Major Change and Exploration FAQ

It means you will follow a process with the guidance of your AMES advisor and your CESE career coach, and input from IU Peer Coaches, to make a well-informed choice to find a major that fits you and your goals for college and career.  

It could also mean you are ahead of your peers, the majority of whom will change their major in their first year. 

And finally, at graduation, it will mean you are more likely to feel satisfied with the choice you made. 

Each student is unique in what they need to make a decision on their major. Academic advisors in AMES and career coaches in Career Exploration and Student Employment guide students in their exploratory process to:  

• Determine what they value most for their college experience and their career. 

• Find what major field(s) they would be interested in studying in depth. 

• Discover career options that fit their values and interests. 

• Build a college experience that prepares them for a successful career. 

Read more about how we help students find their major.

Yes, there are Exploratory courses. We recommend a course EDUC-X 152 Making Major Decisions that is taught by academic advisors in Advising and Major Exploration Services and career coaches in Career Exploration and Student Employment.  

Below are other exploratory course options offered through some of the IUB schools, which are available to all students.  

• ASCS-Q 295 Design Your Life and Career  

• BUS-X 155 Pathways to Careers in Business  

• EDUC-F 110 Window on Education 

• EDUC-X 152 Making Major Decisions 

• MSCH-C 150 Media School College and Career Preparation 

• SICE-Y 100 Exploring Tech Pathways 

• SPH-K 199 Careers in Helping Professions 

Take an introductory course. We will often advise students to take the first introductory course(s) in the major or majors they are exploring. You can find the first recommended courses for IU Bloomington majors on the Explore Programs tool. 

Before enrolling, be sure to consult with your advisor about what courses are appropriate for you and if/how they will count in the majors you are exploring. 

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 Stellic Planner (Under Plan Your Path in Stellic) is an excellent tool for mapping out a long-term academic plan.

It is likely you will be able to graduate in 4 years, but it depends. Statistically we have found that most students who decide on a major within their first 2 years will graduate on time. However, to be up front, there are some IU programs where it is critical to take the first introductory courses in the first year to be able to finish in 8 semesters/4 years. This is one reason why it is important to discuss all your interests with your advisor during orientation and your first semester.  

We advise the following: 

• Read about the major and degree requirements for the major(s) you are exploring in the Academic Bulletin(s) for the IUB school(s) that offers the major(s). If you’re not sure which school(s) offers the major(s), you can look that up in the Explore Programs tool.  

• Check to see if you have completed any requirements in the major(s) you are exploring by searching for them under “Programs” (on the left side bar) in Stellic to view the “Audit” under the “About” tab. Note: You do not need to click the “Add Program” button to view your progress. Learn about the recommended sequence of courses for the new major, by selecting “Pathway” next to the “About” tab. 

• If you need help navigating the Academic Bulletins and/or Stellic, meet with a Peer Academic Coach. 

• After doing your best to learn about the major(s) in the Academic Bulletin(s) and determine your potential progress in them using Stellic, meet with an AMES academic advisor to check your understanding of what progress you have made so far in the major(s), determine how to modify the "Pathway” for the major(s) to start from where you are right now, and determine if and how it is possible to meet your graduation timeline. 

If you are considering changing your major, you should consult with an academic advisor about your options. If you have questions about how this change might affect your career plans, consult with a career coach. 

For a major change within your current IU Bloomington school:  

• Meet with the advisor for the major you would like to change in the Student Appointment Scheduler, under “Schedule with someone else” and search by the name of the new major.  

• Visit Handshake to identify your career coach in your school and schedule an appointment. 

For a major change outside your current school:  

• An advisor in Advising and Major Exploration Services (AMES) can aid in exploring your options and discuss next steps for joining your new academic program. Search "AMES" in the Student Appointment Scheduler.  

• Visit Handshake to schedule a “Crossroads Career Coaching” appointment with Career Exploration and Student Employment (CESE). You will find the “Crossroads” appointment type in Handshake under the category: “Learn more about careers in other IUB schools”. 

Each school at IU Bloomington sets their own processes and academic standards for admission or entrance to their degree programs. Programs that require students to apply for admission include: 

• Kelley School of Business 

• School of Nursing 

• O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs 

It is important to meet with either your assigned advisor or an AMES advisor to learn what you need to do to be eligible to pursue your intended degree program. 

It depends on how much progress you have made so far in the new major. To map out your path to graduation, you will need to meet with an advisor.  

We advise the following: 

• Read about the major and degree requirements for the new major in the Academic Bulletin for the IUB school that offers the major. If you’re not sure which school offers the major, you can look that up in the Explore Programs tool. 

• Check to see if you have completed any requirements in the new major by searching for the major under “Programs” (on the left side bar) in Stellic to view the “Audit” under the “About” tab. Note: You do not need to click the “Add Program” button to view your progress. Learn about the recommended sequence of courses for the new major, by selected “Pathway” next to the “About” tab. 

• If you need help navigating the Academic Bulletin and/or Stellic, meet with a Peer Academic Coach. 

• After doing your best to learn about the new major in the Academic Bulletin and determine your potential progress using Stellic, meet with an academic advisor* to check your understanding of what progress you have made so far in the new major, determine how to modify the "Pathway” to start from where you are right now, and determine if and how it is possible to meet your graduation timeline. *Depending on the change, you may need to meet with the advisor for the new major. When in doubt, you can always ask an AMES advisor. 

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. 

Explore the CESE career guides to learn about career opportunities connected to your prospective major. Talk with a career coach to explore career options and set your career goals.  

Meet with your career coach in your first year to get help defining your career goals and to learn how to build your IU experience to support those goals.     

If you enjoyed your previous program and would still like to pursue a minor or certificate related to that area of study, it is often possible. Most but not all major fields will also offer a minor or certificate in that field. It will also depend on your progress and performance in the courses required in the minor or certificate. 

 Use the Explore Programs tool to learn about minors and certificates related to your previous program of study. Your academic advisor can help you identify a potential minor or certificate program that aligns with your interests and determine if it is possible to complete within your graduation timeline. 

For Exploratory students in AMES, to ensure they make appropriate progress toward completion of a degree, we require students in the following groups to meet with an advisor to discuss their plans before enrolling for the next semester. 

• Students who started at IU Bloomington as a new college student are required to enter a degree-granting program by the end of their third semester of enrollment (excluding summers) 

• Transfer students are required to enter a degree-granting program by the end of their second semester of enrollment at Indiana University-Bloomington (excluding summers).   

See Entering a Major policy.