Choosing/Changing Majors

Choosing a college major is closely tied to career planning. A major helps you reach a goal, by developing knowledge and skills. Meeting with a Career Counselor to discuss what you like to do, what you're good at, and what's important to you can help you focus on majors that will get you to where you'd like to go.

Changing your major at Cal Poly starts with contacting the prospective major department. Each department may set requirements, such as coursework that must be completed before petitioning or a minimum GPA. Once you qualify by the department's guidelines, the petition to change majors is available by request at the Office of Academic Records, in the Administration Building. It is important to both closely follow requirements to change majors and to maintain sufficient progress in the major in which you are currently enrolled, as required.

If you're not sure of what you want to change to, then…

1. Meet with a Career Counselor in Career Services for career counseling, which may include interest testing.
2. Research careers and majors, including surveys of graduates and alumni networking contacts in the Career Resource Center, Room 117.
3. Visit the advising center or advisors in your college.
4. Talk with faculty advisors in departments that you're interested in.
5. Ask around - family, friends - see what others are doing and have done.
6. Log onto Mustang Jobs to use SIGI 3.
7. Try out a job, summer position, co-op or internship to learn about careers.
    

If you know what you want to change into, then…

1. Go directly to the department or advising center to ask about change of major policies.
2. Get a written statement of requirements, if available, or write down recommended procedures, keeping a  record of what you were told, the date, and the name of who you spoke to.
3. Work on meeting requirements to change.
4. Ask the department if you need to get on a waiting list or give your name expressing interest.
5. Check with the department about when in the quarter or school year to apply for change of major.
6. Forms:
   1. a petition to change majors is available from Academic Records, 2nd floor, Administration Bldg. 
   2. everyone files this same petition; instructions are on the form.
   3. departments may have additional forms to complete. Ask.

Cal Poly Policy on Changing Majors (2007-2009 Catalog)

An application for change of major will not be considered until/ unless a student has completed at least one quarter at Cal Poly. Students who feel they have selected an inappropriate major for their interests and abilities, and who want to change their major, must consult with the department head in the target major (the major to which a student wishes to change).  Students are strongly advised also to consult with at least one of the following: department head in the current major, faculty in the target major, advising center staff in current/target major, and Career Services staff.  Applicants for changing major will be evaluated against published performance criteria.  The criteria are established by each program and are designed to assess the student's likelihood of achieving success in the major.  Some majors have a limited number of available spaces and not all students who meet the performance criteria will be accepted.  At a minimum, a selection process will take place twice each year.  Students should contact the target major department for specific information regarding change of major.  Admission to a new curriculum will depend on the availability of space within the limitations imposed by budget, faculty, and facilities.  Once approved, students will automatically receive from the Office of Academic Records a re-evaluation of completed requirements for the new major.  Transfer from one curriculum to another does not in any way change a student's scholastic standing.