Declaring a Major, Minor, or Concentration

It’s normal for our goals to evolve over time. As you move through your undergraduate studies, you may find new interests that spark your intellectual curiosity in unexpected ways. Alternatively, you may find that a path that once felt right isn’t quite what you expected, thus leading you to explore something entirely new!

If you’re considering adding or dropping a major, minor, or concentration, thoughtful planning helps ensure a smooth process and keeps you on track toward graduation. Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions and checklists tailored to different academic pathways. Read the section that best applies to you and follow the checklist to update your program declarations.

EligibilitY

To declare a GWSPH major, minor, or concentration, you must complete your first semester at GW and receive all of your final grades for the term.
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all GWSPH majors and minors.

Tip: Don’t wait to declare! While GWSPH does not restrict when students may declare a new program, program requirements are subject to change each academic year. Declaring early helps you lock in the correct requirements for your catalog year.

Current GWSPH Students

If the Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) is your home school, please refer to the information below.

Declaring a GWSPH Major, Minor, or Concentration
Declaring External Majors & Minors

If you are a current GWSPH student and you wish to declare a new GWSPH major, minor, or concentration, please follow the steps below.

How to Declare

Review the Program Guide for your intended program to confirm requirements and prerequisite course sequencing. Use the Program Guide for your catalog year to confirm required coursework, sequencing, and guided elective options. Some majors may have their own GPAC specifications, such as which Oral Communications course you should take.
Create or update your Four-Year Plan to outline and illustrate your intended course progression, ensuring that you will complete all required courses and prerequisites. Every GWSPH student should maintain a Four-Year Plan and update it each semester. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor at least once per semester to ensure they are staying on track for graduation. All GWSPH programs require a C- or higher in all core courses, core prerequisites, and major-approved guided electives. Courses in which a student earns below a C- must be repeated.
Submit your Four-Year Plan via the GWSPH Undergraduate Declaration Page.

Declarations are processed at the end of each month. To ensure timely processing, please submit your plan at least one week in advance. Declarations submitted later may be delayed.

Note: Declarations are typically not processed in November or April due to registration blackout periods. To ensure access to priority registration for your program(s), please submit your declarations 2-3 weeks before registration opens.

Checklist | GWSPH Students & Programs

Review Program Guide to understand major, minor, or concentration requirements.

Complete or update your Four-Year Plan.

Submit Four-Year Plan via the GWSPH Undergraduate Declaration Page.

Internal Transfers

If you are an internal transfer student who is newly transferring to GWSPH, it is strongly advised that you declare your major during your first semester at GWSPH. Failure to declare will limit your access to priority registration and may delay your graduation. Please refer to the Internal Transfer page for more information about the internal transfer process.

If you are a current GWSPH student and the program you want to declare is administered by another school at GW, please follow the steps below.

How to Declare

Review the program requirements via the University Bulletin. (Note: If a student is pursuing a second major that offers both a BS and a BA option, the student must complete the BS requirements.)
Fill out the Undergraduate Declaration Form, outlining your intended course progression to satisfy each of the program’s requirements.
Meet with the faculty advisor of the chosen program to review major/minor requirements and obtain departmental approval on course sequencing. Students should contact the program directly or refer to their website for assistance. If necessary, revise your course progression on the Undergraduate Declaration Form. Once you have viable course progression, the faculty advisor can sign your form in order to formally to indicate departmental approval.
If you have not already done so, please update your Four-Year Plan to illustrate how this new course progression fits in with your current study plan. Your Four-Year Plan must illustrate completion of both your current program and the external program’s requirements.
Submit BOTH the signed departmental form and your Four-Year Plan via the GWSPH Undergraduate Declaration Page.
Declarations are processed at the end of each month. To ensure timely processing, please submit your plan at least one week in advance. Declarations submitted later may be delayed.

After successfully declaring an external program, you will maintain your GWSPH advising team as well as your departmental advisor for the new program outside GWSPH. Keep in contact with both advisors.

Checklist | GWSPH Students & External Programs

Submit Undergraduate Declaration Form to desired program for departmental approval.

Complete or update Four-Year Plan illustrating a viable course progression.

Submit both via the GWSPH Undergraduate Declaration Page.

Ready to proceed with your declaration? Click below to get started!

Non-GWSPH Students

If the Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) is not your home school (e.g. Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Science, or the Elliott School of International Affairs), please refer to the information below.

Declaring a GWSPH Major, Minor, or Concentration

Contact your home-school advising office for instructions specific to your school. GWSPH requires a viable course progression plan before approving any GWSPH program declaration.
If your home school uses a paper form for declarations outside your home school, submit that form to GWSPH using the GWSPH Undergraduate Form Submission Page. The submission must include a viable course progression and should use your intended program’s Program Guide to confirm requirements. We will either:
1. Sign your form and return it to you via email.
2. Email you with necessary changes and instructions to update your course progression and resubmit. We will only sign your form and approve your declaration if you present a viable course progression.
Follow your home school’s process to submit and finalize your declaration form.

Declarations are processed at the end of each month. To ensure timely processing, please submit your plan at least one week in advance. Declarations submitted later may be delayed.

NOTE: Declarations are typically not processed in November or April due to registration blackout periods. To ensure access to priority registration for your program(s), please submit your declarations 2-3 weeks before registration opens.

Checklist | GWSPH Students & External Programs

Home school advisor(s) consulted and home school Major/Minor Declaration Form completed (if required).

Form and course progression submitted via the GWSPH Undergraduate Form Submission Page for departmental approval.

Approved declaration form submitted to your home school advising office for processing.