Choosing a Major
The UMass Amherst application will ask you to indicate both a first choice and a second choice major. For some, that’s a breeze. For others, it brings up dozens of questions.
Your first step: investigate all of the majors that UMass Amherst has to offer. It is one of the many benefits of attending a large university—there are a wide variety of topics to study.
If you like something, don’t forget to investigate correlating areas of study. For example, if you like the biological sciences, biology is an obvious major option, but remember to look into biochemistry & molecular biology, animal science, environmental science, exercise science, plant & soil sciences, or another major that draws on your interests.
You may indicate a second choice major on the application in case you do not get your first choice due to space limitations. If space limitations keep you from your second choices as well, you will automatically be considered as an undeclared major, with academic advising provided through Undergraduate Advising or the College of Natural Resources and the Environment (if your academic interests lie in that area). Once you choose a major, you will receive advising through your school or college.
Do not fret! If your first choice is one of the competitive majors, and you do not get accepted into that major, you can still be accepted into your second choice. You can also be admitted to UMass Amherst as an undeclared major and eventually transfer into one of the competitive majors if you do well academically in selected “predictor” courses.
Competitive Majors
Some of the majors at UMass Amherst are “competitive.” This means that they are more selective for freshmen admission, either because students who apply are often high achieving with credentials such as honors courses and Advance Placement credits, or because acceptance into the major requires certain high school coursework. Competitive majors include all academic programs in the College of Engineering, Isenberg School of Management, and Commonwealth College, and the majors of Communication, Computer Science, Economics, Journalism, and Sports Management.
Portfolio Review and Auditions
The Music and Dance majors require an audition; Art requires a portfolio review. Check out the section on Portfolio Review and Auditions for more details.
Majors with Heavy Demand
UMass Amherst uses an equitable approach for admitting students into the most heavily demanded academic majors. If you indicate an interest in one of these areas, you will enter as a “pre major,” and at the time of admission you will be advised on how to proceed into the major.
This way, no student will be initially denied access to one of these majors and will be allowed to register to take beginning courses in these areas. In fact “pre majors” will be given priority when registering for classes in their particular area. English and Nursing are examples of “pre majors.” Students will take a series of predictor courses and their performance will determine if they are accepted into the major.
But I don’t know yet!
That’s fine, you’re undeclared. Skip to the section on Undeclared for some tips on how to start exploring.
We recommend that students choose a major no later than the fall of their junior year. However, the earlier you make this decision, the more time you will have to complete all the requirements for your degree.
