Declaring a Major

HELP WITH CHOOSING A MAJOR

Whether you are decided, undecided or somewhere in between, Hope offers a variety of resources to help you better understand yourself, clarify your goals and declare a major that is a great fit for you. We encourage you to talk through the major declaration decision with your academic advisor and to take advantage of the resources at the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career.

HOW TO DECLARE A MAJOR

You may declare a major after your first semester. You may declare a minor any time. All of Hope's currently-offered majors and minors are listed in the College Catalog.

For most majors and minors, it is as simple as emailing, mailing or dropping off your completed declaration form to the department contact listed below. After the department approves it, they will forward the form to the Registrar's Office to be applied to your record. Some departments have a few other requirements in addition to the form, listed below.

Each major or minor you declare requires its own form, since the department chairperson needs to approve it. If you are switching a major to a minor (or vice versa), you do not need to fill out two forms – you can indicate both on the same form.

To undeclare a major or minor, simply fill out the appropriate declaration form and check the "Undeclare a major/minor" box on the form. If you are not also declaring, you may email the form directly to the Registrar's Office.

ART AND ART HISTORY

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Nicole Wetzel, or to the department chairperson, Anne Heath.

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Liz Hinkley. If you are unable to email it, you may send the hard copy form to Liz via campus mail, c/o Chemistry Department.

BIOLOGY

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Jackie DeBoard.

CHEMISTRY

Submit your major declaration form to the department office manager, Liz Hinkley. If you are unable to email it, you may send the hard copy form to Liz via campus mail, c/o Chemistry Department. You can discuss your options for which type of chemistry major is most appropriate for you with any chemistry faculty member.

COMMUNICATION

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Linda Koetje or to the department chairperson, Jayson Dibble. Majors must complete an academic internship (Comm 399) during their junior or senior year and must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major to qualify for the internship program.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Cathy Stoel.

DANCE

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Larissa Brooks, or the department chairperson, Matt Farmer.

ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

Prior to declaring a major or minor in the Economics & Business Department, you will need to fulfill a few requirements before being accepted. More information can be found on the department website.

EDUCATION

Declaration forms should be submitted to the Department of Education. It is recommended that you declare your major as soon as you determine it so that you can be advised by a faculty member within the department. Prior to being admitted to the education program, the department will have a list of requirements that need to be completed (one of which is submitting the major declaration form).

Secondary education declaration forms must be submitted to that subject's academic department. See that section of this page for details.

ENGINEERING

Submit your major declaration with specified concentration, if applicable, to the Department of Engineering.

ENGLISH

Submit your major declaration form to the office manager, Michelle VanDenend.

GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Submit your major declaration form to the department chairperson, Brian Bodenbender. You can communicate with the chairperson if you have an advisor preference.

GLOBAL HEALTH

Submit your major declaration form to the program administrator, Jessica Ferrigan, or to the program associate director, Stephanie Pangborn.

GLOBAL STUDIES

Submit your major declaration form to the prorgram director, Scott VanderStoep. 

HISTORY

Submit your major declaration form to the office manager, Michelle VanDenend.

KINESIOLOGY

Submit your major declaration form to the department chairperson, Maureen Dunn.

MATHEMATICS

Submit your major declaration form to one of the department co-chairpersons, Stephanie Edwards or Mark Pearson.

MUSIC

In addition to submitting the major declaration form to the Department of Music, submit a brief statement about your goals and reasons for pursuing a music major.

NEUROSCIENCE

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Jessica Ferrigan.

NURSING

To declare a major in nursing, you must first be accepted into the nursing program. Admission to the nursing program occurs twice a year and application materials must be received by February 1 or October 1 to receive a response prior to registration for the following semester.

More information can be found on the Department of Nursing website.

PHILOSOPHY

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Vanessa Reyes.

PHYSICS

Submit your major declaration form to the Department of Physics or to the department chairperson, Paul DeYoung. You may also indicate if you have an advisor preference.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Kimberly Finses.

PSYCHOLOGY

1. Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Marcye Van Dyke.
2. Complete the Psychology Major Interest Form.
3. Attend a required major declaration meeting. Dates are listed on the Psychology Department website.

RELIGION

Submit your major declaration form to the department office manager, Vanessa Reyes. You may also submit your form via email to the department chairperson, Jeff Tyler.

SOCIAL WORK – CSWE APPROVED

1. Take SWK 241 – Introduction to Social Welfare.
2. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 and a 2.7 GPA in first- and second-year social work required courses.
3. Meet with a faculty member.
4. Admission to the social work major occurs twice a year, the semester in which you take SWK 241. Social Work major application materials are provided in SWK 241 and must be received by October 15 (if taken in the fall semester) or February 15 (if taken in the spring semester).
5. Admission to the program is not guaranteed.

More information about the program can be found on the Department of Sociology and Social Work website.

SOCIOLOGY

You are strongly encouraged to meet with a department faculty member prior to submitting your major declaration form to the Department of Sociology and Social Work.

THEATRE

Submit your major declaration form to the Department of Theatre. Once declared, you will meet with your theatre advisor to complete a major contract. This contract should be completed within the same semester as your declaration.

WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Submit your major declaration form to the department assistant, Mandy Stephenson.

WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES

Set up a meeting with the program director, Carrie Bredow, to discuss the program prior to submitting a major declaration form.