[To view a list of Major Programs use the DEGREES / CERTIFICATES tab at top of this page].
Declaration of a major program begins with the Admission application. A major is defined as sequential study in a subject or field of at least 30 semester hours that provides knowledge of breadth and depth in that subject or field. Courses are taken in accordance with a plan devised by the department, also known as, suggested program of study.
- Students must complete at least one half of the major program in residence as Sage institutional credits.
- Students must achieve a major GPA of 2.200 (minimum) in order to graduate. *Note: some academic programs have higher GPA requirements. Students should consult academic program pages in the Catalog and their academic information available online in Student Planning (Progress screen) for specific program cumulative GPA & major GPA requirements.
- Review the change of major chart for major programs with specific admission criteria
Students wishing to change a major or add/change/drop a minor can do so by sending an email message from their Sage account to the office of academic advising ([email protected]) with their name, ID number, and the new major or minor they wish to declare. All academic program changes require the approval of the Advising Director on a student’s home campus.
Minors
A minor is a cohesive group of courses that allows students to explore, in a structured way, an area of interest outside the major. Each minor is defined by one or several academic departments and consists of at least six courses usually totaling 18 to 24 credits. Minors are commonly declared at the end of the sophomore year. Upon declaration of a minor, students are assigned to a faculty advisor in that program.
- Successful completion of at least a one course in the discipline is a prerequisite to such declaration.
- Minors may be declared any time before the completion of the drop/add period in the first term of the senior year or before completion of 87 credit hours, whichever comes later.
- Only two of the required minor courses may also count toward major or another minor’s requirements.
- At least one-half of the required credits for the minor must be completed at Sage.
- Minors are designated on student transcripts if all requirements are met, including a GPA in the minor of at least 2.200.
Academic Exploration
Freshman students who are undecided or do not wish to declare a major at the time of matriculation may enter the Academic Exploration program (AEX) and will be assigned an advisor who specialize in academic and career counseling. Students in the Academic Exploration program will take a combination of courses in satisfaction of general education requirements and in areas of potential academic interest. Students may stay in the Academic Exploration program up to the completion of 45 credit hours or first year of study, at which point, they will be expected to declare a major program. Because many programs at Sage are dedicated to preparing students to enter professions that have specific course requirements and prerequisites, Academic Exploration students should work closely with the Office of Academic Advising to select courses in a potential major that will allow them to integrate seamlessly into a particular discipline. In addition to academic advisement, students are encouraged to speak with faulty, career planning staff and alumni. Students may also benefit in completing the Focus 2 Career Assessment program. In order to earn a bachelor’s degree, students must successfully complete a major program. Diplomas are not granted for academic exploration.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major (Self-Designed)
In addition to those majors offered in the regular college curriculum, students may design an interdisciplinary studies major to accommodate particular academic interests. The proposed interdisciplinary studies major must specify at least 36 credits total from at least two disciplines, and at least one of the areas of interest must be drawn from courses required in a currently offered Sage undergraduate major. At least one-half of the credits required for the interdisciplinary major must be in upper-division courses as determined by the faculty advisors in the affected programs. Admission to RSC does not guarantee an interdisciplinary proposal will be accepted.
Students should first consult with the Department Chairs (or Program Directors) in the affected disciplines to create a written proposal¹ explaining their areas of interest and listing the courses that will enable students to achieve their objectives. This proposal must be approved by the Department Chairperson in each affected discipline and by the Dean of the College. ¹Student proposal form is available in My Sage Portal, via the Student Information & Forms link (see Academic Advising menu).