undergraduate

Undergraduates

First Year Student Admissions

Cal Poly only accepts applications for the fall term. Interested applicants must submit the Cal State Apply online application with the $70.00 application fee electronically by December 15. 

  • Late applications are not accepted.
  • All applicants will be notified via email of the admission decision by April 1.
  • Selected applicants must accept or decline our offer of admission on My Cal Poly Portal by May 1.

First Year Selection Criteria

Cal Poly requires you to declare a major when submitting your application. Our selection process considers many factors for admission in an objective format in which applicants compete against other applicants within the same major.

When we review your application, we consider:

  • Your Intended Program of Study
  • Coursework
  • GPA
  • Extracurricular Activities & Work Experience
  • Other Variables

All information is subject to change without prior notice.

Visit the Cal Poly First Year Selection Criteria Page for more information.

Visit the Cal Poly Admissions Page for more information.

Transfer Student Admissions

Cal Poly only accepts applications for the fall term. Interested applicants must submit the Cal State Apply online application with the $70.00 application fee electronically by December 15. 

  • Late applications are not accepted.
  • All applicants will be notified via email of the admission decision by April 1.
  • Selected applicants must accept or decline our offer of admission by May 1.

Transfer Selection Criteria

Beyond the basic qualifications for the California State University, Cal Poly considers other factors for admission for transfer students. We require you to declare a major when submitting your application and our selection process evaluates you compared to other applicants within the same major.

When we review your application, we consider:

  • Your Intended Program of Study
  • Number of Units Completed
  • General Education or IGETC Courses
  • GPA
  • Extracurricular Activities & Work Experience
  • Other Variables

All information is subject to change without prior notice.

Visit the Cal Poly Transfer Selection Criteria Page for more information.

Visit the Transfer Academic Advising page for information on:

  • Orientation and Fall Registration.
  • Financial aid.
  • Advice from other transfer students.
  • The next steps after committing to Cal Poly.

Visit the Cal Poly Admissions Page for more information.

Degrees

Our program offers two undergraduate degrees with a special emphasis on hands-on learning, fieldwork experiences and theoretical learning to prepare them to solve our world’s challenges.

Civil Engineering

As stated by the American Society of Civil Engineers, “Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society.” This centuries-old profession provides services to the public and private sectors through safe and efficient solutions. Our civil engineering graduates are taught the necessary skills to plan, design, construct and maintain infrastructure and industrial facilities. The faculty of the Civil Engineering Program at Cal Poly prides itself on preparing its students and understanding the challenges associated with this industry.

Civil engineering is a very broad field, so our department offers six different areas of specialization: Geotechnical, Structural, Water Resources, Construction, Transportation, and General Civil Engineering. During their fourth year, students are allowed to specialize in one of these areas. However, prior to this selection students are required to take classes in each of these specialized areas to become proficient in all aspects of civil engineering. To learn more about these specializations, visit our Senior Thrust Areas page.

For more information about classes and flowcharts, visit our civil engineering curriculum page. 

Enviromental Engineering

The two most threatening issues in our world are water access and air pollution. Environmental engineers work to combat these problems and other natural occurrences. In 1968, Cal Poly offered one of the first undergraduate environmental engineering degree programs in the U.S. The degree program focuses on the interrelation of people, materials, and processes in a complex and changing environment. Our students learn about water sanitation, wastewater treatment, air quality control, renewable energy, pollution prevention, and other systems to improve public health. 

The job demand for environmental engineers is high due to the constant need for safe water, air, and land. Jobs in this field include working for the government, consulting companies, and engineering or architecture firms. Our environmental engineering students are required to take a two-quarter senior design capstone course where they demonstrate their understanding of essential engineering skills as well as their ability to solve practical, real-world design problems. These senior projects put students in the field before they graduate to ensure success in internships and jobs.

For more information about classes and flowcharts, visit our environmental engineering curriculum page.