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The Major

Each matriculated student in the College is recorded in the Registrar’s Office as enrolled in a specific curriculum or major leading to a degree. Students are responsible for informing the Registrar of their specific curriculum or major. Deadlines for changing a major for the current semester are posted in the academic calendar. This can be done online and there is no fee. Assignment of an academic or faculty advisor is based upon this official listing.

All students who are CUNY Proficient in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, completed 45 credits, and who expect to receive a bachelor’s degree from the College should declare a bachelor’s degree major. Students who have completed fewer than 45 credits may also declare a bachelor’s degree major provided they meet the following criteria: have passed or are exempt from the three CUNY Assessment Tests and have successfully completed 12 credits at or above the 100 level and have a GPA of 2.00 or above.

In addition, individual departments may modify this policy for entry into their curricula as follows:

  • The department may require a chairperson’s approval before a student with fewer than 40 credits may choose a major in that department.

  • The department may require a GPA greater than 2.0 for entrance into its major.

  • The department may require minimum grades in specific courses before a student may choose a major in that department.

  • The department may require the submission of an application.

Declaration of Major

Students who wish to declare or change a major(s) should file a Declaration/Change of Major form with the Registrar’s Office. Deadlines for changing a major(s) for the current semester are posted in the academic calendar. This can be done online and there is no fee. Students applying for graduation need to make sure their major is correct at the time of application or it will delay their semester of graduation.  

Credits Toward the Major

All courses listed as major requirements, including courses that apply toward concentrations, specializations, or options, are counted toward completion of the minimum credits meeting requirements for the major.

Major GPA

The major GPA is calculated in the same manner as the overall GPA using only the courses that fulfill major requirements: all courses listed in the major requirements, including courses in concentrations, specializations, options, and all courses taken in the discipline. Students are required to achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA in their core or major requirements in order to earn an undergraduate degree. Some programs require a major GPA higher than 2.0.

Double Major

Students who wish to declare or change their second major should file a Declaration/Change of Major form with the Registrar’s Office. This can be done online and there is no fee. 

To major in more than one field of study, students must complete all of the core or major requirements for each of the fields. If the General Education requirements of the two fields differ, the student must complete the more restrictive and demanding of the two. If the total credits required differ, the student must complete the larger number. To have the second core or major recorded on the final transcript the student must apply for both fields when filing for graduation. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements, both fields of study will be recorded on the final transcript.