Calculus I and II
- Two semesters of general chemistry with lab
- The first course of the calculus-based physics sequence.
- Agricultural & Consumer Economics
-
Application information: Apply directly to one of the eight Concentrations available in the major in Agricultural & Consumer Economics: Agri-accounting; Agri-finance; Agribusiness, Markets & Management; Farm Management; Consumer Economics & Finance; Environmental Economics & Policy; Financial Planning, Policy, International Trade & Development; or Public Policy & Law.
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Courses:- Microeconomics
- College algebra or higher-level math course.
- Agricultural & Environmental Communications & Education
-
Application information: Apply directly to one of the three Concentrations available in the major in Agricultural & Environmental Communications & Education: Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Communication; Agricultural Leadership Education; or Agricultural Education. NOTE: Applicants to Agricultural Education should have passed the Illinois Basic Skills Test prior to enrollment at the University of Illinois.
Minimum GPA: 2.75 for Agricultural Education; 2.5 for Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Communication and for Agricultural Leadership Education.
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course.
- Animal Sciences
-
Application information: Apply to the general major in Animal Sciences. Students select their Concentration within this major in Animal Business, Management & Industry; Companion, Recreational & Lab Animal Science; Food Animal Science; or Science, Biotechnology & Pre-vet Medicine after accepting the offer of admission.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course
- One semester of chemistry.
- Crop Sciences
-
Application information: Apply to the general major in Crop Sciences. Students select their Concentration within this major in Agroecology; Integrated Pest Management; Crops; Crop Agribusiness; Plant Biotechnology & Molecular Biology; or Biological Sciences after accepting the offer of admission.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course
- One semester of chemistry
- Food Science & Human Nutrition
-
Application information: Apply directly to one of the five Concentrations in the Food Science & Human Nutrition major. Concentrations are available in Food Science; Food Industry & Business; Human Nutrition; Dietetics; and Hospitality Management.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 for Dietetics and for Human Nutrition; 2.5 for Food Science; Food Industry & Business; and for Hospitality Management.
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course
- One semester of chemistry.
- Horticulture
-
Application information: Apply to the general major in Horticulture. Students select their Concentration within this major in Horticultural Sciences; Production & Management; or Urban Forestry after accepting the offer of admission.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course
- One semester of chemistry.
- Human Development & Family Studies
-
Application information: Apply to the general major in Human Development & Family Studies. Students select their Concentration within this major in Child & Adolescent Development or in Family Studies after accepting the offer of admission.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course.
- Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences
-
Application information: Apply directly to one of the five Concentrations in the Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences major: Fish & Wildlife Conservation; Forest Science; Human Dimensions; Resource Ecology; or Soil & Water Science.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course
- One semester of chemistry.
- Technical Systems Management
-
Application information: Apply to the major in Technical Systems Management.
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Courses:- College algebra or higher-level math course.