Major and Minor Declaration
Each department at New Paltz sets it's own policies for major declaration, including minimum credit thresholds, GPA minimums, prerequisite coursework, etc. While some students may be admitted directly into majors as freshmen, most students will complete at least three semesters before selecting and declaring a major. The process of major declaration involves meeting with someone in the major department (often the chair), receiving a major plan of study, completing the major declaration form, and being assigned an advisor in the major department. Transfer credits may be applied to major requirements; however, one half of the major must be completed at New Paltz. Students will be expected to fulfill the major requirements that are in effect at the time they officially declare or redeclare (in the case of academic dismissal or removal from the major). Completing the process in a timely fashion is, therefore, important.
Students who have 75 or more credits in progress will not be permitted to register for additional credits unless they have a declared major. A pre-major is not valid after 75 credits are completed. New York State residents with 60 or more credits will not be eligible for New York's Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) until the major is declared. This policy applies to incoming transfer students as well as continuing students at New Paltz.
Students who need help deciding on a major should seek assistance from the Career Resource Center and the Academic Advising Office. The College Catalogue is also a helpful resource. Descriptions of all majors, major requirements, course descriptions and policies for declaring a major can be found in the Catalog. Many departments also have this information on their webpages.
The following majors/curricula have specific entry requirements. Students will not be allowed to declare these majors after they have completed 75 credits. Contact the appropriate department for details:
- Accounting
- Adolescent Education
- Art Education
- Art Studio
- Communication Disorders
- Communication-area concentrations
- Early Childhood and Childhood Education
- Engineering - Computer and Electrical
- Finance
- General Business
- Int’l Business
- Journalism
- Management
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Media Management
- Music
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Public Relations
- Radio and Television Production
- Theater Arts
The following majors require that students receive no less than a C- in any course that is used to satisfy the major:
School of Business - 4xx-level courses open only to Business Majors.
School of Fine and Performing Arts
- Theatre Arts, Music, Art History
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Communication-area concentrations
- Communication Disorders
- Economics - in theory courses only (206, 207, 306, 307)
- English
- History
- International Relations
- Journalism
- Media Management
- Political Science
- Public Relations
- Radio and Television Production
- Sociology
School of Science Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Geology
- Mathematics
The following majors have other minimum grade requirements:
- Art Studio and Art Education - Minimumgrade of C in all courses which are used to satisfy the major except for Art History courses where a minimum of C- is required for courses that will be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Radio & TV Production - C+ in media core courses; average in core must be 2.67. C- in all other major courses.
- Nursing - Minimum grade of C in all courses which are used to satisfy the major.
- Early Childhood and Childhood curriculum - Minimum grade of C in their prerequisite courses and no less than a B- in their education courses.
Second Bachelor's Degree Candidates. Any applicant to New Paltz who has already completed a bachelor's degree must apply as a transfer student following the procedures outlined for transfer students. The Director of Transfer Admissions reviews and approves applications for a second degree. The criteria for admission as a second-degree candidate are as follows:
- The intended major of the second degree must require at least 15 credits that were not obtained in the major of the first degree.
- Second Degree Candidates receive a maximum of 90 credits in transfer; the number of liberal arts and upper division credits will be based on the courses taken in the first degree. The College Progress Report will reflect the credits accepted as well as any requirements that remain unmet.
- Are considered to have met the general education program and the writing intensive requirement.
- The student must complete a minimum of 30 credits at New Paltz.
It is the responsibility of the student to meet with the department chair of the intended major to review their academic program and the requirements remaining for their second degree.
When second degree candidates have been formally admitted, they must file the Declaration of Major form and be assigned a faculty advisor in their major department. From that point on, the same procedures apply to second-degree students as to those who began their college study at New Paltz.
Minors - Students have the option at New Paltz to minor in a field, but it is not required. Minors typically involve between 18 and 25 credits, and can be a way of exploring an interest area in a less in-depth way than a major, or of organizing elective credits. To determine if a department offers a minor, consult the College Catalogue. Students who wish to pursue a minor must file a Declaration of Minor form. Contact the department offering the minor to determine the process for completing the declaration form. At least half of the credits for the minor must not be contained within the program plan of the student's major (this includes major courses as well as required cognated courses). Students will be expected to fulfill the minor requirements that are in effect at the time the minor is officially declared. Transfer credits may be applied to minor requirements; however, one half of the minor must be completed at New Paltz. Students should consult the department regarding minimum grade requirements for courses used to fulfill the minor.
Use of the S/U Grading Option with Major/Minor Courses. Courses that have been elected satisfactory/unsatisfactory WILL NOT be counted towards the major, the minor, the Education curricula or the Engineering curricula, UNLESS the student requests that the S* or U* be changed to a regular letter grade. See the section on S/U grading elsewhere in this handbook for details on how to implement this option.
Student Success Tip
While success in the major will impress potential employers and graduate schools, a minor will complement one's major course of study and enhance one's marketability
