Learn more about how to declare engineering as your major and create a checklist for success! Below we've outlined critical steps that you should follow to complete the LEP process. You can learn more by reviewing the information below.
Meet with an Advisor
The A. James Clark School of Engineering is home to eight academic departments and offers twelve undergraduate majors. To learn more about our academic programs, please visit our Majors & Minors web page: https://eng.umd.edu/majors-minors.
The Clark School has created academic plans for each of our degree programs. You can access these plans directly via the following website: https://eng.umd.edu/advising/four-year-plans.
The A. James Clark School of Engineering is considered a Limited Enrollment Program. Current UMD students interested in declaring engineering as their major must first complete a specific set of gateway requirements and should then submit a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) application as an internal transfer student.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the University of Maryland and all other institutions is required for internal and external transfer students.
Limited Enrollment Programs guidelines:
Effectige Fall 2027, admission to certain high-demand majors within the Clark School of Engineering will transition to a competitive selection process for students completing the gateway requirements.
Please refer to Step #3, Understand the admission review process, for more details.
Effective Fall 2027, admission to certain high-demand majors within the Clark School of Engineering will transition to a competitive selection process for students completing the gateway requirements.
Students who were admitted to UMD as first-time freshmen in fall 2027 or later will follow the new admission review process outlined below for the following College Park majors:
Meeting the gateway course grade and GPA requirements does not guarantee admission to these high-demand majors. Academic record, co-curricular involvement, STEM-related research experience or personal projects, and honors and awards are also considered in the admission decision.
The following majors are not as limited in space and are able to admit students on a non-competative basis as long as the minimum gateway admission requirements are met:
Students who meet the gateway admission requirements for the college but who are not offered admission into a high-demand major will be invited to General Engineering and may then declare one of our non-competative majors.
MD Community College and USM Transfer Students who began at another institution prior to fall 2027 and then transferred into a major other than engineering (e.g., Letters & Sciences) may still follow the old LEP guidelines (as outlined on the LEP website). Any non-USM transfer student who matriculated to UMD in fall 2027 or later must follow the new LEP guidelines.
Are you interested in taking an engineering course that is restricted to students in a particular major? Students interested in requesting permission to take an engineering course as a non-major are welcome to complete one of our course permission request forms. Please be advised that seats are provided on a space availability basis, and access to register for an engineering course is not guaranteed.
Currently enrolled General Engineering students are eligible to register for ENES courses but should use the course permission request forms in order to request permission to take major-specific courses (e.g., ENAE, ENCE, ENEE, etc.).
Current UMD students can access the LEP application on the Admissions website. The application deadline is always on the 5th business day of January and June each year.
Once you have submitted your application electronically and your application has been reviewed, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will send you an admission decision via email instructing you of your next steps. Please be sure to keep an eye on your email!
Timeline for gateway course completion for fall applicants
Students who matriculated to UMD as first-time freshmen prior to fall 2027 are able to complete a gateway requirement course during the summer at either University of Maryland or another institution. In order to be considered, students must still meet the June application deadline and courses must be taken during the University of Maryland’s Summer 1 Session.
Students who matriculated to UMD as first-time freshmen beginning fall 2027 or beyond are able to complete a gateway requirement course during the summer at either University of Maryland or another institution if applying to one of our non-competitive majors. In order to be considered, students must still meet the June application deadline and courses must be taken during the University of Maryland’s Summer 1 Session.
Students applying to one of our high-demand majors must have all gateway course requirements completed by the application deadline.
Note: Students applying for the spring semester, regardless of matriculation date and intended major, must have completed all gateway course requirements by the application deadline.
Students who are admitted to the A. James Clark School of Engineering will receive a formal admission decision from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students will also be contacted by the Clark School to discuss the Change of Major process. There are a number of steps required to formally change your major to engineering. Please be sure to keep an eye on your email throughout the admission cycle.
During the Change of Major process, students will have the opportunity to meet with an engineering advisor and will be able to register for engineering courses. If you have any questions about this process, please email transfer_engr@umd.edu.
Students transferring to UMD and the A. James Clark School of Engineering have a number of scholarship opportunities available to them. Be sure to visit the Clark School Scholarship page to learn more about how to fund your education.