Academic Advising › First-year students › Declaring a major
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Choosing a major ~ Declaring a major
Academic Advising • advising@duke.edu
Box 90697, Duke University, Durham NC 27708
919.684.6217 • fax 919.684.4515
Declaring a major
You can declare a major as early as the second semester of enrollment. If you declare then, your major will take effect when you have successfully completed your first year at Duke. Therefore, you will begin your sophomore year in your major with a faculty advisor and new academic dean.
Most students declare a major during the sophomore year. The deadline to declare is the end of the eighth full week of the fourth semester of enrollment. For most students this will be the Friday that spring recess begins in the sophomore year.
Steps toward the major
Before declaring your major you must complete a Long Range Plan. You can access your Long Range Plan on ACES, under Academics. In your Long Range Plan you will write an essay and list the courses you plan to take in order to complete all remaining graduation requirements, including requirements for your intended major.
When you have completed your Long Range Plan you should schedule a meeting with your academic advisor who will review and approve it. After you have both signed the Plan, you submit it to the Academic Advising Center. We will make your major declaration effective in ACES and notify your new major department and academic dean.
You can download detailed instructions on completing the Long Range Plan (PDF).
A second major and more
Trinity students may declare up to two majors. Students are cleared for registration by the program or department of the first major. Students with two majors may also be assigned a faculty advisor for the second major. You should check with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) for details about advising for first and second majors.
In addition to a major, you may also complete the requirements of a minor or certificate program, which will be noted on your Duke record and transcript. The total combination of plans (major, minor, certificate program) may not exceed three.
You may view a complete listing of majors, minors and certificate programs.
No second major in Pratt
While you can register for certain engineering courses as a Trinity student, it is not possible to have a second major in the Pratt School of Engineering. Trinity students who are interested in transferring to Pratt as sophomores or juniors should consult T-Reqs.
Changing majors
You can change majors, add a second major, or add or change a minor or certificate program by visiting the Registrar's Office (705 Broad Street, Room 202) or the Student Service Center (101 Allen Building). You will not be required to submit a new or revised Long Range Plan if you make changes to your program of study after your initial declaration.
Visit T-Reqs for more information about majors, minors and certificate programs.