Declare, Drop, or Change

What is your request?

Requests have a processing time of 3-5 business days and are effective for either the current term or the following term. To be effective for the current term, requests must be processed by the end of the 2nd week of the term. Requests made after the end of the second week will be processed for the next semester. If you have any questions about any process, contact our office.

FIRST TERM students who want to declare an additional degree or change UMD colleges cannot do so until all final grades from their first term are posted. Students are welcome to submit either the Change of College or Dual Degree form at that time.

Preparing to Declare

• Visit the UMD Career Center to explore your strengths and interests!
• Research: Explore all CAHSS majors, minors and certificates and their requirements before you declare.
• Advising: You are welcome to schedule an appointment with a CAHSS Departmental Representative or a CAHSS Professional Academic Advisor to discuss your ideas or plans or to ask questions.
• You are encouraged to use the 'APAS-what if' feature to assist in planning your degree requirements.

Declare a CAHSS Major:

• FIRST TERM students, can apply for a CAHSS major after their first term grades post.
  • Exceptions:  any ART, MUSIC, or THEATRE program. Students may be admitted as a 'pre-major/minor'.
• For current CAHSS students who want to change to a different CAHSS major:  CAHSS Major DECLARE form.
  • Exceptions:
    • History-Specialist major
    • Music new or additional major
• Additional major: This is also the correct form if you want to declare an additional major of the same degree type (adding a BA when you already have a BA, or BFA + BFA, or BMus + BMus)
• Dual degrees: If you want to add an additional degree (for example, your first major is a BA program and you want to add a BFA, BMus, BS, BBA, BAS, etc.), submit the Dual Degree form application instead.
• For non-CAHSS students: Complete the Change of College form to apply to CAHSS.

Declare a CAHSS Minor or Certificate:

• FIRST TERM students, can apply for a CAHSS minor or certificate after their first term grades post.
  • Exceptions:  any ART, MUSIC, or THEATRE program. Students may be admitted as a 'pre-major/minor'.
• Declare minor: Submit your request through the CAHSS Minor DECLARE form.
• Declare a certificate: Complete the CERTIFICATE application form when you register for the last class in the certificate you are pursuing.

I want to drop a major or minor

• Drop major: Complete and submit the CAHSS Major DROP form.
  • Students must declare a new major before dropping their only major.
  • Students wishing to drop a Dual Degree must do so via the Dual Degree form.
• Drop minor: Submit your request through the CAHSS Minor DROP form.

I want to declare a program not offered within CAHSS

• Research: Search the UMD Catalog to find the collegiate unit that offers the major/minor that you seek.
• Advising: Contact the appropriate collegiate advising office to ask questions about programs outside of CAHSS.
• Apply for the major/minor:
  • Change colleges: If you want to switch from CAHSS to another collegiate unit at UMD, submit the Change of College form.
  • Declare a dual degree: Instead of changing colleges, if you want to add an additional degree (for example, your first major is a BA, BFA, or BMus program and you want to add a BS, BBA, BAS, etc.), submit the Dual Degree form.
  • Declare a minor through the college that hosts the minor: Declare CEHSP, Declare SCSE, Declare LSBE
  • Declare a certificate: Complete the Certificate application when you register for the last class in the certificate you are pursuing.

I want to CHANGE my advisor or catalog year

Request a change to your advisor or to your catalog year (for your CAHSS major, minor or Liberal Education Program) by submitting the CAHSS advisor/requirement year form. (UMD policy on Catalog Use.)  

• Note: Music students must contact the Music department for a separate advisor request process.

CAHSS Departmental Representatives

Meeting with a departmental representative provides students with the opportunity to create a strong connection to the department and mentoring relationship.

Search UMD directory for contact and office information.
* Initial contact person.

Search UMD directory for contact and office information.

October 2025 last updated, pks