Engineering Major Change

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I was accepted into Fall 2014 as Industrial Engineering and Operations Research in the College of Engineering. However, I want to switch majors to Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Environmental Engineering ASAP.</p>

<p>The website, <a href="http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/majors-minors/change-of-major.html"&gt;http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/majors-minors/change-of-major.html&lt;/a>, says I have to be enrolled for a semester but I called the CoE just to make sure. When on the phone with them they said the CoE is very flexible with engineering major changes and said I could probably get my major change honored at the beginning of the fall semester. After emailing the CoE to confirm this, their response was the same as the website.</p>

<p>I'm not too devastated since everyone I've talked to said the basic/prereq classes for all engineering classes are basically the same. What I am worried about is the probability of my major change getting confirmed soon. Does anyone know if there are generally a lot of people studying Civil/Environmental Engineering? Do I have a good chance of getting a major change? My other option at this point is Georgia Tech and I'm accepted into their Environmental Engineering. I really want to go to UC Berkeley but do you think I should play it safe and pick GT or should I take the risk with UCB?</p>

<p>Also, I've already asked around a lot and I appreciate all of the responses. I just wanted to get as much input as possible.</p>

2

<p>Absolutely pick Berkeley, switching between majors in engineering definitely isn’t a problem, as the advisor said. I would definitely consider checking out IEOR though, it’s a massively growing field unlike civil engineering. But to each their own!</p>

3

<p>The research I’ve done says the exact opposite - IEOR is growing slower than Civil is.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Long story short—</p>

<p>It is NOT difficult to change majors within engineering. So don’t let that stop you. The website will make it seem like it’ll be difficult. The truth is, it’s all about taking those classes, filling out paperwork, and being done with it.</p>