Each college and school has academic programs from which students may choose a particular area of study. This is the major, a prescribed number of courses and credits in a specific academic subject. There are nearly 100 majors at the University, some with special areas of concentration. Some majors have specific areas of specialization (tracks) which must be determined at some point early in the student's academic career. Some departments or programs may specify Continuation Requirements in order for the student to progress successfully through and/or remain in the major. Please consult the Chief Undergraduate Adviser in each department for all of the above. 

Students who wish to have a primary major in one discipline may also choose to have a second area of concentration in another. This can be done through a double major (second major), a double degree, a minor, or a certificate. 

A. Change of Major

Students who wish to change their major should go to the department of the new major to initiate the process. Any undergraduate student enrolled in the University is permitted to change majors. No college, school, department, or program may refuse to accept a student's change of major unless that unit has received from the Provost and/or the Faculty Senate authorization to restrict admission. Students whose change of major might result in a plan of study requiring more than ten semesters should consult with their Undergraduate Dean. 

B. Double Major

A student may earn a second major and have it recorded on the official transcript provided that: 

1. Both majors are completed within the ten semesters allowed for the completion of all graduation requirements. 
2. A student declares a primary and secondary major by going to the appropriate departments to initiate the process. Both majors will appear on the student's transcript. Once the primary major is determined, the student may use courses from the second major to satisfy University and College/School requirements. 
3. The second major lies in the same school or college as the primary major. If the second major lies in a school or college other than that of the primary major, the student must obtain clearance from the Undergraduate Dean of the college of the second major to verify that all requirements for graduation from that college have been satisfied. 
4. Prior to graduation, an authorized representative of the second major files a formal certification with the Registrar to confirm that all requirements for that second major have been completed. 
5. The student has not yet graduated. Students once graduated may not retroactively seek a double major, but may re-apply for a Post Graduate Second Bachelor's Degree (see paragraph C. Second Bachelor’s Degree, number 2). 

C. Second Bachelor's Degree

Students may be considered for Second Bachelor's Degree status in one of two categories. (Note that Second Bachelor's Degrees are not available in all majors). 

1. Simultaneous Second Bachelor's Degree 
   1. Enrolled students of this University may earn a second bachelor's degree by completing a minimum of 30 additional credits beyond those normally required for graduation, all of which must be in residence. Students need not complete one degree and then start the other. Both degrees must be completed within ten semesters and both degrees must be awarded simultaneously. Students once graduated may not retroactively seek a second simultaneous degree, but may apply for Post-Graduate degree status. (Credits earned under the first degree then, even if they are in excess of the required 120, are not applicable toward the Post-Graduate Second Bachelor's Degree. Individual departments may waive certain requirements based on work from the first degree.) 
   2. Students are urged to declare their second major early in their academic career, preferably by the end of the sophomore year. In their senior year, students pursuing a simultaneous second bachelor’s degree must submit to the Registrar’s Office a certification confirming completion of all requirements for the second degree. This must be submitted before their scheduled graduation date. 
2. Post-Graduate Second Bachelor's Degree 
   1. Graduates of other institutions who wish to earn a second bachelor's degree at this University must complete a minimum of 45 credits in residence at the University. 
   2. Students who attended this University will have their residency requirements handled on an individual basis; usually only 30 additional credits in residence are required. 
   3. The department, in conjunction with the undergraduate dean, will establish a semester-by-semester Plan of Study including minimally acceptable grades and any additional school or college requirements. Students who fail to meet the exact terms of this contract will be subject to Administrative Withdrawal. Changes to the original Plan of Study for the admitted Program may be made only with the approval of the students' undergraduate dean. Students who wish to change their major must reapply for the new major through the Admissions Office and withdraw from the current admitted program. 
   4. Clearance for the Post-Graduate Second Bachelor's Degree requires certification from the major and college that all graduation requirements have been met. 

D. Minors

A minor is a limited number of prescribed credits, 15 credits minimum, and courses in an academic department. Not all departments offer approved minors. Students interested in having a minor should consult the Guide to Undergraduate Programs to determine whether a minor in that field has been approved, and the requirements for its completion. The minor must be completed within the 10 semesters allowed for the completion of all graduation requirements, including the major. Prior to graduation, an authorized representative of the minor files a formal certification with the Registrar to confirm that all requirements for that minor have been completed. These requirements include the completion of all courses/credit hour requirements in the minor and the attainment of at least a 2.000 average in the program courses with no more than one of these courses having a grade of less than 2.000. Students are eligible for Minors only if currently enrolled in an approved major leading to a baccalaureate degree at the University. 

E. Certificates

A certificate program is a coherent set of courses representing a defined body of knowledge and skills. Certificates may represent a subset of the requirements for existing degree programs; may reflect a multidisciplinary perspective drawing coursework from more than one existing program; or may constitute a relatively free-standing area of focus with little formal connection to existing academic programs. A certificate program must consist of at least fifteen credits of coursework. Certificates are open to all students, undergraduate and graduate, matriculating or non-matriculating, subject to availability of courses and unless otherwise restricted. A student who has completed the requirements for a certificate should contact the sponsoring department or program, which will notify the Registrar that the requirements have been met. These requirements include the completion of all courses/credit hour requirements in the certificate program and the attainment of at least a 2.000 average in the program courses with no more than one of these courses having a grade of less than 2.000. 

F. Application of courses towards multiple credentials

No more than two courses used to fulfill the requirements of any one credential may be applied towards the fulfillment of another credential, wherein “credential” is defined as an academic degree program: major, minor, or certificate. One course may only be applied to two credentials. See University Registrar website for full text of policy: http://www.umass.edu/registrar/sites/default/files/UsingCoursesMultipleCredentials.pdf

Exception:

There are a few established exceptions to this rule, and they have explicit policies allowing for additional application of credits. These exceptions include: double majors, where a student simultaneously pursues a primary and secondary degree; transitional certificates, where some or all of the credits taken by a non-degree student prior to matriculation at the University may be applied to the specific degree program associated with that transitional certificate; and second bachelor’s degrees, in which students must complete at least 30 credits beyond those normally required for graduation in order to be awarded a second bachelor’s degree.

Source: Academic Regulations, Sen. Doc. No. 15-030