The College

Choosing a Major

For some students, the major serves as a path to a specific career or profession. For other students, the major represents a way to dig into a passionate academic interest.

At a liberal arts institution such as the University of Chicago, your major does not necessarily equal your career path. One possible exception to this is graduate study, because advanced study in a particular field often requires prior work in that discipline. On the other hand, professional schools such as law, public policy, and social work tend to focus on an applicants’ analytic and communications skills, among other qualities. This is fortunate for University of Chicago students, who are attractive to employers and graduate schools alike because our graduates tend to be critical thinkers – broadly trained and well read.

Most students will change majors at least once during their time on campus. Remember, with very few exceptions, the major will assume more importance to you than to the outside world. Explore, have fun, and consult the following when in need of guidance: your College adviser, faculty, friends, and family.

Declaring Majors

Unless otherwise specified by the department, the deadline for declaring a major is Spring Quarter of your third year. Declaring a major in the second year can be an advantage if you think you may want to study abroad, attend graduate/professional school, or compete for an internship or fellowship.

• Check well in advance with your department for suggested or required deadlines (certain majors will require you to submit an application).
• Submit an online request for the major via cMore.
• Notify your College adviser.

Double Majors

You may declare more than one major – all majors are listed on both the transcript and the Convocation program – but the University will grant only one bachelor’s degree per student. You will be asked to select one major as your primary major, which will be listed on your diploma.

There are both positive and negative aspects to the double major:

Potential positives of a double major

• Two majors can meet the needs of a student with diverse academic interests
  Examples: biological sciences and art history
• Two majors may complement one another intellectually
  Examples: physics and mathematics, or history and English

Potential negatives of a double major

• Employers/graduate schools do not necessarily view two majors as better than one
• Two majors do not make up for mediocre grades
• Most/all free electives are lost to the second major
• Many programs of study do not allow students to use one BA thesis for two majors
• It can be difficult to schedule time for study abroad

Honors Thesis and Senior Seminars

If an honors thesis is required, check the College Catalog to see if your majors allow you to write a single thesis that will count for both. If so, remember to submit a “Dual Major/Single Bachelors Thesis Consent Form” by the end of Autumn Quarter of graduation year (you can find this on our Forms and Petitions page). Students rarely write two separate bachelor’s theses.

Finally, if both majors require senior seminars, investigate whether it is possible to schedule both classes in the same quarter.

Declaring Minors

Minors permit you to use free electives with intellectual effectiveness – to take a cohesive set of courses in a single subject area. You may declare more than one minor – all minors will be listed on your transcript – but minors do not appear on the Convocation program or the diploma. The deadline to declare a minor is the end of Spring Quarter of your third year.

To declare a minor:

• Read the policy in the College Catalog
• Meet with your College adviser, who will give you a “Consent to Complete a Minor Program Form”
• Meet with the director of undergraduate studies for that minor, complete the consent form, and return it to your College adviser

Joint Bachelor’s / Master’s Degree Options

A small number of joint BA/MA program options are open to students in the College. For more information, check out the Joint Degree Programs page on this site.