First year students who started at CWRU in the fall 2023 semester must declare their major by March 31, 2024, so it’s a good idea to get started on this process now. If you started at CWRU this spring, you can declare between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2024.
How to declare:
- Visit the Undergraduate Advising Support website to obtain and complete a Major Declaration Form. A separate form must be completed for each major (or minor) you declare.
- Send your completed form to the academic representative of your intended major for their signature and assignment of a major advisor.
- Forward the signed form to ugadvisingsupport@case.edu for processing. You should see your major updated in SIS in approximately three business days, but it can sometimes take a few extra days during busy times of year.
Why declare now?
When you declare, you will be assigned a major advisor from the department. Declaring sooner gives you more time to connect with your new advisor and begin building your advising relationship with an expert in the field. During your meetings, you can clarify major requirements, plan out options for when to complete those requirements, and discuss both your short- and long-term goals for your academic experience at CWRU. They will also be the person to release your registration advising hold each semester so that you can register for courses once your enrollment appointment opens.
What about my pre-major advisor?
Your pre-major advisor will automatically change in SIS to a “Designated Advisor”—this means they still have access to your record in SIS and can continue to serve as a faculty mentor to you, however they will no longer be able to release your registration advising hold. You can add or remove Designated Advisors as you wish.
What if I’m not 100% sure what I want to major in? Can I change my mind?
If you are looking for a place to start, it can be helpful to review a list of the many majors and minors offered at CWRU. It’s a good idea to meet with your four-year advisor and/or pre-major advisor to help you narrow down your options.
Once you have your options narrowed down, there are many people who can help you learn more about your programs of interest:
- Contact the academic representative to ask for more information directly from the source.
- Talk to your professors in classes that interest you most.
- Connect with your peers that are in the programs that interest you—you can ask your RA, orientation leader or others about their experience in a department, faculty and coursework.
Don’t worry about changing your mind—as you take more classes and explore opportunities on campus, you will have the option to change your major, declare a second major or add a minor, but you will need to declare a major before adding any minors or secondary majors.