Declare a Major

In order to graduate students must (in addition to earning 120 credits and completing the College's requirements) complete a major in one of the College’s departments, interdepartmental programs, or in an individually designed interdisciplinary major.

How to Declare a Major

1. Review the requirements for your desired major, including:
   • Prerequisites for declaring
   • Degree requirements specific to the major
   • Minimum GPA for acceptance and minimum grade accepted in courses toward the major
   • Internships and externships available in fields related to the major
   • Post-graduation career opportunities
2. Pick up a Declaration of Major Form from 101 Monroe Hall.
3. Schedule an appointment with the department in which you wish to declare a major.
4. Meet with the assigned faculty member and complete the form
5. Return the form by the deadline (also in academic calendar)

Deadline

You must either delcare a major or complete a deferral of major form by the last day of classes in your fourth semester. You may begin your major in your first year, provided a department or program accepts you). See the academic calendar for the exact deadline for fourth-semester students to declare a major.

Restrictions

Students who begin the fifth semester without either declaring a major or deferring declaration will be blocked from enrolling in the next semester's classes and may lose their enrollment place. No student may begin a sixth semester without a declared major.

Number of credits

A major program requires no fewer than 18 nor more than 30 credits in the major subject and must be approved by an official advisor. The major program may require up to 12 credits in related courses. See the the specific major requirements.

Courses taken to fulfill area requirements may be counted toward a first major program or toward a second major or a minor.

Foreign language courses numbered 1010-2020, 2320 in French, 2060 in Chinese, and 2120 in Portuguese may not be applied towards a minor.

Academic Standing

Students beyond the second year must remain in good standing as a major or have their enrollment in the College cancelled.

Double Major

You may major in two subjects, in which case the application for a degree must be approved by both departments or interdepartmental programs. Students who double major must submit at least 18 credits in each major; these credits may not be duplicated in the other major. There is no triple major.

Credit/no credit

The credit/no credit option cannot be used for courses toward your major. Beyond the courses required for the major, however, you may register for other courses in your major field on a credit/no credit basis.

Credits that require permission

Department permission is required to count the following types of courses as credit toward your major:

• Transfer credit taken before matriculation,
• Courses taken during your first and second years,
• Courses transferred from another institution to the University,
• One or two courses—other than foreign language through 2020—may count simultaneously toward fulfillment of a second major.

Concentrations

Some departments and interdisciplinary programs offer concentrations along with the major. Students in these departments or programs may concentrate in designated areas of study that also meet the requirements of the major. Concentrations typically involve special topics, applications, or disciplines and may include courses taken in other departments or schools of the University. Your concentration appears, along with the major, on your transcript.