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Declaration of Degree Candidacy and Majors

1. On or before February 1 of their sophomore year, students must make one of the following declarations in the Registrar's Office (those admitted with senior standing must make their declarations within the first three months after entering Cornell):
   1. declare themselves candidates for either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Music degree by filing a Declaration of Major card;
   2. declare themselves candidates for the Bachelor of Special Studies degree by filing a Prospectus and a Declaration of Major card;
   3. declare themselves candidates for the Bachelor of Philosophy degree by filing the appropriate forms for the second curriculum; or
   4. declare themselves unable to make a decision by filing for a Curriculum Advisor. Students may ask any faculty member to serve as their Curriculum Advisor. Under this arrangement, the advisor and the Dean of Students or Director of Counseling Services will work with the student to determine her or his academic and career goals and the best methods for achieving these.
   Juniors and seniors who wish to change their degree candidacy must present very compelling reasons (other than wanting to be graduated with their class) to the Academic Standing Committee in order to receive permission to enter another degree program. Sophomores who neglect to file their declarations on time will be subject to the regulations governing B.A. candidates and may be denied permission to register for their junior year.

   
   
   

2. Students may choose one or more of the departmental or interdepartmental majors described in the central section of this Catalogue (see the Index for particular subjects), or they may design an interdisciplinary major. Some departments offer two or more major options, one of which is a teaching major, approved by the State of Iowa and required of those intending to be licensed to teach that subject. A teaching major must always be combined with a second major in Secondary Education.
   1. Departmental majors allow a student to study in depth a single discipline such as chemistry or psychology.
      
   2. Interdepartmental majors offer the opportunity for a student to specialize in a recognized academic field by taking courses from various related disciplines. Presently Cornell's interdepartmental majors are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Classical Studies, Environmental Studies, International Business, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Mediaeval and Renaissance Studies, Origins of Behavior, Russian Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, Theatre and Communications Studies (which offers an interdepartmental teaching major in Theatre and Speech); and Women's Studies.
      
   3. Interdisciplinary majors are programs that students design themselves to meet their particular needs and interests. Such a major involves a core of from seven to eleven courses in two or more departments and is administered by a committee of three faculty members chosen by the student. The contract for an interdisciplinary major must be signed by the student, the members of the committee, and the Dean of the College and filed with the Registrar. For information, consult the Registrar.

There is no restriction on adding majors after the sophomore year and no penalty for dropping them except that all B.A. candidates must complete at least one major and B.S.S. candidates must complete the basic contract they signed when filing their Prospectus.

Students are expected to complete the requirements that were set forth for their major(s) in the March issue of the deTERMinations published in their first year at Cornell. Transfer students who are admitted with sophomore or higher standing satisfy the requirements in effect when they begin their first course at Cornell. Students who have withdrawn from Cornell and are later readmitted follow the requirements in effect at the time of their readmission. Exceptions may be made by the department concerned in response to the student's petition provided that such changes are feasible for and agreeable to the department.

Cornell College alumni who wish to fulfill the requirements for an additional major after graduation must be accepted by the department (see procedure outline above) and complete the necessary courses (there is no minimum number of credits that must be earned after graduation as long as the major requirements are met). Courses taken at another institution must be approved by the department in which the major will be granted. During the last course term of attendance, the student must meet with the Registrar to confirm that all requirements are completed. At the conference, the student will request that the additional major be recorded on her/his transcript.

Upon completion, the additional major along with the date of completion will be recorded on the student's transcript.

Maintained by: Registrar

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