The first step is to talk to an advisor. To meet with an Advising and Major Exploration Services advisor, search "AMES" in the Student Appointment Scheduler.
You can also meet with your current assigned advisor if you are considering a major change within your school.
Look up your prospective major in Explore Programs to find resources for degree requirements, recommended courses, and career information.
If you are considering changing your major, you should consult with an academic advisor about your options. If you are thinking about major changes within your current IU Bloomington school, please go to SOAR to identify your current assigned advisor and their contact information.
If you are considering options outside your current school, an advisor in Advising and Major Exploration Services can aid in you in exploring your options and discuss next steps for joining your new academic program. Search "AMES" in the Student Appointment Scheduler.
Schools and major programs all set their own academic standards for admission, academic standing, and graduation. Some programs, such as those majors housed in the Kelley School of Business, the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the School of Nursing, and the School of Social Work require students to apply for admission. It is important to meet with either your assigned advisor or an AMES advisor to identify what you need to do to be eligible to pursue your intended degree program.
You can locate information on degree programs by utilizing the IU Bulletins.
If your intended program has specific GPA requirements that you have not met at this time, you can utilize the GPA Calculator to calculate what grades you need to earn to be eligible to enter your new degree program.
If you are considering a new major, you can use the What-If Academic Advisement Report to identify what requirements you’ve completed and may still need to complete towards this new degree or any other major on campus. If you’re not sure how to use the What-If Academic Advisement Report, meet with a Peer Academic Coach.
You can also use the iGPS Degree Maps to see the coursework you need to complete towards any degree on campus. In addition, you can use these maps to get a general idea of the structure of different degrees.
Some students like to map out their long-term plan to better visualize what they need to stay on track with their intended graduation timeline. The iGPS Plan is an excellent tool for mapping out a long-term academic plan.
If you received a scholarship through your current academic program, but intend to switch out of that program, you should contact Student Central to understand how changing majors might impact your funding.
If you are an international student who has an international sponsorship or scholarship, you should take time to connect with the Office of International Services to ensure that these sources of funding do not require you to pursue a specific type of degree program.
If you have military-related benefits, contact the Center for Veteran and Military Students to find out if changing your major will impact your education benefits.
If you have completed a lot of coursework or have a lot of transfer, test, or ACP credit, you should meet with an advisor to discuss how much additional coursework will be required for your new major. Financial aid may be impacted if you accumulate too many credits toward your undergraduate degree.
Students change majors all the time. Talk with a career coach about how your major change aligns with or alters your potential career plans. View Major Guides to learn about career opportunities connected to your prospective major.
If you enjoyed your previous program and would still like to pursue a minor or certificate related to that area of study, it may be possible. Use the Explore Programs tool to learn about minors and certificates related to your previous program of study. In addition, your academic advisor can help you to identify a potential minor or certificate program that aligns with your interests.
