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Sophomore Major Declaration Process

At Haverford, students declare a major in their fourth semester, by the end of pre-registration in April. Here is some information that will help you navigate the process.

The Sophomore Declaration Hub website has more details available.

Declaration Instructions

  1. If you plan to major at Haverford, please read the section of the Haverford College Catalog regarding departmental major requirements; consult the Bryn Mawr College Catalog if you plan to major at BMC. Information about minors and concentrations can also be found in each college’s catalog.
  2. You should plan to attend departmental and concentration advising meetings (academic information sessions), where you will learn more about each major, minor, and/or concentration as well as with whom you should work to declare. If you must miss one of these meetings, please contact the appropriate department and/or concentration chair(s) to ask for instructions.
  3. After completing steps 1 and 2, make an appointment to meet prior to the April deadline with the appropriate Haverford or Bryn Mawr department or program advisor (again, such faculty members will be identified at the departmental meetings). Please take to this meeting an unofficial copy of your transcript, which you can access under “other academic” in the menu on the left side of your “student center” in BIONIC.
  4. Complete the form!

Things to Consider

No pressure, please!

  • If it helps remove the pressure, know that your major does not determine your career prospects. Any major will provide you with a set of skills that can translate into a variety of different industries.
  • There is no pressure or expectation to double major or to have a certain number of minors or concentrations. Keep in mind that you can list classes taken in a certain field as “relevant coursework” on your resume or c.v., even if you don’t have a major or minor in it.
  • It is possible to add a second major in your junior year (as long as you meet the requirements). A small number of students also switch their majors early in their Junior year. As a reminder, you just need one major to graduate from Haverford. As a note, over 40% of students who initially declare a double major will decide to focus on a single major by their senior year.

Pathways and Connections

Find joy!

Don’t underestimate the importance of truly enjoying your intended major. You will be committing a good deal of energy and time to your major in your final two years. The more you genuinely enjoy it, the more engaged you will be.

Transitioning from a Pre-Major Advisor to a Major Advisor

As you move into your major, you will no longer have a pre-major advisor. Once you complete the major declaration process, your major advisor (or, for now, the chair of your new major department) will provide pre-registration approval, discuss the trajectory of your academic planning with you, and help in any process that requires an advisor’s signature. Each department has its own procedures for assigning major advisors: ask the chair of your new major department who your new advisor will be.

Other Major Programs

Double Majoring
To double major at Haverford, you must currently have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and obtain your Haverford Dean’s approval. This rule will be strictly enforced. Please note that you need your dean's signature only if you are double-majoring.
Independent Majors
To declare an Independent Major, you must submit a proposal to the Committee on Student Standing and Programs (CSSP) by the appropriate deadline via hc-cssp [at] haverford.edu. Please meet as necessary with your Dean and the faculty member who has agreed to serve as your independent major advisor to discuss the draft of your proposal.
Please note: Haverford students interested in pursuing an Independent Major at Bryn Mawr College must apply for such through Haverford’s CSSP and not through Bryn Mawr College. lease note that an independent major is a viable and/or the best option for only a small handful of students in each class, you should consult the document titled “Designing an Independent Major” before considering this option, and a certain percentage of students declare such majors in junior year.

For F-1 Students

F-1 students interested in engaging in off-campus work are eligible for one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for every educational level. STEM majors are eligible for an extension of an additional 24 months of work authorization post-graduation (OPT STEM Extension.) OPT STEM extension eligible majors available to you at Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College include Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology. A complete list of all OPT STEM Eligible majors is available.

Did you apply for OPT for this summer?

Please note that as any OPT work must be related to your major, your summer internship or job must be directly and unambiguously related to the major that you are declaring during this process.

Next Steps

Once you have completed the Declaration Form and your major(s) are reflected in your unofficial transcript, please complete the International Students Major Declaration form. Submitting this form will allow the Designated School Official to update your SEVIS record to reflect your new major. and you will be issued a new Form I-20.

Questions?

If you have any questions about these procedures, please do not hesitate to contact your Haverford Dean or the Registrar's Office (hc-registrar [at] haverford.edu)—they will be more than happy to help you.