CGS - College of General Studies - University of Pittsburgh

Admissions and Apply Now

Whether your aim is to take a single course or pursue a degree, getting started is easy. We provide online and in-person support to get you on the right track.

Before you apply, please be sure you are using the appropriate application. Just review the different categories of admission, below, to ensure that you are applying through the right office.

In the following categories, apply for admission through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid:

• I wish to earn an undergraduate degree from the College of General Studies. Apply for admission through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• I attended the University of Pittsburgh previously, attended another college since leaving the University of Pittsburgh and I want to return to the University of Pittsburgh. Apply for admission as a transfer through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• I have an undergraduate degree from a 4-year institution other than the University of Pittsburgh, and I want to pursue a second undergraduate degree in a major offered through the College of General Studies. Apply for admission as a transfer through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• I am an international undergraduate student, either degree or non-degree seeking. Apply for admission through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

In the following categories, apply for admission through our online application:

• I would like to take College of General Studies classes as a non-degree student for credit. You can use the online application.
• I attended the University of Pittsburgh previously, did not attend any other college since leaving the University of Pittsburgh, and I want to return to the University of Pittsburgh. For reinstatement into a program in the College of General Studies you can use our online application.
  
  For reinstatement into a program at a school at the University of Pittsburgh other than the College of General Studies, contact that school: www.pitt.edu/academics.html.
• I have an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and I want to pursue a second undergraduate degree in a major offered through the College of General Studies. You can use our online application.

• I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, but not in the College of General Studies.  I would like to pursue a program offered through the College of General Studies.  You can use our online application. 

   

  What is non-degree status? Here are some examples:

  1. Post-baccalaureate. This status is for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to take college classes for credit as non-degree students either for their own benefit or in preparation for graduate school.

  2. Guest student or visiting student status. For students enrolled in a degree program at another college or university who plan to take courses for credit at Pitt with the intention of transferring the courses back to their home institution. To be eligible for admission, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 at their home institution.

  3. College of General Studies certificates. There are several categories of stand-alone certificates for University credit:
     • You do not have to be enrolled in a degree program to earn one of the following: communication, community health assessment, corporate/community relations, digital media, information system design, managing health services programs, national preparedness and homeland security, nonprofit management, women’s studies, writing, and writing for the professions. 
     • You need to have earned a bachelor’s degree to be considered for:
     post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting, graduate certificates in engineering and technology management, and a graduate certificate in gerontology.

      

     NOTE: If you are applying to any of the following programs, do not use the College of General Studies online application listed above. Instead, contact us at 412-624-6600 or cgs@pitt.edu. 
     
     • Graduate certificates in Engineering and Technology Management 
     • Gerontology 
     • Osher Lifelong Learning Institute