Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Majors
An undergraduate major allows you to explore an area of concentration — or a track within the area — in considerable depth. This complements the breadth of study promoted by the General Education Requirements and, in many cases, by your choice of elective courses.
Your major may be noted on your transcript as specified by the department. In certain instances, the major field is noted on your diploma.
Choosing a Major
As an entering student at Stanford, you have access to all undergraduate offerings in the Schools of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Humanities & Sciences. The curriculum is not strictly divided into upper and lower divisions, so you may enroll in courses for which you are appropriately prepared. Course prerequisites are intended to serve as a guide rather than as a deterrent.
Because some technical majors, such as engineering, have a more structured curriculum, you should take some introductory courses in math and/or science during their first year when considering one of those majors.
Typically, you choose a major by the time you achieve junior status — usually when you complete 90 units, including units granted for transfer work or Advanced Placement. Even after choosing a major, you may change it if your interests shift.
Declaring a Major
If you are undeclared and ready to declare your major, you can do so using Axess. Submit a request to the department in which you want to pursue a major. The department informs you of their decision on whether to accept you into the major. You should contact the department directly to determine if you need to fulfill any other requirements to process your major declaration request.
Note that you must declare a major prior to requesting to add a minor.
You may change your major at any time by declaring a new major in Axess.
Undergraduate Minors
Complement your primary undergraduate field of study with an undergraduate minor that allows you to more deeply explore another area beyond that of your major.
Choosing a Minor
You are asked to declare any minor no later than the deadline for your application to graduate, according to declaration procedures developed and monitored by the Registrar’s Office. Even after this point, you may change or drop your minor if your interests shift.
Special Requirements for Students Pursuing Minors
Students may not overlap (i.e., “double-count”) courses for completing multiple major and/or minor requirements, unless:
- overlapping courses constitute introductory skill requirements (e.g., introductory math or a foreign language), such that the introductory course acts as a pre-requisite for further mastery in the subject, the introductory course is broadly accessible and does not require a prerequisite for enrollment; or
- overlapping courses enable you to meet school requirements (e.g., for a major within the School of Engineering and a minor within or outside of the School of Engineering). Currently, only the School of Engineering has school requirements for its undergraduate majors.
You must declare your minor in Axess. Departments must certify that your study plan meets all requirements for your majors and any minors without unallowable overlaps in coursework. If you cannot meet the requirements of majors and minors without overlaps, you may be required to change your majors and or minors to facilitate graduation. You should consult the Registrar’s Office for additional information. In addition, the Secondary Major information on this site may be relevant.
Declaring a Minor
You can declare a minor in Axess. Note that you must declare a major prior to requesting to add a minor. Submit your request to the department in which you want to pursue a minor. The department informs you of its decision on whether to accept you into the minor. You should contact the department directly to determine if you must fulfill any additional requirements to process your minor declaration request.
The decision on a minor is important, but not irrevocable. You may change or drop your minor at any time in Axess.