Academic Services

Declaring a Major

The major/minor declaration form includes step-by-step instructions for declaring a major or minor.

When deciding on a major, keep in mind the following:

A major does not have to be declared until the 4th semester — this gives time for academic exploration of a range of interests and fields.
Only one major is required to graduate (and no minors are required). Students may complete a second or even a third major in addition to their primary major. All majors must be completed within the normal time allotted for the completion of the bachelor's degree. (Eight semesters for students entering as freshmen.)
You may drop additional declared majors or minors without affecting your graduation status.
There is a deadline to declare and/or drop majors or minors. Students in their last semester should refer to the current academic calendar to determine this date. Declared majors appear on the student's transcript, and completed majors appear on the transcript and diploma.

Louis Brandeis statue with transparent blue overlay.

How to Declare a Major or Minor (October 2024)

Do I have to declare a major in "x" in order to get a job in "y"?

Absolutely not! Majoring in economics will not necessarily lead to a job in banking; nor will a major in English prevent you from obtaining a job in business. Obtaining a job is more than just the major; it is the entire package: work/internship experience, networking, interview, GPA (if applicable). A major is about a student’s interests during their college career. However, students should keep in mind that the courses they take here at Brandeis will sharpen their skills and talents in writing, working with numbers, presentations etc. Thinking about their post-graduation desires may help students in correlating what courses they want and should take. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career that deals a lot with numbers, it is probably to your benefit to take some quantitative courses.

Can I change my major?

While students must declare a major by the end of their fourth semester, they can change majors later on. With proper planning, students can change their major, graduate on time and possibly still study abroad during the academic year or over the summer. Since each major has a specific set of requirements, students should work closely with their advisor and/or the department's Undergraduate Advising Head to plan appropriately.

Is there a deadline for declaring or dropping additional majors and minors?

There is a deadline to declare and/or drop majors or minors. Students in their last semester should refer to the current academic calendar to determine this date. Declared majors appear on the student's transcript, and completed majors appear on the transcript and diploma. Plan ahead. The beginning of every semester is very busy for everyone and it may be difficult to get an appointment with the Undergraduate Advising Head to get the Major/Minor Declaration Form signed if you wait until right before the deadline.

By when do I have to officially declare my major? What if I miss the deadline?

All Brandeis students must officially declare their major by the end of their fourth semester. Transfer students with junior standing are strongly recommended to declare their major after their first semester and meet with the department to map out their major. All students should fill out the major declaration form and schedule a time to meet with the appropriate Undergraduate Advising Head. The department will communicate with the Registrar's Office regarding the declaration.

Students who fail to officially declare their major by this deadline will have a hold placed on their Workday account. This hold will prevent them from making any changes to their class schedule until they declare their major with the department's undergraduate advising head.