Policies and Procedures

Maximum Number of Majors and Minors

A maximum of up to two majors and up to two minors is permitted, provided all work can be completed within 140 units*. A major and an honors major in the same program are considered to be a single major. Exceptions to the 140-unit completion rule can be made for CSUN bachelor’s degrees that require more than 120 units to complete. Students who receive an exception must be able to complete the second major and any additional minors within 20 units beyond the number of units required for the bachelor’s degree in their first major. See table below for procedures related to majors, minors and options.

Majors/Options

Declaring a Major

Students who start at CSUN must declare a major by the completion of 60 units. Students who are currently Exploratory and want to declare a major must have the major approved by the department chair of the new major. Transfer students must declare a major in their transfer application. Students who have earned 60 units and have not declared a major will have a registration hold placed on their ability to register for the following semester’s courses. These students will not be able to register for courses until they declare a major. Note: Courses numbered below the 100-level do not count toward the 60 units. Advanced Placement (high school) units do count toward the 60 units. 

Adding a Second Major

Students may add a second major (double major) only if they can complete both majors within 140 units. Students may not add a second major after completing the requirements for their first major. Student requests to add a second major must be approved by the department chairs of the existing major and the second major. If the student seeking to add a major has 90 or more earned units, the request also must be approved by the associate dean (or college designee) of the new major. All requests to add a second major must be accompanied by a plan demonstrating that the additional major can be completed within 140 units. When a student completes two majors, both majors will be recorded on the diploma. Courses taken to satisfy the requirements for one major may be double counted if they satisfy requirements in the second major.

Double majors in the same department are permitted unless specifically excluded in the University Catalog.

Changing Major or Option

Students seeking to change majors/options must be able to complete the new major/option within 140 units. Student requests to change a major/option must be approved by the department chair of the new major/option. If the student has 90 or more earned units, the request also must be approved by the associate dean (or college designee) of the new major/option. Requests to change majors/options must be accompanied by a plan demonstrating that the new major/option can be completed within 140 units.

Minors

Guidelines for Minors

1. The minimum number of units required in a minor program is 18; the minimum number of upper division units required in a minor program is 8. A minimum of 6 units of upper division work must be taken in residence at CSUN.
2. Awarding a Major and Minor or More than One Minor from the Same Department to the Same Student: Departments may offer a major and a minor to the same student, or more than one minor to the same student only if the major and minor(s) are associated with different academic degree programs. Exceptions to this policy are stated in the University Catalog. Note that different options in the same degree program are not considered different academic degree programs for this policy.
3. Failure to complete a declared minor program may delay a student from obtaining a bachelor’s degree. For assistance, contact Undergraduate Degree Services.
4. The minor is recorded on the student’s CSUN diploma.

Declaring a Minor

Students may declare a minor only if they can complete both their major and the minor within 140 units. Student declaration of a minor must be approved by the department chair of the minor. If the student has 90 or more earned units, the request also must be approved by the associate dean (or college designee) of the minor. Requests to add a minor must be accompanied by a plan demonstrating that the minor can be completed within 140 units.

Changing a Minor

Students may drop their current minor at any time. They may add a new minor as long as they satisfy the policies and procedures for adding a minor.

Transfer Units

When computing the earned unit limits on adding majors and minors, a maximum of 70 community college transfer earned units or a maximum of 90 four-year college/community college combination transfer earned units will be counted.

Appeals Process

Students who want to appeal this policy or a related decision can apply to a Majors/Minors Appeals Board composed of an associate dean, a representative of Undergraduate Studies, the AS President or designee and two faculty members selected by the Faculty President. For example, students who cannot complete their current major because of an inability to complete/pass a requirement may file a request with the Majors/Minors Appeals Board to change majors even though they may need to exceed the 140-unit limit to complete their new major.

Procedures for Adding or Changing Majors, Minors and Options

	Student has < 90 Earned Units	Student has ≥ 90 Earned Units
Add Second Major:	Approval by department chairs of both majors. Must complete within 140 units.	Approval by department chairs of both majors and associate dean (or college designee) of second major. Must complete within 140 units.
Changing Major/Option:	Approval by department chair of new major/option. Must complete within 140 units.	Approval by department chair of new major/option and associate dean (or college designee) of new major/option. Must complete within 140 units.
Dropping Second Major:	Approval by department chair of second major.	Approval by department chair of second major.
Adding a First or Second Minor:	Approval by department chair of new minor. Must complete within 140 units.	Approval by department chair of new minor. Must complete within 140 units.
Changing a Minor:	Approval by department chair of new minor. Must complete within 140 units.	Approval by department chair of new minor. Must complete within 140 units.
Dropping a Minor:	No approval required.	No approval required.

*ADT/STAR Act students, see ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps for unit requirements and appeals information.