*Courses in mathematics and in the foundations of a social science must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Note: Students must demonstrate foreign language proficiency through the first-year college level.  Depending on the student’s previous high school or college coursework, this may require one or two courses.

The Core and the Major

The major offers students sustained study in a chosen academic field, complementing the work of the core.  Students may indicate a major choice as early as June Orientation; they formally declare their major by the end of second semester of the sophomore year. Majors begin with courses that focus on foundational knowledge and method, move through a series of courses involving greater range and depth, and often conclude with a final seminar or project.

Majors range in size from 11 courses to more than 15, but most require 12 to 13 courses, 30-40% of a student’s total curriculum. Generally students take one or two courses in their prospective major during the first year and about four per year thereafter.

 Students should consult the department website and the Undergraduate Catalog’s Course Descriptions section for details about each major.

Beyond the core and the major, most students have 20-30% of their curricular space to take whatever courses they find interesting or valuable. Some use this space to complete a minor or a second major, but this is not a requirement or expectation of the University.  Students with the least free elective space will be those who choose to major in accounting and elementary education, which have a significant number of courses required by external accrediting agencies. Natural science students have somewhat less curricular flexibility because of the need to complete more major courses in the first two years.