Exploring Your Major/Minor Options

We know that one of the most common questions college-bound students hear during the summer after high school is "What are you going to major in?" Hearing it so often can create a sense of anxiety in those who are uncertain about the many possibilities. That anxiety can be heightened when listening to those who have already made a clear major choice talk about their seemingly set futures. To make things even more complicated, parents, siblings, or family members sometimes apply pressure too.

Regardless of where you are at this point—whether you have a clear major choice, have a few ideas, or feel completely uncertain—the coming year will provide you with much to consider. You can't declare a major until your sophomore year, but you can start taking courses toward specific majors and/or toward simply exploring your interests. The University does not expect you to know what your major will be as you enter, and there is no pressure to choose immediately.

Spend your first year learning about available majors through your academic advisor, faculty or staff, Career Services staff, and our online resources. College provides countless new opportunities, so we encourage you to be open to exploring all of your many options.

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  • Declaring a Major in Arts & Sciences

    Students who have completed their first year are eligible to declare a major, minor, or concentration in the School of Arts and Sciences (this includes transfer students who have completed their first year of college).

    To declare, students should complete the Declaration of Major/Minor Online Form. To be effective for the current term, declarations must be submitted by the end of the two-week add/drop period; declarations completed after the end of the add/drop period will not go into effect until after the term ends. Department chairs will assign faculty advisors when approving the major/minor declaration forms.

     

  • Declaring a Major in Business

    To declare a major or minor in the Robins School of Business (Business Administration, Economics or Accounting) a student must have earned at least a 2.7 GPA, after completing at least 12 units of college coursework, including ECON 101, ACCT 201, and MATH 211 (or the equivalents). All students declaring a major or minor in the Robins School of Business must also first pass an online Excel competency exam on campus. Students will have three attempts to demonstrate competency with a grade of 80% or higher. This is not for a grade or academic credit.

    After completing a full year of course work at UR, students interested in majoring or minoring in business, should complete the Pre-Business Intent form within the same online form used for "Declaration of Major/Minor." 

    Then, once all of the requirements for declaration are met, students should resubmit the Declaration of Major/Minor Online Form indicating their chosen major and concentration (if applicable) or minor. To be effective for the current term, declarations must be submitted by the end of the two-week add/drop period; declarations completed after the end of the add/drop period will not go into effect until after the term ends. Department chairs will assign faculty advisors when approving the major declaration forms.

    Learn more about declaring a major within the Robins School of Business. 

  • Declaring a Major in Leadership Studies

    Students interested in majoring in Leadership Studies apply during the fall semester of their second year. To be eligible, students must have completed Leadership Studies 101 (Historical Foundations of Leadership) or 102 (Social Foundations of Leadership) with a grade of C- or better, or be enrolled in Leadership Studies 101 or 102 at the time of application. 

    Upon acceptance, students will receive instructions for declaring the major from the Jepson deans’ office. 

    Learn more about the Jepson School of Leadership Studies process.