Your Major Advisor
You and your "major advisor" will work together to declare your academic major and plan your path toward graduation.
Our major advisors are located within the academic discipline you choose and can guide you to the right courses to meet your goals and complete your degree requirements. They can also guide you toward research and other opportunities that complement your studies.
Find Your Major Advisor
Once you've settled on a major, consider which faculty member you'd like to work with as your major advisor. Some criteria we suggest:
- Who taught courses you enjoyed?
- Who is conducting research you find interesting?
- Which faculty teach courses you want to take?
You may need to spend some time on department websites to learn more about faculty in those areas. Develop a short list of possible faculty, approach your first choice, and make the ask. It's possible your first choice might have a scheduled leave or other obligation. If that's the case, perhaps your first choice can recommend another faculty member. If not, you can always get in touch with that department or program head and ask for their guidance in selecting a major advisor.
After a faculty member has agreed to be your major advisor, schedule an initial meeting to get to know each other and to complete the declaration of major process. NOTE: If you're planning to fulfill a second major, you'll also need a major advisor in the second discipline.
Changing Your Major Advisor
If your major advisor is unavailable for some reason, you will need to seek a new one. Either select a new major advisor on your own, or contact your department or program head for help. To make the change official, remember to re-submit the declaration of a major form to the Registrar's Office with your new major advisor's name.
