Sophomores can declare a major immediately by completing the Long Range Plan and submitting it to the Academic Advising Center .
The declaration deadline
You can declare your major any time during your sophomore year but no later than the Friday before mid-semester break during your fourth semester of enrollment. For most students, this deadline is the Friday that spring break begins.
If your fourth semester of enrollment at Duke is: | You must declare your major by: |
Fall 2011 | October 7, 2011 |
Spring 2012 | March 2, 2012 |
Missing the deadline
If you have not declared a major by the appropriate final deadline, the Academic Advising Center will send you an e-mail reminder to immediately schedule an appointment with your academic advisor and complete the declaration process (details below). Students who continue to remain undeclared will have a dean’s block placed on their registration in ACES and will not be able to enroll in classes for the following semester. In addition, sophomores who have plans to study abroad or participate in DukeEngage in the summer or semester after the declaration deadline may be made ineligible for their intended program if they fail to declare by the final deadline.
If you are having problems that prevent you from declaring your major by the deadline, it is important that you contact your academic dean.
Study abroad requirement
Trinity College regulations require students to have declared a major before participating in a semester or year-long study abroad program. If you are planning on studying abroad during your sophomore year, you should schedule an appointment with your academic dean to discuss the timing of your major declaration.
It is not necessary for rising sophomores to declare a major before participating in a summer study abroad program after their first year at Duke.
How to declare
Before declaring your major you must complete a Long Range Plan. You can access your Long Range Plan on ACES (under Academics). In your Long Range Plan you will write an essay and list the courses you plan to take in order to complete all remaining graduation requirements, including requirements for your intended major.
When you have completed your Long Range Plan you should schedule a meeting with your academic advisor, who will review and approve it. After you have both signed the Plan, you submit it to the Academic Advising Center. We will make your major declaration effective in ACES and notify your new major department and academic dean.
You may download detailed instructions on completing the Long Range Plan (PDF).
After declaring your major, please take a few moments to respond to a survey about your academic advising experience. Your responses will be held in confidence and will be used by the Academic Advising Center to enhance the advising experience for Trinity's first-year and sophomore students. Begin the Major Declaration Survey here.
Multiple majors
Trinity students may declare up to two majors. Students are cleared to enroll by the program or department of the first major. Students with two majors may also be assigned a faculty advisor for the second major. You should check with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) for details about advising for first and second majors.
In addition to a major, you may also complete the requirements of a minor or certificate program, which will be noted on your Duke record and transcript. The total combination of plans (major, minor, certificate program) may not exceed three.
You can see a complete listing of majors, minors and certificate programs.
No second major in Pratt
While you can register for certain engineering courses as a Trinity student, it is not possible to have a second major in Pratt. Trinity students who are interested in transferring to Pratt as sophomores or juniors should contact Dean Connie Simmons at: csimmons@duke.edu to review transfer requirements before applying to transfer.
Changing your major
You can change majors, add a second major, or add or change a minor or certificate program by visiting the Registrar's Office (Smith Warehouse, Room A289). You will not be required to submit a new or revised Long Range Plan if you make changes to your program of study after your initial declaration.
Making the right choice
Choosing a major is an important milestone in your undergraduate career, so before making a decision you should give yourself enough time to learn about Duke’s major offerings and consider how different majors complement your strengths, interests, and plans for the future.