Enrollment in your intended major
International student enrollment criteria
Ohio State has adopted a test-optional policy for 2025 applicants.
All academic major programs at Ohio State are offered by degree-granting colleges or schools.
If you are eligible for admission to Ohio State, your academic record will be reviewed for eligibility to directly enroll in your major using the criteria stated below. Each degree-granting college and school has its own academic requirements.
Students who enroll as pre-majors will have additional criteria to meet once they enroll at Ohio State and will not be eligible to enter the major until all prerequisites are met. Some majors are competitive and/or have enrollment limitations, so completion of prerequisites is not a guarantee of enrollment in the major.
If you are interested in a degree in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine, you will have the opportunity to indicate your interest in a pre-professional program on your admission application. All criteria and standards are subject to change.
Criteria by college and school
Architecture, Knowlton School
First-year students: Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major.
Transfer students: Admitted transfer students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) who are interested in architecture or landscape architecture are enrolled as pre-majors. Students with advanced studies in architecture or landscape architecture at another four-year institution prior to transfer may be eligible for direct enrollment to the major based on a portfolio review.
Admitted transfer students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) who are interested in city and regional planning are enrolled directly in the major.
Arts and Sciences, College of
Arts
Admitted students enroll as follows: art education, design and moving-image production students are enrolled as pre-majors. Art and art management students are enrolled directly in the major. History of art and theatre students meet with an advisor to establish their enrollment status. Dance and music students are enrolled in the pre-major following a successful audition.
Programs with an audition or portfolio requirement are highly competitive. Learn more about dance and music auditions.
Transfer students in art, art education and design must submit a portfolio. Prior courses in performing or visual arts will be carefully reviewed by faculty for credit in their majors.
Humanities
Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major.
Natural and mathematical sciences
Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major, except for those in actuarial science, computer and information science, and data analytics, who are enrolled as pre-majors (admission to these majors is competitive).
Social and behavioral sciences
Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major, except for those in international studies and neuroscience, who are enrolled as pre-majors (admission to these majors is competitive).
Business, Fisher College of
Please visit fisher.osu.edu/undergraduate/admissions.
Dental Hygiene, Division of
First-year students: Admitted students are enrolled as pre-majors.
Transfer students: Direct admission to the DHY major requires a separate application. Admitted students who have fewer than 30 transferable semester hours (or the equivalent) are enrolled as pre-majors. Admitted students with more than 30 semester hours (or the equivalent) are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Admission to the dental hygiene major is competitive, and enrollment in the pre-major does not guarantee admission to the major. Note: If you have already completed program prerequisites, you may be eligible to apply directly to this program. Learn more about applying as an undergraduate professional student.
Education and Human Ecology, College of
Admitted students are directly enrolled in the major, except for those in exercise science education, human nutrition and sport industry, who enroll as pre-majors.
Engineering, College of
First-year students: Admitted students are directly enrolled in the major — except for those in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science engineering, who enroll as pre-majors.
Transfer students: Admitted students with at least 30 transferable semester hours (or the equivalent), including credit for at least one calculus course, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) are enrolled as pre-majors. Transfer students with fewer than 30 semester hours are considered using the criteria for first-year students.
Note: Transfer credit does not always meet major-specific requirements. Regardless of how much credit you have earned at your current university, plan on studying at Ohio State for at least three years to complete your engineering degree.
Environment and Natural Resources, School of
Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major.
Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of
Admitted students are enrolled in the major, except for those in culinary science and professional golf management, who are enrolled as pre-majors (admission to these majors is competitive).
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of
First-year students: Admitted students are enrolled as pre-majors.
Transfer students: Admitted students with at least a 2.5 GPA on all previous college course work are enrolled in HRS as pre-majors.
Note: If you have already completed program prerequisites, you may be eligible to apply directly to this program.
Learn more about applying as an undergraduate professional student.
Nursing, College of
First-year students
Selective direct enrollment criteria: Admitted students who have an ACT composite score of 25 or higher or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math score of 1200 or higher OR who rank in the top 10% of their high school class are enrolled as pre-nursing majors.
Transfer students
Admitted transfer students with at least 30 transferable semester hours (or the equivalent) and at least a 3.2 GPA on all previous college course work are enrolled as pre-nursing majors. Transfer students with fewer than 30 semester hours (or the equivalent) are considered using the criteria for first-year students.
Admission to the nursing major is competitive, and enrollment in the pre-major does not guarantee admission to the major. Note: If you have already completed program prerequisites, you may be eligible to apply directly to this program. Learn more about applying as an undergraduate professional student.
Pharmacy College of
First-year students: Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major.
Transfer students: Admitted transfer students with at least a 2.5 GPA are enrolled directly in the major. Please email int.undergrad@osu.edu for important information regarding the pharmacy major for international transfer students.
Public Affairs John Glenn College of
Admitted students are enrolled directly in the major.
Public Health, College of
First-year students: Admitted students are enrolled as pre-majors.
Transfer students: Admitted transfer students with at least 30 transferable semester hours (or the equivalent) and at least a 2.8 GPA on all previous course work are enrolled as pre-majors.
Social Work, College of
Admitted students are enrolled as pre-majors.