Sophomore Year Experience: Declaring Your Major
Congratulations on successfully reaching another academic milestone! Spring Semester of your sophomore year is the time when each of you will declare a major. As you attempt to declare a major, please know that each member of the deans staff in conjunction with the entire faculty, stand ready to assist you. This year the deadline for declaring a major is Friday, April 15, 2011. If you do not meet this deadline, you will be prevented from registering for fall 2011 classes, so please complete the following in order to assure major declaration compliance:
- If you decide to major at Haverford, please read carefully the section of the Haverford Catalog having to do with Departmental Majors; do likewise with the Bryn Mawr Catalog if you plan to major at Bryn Mawr;
- If you also decide to declare a minor or concentration, you must do so now at the same time and on the same form as your major declaration. Minors and Concentrations offered at Haverford are listed alphabetically within the major programs of the College;
- Make an appointment with an appropriate Haverford (or Bryn Mawr if you plan to major at Bryn Mawr) Faculty Department Advisor at a mutually convenient time. You may apply to the Department any time from now until Friday, April 15;
- Take with you your transcript, which you should print off the web, and also the Declaration of major form
, which you should also print off the web under printable forms on the Registrar's website; - In consultation with your NEW Departmental major Advisor, fill out the Major Form and have your new Advisor sign it;
- Finally, leave your transcript with your Advisor, and take the completed Major/Minor/Concentration Form to the Haverford Registrar's Office for recording. When the Registrar receives this, he will record your Major/Minor/Concentration and send a copy of the Form to your new Department. Note: Submit your completed form to the Haverford Registrar even if you are majoring at Bryn Mawr.
Keep in mind that no extensions will be granted without prior permission of your Dean. Failure to file the form with the Registrar by the deadline, April 15, 2011, will result in the sanctions listed at the beginning of this memo. Sophomores who expect to study abroad or to request a Dean's Leave for the coming semester or year must declare a major before they take leave.
Other Major Programs
Double Major
To declare a Double Major, you will have to complete the major registration process in duplicate. Essentially, you will need a second transcript (printed by you off the web) and a second Declaration of Major Form (also printed off the web). If you wish to double major, you must first obtain the permission of your Haverford Dean, the minimum requirement of which is a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. Additionally, if you wish to split a major between Haverford and Bryn Mawr, you must complete both Haverford's and Bryn Mawr's requirements for declaring a major.
Interdepartmental Major
The selection of an Interdepartmental Major requires that the program of courses and the nature of the comprehensive examination and/or thesis be worked out by the student in consultation with and subject to the approval the chairpersons of the departments concerned, one of whom will be designated as major supervisor for the student. Only one senior thesis or project is required in such a program. Such a program—an Interdepartmental Major—requires the approval of the Committee on Student Standing and Programs (CSSP). Your typewritten proposal to CSSP must contain the signatures of both the Faculty Major Supervisor and your Dean, indicating approval.
Independent Major
To declare an Independent Major, you must submit a typewritten proposal to CSSP. Your Dean will be available to discuss and help you prepare your proposal, which must bear the signature of him/her, indicating a reading of the proposal, and the signature of the Faculty member who will supervise the major program, indicating his/her approval. Please note: Haverford students interested in pursuing an Independent Major at Bryn Mawr College must apply for such through Haverford's CSSP and NOT directly to Bryn Mawr College.
CSSP SUBMISSION DEADLINE
For an Interdepartmental or an Independent Major, your typewritten proposal should be submitted to Dean Philip Bean, Chase Hall, who will forward it to CSSP for consideration. Your proposal must be submitted to Dean Bean no later than Friday, March 18, 2011, to be eligible for consideration.
Finally
At the time of a choice of a major, minor, or concentration, the major advisor and the student may jointly authorize, by contacting the Registrar, the changing of an NNG or CR/NO CR grade to a numerical grade in any course that becomes part of the major, minor, or concentration program. In other words, the P/F option cannot be used for any requirement in a student's Major, Minor, or Concentration.
Haverford students majoring at Bryn Mawr will be advised by their major Advisor at Bryn Mawr only on matters pertaining to the Bryn Mawr Major, including approval of their course registrations. For all other matters, their Haverford Dean will advise them.
If you have any questions about these procedures, please do not hesitate to contact your Haverford Dean or the Registrar, both of whom will be more than happy to help you.