Declaration/Change of Majors and Minors

• Declaring a Major
• Requesting an Exploratory Advisor
• Changing a Major
• Adding/Dropping/Changing a Minor

Declaration of Major Timeline

The declaration of major processes opens in the spring semester of the first year at Loyola. All first-year students must submit an official declaration of major form (even if they indicated an intended major upon starting at Loyola) OR a request for an exploratory advisor by the end of the first year.

Declaring a Major

To officially declare a major, students must complete the Declaration of Major form and obtain the approval of their Messina advisor or their exploratory advisor. We will also accept email approval from the advisor in lieu of a physical signature.  Once the form is complete and the advisor has granted approval, students must bring the form to AASC in Maryland Hall, Room 138 for processing.

Students who declare their major in the spring semester of the first year will continue to work with their Messina advisor for the remainder of the spring. They will be emailed the name of their major advisor when the Declaration of Major form is processed over the summer. 

Requesting an Exploratory Advisor

Students who are not ready to officially declare their major at the end of the first year may request an exploratory advisor for the fall semester of sophomore year. Students must submit a request for an exploratory advisor online: Request for an Exploratory Advisor

Students will be emailed the name of their exploratory advisor over the summer.  This advisor will work with students throughout the fall semester to help them explore their interests and skills, gather information about different majors/minors and career possibilities, and connect them with important resources on campus to assist with the decision-making process. 

Students with exploratory advisors must declare their major officially by the end of the third semester at Loyola. 

Changing a Major

After students have officially declared a major, they can change their major (including adding a double major) by submitting the Change of Major form. This form requires approval from the department chair of the initial major and the department chair of the new major. We will also accept email approval from the department chairs in lieu of a physical signature.

Once the form is complete and the department chairs have granted approval, students must bring the form to AASC in Maryland Hall, Room 138 for processing. Students will be emailed the name of their new major advisor and the form will be processed within a few business days. 

Adding/Dropping/Changing a Minor

Once students have an officially declared major, they can add a minor. Students who are interested in adding, dropping, or changing a minor must complete the Change of Minor form.

Dropping a minor requires the approval of the student’s major advisor; adding a minor requires the approval of the department chair for the minor. We will accept email approval from the advisor or department chair in lieu of a physical signature.  Once the form is complete and the approvals are obtained, students must bring the form to AASC in Maryland Hall, Room 138 for processing.