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Declaring your major

Your degree, your plan: Find out why declaring your major is key, when to do it, and the steps to make it happen.

Why declare?

Declaring your major is vital for many programs at Dalhousie.* You must declare your major to be able to register in specific courses, so do not delay declaring your major until registration. See When to declare to get the timing right.

Declaring your major helps you to:
 
  • Stay in the loop: Your department will know you’re in their program and can send you updates about events, opportunities, and more.
  • Graduate on time: The Registrar’s Office uses your declared major to check if you’ve met all your degree requirements.
  • Plan smarter: Your degree audit will be accurate, helping you choose the right courses and stay on track.

*The information in this section is for undergraduate students enrolled in a BA degree (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) a BSc degree (Faculty of Science), or a BComm/BMgmt degree (Faculty of Management). 

During registration we experience high volumes of last-minute declarations. Don’t get caught in the flood of requests! Declare your major well before March registration. 

What's a degree audit?

Think of it as your academic checklist. It shows:

  • What courses and requirements you’ve completed
  • What’s still left to graduate
  • A handy course chart to help you plan ahead
Learn how to get your degree audit
One person with long textured hair sits next to a second person sitting at table with a laptop with short brown hair and a short beard.

When to declare

It depends on your program. Check out these tips:

BA students

  • You can declare your major at any time, but generally near the end of your first year or later. 
  • Look at the requirements for the majors you're considering.
  • Plan to take the core second-year required courses in second-year to stay on track while trying to decide.
  • Some programs require you to declare to be able to register for their required courses.
  • If you are unsure of your major, meet with an advisor for help in exploring your options.

BSc students

  • Declare your major before registering for 2nd year courses.
  • Some programs require you to declare to be able to register for their required courses..
  • If you are unsure of your major, meet with an advisor for help in exploring your options.

BComm/BMgmt students

  • Students enrolled in the Commerce Co-op or Management programs are encouraged to declare their major when in year two of their program. 
  • If you are unsure whether to declare, please meet with an advisor for help in exploring your options.

All other programs

Advisors in your department/school can provide information and advice on specific program requirements.

Declaring honours or combined honours

Thinking about honours? You'll need to follow these steps*

  1. Complete the honours application form [PDF -287 kB].
  2. Get the form approved by your honours advisor.
    • For combined honours, you will need to get approval from honours advisors in both departments.      
  3. Submit the form to the Registrar's Office to update your records.

*The information in this section is for undergraduate students enrolled in a BA degree (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) a BSc degree (Faculty of Science), or a BCS/BACS (Faculty of Computer Science). 

The deadline to submit the honours application form is the same as the course add/drop deadline in September of your final year, or January if finishing in the summer (see Important Dates), although some departments may accept them as early as third year.