Determining a major field of study is an important choice in a student’s academic career. Some students need time to explore a variety of interests prior to deciding on a major, whereas others come to college with a strong inclination toward a particular field of study. Linfield’s policy on declaring a major is flexible enough to honor the student’s desire to explore various options. At the same time, it recognizes that timely determination of an academic major facilitates planning and expedites progress toward a degree.

First-year students who have registered for their second term at Linfield are eligible to declare a major and have a faculty member from the new major department assigned as their faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to reach out to the academic advising office in addition to working with their faculty advisor.

By spring semester of the sophomore year (or upon completion of 45 semester hours), students must declare a major and be assigned to an advisor in the major program. This declaration must be completed before a student is permitted to register for the following semester.

Once declared, students can change their major at any time. It is recommended that students consult with their current faculty advisor and a faculty advisor from the new department before declaring a new major.

Nursing major preparation

Students who intend to major in Nursing are strongly encouraged to declare their major as soon as possible after the end of the first semester seminar (IDST 007). Transfer students (to McMinnville) are strongly encouraged to declare Pre-Nursing upon matriculation. 

Teaching Licensure preparation

Students intending to enter one of Linfield’s teacher licensure programs are encouraged to signal their interest by declaring an Education major at the end of the first semester seminar (IDST 007) so that they will receive appropriate advising from the Education Department.

DECLARING OR CHANGING A MAJOR/CHANGING ADVISORS

Students declare their major using an online form. The same form can be used to change a major, to add a second major, add a minor, and to change their advisor. Students are required to have an advisor in each of their major programs and it is recommended that they also have an advisor in each minor that they are pursuing.