Students must declare an academic Major by the time they earn 45 credit hours. Transfer students must declare an academic Major within one semester of enrolling in the University.
Students who choose to pursue a Minor or Concentration must declare their at least one academic semester prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate.
Notre Dame reserves the right to decline a full-time student's request to declare a particular Major, second Major and/or a Minor. This situation might occur when the student cannot complete the needed courses in accordance with University policies prior to the anticipated graduation date. Students must declare all Majors/Minors before their final semester to ensure completion.
Majors
Admitted students declare their Major intentions during the admissions process.
Students may pursue degrees in the fields of study listed in their catalog. Students in the Traditional Undergraduate College may also enroll in pre-professional programs in Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine as part of an appropriate Major or a dual-degree Program of Study. In addition, a Traditional Undergraduate College student may plan a personally designed Major in consultation with appropriate Chairs and with the approval of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Requirements for the Major fields of study are listed in their respective sections of this Catalog. Not all Majors are offered in both Traditional Undergraduate College and CAUS.
Double Major
Students in the Traditional Undergraduate College may pursue a Double Major through the Sister Mary Meletia Double Major Program, which provides highly motivated, goal-oriented students with the opportunity to complete a Double Major in four years. The Program is named in honor of Sister Mary Meletia Foley, the first Dean of Notre Dame, whose wisdom and initiative were largely responsible for making Notre Dame the first Catholic college in the United States to award the baccalaureate degree to women. In keeping with that legacy, the Sister Mary Meletia Program provides the challenge of broad interdisciplinary studies to students who are driven toward academic rigor and challenge.
The Meletia Double Major Program allows students to enhance their learning by completing two Programs of Study and helps them to gain cross-disciplinary knowledge and practical experience essential to success. Students in the Meletia Program will be assigned two advisors, one in each majoring department; both Majors should be declared by the completion of students' second year at Notre Dame.
The Meletia Program offers several routes to completing a Double Major. Students may combine any two fields of study and take the required courses for each Major. Students may also choose from among pre-planned Double Majors which have been designed to offer a more streamlined and focused curriculum. Carrying a Double Major limits the number of general electives students are able to select and, in some cases, may require more than 120 credits for the degree. For more information on the Program, please consult the academic advising counselor.
Declaring a Major
A full-time student frequently declares a Major in the spring semester of the first year or in the fall semester of the sophomore year. To ensure sufficient time for completing the degree requirements, it is recommended that a full-time student declare a Major before registration for the spring semester of the sophomore year (completion of 45 credits).
Part-time students and most transfer and adult students declare a Major during the admission process. To ensure sufficient time for completing the degree requirements, it is required that CAUS students declare a Major upon completing 18 Notre Dame credits. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to declare a Major. Changes or additions to the declared program require an academic advisor's signature and must be processed using the proper form.
Students may obtain Declaration of Major forms from the Registrar's Office or the NDMU website, and return completed forms to the Registrar's Office for processing. The Declaration of Major form must also be used to make changes or additions to the declared Program of Study.
The Chart Your Course Program, offered to students in the Traditional Undergraduate College, is designed for students who are exploring which Program of Study stimulates their greatest interest and is most compatible with their aptitudes and abilities. Each student works with the academic advising counselor to develop a personalized package of tools and resources to help her select a Major. Depending on the needs of the student, the package can include major exploration workshops, career interest inventories, internship and volunteer opportunities, academic support services, individualized and group counseling sessions, and alumna networking.
Minors
Minors are available in various fields of study. Normally, a minimum of 18 credit hours is required; of these, no more than 9 credits can be transfer credits. Not all Minors are offered in both the Traditional Undergraduate College and CAUS.
Declaring a Minor
If a student desires to declare a Minor, that declaration should be made before the completion of 90 credits. A student who intends to declare a Minor should have confirmation from the appropriate department that it is possible to complete all courses listed on the Declaration of Minor form. Full-time students should be able to complete all of the courses by the anticipated graduation semester without adding an unnecessary burden to the academic course load—for instance, having to exceed 18 credits in the fall–spring semesters. The form for declaring a Minor is available in the Registrar's Office or the NDMU website.
Second Degree Program
The second bachelor's degree program is designed for students who have perviously earned a bachelor's degree and wish to seek a second degree in a new academic field. To receive a second bachelor's degree, students fulfill the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college (90 credits from the first degree will be applied to the second bachelor's degree);
- Fulfill the Major requirements of the department chosen for the second bachelor's degree;
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits in graded coursework toward the second degree at Notre Dame; and
- Maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average and a Major Grade Point Average of 2.0. Departments may designate courses within the Major in which students must receive a minimum grade of C.
Certificate Programs
Certificate Programs of Study consist of a specific sequence of courses leading to the awarding of a Certificate of Completion. Students must be admitted to and enrolled in a Certificate Program at least one term prior to the term in which the credential is to be awarded.