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How to Apply for a Double Major or Minor

If you're considering a double major or a minor, work through these steps to apply.

  1. Understand the difference between a double major and a minor

    A double major means earning a second degree at essentially the same depth as your primary major, while a minor recognizes a smaller set of completed coursework in a specific field with fewer required credits.

  2. Check the eligibility requirements and application window

    Programs usually require you to have reached a certain class year and completed a minimum number of credits, and applications are typically only accepted during a set period early in the term, so check your school's announcements.

  3. Check the target department's capacity and selection criteria

    Different departments may cap how many double-major or minor students they accept and apply different academic requirements, so check the receiving department's own guidelines in advance.

  4. Submit your application through the academic system

    Fill out the double major or minor application in your school's student information system, and submit it along with any required advisor approval.

  5. Check the selection results

    If more students apply than there are spots, selection is usually based on academic performance or other set criteria, so check whether you were accepted on the announced results date.

  6. Plan out your remaining credits

    Since you'll need to complete the double major or minor's required credits on top of your primary major, map out a course plan for your remaining terms in advance.

Capacity and credit requirements vary by department

How many double-major or minor students a department accepts, and how many extra credits are required, are both set individually by each department and school, so the accurate procedure is always worth confirming directly through your own school's academic system and the target department's own announcements before you apply.

A heavier course load is worth planning for

Taking on a double major or minor generally means carrying more coursework at once, which is worth planning around rather than discovering the hard way mid-semester. Structuring a regular study group with classmates in the same courses is one practical way to keep a heavier workload manageable without it eating into every other part of your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a double major delay graduation?

It can -- the more additional credits you need to complete, the more likely your graduation timeline slips, so it's worth calculating how many credits you can realistically complete in your remaining terms before you apply.

Can I drop a double major partway through?

Yes -- most schools accept a request to drop a double major, but how the credits you already completed in it get treated afterward varies by school, so check with your department office.