Policy creates majors deadline

A new policy is being implemented for incoming freshmen that requires students to declare a major at the beginning of their sophomore year, according to the Academic Advising & Career Development office. This policy will not affect current students.

Currently, there is no deadline for when students need to declare a major, according to Lee Ward, director of AACD.

The policy also states that students may change their major after it has been declared.

“You can change your major as many times as you want, so declaring a major at the beginning of the sophomore year won't mean you're stuck with a major you don't want to be in,” said Karyn Sproles, assistant to the Provost for Academic Support. “It'll just help make sure people don't wait to declare until it's too late to graduate on time.

“There are students who have a lot of majors that you have to get started in freshman year,” Sproles added. She said that these students often have a hard time graduating in four years if they don't declare their major by their freshman year.

Another reason for the policy is because departments decide how many courses to schedule based on the number of majors they have, according to Sproles. Many times, people don't get around to declaring a major even though they've decided on one. This means that there may not be enough classes scheduled in the major for students come registration time.

“We're working really hard to try to help students get the classes they need, so we really need to know which classes those are,” Sproles said. “Declaring a major will help this problem a lot.”

Ward said, “[This policy] challenges students to make a decision. We want to give ample time to students, but we don't want it to extend through their third or fourth year. We believe that this will help students establish a clear sense of direction.”

Ward said that JMU offers support to students so they can explore their options and choose a major wisely.

“There are structured opportunities for students to make the decision [in declaring a major] in an appropriate way,” Ward said, adding that the process of choosing a major should be a thoughtful one.

He said that freshman orientation, advisers and AACD can aid in this decision-making process.

“We want to make sure students know what's available [in the way of advising resources],” Ward said.

Sproles also recommended AACD.

“AACD has wonderful programs for students thinking about career choices,” she said. “One of the big things for students is thinking about what major they want with their career goals in mind.”

Sproles added that the AACD could help undeclared students figure out which major to declare.

The AACD provides “opportunities and support that engages students in the process of exploring, evaluating and choosing academic programs and careers,” according to the AACD Web site, www.jmu.edu/aacd.

Through the AACD, JMU students can gather occupational information, refine resumées and search job vacancies.

She said many majors can be used as a springboard to a wide variety of careers, and the policy will allow students to get that information “up front.”

“We can show you that the major you love is really practical,” Sproles said.

She added that some academic departments provide career advice and programs. Sproles said that some departments have internship programs, offer courses that explore careers in the major, and bring in alumni who share information about their varying careers and how their academic program supported that career.

“Everybody involved [in the decision to implement the policy] thinks it will be good for the university and good for the students,” Ward said.