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Programs of Study, 1997-1999
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Undergraduate Admissions
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Since the information in this two-year catalog is subject to change, prospective applicants should contact the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover for admission requirements and applications for a specific term. A complete listing of fields of study and their admission requirements is given in the booklet Undergraduate Admissions Information, included with the application materials. Illinois high school students may obtain these materials from their high school counselors; others should write or call the Admissions Office for these materials.
Admission counselors are available on campus in 177 Henry Administration Building* on weekdays, excluding campus holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling (217) 333-0302. The Campus Visitors Center offers campus tours and informational sessions for prospective students and their families. (See Campus Visitors Center, page 6.) The Chicago Satellite Office, located at 815 West Van Buren in Chicago, also has counselors available for consultation. Appointments can be made by calling (312) 996-9158.
*NOTE: The Office of Admissions and Records expects to move during the fourth quarter of 1997 to the following address: 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801. Phone numbers published in this catalog for that office will not be affected by the move.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
An undergraduate applicant to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign may choose a field of interest from more than 150 programs of study. These programs are referred to throughout this catalog as majors, options, or curricula, and are explained in detail in the individual college sections found elsewhere in this catalog.
In addition to the specific degree programs offered by all colleges, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers preprofessional education for the fields of advertising, dentistry, journalism, law, medical dietetics, medical laboratory sciences, medical record administration, medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine.
UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The number of admissions to each undergraduate college and curriculum is carefully monitored to ensure that no more students are enrolled than the faculty and facilities can support. Each prospective student applies for admission to one of the eight undergraduate colleges or the Institute of Aviation, and to only one curriculum within that college or institute.
Because admission is highly competitive, each applicant's initial choice of college and curriculum is important and should be carefully considered in consultation with counselors and parents. Due to the great interest in admission to all programs, there usually is not an opportunity for a student to ask for reconsideration of admission for an alternate program after an initial admission decision has been made.
A prospective student undecided about a major field of study in a particular college may wish to consider applying for admission to one of the curricula not requiring students to declare degree program majors until the end of the sophomore year. These are the unassigned curriculum in the College of Commerce and Business Administration, the general education curriculum in the College of Education, and the general curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
A beginning freshman is required to remain in the college and the prescribed freshman program to which he or she has been admitted for at least two semesters of full-time study.
A transfer student is obligated to remain in the college and, possibly, the curriculum to which he or she has been admitted for at least the first semester of enrollment. A student on campus who wishes to transfer to another college must meet the accepting college's admission requirements and compete for any available space. Due to enrollment controls, transfer to some programs is very competitive. For example, the Colleges of Commerce and Business Administration, Engineering, and Education will consider only transfer students with 60 hours of prerequisite course work.
The opportunity to enroll as a nondegree student is limited in the fall and spring semesters, and priority is given to University employees and residents of the community who wish to enroll in courses that are offered only at the University. There is no restriction on the number of nondegree students who may attend the summer session.
ADMISSION OR RETURN DENIED BECAUSE OF MISCONDUCT
The University reserves the right either to deny admission or return to any person because of previous misconduct that may substantially affect the interest of the University, or to admit or permit the return of such a person on an appropriate disciplinary status. The admission or return of such a person will not be approved or denied until his or her case has been heard by the appropriate disciplinary committee. This applies to persons not now enrolled in the University who might apply for admission or wish to return. A favorable action of the appropriate disciplinary committee does not abrogate the right of any dean or director to deny admission or return on the basis of scholarship.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION CATEGORIES
Applicants for undergraduate admission comprise the several categories that are defined in this section. A prospective applicant may then refer to the general requirements for admission and to the succeeding section most appropriate for his or her situation.
Beginning Freshman. A beginning freshman applicant is either one who applies for admission while attending high school, regardless of the amount of college credit earned, or one who has graduated from high school but completed fewer than 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of transferable college classroom credit by the desired term of entry.
Transfer Applicant. A transfer applicant is one who (1) has completed a minimum of 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of transferable college classroom credit by the desired term of entry, and (2) does not meet the definition of a beginning freshman or a returning student.
Returning Student. A returning student is one who has previously registered on the campus as an undergraduate degree candidate and has not earned a degree.
Second Bachelor's Degree Applicant. A second bachelor's degree applicant is one who has earned a bachelor's degree and wishes to continue study for another bachelor's degree.
Nondegree Applicant. A nondegree applicant is one who wishes to take courses for credit, but either does not qualify for a degree program or does not intend to earn a degree from the Urbana-Champaign campus.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
The following general University policies are applicable to all undergraduate applicants at both the beginning freshman and transfer student levels.
To be eligible for consideration for admission, an applicant must meet certain requirements in terms of age, high school graduation, high school credits, college preparatory subject requirements, and competence in English.
Age. An applicant must be at least fifteen years of age by the time of desired enrollment.
High School Graduation. An applicant must be a graduate of a regionally accredited high school, a school in Illinois recognized by the state superintendent of education, or a school elsewhere with a rating equivalent to full recognition; graduates of other secondary schools and nongraduates of secondary schools may be admitted under the provisions for use of the General Educational Development Test.
General Educational Development Test (GED). The achievement of satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development Test is acceptable in lieu of graduation from an accredited high school. This test alone will not fulfill all of the college preparatory subject requirements.
A standard score of 35 on each of the five tests and an average standard score of 45 on all five tests are the minimum scores needed to provide the following high school credit: 9 semesters of English, 8 semesters of social studies, and 7 semesters of general science. This is a total of 24 semesters (12 units) of college preparatory subject matter and a total of 30 semesters (15 units) of high school credit. To be eligible to take these tests, applicants must be at least eighteen years of age or have been out of school for at least one year. Additional information is available upon request from the Office of Admissions and Records.
If to be used in lieu of high school graduation, General Educational Development Test scores should be sent by the testing center directly to the Office of Admissions and Records.
High School Credits. Applicants for admission to all curricula must present a total of at least 15 units of acceptable college preparatory schoolwork. Graduates of schools organized as three-year senior high schools, including grades ten, eleven, and twelve, must have at least 12 units in the senior high school. Credit earned prior to grade nine is acceptable if the transcript of credit, certified by the senior high school, shows the credit as high school credit from grade eight. A unit course of study in the secondary school is a course covering an academic year and including not less than the equivalent of 120 sixty-minute hours of classroom work. Two hours of work requiring little or no preparation outside the class are considered as the equivalent to one hour of prepared classroom work. Fractional units of the value less than one-half are not accepted. Not less than 1 unit of work is accepted in a foreign language, elementary algebra, plane geometry, physics, chemistry, or biology. The required 15 units must include the following:
1. Four units of English, including studies in language, composition, and literature requiring practice in expository writing in all such work. Course work should emphasize reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
2. Three or three and one-half units of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and advanced geometry; see the following table for those curricula requiring three and one-half units, including trigonometry. Applied business mathematics, pre-algebra, and computer courses are not acceptable. Algebra completed in grade eight will count as one unit of high school algebra.
3. Two units of laboratory science. Laboratory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics are preferred. Laboratory courses in astronomy and geology are also acceptable. General science is not acceptable.
4. Two units of any one foreign language (or completion of the second level) is required.
5. Two units of social studies. History and government are preferred. Additional acceptable social studies include anthropology, economics, geography, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.
6. Two additional units of flexible courses drawn from any of the above five subject categories. Approved art, music, or vocational education courses may be counted in the flexible academic units category.
The subject pattern requirements are waived for transfer applicants who will have completed 30 or more semester hours of transferable college credit by the date of enrollment at the Urbana-Champaign campus.
A student who lacks a required high school subject may satisfy the requirement at either a community college or elsewhere prior to enrollment at the University. This information must be communicated on the application for admission. One semester in college is the equivalent of 2 semesters of high school course work.
Under extenuating circumstances, a specific subject requirement may be waived for otherwise well-qualified applicants. An applicant seeking a waiver of the subject pattern requirement should use the Background Statement section of the application to state the rationale for requesting such action.
| Preparatory Subject Requirements in Units (Years) of Course Work | ||
| SUBJECT | YEARS OF COURSE WORK |
EXPLANATORY NOTES |
| English | 4 | |
| Mathematics | 3 or 3.5 | 3.5 units of mathematics including trigonometry are required in
the following curricula: Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: Agricultural engineering Commerce and Business Administration: all curricula Engineering: all curricula Fine and Applied Arts: Architectural studies Liberal Arts and Sciences: specialized curricula in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemistry, geology, and physics |
| Social Studies | 2 | |
| Laboratory Science | 2 | |
| One foreign language | 2 | Fine and Applied Arts curricula, except architectural studies, allow the substitution of two units of any combination of art, music, or foreign language. |
| Flexible academic units | 2 | |
| Total academic units | 15 or 15.5 | |
Guidelines for Accepting College Credits Earned by High School Students
1. A college course taken by a high school student at a high school or college and applied toward the UIUC high school subject pattern requirement (see above) will not be awarded credit at UIUC.
2. A college course taken by a high school student with a high school student population will not be awarded credit at UIUC (see item 4 below for possible course credit options).
3. A transferable college course taken by a high school student at a college or university and not applied toward the UIUC high school subject pattern requirement may be awarded credit at UIUC and the grade may be included in the transfer grade-point average. This includes concurrent enrollment course work taken at a college or university with a college student population and taught by a college faculty member.
4. College credit can be awarded to high school students by earning an acceptable score on: (1) Advanced Placement (AP) Program examinations administered nationally each May; (2) UIUC Departmental Proficiency Examinations offered in all University courses normally open to freshmen and sophomores; many examinations are offered each semester as part of the new student activities.
Competence in English. A minimum requirement for competence in English applies to all University students. Undergraduate applicants for admission may satisfy this minimum requirement by certifying that one of the following conditions has been fulfilled in a country where English is the primary language and in a school in which English is the primary language of instruction:
- Graduation with credit for 3 units, or the equivalent, of English from a secondary school;
- or successful completion of a minimum of two academic years of full-time study at the secondary school or collegiate level immediately prior to the proposed date of enrollment in the University.
For an applicant who does not meet one of the above conditions, evidence can be provided by achieving a satisfactory score on a test of competence in English. The test(s) to be used and the minimum score(s) shall be subject to approval by the University Committee on Admissions with the advice of the University's Technical Committee on Testing. This requirement may be waived upon agreement by the director of the Office of Admissions and Records and the dean of the college concerned if evidence of competence in English presented by the applicant clearly justifies such action.
ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
A few colleges and curricula have admission requirements in addition to the regular academic standards. Instructions on how to fulfill these additional requirements are forwarded to students soon after their applications are received. The following chart indicates the colleges and curricula with additional admission requirements.
| COLLEGES AND CURRICULA | SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS |
| AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES |
Professional interest statement |
| AVIATION | Professional interest statement |
| COMMUNICATIONS | Additional background information |
| EDUCATION | Additional background information |
| FINE AND APPLIED ARTS | Professional interest statement |
| Art | Dance Qualifying audition |
| Graphic design | Portfolio review (transfer students) |
| Industrial design | Portfolio review (transfer students) |
| Music | Qualifying audition |
| Photography | Portfolio review (transfer students) |
| Theatre | Qualifying audition or interview |
Health Requirements
Physical and Mental Health
New students may be required to present evidence of satisfactory physical and mental health to the director of health services. Each admitted applicant will receive a Student Health Report form, which he or she must use to report proof of immunity to certain vaccine-preventable diseases as defined by state law and required by University regulations, as well as any other pertinent medical data, to the director of the McKinley Health Center at Urbana-Champaign. A minor (someone under eighteen years of age at the time of registration) must submit the Student Health Report form with a parent's or guardian's written authorization for the student to receive treatment at the McKinley Health Center. A student who fails to return the completed Student Health Report form by the date shown on the form and who fails to comply by the end of the first term of enrollment is prohibited by state law from subsequent enrollment in the University. Upon the advice of a McKinley Health Center physician, admission or readmission of a student may be denied until the student is cleared by the McKinley Health Center.
Students transferring from the University of Illinois at Chicago should request that their Student Health Report forms be transferred by the health center on that campus to the McKinley Health Center.
Military personnel may have their Student Health Report forms completed by a military physician.
Tuberculosis Control
New and readmitted students are encouraged to present evidence of freedom from tuberculosis at the McKinley Health Center. All new international students are required to complete a tuberculosis screening at the McKinley Health Center before completing registration.
Final evidence of freedom from tuberculosis is established by either a negative tuberculin skin test performed within the last twelve months by a health care provider in the United States, or a negative tuberculin skin test performed at the McKinley Health Center at Urbana-Champaign prior to registration.
A person who has a positive skin test is required to have a chest X-ray. A person with a known history of positive reaction to the tuberculosis skin test will not be retested, but will require a chest X-ray to show evidence of freedom from active tuberculosis. An individual who has had a chest X-ray performed within the previous twelve months will not require an additional chest X-ray if the previous chest X-ray is obtainable and meets the University's chest X-ray standards. A student with a positive skin test must schedule an appointment in the Tuberculosis Screening Clinic at McKinley Health Center to review his or her health history.
ADMISSION OF BEGINNING FRESHMEN
Dates for filing complete applications for admission are given in the following and other application calendars. Each deadline date applies as long as space remains available in the desired curriculum. Any applicant claiming exceptional circumstances that justify special consideration should appeal in writing to the director of admissions and records for an extension of filing deadline dates. Only rarely, however, are spaces available by these late dates, and applicants are encouraged to apply during the periods indicated in the application calendars.
Requirements for Admission
To assist prospective applicants in assessing their opportunities for admission, application guidelines based on previous years' admission decisions are published annually in the application materials. They are guidelines only. Final admission standards depend upon the number and qualifications of applicants to each program.
Admission decisions are based primarily on the following objective criteria: (a) the courses taken in high school and (b) a combination of high school rank in class and admission test score. Anyone approved for admission must have at least a one-in-two (50 percent) chance of achieving a 2.0 (C) average for one or more terms of the first academic year on the campus.
If the number of qualified applicants to a college or curriculum exceeds the admission quota, those best qualified will be admitted. "Best qualified" will be determined by a combination of high school rank in class and admission test score. In determining the admission of those applicants near the borderline of the competitive applicant pool, additional criteria may be considered. These additional factors are described in the Background Statement section that follows.
Admission Test Information
Each beginning freshman applicant, regardless of rank in class or length of time out of school, is required to submit an admission test score from either the American College Testing (ACT) program or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board. An applicant will not complete the admission requirements until the test score is received by the Office of Admissions and Records in the form of an official score report sent directly from the testing agency concerned. Complete information concerning the test, the dates of test administration, and the location of testing centers may be obtained from high school counselors or by writing to the appropriate testing agency: American College Testing, Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, or College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York 10023-6917.
A prospective applicant is urged to complete an admission test in the spring of his or her junior year in high school.
Background Statement
Objective academic qualifications will be the major factors considered in admission decisions. In addition, the Office of Admissions and Records also attempts to identify those applicants whose class ranks and admission test scores or transfer grade-point averages may underpredict their likelihood of success, and those whose admission would add diversity to the educational and social environment of the campus.
All applicants should complete the Background Statement on the application form. The applicant should be aware, however, that unless he or she is close to meeting the guidelines published for the college to which application is being made, the Background Statement may have little impact on the admission decision.
The additional information you provide might include:
- interest/experience in your intended major;
- Advanced Placement or honors-level classes in high school;
- state or national recognition for talent, creative ability, leadership, or academic achievement;
- an ethnic or cultural background or an age group that will add diversity to this campus;
- extenuating circumstances that significantly affected an otherwise exceptionally good academic record; or
- any other information you feel would complete your application profile.
A student who attends a highly selective high school for which a profile may not be on file with the Office of Admissions and Records is urged to have a counselor attach the school profile to the student's transcript and to request a review through the Background Statement.
Application Documents
An applicant for admission as a freshman must submit the following (all credentials presented for admission become the permanent property of the University, are not subsequently released to the student or to another individual or institution, and are not held for reconsideration of admission to subsequent terms):
- A completed admission application form. Admission application forms are available from high school counselors and from the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover. High school students should submit applications through their high schools.
- A $40 ($50 for international students) check or money order (amount subject to change), payable to the University of Illinois, in payment of the nonrefundable application processing fee. The University is not responsible for cash sent through the mail.
- An official high school transcript sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from the high school showing course work completed by the applicant, the date of graduation, and the size of the graduating class and the applicant's numerical rank. (Since it is the policy of the University to accept for admission the academically best qualified of applicants competing for limited spaces, the University needs an objective measure of the applicant's academic qualification that is comparable to measures used by other high schools. Descriptive statements are generally not comparable from school to school and probably will work to the applicant's disadvantage unless accompanied by a numerical class rank. Therefore, high school personnel are urged to provide a numerical class ranking. Students from three-year senior high schools should request that certification of work taken in the ninth grade be included on or with the transcript. Eighth-grade work for high school credit also should be included.)
- An official admission test score report (ACT or SAT) sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from the testing agency.
- A transcript of any college-level course work completed by the freshman applicant sent directly from the collegiate institution attended.
| Application Calendar: Freshman Applicants | ||
| FILING PERIOD | NOTIFICATION TIME | |
| Spring Freshman Applicants: | ||
| September 25- November 1 | Contact the Office of Admissions and Records for openings. | December |
| November 1- January 1 | Applications taken on a space-available basis. | Approximately four weeks after filing |
| Fall Freshman Applicants: | ||
| October 1- January 1 | Applications for all colleges will be considered during this period
if all required credentials have been received. Applicants will be informed on a
decision about their application as follows: a. Admit-Competitively eligible applicants will be notified on an ongoing basis beginning in late December. b. Denial-Denied applicants will be notified as soon as decisions are made in order to allow them to pursue alternatives. |
December-February |
| Applicants with qualifications somewhat above or below the guidelines will require a longer period of time for review. | Mid-February | |
| November 15 | Priority Filing Date- Applications completed by this date may have the advantage when space is limited and applicants with equal qualifications are being reviewed. |
December-February |
| January-July | Contact the Office of Admissions and Records to determine whether the desired academic program is accepting applications. | |
ADMISSION OF TRANSFER APPLICANTS
Requirements for Admission
To assist prospective applicants in assessing their opportunities for admission, transfer grade-point average guidelines are published in the Undergraduate Admissions Information booklet available with application materials each September from the Office of Admissions and Records. These are guidelines only, and the final standards will depend on the number and qualifications of the applicants to each program.
Admission of a transfer applicant is based on a combination of the hours and content of transferable credit and the transfer grade-point average. The minimum transfer grade-point average is 2.25 (A= 4.0); most curricula require a higher grade-point average.
If the number of qualified applicants to a college or curriculum exceeds the admission quota, those best qualified will be admitted, and preference may be given to residents of Illinois. Lower-division transfer applicants may be restricted when campus space is limited.
Additional criteria may be considered in determining the admission of those applicants near the borderline of the competitive applicant pool; these additional factors are described in the Background Statement section on page 18. An applicant who has had a significant break in the pursuit of an education and can demonstrate an improved academic performance, or an applicant for whom relocation from the Urbana-Champaign community would present a major hardship, may wish to address such a factor in the Background Statement section of the application for admission.
Eligibility of a transfer applicant with fewer than 30 semester hours of graded transferable classroom credit is based on (1) high school percentile rank and ACT or SAT test score, and (2) grade-point average and content of transferable courses attempted.
Transfer Students from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Undergraduate transfer students between the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Urbana-Champaign campus may be admitted to undergraduate programs on the other campus for which spaces are available for transfers from other colleges and universities, provided that they meet the requirements of the desired programs at the other campus for admission of on-campus transfers. Generally, admission opportunities are better in all curricula if applicants have junior standing (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours). To be ensured consideration as intercampus transfers by the Urbana-Champaign campus, students currently enrolled at the Chicago campus should apply for transfer consideration for the spring term between September 25 and November 1, and for the summer or fall term between February 1 and March 15.
Applicants to the Urbana-Champaign campus are encouraged to go to the Chicago Office of Admissions and Records, where copies of official credentials will be enclosed with their application and where current enrollment can be verified to permit waiving of the application fee.
Transfer Applicants Previously Dropped or Placed on Probation for Disciplinary Reasons
A petition for admission of a transfer student who either is on disciplinary probation or has been dropped from another collegiate institution for disciplinary reasons must be approved by the appropriate subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Student Discipline.Grade-Point Averages
Grade-Point Averages
Grade-point averages are calculated on the basis of all transferable courses attempted for which grades are assigned and for which grade-point values can be determined. When a course is repeated, the grade-point average is computed using both grades and all hours for the course. Incomplete grades are accepted as defined by the initiating institution. Grades in other course work completed, such as technical courses similar in content and level to courses taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, may be used in the evaluation for admission upon request of the college to which a student seeks admission.
Since the grade-point average used to establish admission qualifications
is based on all transferable course work attempted, applicants from institutions
with "forgiveness" grading policies (those that may delete grades for course
work failed and/or repeated) may find their opportunities limited to special admission.
If the applicants are admitted and subsequently register, transfer grade-point averages
may not be recorded on their University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign records since
the grading policies of the transfer institutions and this campus are not comparable.
Credit, transfer
Acceptance of Credit from Other Collegiate Institutions
Credit may be accepted for advanced standing from another accredited university or college. Accepted credit will be based on evaluation of the primary transcript of record of each institution attended. Duplicate credit will be counted in the grade-point average but excluded from hours earned. A student who has passed a course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign may not be given credit for the same course taken elsewhere.
Illinois Colleges and Universities
As of the publication of this catalog, Illinois colleges and universities are developing the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer between institutions of the completed IAI General Education Core Curriculum. This agreement is expected to begin with freshmen entering Illinois higher education institutions in summer 1998. Students who anticipate transferring to UIUC are strongly advised to contact their academic advisor and to consult the UIUC transfer handbook for additional specific degree requirements in the program of their choice.
Traditional Transfer Credit
Admission of transfer students to the University of Illinois is based only on the transfer course work that is similar in nature, content, and level to that offered by the University of Illinois. Such courses are normally referred to as transfer or college-parallel work. Other course work completed, such as technical courses similar in content and level to courses taught at the University, will be used in evaluation for admission only upon the request of the dean of the college to which the student seeks admission.
Transfer credit, as defined, will be accepted at full value for admission purposes on transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign if earned at:
- Colleges and universities that offer degree programs comparable to programs offered by the University of Illinois and (1) are members of or hold Candidate for Accreditation status from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools or another regional accrediting association, or (2) are accredited by another accrediting agency that is a member of the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation; or
- Illinois public community colleges that are neither members of nor holders of Candidate for Accreditation status from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, but that are approved and recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) for a period of time not to exceed five years from the date on which the college registers its first class after achieving ICCB recognition.
Certain colleges and universities do not meet the above specifications but have been assigned a status by the University Committee on Admissions that permits credit to be accepted on a provisional basis for admission purposes on transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Transfer credit, as defined, from such colleges and universities is accepted only on a deferred basis, to be validated by satisfactory completion of additional work in residence. Validation through satisfactory work in residence may be accomplished by earning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or another fully accredited1 college or university, at least a 2.0 (A = 4.0) grade-point average (higher if prescribed by the curriculum the student wishes to enter) in the first 12 to 30 semester (18 to 45 quarter) hours completed after transfer.
Credit transferred from an approved1 community or junior college is limited only by the provision that the student must earn at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours required for the degree at the University or at any other approved1 four-year college or university after attaining junior standing, except that the student must meet the residence requirements that apply to all students for a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. When a school or college within the University requires three years of preprofessional college credit for admission, at least the last 30 semester or 45 quarter hours must be taken in an approved1 four-year collegiate institution.
1. Colleges and universities meeting one or more of the specifications as defined.
In all cases, the precise amount of transfer credit that is applicable toward a particular degree will be determined by the University college and department concerned.
Nontraditional Transfer Credit
Acceptance of credit awarded on bases other than collegiate classroom experiences will be considered for transfer admission purposes as follows:
Test credit for admission as transfer credit. Students presenting test credit awarded elsewhere, or test scores for admission will have that credit evaluated against cutoff scores established for those examinations on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Official score reports should be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records along with the application for admission to the University. A student presenting test credit as transfer credit may be granted transfer credit if the student (1) is transferring at least 12 graded classroom semester hours of acceptable college-level graded classroom course work from the institution or single campus in a multicampus institution that awarded the credit by examination; and (2) has successfully completed advanced classroom course work at the institution awarding the test credit in a course that is acceptable under University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign transfer credit policies and that can be considered as a sequential continuation of the material covered in the test; or (3) presents raw scores for evaluation.
After admission, students not awarded credit under this policy may attempt departmental proficiency examinations to receive credit in those areas in which they claim competence.
Credit for military training. The completion of six months or more of continuous active duty in the U.S. armed forces, including basic or recruit training, is accepted for advanced standing credit of 4 semester hours of basic military science on presentation of evidence along with an honorable discharge or transfer to the reserve component. Candidates for graduation who are still in military service are entitled to the same credit. Credit in military science may also be granted for other training completed in the service that is acceptable as the equivalent of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Such credit may be used for admission purposes. Credit duplicating ROTC credit will not be awarded.
Credit for education in the armed forces. Proof of military service school training may be submitted to compare with UIUC courses for transfer.
Credit earned in academic courses sponsored by noncollegiate organizations, such as business, industry, and labor, not recognized by the April 1977 Board of Trustees policy statement. Credit earned in such courses is not normally accepted. Such credit may be evaluated for potential advanced standing in a specific degree program after admission and registration; this credit shall be subject to validation by proficiency examination or successful completion of advanced course work. Hours of this type of credit may be reduced from that shown by the originating agency.
All criteria are subject to the recommendations of the college of enrollment and the department that offers similar courses.
Credit for experiential learning. Experiential learning credit is not accepted for transfer admission purposes. A student who believes himself or herself to be knowledgeable in a specific course may be granted credit through established proficiency procedures by the college of enrollment and the department offering a similar course after admission and registration.
Application Documents
An applicant for admission as a transfer student must submit the following (all credentials presented for admission or readmission become the permanent property of the University, are not subsequently released to the student or to another individual or institution, and are not held for reconsideration of admission to subsequent terms):
- A completed admission application form. Admission application forms are available from the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover.
- A $40 ($50 for international students) check or money order (amount subject to change), payable to the University of Illinois, in payment of the nonrefundable application processing fee. The University is not responsible for cash sent through the mail. Direct transfer applicants from the University of Illinois at Chicago are exempt from payment of this fee.
- An official high school transcript received directly from the high school of graduation.
- Official transcripts of all college work attempted received directly from the institution(s) attended.
- ACT or SAT test score received directly from the testing company, and high school class rank received directly from the high school attended. These are required only if the transfer student has less than 30 semester hours of graded transferable classroom credit at the time of submission of the application.
| Application Calendar: Transfer Applicants | ||
| FILING PERIOD | NOTIFICATION TIME | |
| Spring Transfer Applicants: | ||
| September 25-November 1 | Contact the Office of December Admissions and Records for openings. | |
| November 1-January 1 | Applications taken on a space-available basis. | Approximately four weeks after filing |
| Fall Transfer Applicants: | ||
| February 1-March 15 | Applications for all colleges will be considered during this period. | Mid-April |
| March 15-August 1 | Applications taken on a space-available basis. | Admission decisions made monthly |
| Contact the Office of Admissions and Records for openings. | ||
RETURNING STUDENTS
A student whose authorized enrollment period has not expired needs only to enroll for a term in order to return to the Urbana-Champaign campus. A returning student must provide an official transcript directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from each collegiate institution at which course work was attempted since last attendance at the Urbana-Champaign campus. Returning students are assigned an earliest registration time, after which the student may access the U of I Direct course enrollment system to select classes for a term. Earliest registration times begin shortly after the midpoint in the semester prior to the desired term of enrollment.
A returning student has the same status as when the student left the campus and is authorized to return to the same college and curriculum in which the student was last enrolled. If a returning undergraduate wishes to change his or her college or curriculum, the student must contact the college of desired enrollment. A returning graduate student wishing to enroll in a different department must contact the new department for approval and then petition the Graduate College to authorize the change.
An encumbered student may enroll for courses but cannot complete registration until the encumbrance is cleared by the office that placed the encumbrance. Notification of student status appears on the U of I Direct system. The U of I Direct system displays the earliest registration time and date when the authorized enrollment period expires. Returning students who have forgotten their network password must contact the Office of Admissions and Records to obtain a new password.
A former student returning after the authorized enrollment period has expired must contact the dean of the college in which the student was last enrolled. The dean of the student's college can extend the authorized enrollment period to allow the student additional time to complete a degree. Each college has its own rules governing the return of students whose authorized enrollment period has expired.
Returning international students have an advising hold set by the Office of International Student Affairs. Returning international students must contact the International Student Affairs Office before starting the reentry process.
APPLICANTS FOR SECOND BACHELOR'S DEGREES
A second bachelor's degree applicant must meet the same requirements for admission as a transfer applicant for the first degree. In addition, the applicant is required to submit a petition indicating the reasons for his or her choice of program and campus; this petition must be approved by the director of admissions and records and the dean of the college concerned. When space in a college or curriculum is inadequate, priority will be given to applicants seeking their first degrees.
APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION AS NONDEGREE STUDENTS
Nondegree admission and enrollment are restricted to participants in special programs and to those with nondegree educational objectives that cannot be met at another institution. Permanent residents of the Champaign-Urbana area are given priority for nondegree admission. Nondegree applicants must choose one of two enrollment options:
Academic Year. Fall and spring semesters, with summers optional.
Summer Session Attendance Only. Enrollment not allowed for the fall or spring term; a separate application for admission is necessary to be considered for the academic year enrollment pattern (see page 22). An applicant holding a bachelor's degree who desires to take any 300-level course for graduate credit or any 400-level course must apply for graduate nondegree status, regardless of the level of other courses in which the applicant desires to enroll. A graduate applicant should complete the Application for Admission to the Graduate College and Application for Graduate Appointment form.
Nondegree Student Regulations
- Nondegree undergraduate students are assessed tuition at the upper-division rate.
- Enrollment is limited to part-time status (fewer than 12 credit hours of course work in any semester).
- Course enrollment requires the approval of the department offering the course and the college of enrollment at the beginning of each semester.
- Nondegree students may not advance enroll in classes or register by mail for fall and spring semesters.
- Registration for the fall or spring term is not permitted until the fourth day of classes. The late registration charge will be waived for undergraduate nondegree students registering during the fourth and fifth days of classes.
- Registration after the fifth day of classes requires the written approval of the dean of the college of enrollment.
- The college has the privilege of terminating a continuing nondegree student's enrollment before the student's registration for any term.
- The same grading system is applicable to both degree and nondegree students. Credit earned on nondegree status will not be applicable to a degree except by subsequent admission to degree status.
- To be considered for degree-status enrollment, nondegree-status students must reapply for admission.
- Nondegree students admitted to a college for summer to continue in the fall have the option of registering for summer and continuing in the fall, or registering initially for fall.
Application Documents
An applicant for admission as a nondegree student must submit the following (all credentials presented for admission become the permanent property of the University, are not subsequently released to the student or to another individual or institution, and are not held for reconsideration of admission to subsequent terms):
- A completed application form (prospective undergraduate nondegree applicants should specifically request the Undergraduate Nondegree Admission Application).
- A $40 ($50 for international students) check or money order (amount subject to change), payable to the University of Illinois, in payment of the nonrefundable application processing fee. The University is not responsible for cash sent through the mail.
- A transcript showing the applicant's highest level of academic achievement, if the applicant for the academic year option has no prior credit at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- A transcript showing course work completed since last enrollment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, if the applicant has prior credit on this campus.
ADMISSION TO CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
Correspondence courses are open to any applicant who can meet University entrance requirements and who is in good standing at the last school attended, and to any person eighteen years of age or older whose application is approved by the head of Guided Individual Study.
An application from a student who has been dropped from the University of Illinois or any other collegiate institution will be considered only upon the recommendation of the authorities of the campus or institution from which the student was dropped.
For further information, write to Guided Individual Study, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Suite 1406, 302 East John Street, Champaign, IL 61820.
ADMISSION TO CLASSES AS A VISITOR
Enrollment Guidelines
Visitors are not permitted in laboratory, military, kinesiology (other than theory), or studio classes.
A former student not currently registered must obtain the approval of the dean of the college in which he or she was last registered. Former students are not permitted to attend classes as visitors while on dropped status.
A student enrolled at the Urbana-Champaign campus who desires to attend a class as a visitor must obtain the written permission of the instructor of the class and the approval of the dean of his or her college.
A person who has never been a registered student at the Urbana-Champaign campus must obtain the required approval from the dean of the college in which the course is offered.
For additional information, contact the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover.
Charges
Persons not registered, or registered for less than a full program (fewer than 12 semester hours), are charged a $15 (amount subject to change) visitor's fee for each course attended. The fee is waived for persons sixty-five years of age or older.
Persons registered for a full program (12 semester hours or more) may visit other courses without additional charges. Students holding scholarships, tuition waivers, or staff appointments generally may audit University courses without charge.
ADMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The Office of Admissions and Records determines which students shall be classified as foreign (international) according to the following definition: A person who is a citizen or permanent resident alien of a country or political area other than the United States and has a residence outside the United States to which he or she expects to return and either is, or proposes to be, a temporary alien in the United States for educational purposes is classified as a foreign student. For admission purposes, refugees-parolees and conditional entrants are classified as foreign and shall meet all requirements for foreign students except for the certification of financial resources.
International undergraduate applicants are urged to submit admission applications and supporting documents approximately one year prior to the desired term of entry. Competition is extremely keen, and late applicants lower their chances for admission. Additional information and application materials are available from the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover.
Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive, and preference is given to those applicants determined to have the best potential for academic success at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The minimum requirements for admission are:
- Satisfaction of University minimum requirements in terms of age, high school graduation, high school courses, and health (see pages 19 and 20).
- Satisfaction of any additional requirements for admission (see page 19).
- Satisfaction of the University requirement of competence in English (see next section).
- Adequate financial resources (see Financial Verification Requirement section).
English Competence Requirement
Evidence of English proficiency is required of students who request consideration for admission. This evidence is provided by a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Undergraduate applicants are exempt from this test if they have fulfilled one of the following requirements in a country where English is the primary language and in a school in which English is the primary language of instruction:
- Graduation with credit for 3 units, or the equivalent, of English; or
- Successful completion of a minimum of two academic years of full-time study at the secondary school or collegiate level immediately prior to the proposed date of enrollment in the University.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered several times each year at many locations throughout the world. To make arrangements to take the test, write directly to the TOEFL Application Office, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155, U.S.A., or contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or U.S. Information Service office. Applicants who have already taken the test should request that the TOEFL office send their scores to the Office of Admissions and Records. For admission purposes, TOEFL scores are valid for only two years prior to the proposed term of entry. If the TOEFL score is acceptable but indicates the need for further English study, a placement test will be required upon arrival at the University. On the basis of the placement test scores, students may be required to enroll in noncredit English courses and to take a reduced academic load.
In cases in which TOEFL testing dates are not available prior to the desired term of entry, the University will arrange for substitution of the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) test given by the English Language Institute Testing and Certification Division of the University of Michigan. Complete instructions to arrange for the MELAB examination will be provided by the Office of Admissions and Records to each applicant for whom the test is required. Final admission status is determined after the test results have been received.
The current minimum cutoff scores are 550 on the TOEFL and 83 on the MELAB. The English requirement for graduation is explained on page 41.
Financial Verification Requirement
In order to qualify for a Certificate of Visa Eligibility (Form I-20 or IAP-66), a foreign (international) applicant must submit complete and accurate information regarding his or her source of financial support. This information is in compliance with regulations of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Current information and certification also are required of foreign applicants transferring from institutions within the United States. Financial resources must be documented for the entire length of time required to earn a degree. Expenses for the 1995-96 academic year were estimated at $20,626, excluding summer session tuition and fees. This figure is subject to increase without notice and is presented here for planning purposes. Current estimated expenses may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions and Records.
Prospective students who cannot document the availability of sufficient resources will be denied admission.
University financial aid funds are extremely limited and are available only to participants in specific exchange programs. Individual requests for financial aid cannot be considered.
Application Documents
An international applicant for admission must submit the following (all credentials presented for admission or readmission become the permanent property of the University and are not subsequently released to the student or to another individual or institution):
- An Application for Undergraduate Admission for Applicants from Other Countries.
- A $40 (U.S.) nonrefundable application processing fee (amount subject to change) in the form of a check or money order payable to the University of Illinois. The University is not responsible for cash sent through the mail. The check must indicate that the bank has an affiliated bank in the United States.
-Official records for the last four years of secondary school study and/or any postsecondary or university-level work completed or attempted.
All records must list subjects taken, grades earned, or examination results (including those passed or failed in each subject); and all diplomas and certificates awarded. Official translations must accompany these records if they are in a language other than English. All credentials must be certified by an officer of the educational institution attended or by the U.S. embassy or consulate. An applicant attending a U.S. or Canadian school should have credentials submitted directly by the school. Notarized copies of credentials do not fulfill official document requirements.
A list of all courses in progress, including recently completed course work that is not listed on the transcript, must also be included on the application. When possible, an applicant must have a school official provide a statement of the applicant's rank in class. This statement should indicate the applicant's performance relative to the performance of other members of the secondary or postsecondary school class. Applicants to some fields may be required to submit additional materials, such as background information and aptitude test results, or to participate in auditions. These items will be requested by the Office of Admissions and Records when needed and will be required only for applicants satisfying all other admission criteria.
- The results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) test, if required, as indicated above.
- Declaration and certification of finances as required of all international applicants.
| Application Calendar: International Applicants | ||
| FILING PERIOD | NOTIFICATION TIME | |
| Spring Applicants: | ||
| Mid-September-November 1 | Contact the International Admissions Office for openings received. | Decisions made and announced in order |
| Summer and Fall Applicants: | ||
| Mid-September- November 15 | For freshmen. | Decisions made and announced in order received. |
| January-March 1 | For transfers. | Decisions made and announced in order received. |
ADMISSION TO SUMMER SESSION
Admission Procedures
The procedure for admission of an undergraduate student to the summer session varies according to the previous status of the student.
Students who have been approved for admission in the fall semester will be authorized to begin in the preceding summer session if they notify the Office of Admissions and Records of their intent to enroll in the summer session.
| PREVIOUS STATUS | ACTION REQUIRED |
| Completed spring semester; eligible to continue | Application not required; registration materials produced automatically. |
| Dropped for academic reasons at end of spring semester; desire nondegree summer session only. | Do not apply for admission; seek release by former college to dean of summer session for approval. |
| Dropped for academic reasons at end of spring semester; seek reinstatement to same or different college for summer. | Do not apply for admission; petition dean of desired college for reinstatement. |
| Last campus enrollment was preceding fall semester or earlier. | Must apply for admission. |
Admission of Candidates for Degrees
Freshman or transfer applicants who wish to be admitted to the summer session and to continue as degree candidates in the fall semester must meet the same admission requirements as students applying for the fall semester. Such applicants should indicate on their application forms that they are applying for admission in June to continue in the fall. Detailed admission requirements and application procedures for undergraduates are contained in the application packet available each September.
Applicants for summer to continue in the fall should be aware that fall term admission spaces have been filled in most academic programs long in advance of summer session application deadlines. Information on programs open for admission can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records throughout the academic year.
Admission of Summer Session Nondegree Students
Approval of admission or return as a nondegree student to the summer session only does not allow enrollment in the fall or spring. A student who was admitted to the summer session only as a nondegree student and who later wishes to enter one of the colleges of the University as a degree or nondegree student must apply for admission in the usual manner and satisfy requirements in effect at the time of application. A person admitted as a nondegree undergraduate student to the summer session only is not assigned to any college or curriculum.
Undergraduate nondegree applications for admission to the summer session only may be approved by the director of the Office of Admissions and Records under the following conditions:
- High school graduates who qualified for admission under minimum rank and test score combination requirements, but who were not admitted under competitive rank and test score combination requirements in effect for the fall semester, may be admitted as nondegree students for the summer session only. (These minimum rank and test score requirements, known as campus minimums, are available from the Office of Admissions and Records the September preceding the summer term for which admission is sought.)
- Former University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students who have not graduated from the University may be admitted as nondegree candidates if approved by the director of the Office of Admissions and Records through release from their former colleges. Students on drop or probationary status must petition the Summer Session Office for admission as nondegree candidates. If approved, they will be admitted on probation for that single summer session only.
- An undergraduate student enrolled in another institution may enroll in the summer session as a nondegree candidate if the student is eligible to return to the collegiate institution last attended.
- Any person eighteen years of age or older who has never attended a collegiate institution, but who gives evidence that he or she possesses the requisite background and ability to pursue profitably courses for which he or she is qualified, may enroll in the summer session as a nondegree candidate.
Application Documents
An applicant for admission to summer session as a nondegree student must submit the following (all credentials presented for admission or readmission become the permanent property of the University, are not subsequently released to the student or to another individual or institution, and are not held for reconsideration of admission to subsequent terms):
-A completed admission application form. This form is available from the Office of Admissions and Records at the address on the inside back cover.
-A $30 ($40 for international students) check or money order (amount subject to change) payable to the University of Illinois, in payment of the nonrefundable application processing fee. The University is not responsible for cash sent through the mail.
-A list of the specific course work desired.
-Additional documents required of certain applicants, as follows:
A high school graduate (see first category under Admission of Summer Session Nondegree Students, above) may be required to submit (1) an official high school transcript received from the high school showing rank in graduating class, and (2) an official report of the admission test score (ACT or SAT) sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from the testing agency concerned.
A teacher may be requested to submit a statement verifying his or her employment.
A student enrolled at another collegiate institution may be
requested to submit a statement of eligibility to return to the institution attended.
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