Declare Your Major At Rutgers Nb

All incoming students at Rutgers University enter undeclared. Full-time students typically declare their major in the second semester of their second year, while part-time students declare by the time they've completed 60 credits. Students who don't declare by 60 credits won't be allowed to register for the next semester until they've declared or met with an adviser. Majors like Information Technology and Informatics, Journalism and Media Studies, Health Administration, Planning and Public Policy, and Urban Planning and Design require a separate application process. For all other majors, students can declare online through the MyMajor portal.

When to declare your major

All incoming students at Rutgers enter undeclared. When to declare your major depends on a variety of factors, including your goals and interests, as well as practical considerations such as course sequencing and graduation timelines.

Full-time students typically declare their major in the second semester of their second year. However, some majors encourage early declaration to facilitate the planning needed to complete the required courses within four years. Certain majors, such as those in the sciences and world languages, require that courses be sequenced in a particular way, making planning during the first year crucial for timely completion. Therefore, it is recommended that students consult with an academic advisor and the specific departments offering their intended majors during their first year.

Part-time students usually declare their major by the time they have completed 60 credits. Students who have not declared their major and minor by the time they have completed 60 credits will face registration restrictions for the next semester. Additionally, those who have not declared by the second semester of their third year may not be able to graduate on time.

Transfer students attending the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences will declare their majors on their course selection form, while first-year students will receive an email notification about the availability of the online first-year major selection form in February of their second semester.

How to declare your major

All incoming students at Rutgers University enter as "undeclared". This gives you some time to explore different subjects and decide on a major that aligns with your interests and goals. When you're ready to declare your major, here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Self-Reflection and Research

Before declaring a major, it's important to engage in self-reflection to understand your interests, strengths, and career goals. Ask yourself questions such as: Do you enjoy the subject? What are you willing to work hard at? What do you enjoy spending your time doing? What skills do you have or are willing to work on? Explore the majors offered by the university and consider taking introductory classes in different subjects to help you decide. Review the course descriptions, syllabi, and the philosophy of each academic subject to understand what you can expect from the program.

Step 2: Understand the Requirements and Criteria

Review the entry requirements for the major you plan to declare. Some majors at Rutgers New Brunswick, such as Information Technology and Informatics, Journalism and Media Studies, Health Administration, Planning and Public Policy, and Urban Planning and Design, require a separate application process. For these majors, you must submit your application directly to the offering school. Other majors can be declared through the MyMajor portal.

Step 3: Complete the Declaration Form

Once you've decided on your major, it's time to make it official. Full-time students typically declare their major in the second semester of their second year, while part-time students declare by the time they've completed 60 credits. You can find and submit the Declaration of Major or Minor Form online. If you're declaring more than one major or minor, be sure to indicate both subjects on the form.

Step 4: Submit the Form

Email the completed form to the department(s) in which you are declaring your major. The department will review your record and approve or decline your request. If approved, you will be required to meet with a faculty advisor within the academic department to guide you further in your chosen major.

Important Considerations:

• Some academic departments may have prerequisites and/or require approval by an adviser.
• If you haven't declared your major by the time you've completed 60 credits, you won't be permitted to register for the next semester until you've either declared or met with a general education adviser to develop an approved plan of study.
• Utilize campus resources such as the Majors & Minors Exploration Fair and career coaches to help you explore and confirm your academic and career goals.

Declaring a major as an undecided student

All incoming students at Rutgers University enter undeclared, meaning that you will have plenty of time to decide on your major. Most students don't need to declare a major until their sophomore year, and even then, they may change their minds. This gives you time to explore the 100+ majors on offer and figure out what you want to do.

If you are a first-year student at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, you will be asked your intended major on your Course Selection Form, which you will hand in to your Academic Advisor. They will then assist you in selecting your courses for your first semester. You will not officially declare your major until February/March of your second semester.

If you are unsure of what to major in, you can take a class or two to introduce yourself to the subject. You can also visit the website of the major, where you may find a useful summary of the academic subject, as well as course descriptions and syllabi. You can also find out about out-of-classroom opportunities, such as student organizations where you can learn about careers.

When you are ready to declare your major, you can do so online through the MyMajor portal. Some majors require a separate application process and must be submitted directly to the offering school. These include:

• Information Technology and Informatics
• Journalism and Media Studies
• Health Administration
• Planning and Public Policy
• Urban Planning and Design

Full-time students normally declare their major in the second semester of their second year, although some majors encourage students to declare earlier to facilitate planning. Part-time students normally declare their major by the time they have completed 60 credits.

Declaring a major with multiple concentrations

All incoming students at Rutgers New Brunswick enter undeclared. Students normally declare their major in the second semester of their second year, although some majors encourage students to declare earlier. This is to ensure the planning needed to complete the major within four years. Students who have not declared their major by the time they have completed 60 credits will not be permitted to register for the next semester until they have either declared or met with a general education advisor.

The process for declaring a major is done by submitting a major/minor declaration form, available online at mymajor.sas.rutgers.edu. Some academic departments may have prerequisites and/or require approval by an advisor.

Students wishing to declare a second major or concentration should investigate each department's policy on the maximum number of courses that may be counted toward another major. This information should be available on the department's website or by asking the concentration advisor.

Students at Rutgers New Brunswick can also pursue dual degree programs. For example, the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences offers a dual degree with a Bachelor of Science in one of their majors and a Bachelor of Arts in a major offered by another school.

Additionally, students can also consider pursuing a combined degree program or a triple concentration, which allows them to complete more than one concentration and receive a single degree or a single combined five-year degree. This option provides the opportunity to deeply explore multiple disciplines and take advantage of the curricular offerings. However, it is important to carefully consider the increased time and financial commitments associated with such programs.

Declaring a major with prerequisites

All incoming students at Rutgers University enter as "undeclared" and are encouraged to select a major based on their goals and interests. Students are advised to consider whether they enjoy the subject, whether they will enjoy future classes, what out-of-classroom opportunities are available, and how their career goals fit with their major.

Students are also encouraged to review the entry requirements for their major/minor, as some majors require a separate application process. These majors include:

• Information Technology and Informatics
• Journalism and Media Studies
• Health Administration
• Planning and Public Policy
• Urban Planning and Design

Full-time students typically declare their major in the second semester of their second year, although some majors encourage early declaration to facilitate planning and course sequencing. Part-time students usually declare their major by the time they have completed 60 credits.

Students who have not declared their major by the time they have earned 60 credits will not be permitted to register for the next semester until they have either declared or met with a general education advisor to develop a specific and approved plan of study.

Declaration is done by submitting a major/minor declaration form, available online. Some academic departments may have prerequisites and/or require approval by an advisor.

Declaring a Major at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS)

First-year and transfer students attending the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in the fall will be asked their intended major on their Course Selection Form, which they will hand in to their Academic Advisor. Transfer students will declare their majors on this form unless otherwise advised at Student Transfer Advising & Registration Day.

First-year students will not officially declare their major until February/March of their second semester. They will receive an email notifying them of the availability of the online first-year major selection form, which they must submit electronically by the due date indicated.

Once first-year students officially declare a major, they will be assigned a faculty academic advisor in their selected curriculum.

Frequently asked questions