After strategically exploring, you will be ready to declare a major. Declaring a major selects a specific field of study for you and officially tells the department that you are focusing on that subject.
Once you declare, you become a part of a community of students in that program and will be assigned a new advisor from the department. These advisors will not only help you with advising, but will also connect you to events and opportunities in the field. Although CCAS will no longer be your advising home, we are always here to answer any exploration questions that come up later.
This page outlines three key topics connected to major declaration: Readiness to Declare, Double Majoring, and Mandatory Major Declaration. These topics will help you navigate the process of declaring a major. Whether you are confident in your decision or still exploring options, understanding the process will help ease your transition. We are here to help every step of the way!
Readiness to Declare
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How will I know if I am ready to declare?
If your choice for a major is not a limited enrollment program, then you can declare at any point that you are eligible and reasonably sure that you would like to major in that subject.
When working with CCAS advisors, you will learn about the strategic exploration process, which in part is a self-exploration process. Knowledge is power: as you become more confident in your knowledge of yourself, your interests, and your strengths, you will be more confident about your choice for a major.
Your CCAS advisor will work with you to get you prepared to declare, but they do not do the actual declaring. You will do that with the department of your major.
When do I need to declare a major?
The deadline for declaring most majors is the term you complete 86 degree credits. Some majors have prerequisites which must be planned for, and others are limited enrollment programs in which you need to apply and be admitted into.
Due to a combination of the exploration process itself, and the prerequisites for declaring a major, you may find yourself forced to wait to declare until after the 86-credit deadline. In that event, you will work with your advisor to request an exception from the academic school or college to that deadline.
What if I declare a major then change my mind?
You can most often undeclare as easily as you declare! We are happy to discuss your new interests and help you explore academic options.
How do I know if I am eligible to declare a major?
Declaration requirements (if any) can almost always be found in the “How to Get In” section of that major’s page in the Undergraduate Guide. Most majors only require good academic standing and meeting with an advisor in that major program. Other majors require students to complete certain coursework or earn a specified GPA in relevant courses before being eligible to declare.
Majors that are considered limited enrollment programs require an application.
Double Majoring
Technically, there is no limit to how many majors one may declare, beyond the limit of one’s time spent in college. There are limits, however, to which majors you can combine at UW-Madison.
For the most part, you can combine any majors within Letters & Science. Students can also ask to major in more than one major within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and School of Business (if admitted).
You can also double major across colleges. Usually, one of the majors must be in the College of Letters & Science – for example, double majoring in Environmental Science (CALS) and Art History (L&S).
Additional Majors (AMAJ)
There are a few majors outside of Letters & Science which can also be combined with any major. The following majors fall into this category:
- Global Health (CALS)
- Educational Policy Studies (School of Ed.)
- Health Promotion and Health Equity (School of Ed.)
- Theatre and Drama (School of Ed.)
- Theatre and Drama (Acting Option) (School of Ed.)
Also, if you combine one of these Additional Majors with an L&S major, you have the option of earning your degree in Letters & Science.
If you are exploring double majors between schools and colleges that are not L&S, it is important to review their policies with a major advisor in that school or college. CCAS advisors can help connect you with the right people!
Mandatory Major Declaration (MMD)
Most academic schools/colleges require undergraduate students to have declared at least one major or degree program before they have 86 or more combined in-progress and completed credits. Declaring a major is an essential part of a student’s academic career at UW-Madison and is very important for graduating in a timely manner.
The Mandatory Major Declaration (MMD) policy is the College of Letters and Science’s 86-credit deadline to declare a major. MMD is enforced by the college placing a hold on a student’s enrollment if a student is about to complete 86 degree credits without a declared major. Students without a declared major will start getting notification emails about MMD after completing at least 54 credits (junior standing).
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Will I have a hold?
You will have an enrollment hold on your record if you will complete 86 or more credits this semester and have not yet declared a major. MMD holds are usually applied to student records during the 5th week of the term during which they will complete their 86th credit.
What should I do if I have an MMD hold?
The simplest way to deal with a Major Declaration Hold is to declare your major. If that is not possible, contact your advisor with any questions. They can help you plan the best course of action and ensure that you are eligible to enroll for the coming semester.