Advanced Standing

In order to enroll in 300 or 400 level courses in the College of Engineering, students must be granted advanced standing. Meeting the advanced standing requirements helps to ensure that you are prepared to take rigorous junior and senior level classes.

You must meet with your major advisor to fill out the advanced standing application form. Application forms are available at the Office of the Dean of the College of Engineering (Room 200, Engineering Building) and at all departmental offices in the College.

There are two types of advanced standing: permanent and temporary. When you achieve permanent advanced standing, you will be charged the differential tuition for upper division College of Engineering students.

Permanent Advanced Standing Requirements

To qualify for permanent advanced standing, students must meet the following criteria:

Completion of the Required Courses
Successful completion of the courses listed in the freshman and sophomore curricula of the chosen degree is required for advanced standing. Under special circumstances, students can be no more than two classes short for that requirement. At least 12 units of required courses must have been completed at The University of Arizona.

In addition, all admission deficiencies must have been removed. Some majors may require that specific classes must be taken before granting permanent advanced standing. These requirements change periodically.

If permanent advanced standing is granted with outstanding deficiencies, those deficiencies must be corrected by the end of first year in which the permanent advanced standing was granted.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
Unlike the University of Arizona's GPA, the advanced standing GPA is based on the grades earned in the required math, science and engineering courses. Each department sets its required GPA, but none are below 2.000.

Specific minimum departmental GPA requirements change from time to time so you should discuss this matter with your academic advisor. The current minimum GPAs are listed below:

Permanent advanced standing may be revoked if the student's University of Arizona grade-point average falls below 2.00.

Temporary Advanced Standing Requirements

Students who have completed all but two of the freshman and sophomore required courses, or have not completed the major specified required classes, but are otherwise qualified on the GPA measure, may be granted temporary advanced standing.

With temporary advanced standing, the student can take up to two 300 and 400 level engineering classes. This option is included so as not to hinder progress of a student who is near completion of the first 2 years of classes or needs to take 1 or 2 junior level classes to retain full-time status.

A student can only use this option for one semester. If the requirements for permanent advanced standing are not completed during the next semester, the temporary advanced standing will be revoked until they are completed, and the student will not be permitted to register for 300 and 400 level engineering courses.

Advanced Standing Requirements for Students from Other Colleges

Students wishing to enroll in 300 or 400 level engineering courses, who are registered in colleges other than the College of Engineering, will normally be expected to have fulfilled the above criteria relative to their own majors. Such students must apply for permission at the office of the department offering the courses.