UR Sophomores—Major Declaration

How to Declare a Major in Arts and Sciences

  1. Make an appointment with an authorized faculty adviser (often called the Undergraduate Adviser) in the appropriate department. Take the blue concentration form, together with a copy of your academic record from Access and a list of courses you intend to take, to your meeting with the adviser. (These faculty members are listed on the "Authorized Signatures" list, which is available online at www.rochester.edu/college/CCAS/Authsign.html and at the Academic Services Counter at Lattimore 312. They are also listed in the "Course Schedule," p.14, which is available several weeks prior to registration each semester.)
  2. At the meeting you will discuss your proposed program of study and complete part A, "Approval Form for Concentrations and Minors," of the form with the assistance and approval of the adviser.
  3. You will also discuss with the adviser how you will fulfill the upper-level writing requirement as part of your major.
  4. The authorized faculty member must sign the form, and you should be assigned a faculty adviser in your major.
  5. You will then need to complete part B, "Primary Writing Requirement".
  6. Now it is time to complete part C, "Rochester Curriculum Registration," following the guidelines on the back of the form. The term "Rochester Curriculum" refers to the combination of your major in one of the three divisions (humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, including mathematics and engineering) and your clusters in each of the other two divisions, with an average grade of C or better. See How To Declare Clusters for more details.
  7. Take the completed blue form to the Academic Services Counter, Lattimore 312. You will be given one copy for your records, one copy will be sent to your department, and one copy will be retained in your official file in Academic Support.
  8. Note that subsequent changes to part A should be discussed with your faculty adviser and may require submission of a new blue form. Changes to part C do not need faculty approval, but should be submitted on the pink "Cluster Change Form" available at the Academic Services Counter, Lattimore 312.

If you have further questions about declaring your major and clusters, please check with:

The College Center for Academic Support
Lattimore 312
(585) 275-2354
cascas@mail.rochester.edu