Declaration of Major/Minor

Quick Links

Major form
   -Addendum for topical majors
Minor form
Colgate catalogue

Members of the Class of 2020 are required to file a completed, signed Declaration of Major form with the registrar’s office by March 2, 2018.

Members of the Class of 2020 who fail to submit a Declaration of Major form by the deadline will be placed on a major declaration hold and will not be allowed to register for fall 2018 courses. Sophomores who submit declaration forms after the March 2 deadline but before the week of registration will forfeit their assigned registration time and be reassigned a registration time after all other declared sophomores register.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure the department chair/program director has adequate time to review and sign the form before the deadline (typically a full week).

---

Declaration Process

1. Run a What-If audit in Degree Works to review the major requirements and see how your current and previous course work applies to those requirements. You may also view the requirements in the current Colgate Catalogue.


2. Consult the many Colgate resources available to you as you choose a new academic adviser: 
• Chair of the department or director of the program in which you intend to major
• Your current academic adviser
• Your administrative dean (If you are not sure who your administrative adviser is, you should contact the Office of the Dean of the College 315-228-7426 or 315-228-7368.)
• Lynn Waldman, Director of Academic Program Support and Disability Services (315-228-7375)
• The Office of the Registrar staff (315-228-7676)
• Faculty directory 
3. Meet with the faculty member whom you’ve selected as your new academic adviser in your intended major. Here are some issues you may want to discuss with your new academic adviser when completing the declaration form:
   • Are you considering a second major or a minor?
   • Are you planning to complete requirements in a professional training or certification program?
   • Are you planning to participate in an off-campus study group?
   • What are the requirements for honors or other awards in your department/program?
4. Review your What-If audit with your new adviser and complete the declaration form (see links above).


5. Obtain appropriate signatures (new academic adviser and department chair/program director).


6. Submit the form to the registrar’s office by the appropriate deadline.

---

Additional Declarations

A student who wishes to declare more than their initial major may choose one of the following options:

1. Double major
2. Major and one minor
3. Major and two minors

No other combinations are permitted. No student may declare a minor in the same field as their major. Please also note that students must declare a major before they can declare a minor. 

Course Sharing

Occasionally, two majors or minors may have some overlap of course requirements. Sharing guidelines for each option are:

• Double Major: a course may be used to satisfy requirements in two majors when at least seven of the courses completed in fulfillment of each major are unique.


• Major and minor: no more than two courses used to satisfy requirements for a major may be used to fulfill minor requirements as well.


• Major and two minors: a major and two minors will follow the 7-4-4 rule. This means that the major must maintain 7 unique courses and each minor will be required to have 4 unique courses.

Deadlines

Additional majors and/or minors must be declared no later than the full-term course withdrawal deadline in the fall semester of senior year.