Deciding Major

If I don’t know my major right away, can I still graduate in four years?

In most cases, this is a resounding yes. Your deciding advisor—and, once you declare a major, your faculty advisor—will help you navigate your course selections to ensure that you finish on time. If you’re leaning toward a major in the sciences, music or education, you will want to start completing the course requirements as early as possible. These majors have very well-organized course sequences, and it could be challenging to complete them all if you don’t start in your first year.

Will I be at a disadvantage by coming in as a Deciding major?

The short answer is no. In fact, if the term “deciding” accurately describes how you feel—that is, if you’re very much in the process of deciding which academic discipline(s) to home in on—you will be at an advantage. You will be connected with a community of deciding peers and advisors, and together, you will undergo an exciting journey of exploration and discernment.

What courses should I take as a Deciding major?

Tempting as it is to bulk up on Core courses, we recommend that you do not. Likewise, taking a number of random courses without a clear goal may make it hard for you to pinpoint an area of interest. So, we recommend finding a balance. In any given semester, you might take two or three courses to fulfill requirements in the Common Core and the Explorational Core, and then one or two courses in areas of study that interest you.