Step 1: Review General Change of Major Guidelines
General Change of Major Guidelines
- Per university policy, you must complete at least one term at Cal Poly before changing your major.
- Per university policy, you are allowed one Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA) per major. If you enter into an ICMA and do not complete the agreement’s requirements, either by failing to complete the terms or by opting out due to a change of plan or interest, you will not be eligible to request that same major again.
- Per university policy, you must have a feasible plan to graduate in your intended major within 6 years if admitted as a freshman or within 3 years if admitted as a transfer student from the term you were admitted. A realistic graduation plan might be required to demonstrate whether this is feasible.
- For more information, you can review Cal Poly's Change of Major Policy.
Step 2: Research Your Intended Major
To ensure you find a major that is a good fit, the College of Engineering (CENG) requires that you complete 3 or more of the following research activities. You will document these in your inquiry (Step 4 below):
REQUIRED: Meet with Intended Major Faculty
You are REQUIRED to meet with a faculty person in your intended major. You can discuss: curriculum, concentration options (if available), research opportunities in the department or community, graduate school, and/or the professor's own experiences within the field, as well as any other information you are curious about.
Faculty directory links are provided below in "Step 3: Check Major-Specific Criteria".
Recommended: Meet with a Career Counselor
Recommended: Meet with Intended Major Professional
Recommended: Meet with Intended Major Upper-Division Students
We recommend meeting with Cal Poly upper-division students in your intended major to discuss the curriculum as well as extracurriculars. To contact students, you can attend major-related club meetings or ask faculty for a referral.
Recommended: Web Research
We recommend reviewing one or more of these websites:
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Optional: CENG Change of Major Workshop
If you are confused about the change of major process, we provide a quarterly workshop to discuss the requirements outlined on this website. We are also joined by a Career Counselor who will discuss your research options in more detail.
Spring 2026 Workshop(s):
Step 3: Check Major-Specific Requirements
These requirements should be satisfied while in an official ICMA. The completion of coursework in the intended major without prior consultation with a Change of Major Advisor does not guarantee your eligibility or ability to change into the intended major.
The College of Engineering (CENG) reviews our Major-Specific Requirements each summer. Changes are posted on this page before fall term. If changes are necessary at any other point during the year, they will be reflected on this page.
Aerospace Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
AERO Faculty Directory (Recommended to meet with: Dr. Nandeesh Hiremath)
Biomedical Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
BMED Faculty Directory (Recommended to meet with: Dr. Trevor Cardinal)
Civil Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
CE & ENVE Faculty Directory
Computer Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
CPE Faculty Directory (Recommended to meet with: Dr. John Oliver (any student), Dr. Stephen Beard (transfers))
Computer Science
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 3.000 GPA in two specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 3.000 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
CSC & SE Faculty Directory
Electrical Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
EE Faculty Directory
Environmental Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
CE & ENVE Faculty Directory (Recommended to meet with: Dr. Rebekah Oulton)
General Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.500 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.500 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
GENE Director
Industrial Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.600 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.600 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
IE & MFGE Faculty Directory
Manufacturing Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.500 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.500 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
IE & MFGE Faculty Directory
Materials Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.500 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.500 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
MATE Faculty Directory
Mechanical Engineering
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 2.700 GPA in three specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 2.700 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
ME Faculty Directory (Recommended to meet with: Dr. Mott-Peuker)
Please note: Change of major students take ME 228 + 263 + 264 instead of the freshman introductory series (ME 128 + 129 + 130 + 163). Change of major students take IME 143 instead of IME 145 +146.
Software Engineering
SE will accept the first 20 qualified applicants from any major per academic year. We will post on this website when applications are filled for the year.
If you are granted an ICMA, it will not exceed two quarters and will require:
- Minimum 3.000 GPA in two specified courses, all passed with a C- or better
- Minimum 3.000 Cal Poly GPA at the end of the ICMA
- Minimum 2.000 Term GPA at the end of all ICMA quarters
CSC & SE Faculty Directory
Step 4: Complete the Change of Major Inquiry
Change of Major Inquiry
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY!
- Complete steps 1, 2, and 3.
- When you are confident in your major choice, submit the Change of Major Eligibility Inquiry Form! For a step-by-step guide to submitting, review University Advising's "Step 3: Complete the Change of Major Eligibility Inquiry Form". For students admitted in Summer or Fall 2026: you must wait until December 23 to submit.
- Within 5 business days of submission, you will receive an email to your Cal Poly email address from eadvise@calpoly.edu, explaining your next steps.
- If you are eligible to change, you will be required to schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss a possible Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA).
- If you are not eligible to change, you will be instructed on how to appeal and provided an advising contact for questions.
