When to Declare a Major

Undergraduate students admitted as freshmen may declare and be accepted into a major field of study after completing a minimum of 24 semester hours at the university. Students will meet with their University College advisor to discuss the requirements and complete the necessary paperwork. A this point, the student information will be changed in the system and the folder will be delivered to the appropriate department. A new departmental advisor will be assigned. Students should check their degree audit on SEANET for their new advisor or they may contact the department directly.

The minimum requirement to declare most majors at UNCW is to have earned (passed) 24 semester hours; some majors have additional admissions requirements. Consult your catalog and your advisor. In general, most students declare a major at the end of their Freshman year or the beginning of their Sophomore year.

The 45-Hour Rule and Declaring a Major

Undergraduate students must declare and be accepted into a major field of study before or during the semester that they complete 45 semester hours of credit. Students will not be allowed to pre-register or register for the following semester until a major or a pre-major has been declared. Additional advising may be required prior to registration for continuing students who have completed 30 hours or more and have not declared a major or a pre-major.

Transfer students are required to select a major or a pre-major at the time of admission to UNCW. Advising of transfer students is done within the chosen major field.
Schools, departments and programs with admission requirements have a pre-major, and that academic unit provides discipline-specific advice. Students accepted into pre-major status should have a high probability of completing the admission requirements in the major within two semesters of acceptance.

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