Major
Degree Plan Form
Special Major
Degree Plan Instructions
Sample Degree Plan
Changes to Degree Plan
The Major
A student may select from many liberal arts majors offered by the University or create an approved, coherent, special major from the offerings of several departments. Students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 in the major area. BLS students earning a double major may use only nine (9) credits that overlap the first major.
Declaring a Major
Students may declare a major by completing Declaration of Major Cards located in the BLS office. Students should complete the information on both cards and bring them to the major department. The department chairperson will assign the student with a major advisor. The yellow card should be brought back to the BLS office and kept in the student’s file.
After a student declares a major, he/she should see their major advisor for subsequent advising sessions. The major advisor will provide the student with the priority registration number each semester to register for the next semester’s classes. See the following link concerning Priority Registration/Advising. Registration
Students declaring a Special Major must first have their major approved by the BLS Committee before picking up Special Major Declaration Cards from the BLS office. The cards should be brought to the chairperson of the faculty mentor/advisor of the Degree Plan. Special Major
Students may change their major by submitting new Declaration Cards to the BLS Office. Also, students may request to change their advisor by contacting the chairperson of the major department or contacting the BLS Director, if the student has not yet declared a major.
Majors:
Self-designed Special major
Students who wish to combine courses from more than one discipline to form an alternative concentrated area of study may consult with the catalog listing of available courses and a faculty sponsor to design an approved special major. However, students are encouraged to consult with the faculty advisor regarding the 400-level independent study/research and internship options within each major to pursue specific areas of interest within a major field of study. Final approval of a self-designed major is given when the major is delineated in the Degree Plan that is submitted to and approved by the faculty sponsor, and the BLS Committee. See the following link for requirements of the Interdisciplinary Major. Special Major
Minimum Special Major Requirements
Requirement |
Credits |
Total Credits |
39 |
Upper Level Course Work |
21 |
UMW Course Work |
15 |
Maximum Independent Study Credit |
6 |