ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

ENGINEERING at OSU

Direct Admission to Engineering (Pre-Calculus Requirement)

OSU will provide direct admission into an engineering major for first-year students at OSU (Corvallis) and OSU-Cascades (Bend) if one of the following requirements are met before the date their OSU coursework will begin:  

  • Currently registered for a pre-calculus or calculus course.
  • ·       Have completed a high school pre-calculus or calculus course with a grade of C- or better,
  • A grade of C- or better for college coursework that is equivalent to OSU’s MTH 111/111Z and MTH 112/112Z or higher
  • Provide CLEP, AP or IB exam scores that demonstrate pre-calculus proficiency (where OSU awards credit for MTH 112Z or higher)

The determination of satisfying the pre-calculus requirement is based on a review of information provided on your application, completed coursework shown on available transcripts and self-reported courses that are in progress or planned for later in the school year before OSU enrollment.

The pre-calculus requirement applies to all engineering majors and campus locations except the following:  Outdoor Products (OSU-Cascades), Pre-Forest Engineering (Corvallis), and Pre-Forest Civil Engineering (Corvallis). 

What Happens if I am not Directly Admitted to Study Engineering?

Students who are admitted to OSU but do not satisfy the pre-calculus requirement will be invited to enroll initially as an undeclared student in the University Exploratory Studies Program (UESP) or may choose another non-engineering major of their choice.  All students involved with UESP have access to first-year engineering courses, activities, and clubs. This policy ensures that students can take the necessary engineering courses and participate with the college without falling behind during the first year.  After completing the pre-calculus requirement, you can be admitted into the College of Engineering the following term.

Switching to Engineering After Admission to OSU

Students who do not receive direct admission into Engineering, but are admitted into UESP or other majors, are welcome to satisfy the pre-calculus requirement prior to starting coursework at OSU and switch into an engineering major. Students need to complete the calculus-ready status form in their Beaver Basecamp portal to initiate the re-review process and gain admission into their engineering major.

Incoming students can satisfy the pre-calculus requirement in this situation through multiple paths:

Switching to Engineering After Starting at OSU

Students can satisfy the pre-calculus requirement by successfully completing MTH 111Z and MTH 112Z with a C- or better and maintaining a 2.50 OSU GPA or higher.  Once a student has met these criteria, they will be allowed to change their major to engineering the following term. Recall that students involved with UESP have access to first-year engineering courses, activities, and clubs. This ensures students can begin to prepare and do not fall behind when switching majors after starting at OSU.

How does OSU initially determine if I am “Calculus-Ready” for Admissions?

Using transcripts and information provided in your admissions application, we'll look to see if you have taken or are scheduled to take a Pre-Calculus or Calculus course prior to enrollment through OSU.  If you've already taken the course, you need to have a C- or better each semester/term.  You are also determined "Calculus-Ready" if you have taken or are taking a college coursework if the course or courses are the equivalent of OSU’s MTH 111/111Z and MTH 112/112Z (Pre-Calculus courses at OSU).

 

Should I wait until I have completed my Pre-Calculus course to apply?

No.  On your application you are able to report that Pre-Calculus is in progress.  If you haven't taken Pre-Calculus or Calculus and are not currently taking either course, you can be admitted to OSU as an undeclared student initially and get yourself calculus-ready - either before you enroll or after you enroll, at which point you may change your major to Engineering.

 

What do I do if OSU said I wasn’t ready to take Calculus but I believe I am?

When you are admitted, you'll have a form that you can fill out in your Beaver Basecamp admissions portal to provide information about your readiness for Calculus.  That will trigger a re-review of your status.

 

What are the different ways I can get calculus-ready prior to enrolling at OSU?

  • Complete high school coursework equivalent to Pre-Calculus or higher
  • Take college coursework equivalent to OSU’s MTH 112Z with a C- or better
  • Provide CLEP, AP or IB scores that demonstrate pre-calculus proficiency (where OSU awards credit for MTH 112Z or higher based on student score)
  • Take Khan Academy’s free, online coursework and score a 90% or higher on the free Schoolhouse.world Pre-Calculus certification test. See details here.

 

What if I've prepared myself to take Calculus in a way not outlined by OSU in this policy?

When you are admitted, you'll have a form that you can fill out in your Beaver Basecamp admissions portal to provide information about how you've become ready for Calculus.  One of the options there will be to outline any alternative ways you've become Calculus ready and a way to upload any supporting information/documentation.  These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

How can I get calculus-ready once I enroll and change my major to Engineering?

If you enroll at OSU and are not ready to take Calculus right away, you can meet requirements to declare an Engineering degree by successfully completing MTH 111Z and MTH 112Z with a C or better at OSU and maintain a 2.50 OSU GPA or higher. Once MTH 112Z is completed, you may work with your advisor to change your major to Engineering.

You may also choose to enroll at an Oregon community college through the Degree Partnership Program and take MTH 112Z in preparation for enrollment at OSU when you are ready here.

 

What if I was unable to take a Pre-Calculus or Calculus course in high school?

We understand that some students don't have access to Pre-Calculus or Calculus coursework.  Our goal is to help you get caught up in math as quickly as possible using OSU resources so that you will succeed and earn a highly desired Engineering degree here.

 

What if I fail to get a C- in an Pre-Calculus course that I am currently taking?

We assume that you will get a C- or better in the Pre-Calculus or Calculus course that you report as in-progress on your application unless your previous math grades were below this mark.  If you end up with a lower grade you could be asked to begin as an undeclared student (or another non-engineering major of your choice) until you have met the requirements outlined above to declare a major in Engineering.

 

I know I’ll have to take a Math Placement Exam prior to getting advised and signing up for courses.  How does the score on that exam factor in to my admission status in Engineering?

As outlined above, we determine your calculus-ready status at the time we review your application for admission.  If you are deemed calculus ready, later take our ALEKS Math Placement exam (just prior to new student orientation) and don't place into Calculus, your admission into Engineering will not be affected.  However you will still need to take the necessary math courses based on your placement, which may delay your ability to take Calculus right away and thus impact when you are able to take other Engineering courses in your major.  Bottom line is get Calculus ready and stay Calculus ready so that you can start off on the right foot when you enroll!

 

What if I want to change from another major into an Engineering major?

If you have been admitted in a non-Engineering major and wish to change to Engineering, you will only be able to do so if you are Calculus-ready.  The change of major form in Beaver Basecamp will only display Engineering majors if you have been determined Calculus-ready.  If you believe you are calculus-ready and trying to change into Engineering but cannot do so, please contact the Office of Admissions.

 

Who can I talk to about this requirement and my situation?

You should begin by reaching out to your assigned Admissions Advisor.  You can find this person's contact info in your Beaver Basecamp under the Resources tab.