Declaration of Major Policy
Policy Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to help students with academic and career exploration and to expedite the time to degree completion. This policy provides a process by which a degree-seeking student selects an area of interest (meta-major) and, subsequently, a program of study (specific major).
Policy Statement
- Meta-majors are a collection of academic programs that have common or related content that students will explore during their first semester. The intent of selecting a meta-major is to help students choose a program of study based on their interests, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Students have several meta-majors or pathways from which to choose that are aligned with potential academic career goals. See Attachment B.
- Meta-majors do not apply to students who select any of the following categories on the admission application: International, Veteran Education Beneficiaries, and non-degree seeking.
- A student must declare a specific major before enrolling in courses beyond the first fifteen college-level credit hours earned at CSN.
- A student is allowed to have only one declared specific major at a time.
- A student can request a second, concurrent specific major through the office of the registrar. See Attachment C.
Procedure
- At time of admission, students who select “degree-seeking” on their application must choose their area of interest. Any new degree or program would be added into an existing meta-major category by the Curriculum committee in consultation with the relevant department chair. The Curriculum Committee will review the meta-major categories and structure upon request from department chairs or Faculty Senate.
- CSN will provide resources for students to explore their meta-major and identify their specific major.
- A registration hold is placed on a student’s account for courses beyond the first fifteen college-level credit hours if a specific major has not been declared. To remove the hold the student has to declare a major.
- A student may change their major at any time. However, processed declaration of major changes become official and reflect on the student’s record on the first day of the next semester following submission.
Disclaimer
The president has the discretion to suspend or rescind all or any part of this policy or related procedure(s). The president shall notify the appropriate CSN personnel, including the Executive Sponsor and shared governance leaders, of the suspension or rescission.
Questions about this policy should be referred to the Executive Sponsor.