Are you a current CU Boulder student and want to study engineering? The Intra-University Transfer (IUT) process allows you to transfer to the College of Engineering and Applied Science from another college or school on the Boulder campus, or add an engineering major to your current degree program.

THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA GO INTO EFFECT STARTING IN FALL 2022

The College of Engineering and Applied Science reserves the right to revise the IUT application process or admission criteria as it finds necessary.

You must complete the following courses on the CU Boulder campus with a C or better. 

  • Math (two courses):
    • APPM 1350 (or MATH 1300 or APPM 1340+1345)
    • APPM 1360 (or MATH 2300) 
    • If you have prior transfer/AP/IB credit for the courses above (and you are not repeating them via a CU Boulder enrollment), the following courses are approved alternates for the math requirement:
      • For students intending to declare Computer Science or Creative Technology and Design:
        • CSCI 2820 (or MATH 2130)
        • CSCI 2824 (or MATH 2001)
      • For all other majors:
        • APPM 2350 (or MATH 2400)
        • APPM 2360 (or MATH 2130 & MATH 3430)
  • Science (one of the following courses):
    • PHYS 1110 (or PHYS 1115)
    • CHEM 1113*
    • CSCI 1300**

Additional notes:

  • Transfer credit (including AP/IB coursework) does not apply to IUT admission requirements; however, if transferred as a CU Boulder equivalent course, may still be applicable to your intended engineering degree.
  • If you have additional questions regarding prior transfer/AP/IB credit for the courses above, such as the science courses (and you are not repeating them via a CU Boulder enrollment), consult with an Engineering IUT advisor to determine your specific two math and one science course sequence for the purposes of IUT admission review.***
  • If you have taken coursework at UCD or UCCS, your grades from those courses will carry over to CU Boulder but will not factor into IUT admission, as IUT admission is based on CU Boulder coursework only.

* CHEN 1201 and CHEN 1211 are approved substitutions but are restricted to Engineering majors (here is the link to request seats in either course). CHEM 1400 is also approved as a course substitution but is restricted to Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.  Depending on your intended engineering major, it may be useful to concurrently enroll in a chemistry lab:  CHEM 1114 , CHEM 1221, or CHEM 1401. Consult with an Engineering IUT advisor if you are unsure. A chemistry lab is not required to IUT, but would factor into the technical coursework minimum grade requirement of "C" or higher, if taken (see "Step 2: Additional Admission Requirements" section below). 

** For Aerospace-interested students: CSCI 1300, ASEN 1320, or an equivalent programming course should be taken in your first year, as it is a required prerequisite for sophomore level ASEN courses.

*** See the "Important Advising Resources" section below to find out how to connect with an Engineering IUT Advisor.

Students who began at CU Boulder prior to Fall 2022 may choose to be admitted under earlier criteria, if desired: Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for B.S. degree  Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for B.A. degree

  1. All grades in "technical" coursework must be "C" or better
    • "Technical" coursework for the purposes of this IUT process includes ALL CEAS courses + ALL courses from PHYS, CHEM, MCDB, EBIO, APPM, MATH.
      • The only exceptions are preparatory courses to calculus and college chemistry. Meaning, any APPM course with number lower than APPM 1340, any MATH course with number lower than MATH 1300, GEEN 2010 Engineering Tools and Analysis, or any CHEM course with number lower than CHEM 1113 are excluded from the "C" or better requirement.
    • With the exception of coursework taken at CU Boulder in Spring 2020, if a technical course allows a student to choose their grading basis (e.g. Letter Grade versus Pass/Fail), students may not choose the Pass/Fail option if they intend to IUT to CEAS. If the grading option is only Pass/Fail (e.g., APPM 1351), that is permissible for purposes of IUT.
  2. Minimum CU Boulder Technical GPA of at least 2.700 required for admission
    • "Technical" coursework for the purposes of this IUT process includes ALL CEAS courses + ALL courses from PHYS, CHEM, MCDB, EBIO, APPM, MATH.
      • The only exclusions are preparatory courses to calculus and college chemistry. Meaning, APPM 1235 Pre-Calculus for Engineers, any MATH course with number lower than MATH 1300, GEEN 2010 Engineering Tools and Analysis, or any CHEM course with number lower than CHEM 1113 are not included in the CU Boulder Technical GPA for the purposes of IUT admission.
    • All courses in the CU Boulder Technical GPA must be a C or better. You may repeat a course to meet this requirement, but the most recent attempt must be a C or better (and only 3 graded attempts allowed, as mentioned below). All course attempts will be included in the technical GPA calculation, unless approved for grade replacement under the campus policy.
    • Please understand that a 2.700 GPA represents overall average grades of B-; you cannot have all C grades and be admitted because you will need to earn offsetting higher grades in other courses to reach the 2.700 CU Boulder Technical GPA minimum threshold.
      • How to Find Your Technical GPA for Engineering IUT Admission:
        • Access the Degree Audit system from your Buff Portal and choose "Select a Different Program." Then, set “Engr ApSci” for the College and select "Other - IUT" as the Degree. Next, select one of these three options in the Program drop-down: 
          • Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for Computer Science B.A. degree: GPA Calc for CEAS IUTS – Prior to Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPACSBA
          • Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for all B.S. degrees: “GPA Calc for CEAS IUTS – Prior to Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPA"
          • IUT criteria effective as of Fall 2022: “GPA Calc for CEAS IUT – Start date Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPA22"
        • Finally, set the Catalog Year as the semester you anticipate beginning in an Engineering degree program, and then click the "Run Different Program" button at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Maximum of 3 attempts in technical courses
    • "Technical" coursework for the purposes of this IUT process includes ALL CEAS courses + ALL courses from PHYS, CHEM, MCDB, EBIO, APPM, MATH.
      • The only exceptions are preparatory courses to calculus and college chemistry. Meaning, any APPM course with number lower than APPM 1340, any MATH course with number lower than MATH 1300, GEEN 2010 Engineering Tools and Analysis, or any CHEM course with number lower than CHEM 1113 are excluded from the 3 attempt maximum.
    • Applies to coursework required for the intended major, and does not include withdrawn courses with "W" grade.
    • If a student has taken a CU Boulder technical course (or course equivalents, e.g. APPM 1350 and MATH 1300) three times and not achieved the C grade or higher, they are no longer eligible to IUT into the College of Engineering & Applied Science.
    • Please visit the Office of Undergraduate Education IUT webpage for additional information about the IUT Requirement Repeat Policy.
  4. 45 Hour Residency Rule, once student is admitted to CEAS
    • The last 45 credit hours of an engineering degree must be earned with CU Boulder coursework only, after the point of admission into the CEAS.
    • All students are responsible to understand this and calculate how many credits they have left in their intended engineering degree. Students can do this by running a "What-If" Degree Audit for their intended engineering degree program.
    • If a student is admitted to the CEAS and is short of the 45 Hour Residency Rule, they will be required to take coursework above and beyond the degree to meet this requirement.

IUT applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, you must have met all the criteria listed in the previous steps or be "On Track" to meet the IUT admission criteria by the end of the current term. The Office of Undergraduate Education IUT webpage has more general information about the CU Boulder IUT process and deadlines. 

“IUT On Track” additional details: 

  • Must apply by the Registration Access Deadline (listed below)
  • Must have one math and one science course completed and are completing the balance of their required IUT coursework in the same term: 
    • Pre-Fall 2022 Requirements: currently completing the final math and science IUT courses 
    • Post-Fall 2022 Requirements: currently completing the final math IUT course  
  • Must meet all other IUT requirements: 
    • Technical GPA: 2.700 
    • All technical courses must be completed with a C grade or higher 
    • No more than three attempts at a technical course 
    • Must have 45 credits remaining in degree after being admitted into the college 

If you are granted "On Track” status, you will be eligible to register for some restricted engineering courses during your regular registration period for the upcoming term. Note: you will only be granted permission to enroll in courses listed below for the specific CEAS major you selected in your IUT application. You will need to submit a CEAS Course Request Form for any restricted engineering courses you would like to take outside of the major you selected in your IUT application or any additional courses not on the list below.

  • AREN 1027, 2050, 2110, 2120
  • ASEN 1022, 1320, 2012, 2701, 2702, 2802
  • ATLS 1100, 1300, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2270, 2300
  • BMEN 2000
  • CHEM 1221
  • CHEN 1201, 1203, 1310, 2120, 2810
  • CSCI 2400, 2820, 2824
  • CVEN 1027, 2012, 2017, 2121
  • ECEN 1310, 2250, 2350, 2370
  • GEEN 1017, 2400, 2851
  • MCEN 2000, 2023, 2024

Note: be aware of pre-requisites and that you may be taking only one or two courses in your major this upcoming semester.
 

IUT Application Opens: 

  • September 15th: Spring Application 
  • February 15th​: Summer & Fall Application 

IUT Registration Access Deadlines: 

  • October 1st, 11:59pm MT: Spring Registration Access or Admission  
  • March 1st, 11:59pm MT: Summer & Fall Registration Access or Admission  
  • June 1st, 11:59pm MT: Fall Registration Access or Admission 

Final Application Deadlines:

  • Spring: January 5th, 11:59pm MT
  • Summer: May 10th, 11:59pm MT
  • Fall: August 15th, 11:59pm MT

Note: This is not a competitive application process. If you meet all the criteria, you will be admitted to the major selected on your application.

Start your IUT Application

Initial admission decisions will be sent to your CU Boulder email address within two weeks of you submitting your application.  Final admission decisions will be sent within a week of the deadline for instructors to post final grades for the current semester.

The College of Engineering and Applied Science requests prospective IUT students to work through the following steps:  

  1. Meet with your current Academic Advisor to discuss your plan to IUT to Engineering. Your current Academic Advisor will still be your main source of academic support, including planning course schedules, monitoring GPAs & grades, and interpreting university policies.
  2. Read this IUT website thoroughly including the FAQs below.
  3. Review a “what-if” degree audit for the engineering degree program(s) you are considering, to learn more about degree requirements and how your current credits would apply.  
  4. Use the Sample Degree Plan in conjunction with the "what-if" degree audit to draft an initial semester-by-semester graduation plan for your desired degree program.   
    • The Class Search website can provide a general guide of when classes have previously been offered (spring, fall, summer).   
  5. Refer to the Intra-University Transfer (IUT) Guide in Canvas as a helpful resource for academic and exploratory support.  

If you have questions after completing the steps above, you have the following options:

  • For more information about a specific Engineering degree program, you can meet with any Academic Advisor on campus during Advising Open Hours every Monday from 1-3pm. 
  • For additional information about the IUT application process, including clarifying questions about admission requirements and CEAS policies, please email EngineeringIUT@colorado.edu or find Engineering IUT advising availability by clicking on the Meet with Different Advisor tile in Buff Portal Advising. 

Additional FAQs About the IUT Process

I see there are two different Engineering IUT applications. Which application should I submit?

We currently have two sets of IUT admission criteria - one that was in effect prior to Fall 2022, and another that is effective as of Fall 2022. 

All students starting at CU Boulder in the Fall of 2022 or later can only apply using the Fall 2022 application and criteria.  Requests to be admitted under the pre-Fall 2022 admission criteria will not be approved for these students. 

Students who started at CU Boulder prior to Fall 2022 will be routed to submit a pre-Fall 2022 application regardless of the admissions criteria under which they wish to be considered. We will automatically review students who began at CU Boulder prior to Fall 2022 under both sets of admissions requirements before we deny any application.

What is IUT On-Track and how do I know if I am currently "On-Track"?

To be considered "IUT On-Track," you must: 

  • Must apply by the Registration Access Deadline (listed above)
  • Must have one math and one science course completed and are completing the balance of their required IUT coursework in the same term: 
    • Pre-Fall 2022 Requirements: currently completing the final math and science IUT courses 
    • Post-Fall 2022 Requirements: currently completing the final math IUT course  
  • Must meet all other IUT requirements: 
    • Technical GPA: 2.700 
    • All technical courses must be completed with a C grade or higher 
    • No more than three attempts at a technical course 
    • Must have 45 credits remaining in degree after being admitted into the college 

If you are granted "On Track” status, you will be eligible to register for some restricted engineering courses during your regular registration period for the upcoming term.  Please see Step 3 above for more details.

  • If you meet all IUT requirements at the end of the semester, your IUT application will be approved, and you will be admitted to the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
  • If you do NOT meet all IUT requirements at the end of the semester, your IUT application will be denied, and you may be removed from CEAS restricted courses.

You will be notified of your application status via an email to your CU Boulder email address within two weeks of submitting your application.

I'll need to register for classes before receiving an official admission decision. Do I have to wait to be admitted to enroll in engineering courses?

Students with an "IUT On-Track" status: please refer to Step 3 above. 

All other students: Unless you are granted enrollment in a course through the Engineering Departmental Course Request process, you must wait until you are fully admitted to enroll in engineering-specific coursework in your intended major and there are no exceptions. While this does not always impact your time to graduation, it can.  The College of Engineering & Applied Science does not guarantee that you will be able to get the coursework that you need upon admission.  Careful planning of your courses and timely IUT transfer can lower the chances of extending the time to your degree.  Once admitted, consult with your new academic advisor on alternative course options, if needed. 

For which classes should I register while I await admittance?

Outside of the IUT On-Track and Departmental Course Request process, you will not be able to sign up for courses restricted to engineering students until you are admitted to the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS). For the time being, it is best to create a schedule that allows you to stay full-time until you have received formal notification of your admittance into CEAS.

Please work with your CURRENT CU academic advisor to identify what courses to take that will allow you to proceed in your current major in the instance you are not admitted to CEAS. Once you have been admitted, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to your schedule for your engineering major during the next open enrollment period.

In anticipation of your IUT into CEAS, it is recommended that you begin looking at the sample four-year plan for your intended major. This will help you have a general sense of which courses may be in your near future. Once admitted to CEAS, you will want to schedule an appointment with your new academic advisor as early as possible to ensure your upcoming semester schedule is correct.

How do I know what my Technical GPA is?

To check your Technical GPA, first access the Degree Audit system from your Buff Portal and choose "Select a Different Program." Then, set “Engr ApSci” for the College and select "Other - IUT" as the Degree. Next, select one of these three options in the Program drop-down: 

  • IUT criteria effective as of Fall 2022: “GPA Calc for CEAS IUT – Start date Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPA22"
  • Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for all B.S. degrees: “GPA Calc for CEAS IUTS – Prior to Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPA" 
  • Pre-Fall 2022 IUT criteria for Computer Science B.A. degree: GPA Calc for CEAS IUTS – Prior to Fall 2022 – EN-IUT-GPACSBA

Finally, set the Catalog Year as the semester you anticipate beginning in an Engineering degree program, and then click the "Run Different Program" button at the bottom of the screen.

Can I appeal my admission decision?

No.  There are no exceptions to the IUT process if a student does not meet the course or grade requirements.  The IUT process is non-competitive; meaning, if a student meets criteria, admission is guaranteed.  Since it is not competitive, no exceptions (regardless of how close a grade may be) will be made and there is no appeal to this decision. 

What is the 45 Credit Hour Rule?

Residency Requirement - The last 45 credit hours of the 128 required for the BS degree (or 120 required for the BA degree) must be earned via CU Boulder coursework only, and AFTER admission and while rostered in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.  Students who cannot meet this requirement should not apply for the IUT.

I am currently enrolled in the Computer Science Bachelor of Arts degree and want to switch into the Computer Science Bachelor of Science degree. Do I need to complete the IUT process?

If you are enrolled in the Computer Science Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (CSCI- BA), Yes - you will need to complete the IUT process.  

If you are enrolled in the Computer Science Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CSEN-BA), No - you do not need to complete the IUT process. You'll need to meet the within-CEAS internal-B.S. admission criteria in order to switch into or add a CEAS B.S. degree program.  Please work with your current Academic Advisor to discuss the change of major requirements and process.

Will Engineering honor the CU Grade Replacement Policy?

Yes, the College of Engineering and Applied Science honors the CU Grade Replacement Policy.  However, it does not replace the 3 graded course attempts policy explained under "Additional Admission Requirements" above.

What if I have transfer/AP/IB credit for the required IUT courses?

If you have transfer credit that comes in as equivalent to the IUT requirement courses, these classes may still count towards an engineering degree, but cannot be used for the IUT admission requirements.  In this case, please consult with an IUT advisor to determine your CU Boulder two math and one science course sequence required for IUT admission.

I have transfer/AP/IB credit for one or more math course. What level math class is recommended for my first semester?

Please see this website for guidance on selecting the best math course for your first semester.  

Where is the Engineering Humanities and Social Science Course List?

For a list of H/SS electives applicable to all majors in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, please see the humanities and social science website.

Do MATH (1300, 2300, 2400) courses apply to engineering degrees?

Yes!  Both APPM and MATH versions of Calculus count the same toward any engineering degree.  

Can I register for restricted engineering courses?

Students with an "IUT On-Track" status: please refer to Step 3 above. 

All other students can visit the CEAS Departmental Course Request webpage to request enrollment in a restricted engineering course, but will only be enrolled in that course if space is available. While students can request select courses from engineering departments, requests do not guarantee actual course enrollment. It is also important to note that the IUT process can affect a student's overall time-to-degree if they are not able to enroll in certain engineering courses.  ​

If I have a previous degree from CU am I still eligible for IUT?

Yes.  If you have a previous degree from CU Boulder, you can apply to CEAS through the readmit process and will be held to all current IUT requirements.

If I meet all IUT criteria, am I guaranteed admission?

Yes.  If you meet all IUT criteria and apply by the posted deadline, you will be guaranteed admission to the major you enter on the application.  Since the IUT pathway is not competitive, this also means there are NO exceptions to the criteria.  

Who should I contact to confirm I am set to meet all IUT requirements?

The IUT process for the College of Engineering and Applied Science is noncompetitive. This means, if you meet the IUT requirements, you will be admitted. If you do not meet the IUT requirements, you will not be admitted. If, however, you want extra assurance you have done all that is required, you must confirm with an Engineering IUT advisor. No other advisor at CU has the authority to confirm this for you. See the "Important Advising Resources" section above to find out how to connect with an Engineering IUT Advisor.