Building an Academic Career:
Requirements, Policies and
Special Opportunities

Declaring a Major

  • Students are required to file a declaration of major at the Registrar's Office no later than the end of their fourth semester; transfer students must declare a major after earning 58 credits. Regular majors require approval from the department and the Registrar. Interdepartmental majors require approval of each participating department and the Registrar.

  • Students must declare a division at the time of identifying a major to identify courses to be counted toward the Minimum Elective Requirement.

  • Earlham allows students to apply for an independent, self-designed major. Petitions for such majors are considered by the Committee on Academic Programs and are evaluated on these considerations: whether the proposed major is intellectually coherent, whether it is feasible, and whether it is sufficiently different from available, curricular options.

  • Students who fail to declare their majors by the end of the fourth semester are fined $25. If the major is not filed by the end of the fifth semester, a $50 fine will be assessed; if not filed by the end of the sixth semester and thereafter, a $100 fine will be assessed. It is essential for students to declare their majors in a timely manner to ensure that all courses required for the major are available as well as to assist in planning for senior capstone experiences, comprehensive examinations, internships, research and off-campus study opportunities.