A student must select a major no later than the second semester of the sophomore year. This is necessary to allow adequate time for meeting graduation requirements in that major.
2.
Pre-major status
There are certain programs for which program accreditation or certification of graduates is essential if graduates are to pursue careers in those fields (e.g., nursing, engineering, teacher education, athletic training). If a program is subject to such accrediting or certification requirements, then that program should apply to the Academic Council for internnal admission requirements to the program. If additional internal admission requirements to a particular program are approved, then the following conditions apply:
a.
Students initially declaring an intent in the program will be designated by a "pre-major" status (e.g., pre- engineering, pre-elementary education).
b.
Internal admission requirements to the program must be clearly delineated and publicized (e.g., in the catalog description of the program).
c.
Internal admission requirements must be such that "first-time, first-year" students who enter Messiah College as "pre-majors" are evaluated before the end of their sophomore year for admission to the particular program. Transfer students (both internal-from another Messiah major-and external-from another institution) must be evaluated by the end of the first semester junior year.
3.
Change of Major
a.
Policy:
After having declared a major, students who wish to register for another course of study must obtain the signature of the department chair who will assign an advisor in the major field to which they wish acceptance. Changing a major must be done through the Office of the Registrar.
b.
Procedure:
(1) The student obtains the Change of Major Request card from the Office of the Registrar, obtains the signature of the department chair in which the new major is housed, and returns it to the Office of the Registrar.
(2) The Office of the Registrar makes the change and asks the former advisor to send the student's advisor file to the new advisor.
c.
Rationale:
This policy has been instituted to ensure that students wishing to change majors receive adequate counseling, and to enhance campus communication by having all involved individuals know what major the student is pursuing.
4.
Declaring a Double Major
a.
Policy:
The student pursuing a double major must determine which major is the primary major and which is the secondary major. The primary major determines which degree will be granted.
b.
In pursuing a double major, no more than one-third of a student's primary major may be used toward the requirements for a secondary major.
5.
Individualized Major
A student wishing to pursue an interdisciplinary major not available at the College (e.g., biostatistics) may work with an ad hoc committee in developing a proposal for such a major, to be approved by the Dean of the School. This committee will consist of the registrar and faculty representatives from the two primary disciplines involved in the major, with one of these two faculty to serve as the student's advisor and chair of the committee. The following guidelines apply to all individualized interdisciplinary majors:
a.
The course requirements for the major must be chosen primarily from two academic disciplines currently taught at the College.
b.
The number of credits required for the major and the balance between lower-level (100, 200) and upper-level (300, 400) requirements shall be comparable to existing majors offered at the College.
c.
The student shall satisfy all normal general education requirements and other graduation requirements (e.g., residence requirements and total required credits).
After an interdisciplinary major receives approval, minor adjustments can be made with the approval of the Chairs of the two academic departments involved in the major. Substantial adjustments will require the approval of the original committee involved in the formation of the major.
