Academic Advising Handbook

Declaring Your Major or Minor at Pacific University

All undergraduate students begin as "Undeclared" at Pacific. To declare a major or minor, you must discuss with an advisor and fill out a form, which confirms you would like to pursue that major or minor.

Once you have earned 45 or more credits you will be required to declare your major no later than the 4th week of the following term. If you are transferring in greater than 45 credits as a new student, we will give you a grace period so that you may become comfortable with your area of study prior to declaring. Students can declare prior to earning 45 credits as well. Students must declare a major before declaring a minor.

3 Steps to Declare Your Major or Minor

  1. Find an advisor in the major or minor who can best help you (you may switch advisors, as needed).
    • Psychology majors and minors must contact the Psychology Department Chair to be assigned an advisor.
  2. Fill out the Program Declaration Form.
  3. Sign your declaration form: you will receive an email with a link to review, confirm, and sign your declaration. From there, it will go to your requested advisor for signature. 

Declare My Major

What is Catalog Year?

This is either the year you started at Pacific or a later year. Catalog year corresponds to the list of requirements for your major. You will default to the most recent catalog year unless you talk to an advisor about a need to switch. You may only be in a catalog year in a year you were enrolled at Pacific (note: transfer students may choose one catalog year earlier than they began). Please see the current catalog for information about degree requirements by catalog year.

Tips on Deciding and Declaring

  • Talk with a couple of different faculty in your major to see who might be a good fit! You could also speak with the department chair for the major.
  • Undecided?  Please schedule an appointment with an ACA advisor to discuss this. We can help!
  • You can see how your requirements fit in different majors! Log on to Boxer Online, go into Student Planning, and then choose "View a New Program" for examples of how your credits would fulfill programs offered at Pacific.