Change of Major

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCMPE) and the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (BSSE) are both near capacity, and even when a student has met all of the requirements there is no guarantee of admission.

Accordingly, the Department of Computer Engineering has a Change of Major Policy, which applies to all students requesting to change their major to BSCMPE or BSSE. Students that have been disqualified from the BSCMPE and BSSE majors are not eligible to apply for the change of major to either the BSCMPE or BSSE. The Computer Engineering Department currently does not accept post-baccalaureate or second major students.

Policy details:

  1. Students must be in good academic standing (SJSU Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher) to be considered for a Change of Major.
  2. Applicants to either the BSCMPE or BSSE must complete a set of required courses with a C or better by the end of the semester the application is submitted:

    BSCMPE Required Courses

    • For students with fewer than 60 units earned:  CMPE 30, MATH 30, MATH 31, PHYS 50
      • Students may complete optional courses (0.2 Major GPA bump per completed course): MATH 42, MATH 32, PHYS 51
    • For students with 60 or more units earned, but less than 90: CMPE 30, MATH 30, MATH 31, MATH 42, PHYS 50, PHYS 51
      • Students may complete optional courses (0.2 Major GPA bump per completed course): ENGR 10, MATH 32

    BSSE Required Courses

    • For students with fewer than 60 units earned: CS 46A, CS 46B, MATH 30, MATH 42
      • Students may complete optional courses (0.2 Major GPA bump per completed optional course): MATH 31, MATH 32, PHYS 50
    • For students with 60 or more units earned, but less than 90: CS 46A, CS 46B, MATH 30, MATH 31, MATH 42, PHYS 50
      • Students may complete optional courses (0.2 Major GPA bump per completed course): ENGR 10, MATH 32, PHYS 51
  3. Applicants will be ranked based on their GPA for the required prerequisite courses for the major, and final admission will be determined based on capacity.
  4. AP test scores map to the following grades 5→A, 4→B, and 3→C.
  5. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission, due to capacity limitations.
  6. According to Presidential Directive 2009-05, applications submitted by students who have earned 90 units or more may be considered only by special permission.
  7. Students can only apply a maximum of TWO times to the BSSE or BSCMPE.

Applications will be accepted twice per year, with deadlines of December 15th for Spring semester (notification by approximately mid-late January) and May 15th for Fall semester (notification by approximately mid-late June).

 

APPLY HERE

 

If you have any questions when filling out the Change of Major application, please email success-engineering@sjsu.edu.

 

Change of major advising details:

 

  • If you will be completing 60 units or more by the end of the Spring 2026 semester:
    • During Winter or Summer session: please email success-engineering@sjsu.edu and include your name, student ID number, and your major of interest. Attach PDF copies of any/all unofficial transcripts from colleges you have attended.

    • During Spring or Fall semester: please complete the CMPE/SE Change of Major Interest Form.
      • This form will open on the first day of instruction every spring and fall semester and close on the last day of instruction every semester. For specific dates, please review the Registration Calendars.
      • To access this form, students must be logged into their SJSU Google profile.
      • Students must submit this form every semester until they have successfully been admitted to a new major, decide to not pursue the change of major further, or have been denied the change of major.
      • Students can cancel or edit their change of major interest submission by emailing success-engineering@sjsu.edu and including their name, student ID number, and edit request.